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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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Sermons

15 Steps of Unfaithfulness in Marriage

15 Steps of Unfaithfulness in Marriage

 
Sien hierdie kragtige PPT oor Egbreuk vir meer antwoorde:
How does adultery “happen?” People don’t just decide one day to hop in bed and be unfaithful to their spouse. Adultery is the culminating act of a dozen or more tiny steps of unfaithfulness. Each step in itself does not seem that serious or much beyond the previous step. Satan draws a person into adultery one tiny step at a time. And he does this over time so that our conscience is gradually seared. This makes it easier to take “just one more step” thinking such a tiny step won’t hurt us.
The following “15 steps” which analyze how adultery “happens” are based on scores of interviews, counseling, and correspondence with church folk who fell into unfaithfulness. Our question: “How did this happen… what were the tiny steps which led to this mess?” While the order varied from case to case, the following is the general progression which surfaced in most incidents. This is not some sort of theoretical list. These are the actual steps taken by scores of church people who wound up committing adultery and regretting it later. Some of these people sobbed deeply as they shared, hoping that their own pain and failure might save other marriages. This information comes to you at great expense.
This chapter doesn’t have any preaching or analysis… that is left to you. Here we offer you cold word-for-word quotes. You and your Sunday School class can draw out the lessons. How did these lives get ruined? How does it start?
1. Sharing Common Interests. (Deel gemeenskaplike belange)
“We just had so much in common, it was uncanny.”
“She and I both enjoyed music, and we were attracted to each other.”
“He was so spiritually-minded… I’d been looking for someone to share my spiritual struggles with.”
“We both loved horses, and started riding together.”
“We both shared a burden for the church and especially children’s work.”
“She was the first woman I’d ever met who liked the outdoors, even hunting and fishing — I was fascinated!”
2. Mentally comparing with my mate. (Vergelyk my maat, fokus op tekortkominge)
“My husband wasn’t interested much in spiritual things, but this man knew so much about the Bible.”
“She was slim, attractive, and dressed sharp — quite a difference from my wife who didn’t take care of herself much at that time.”
“She was so understanding and would listen to me and my hurts — my wife was always so busy and rushed that we didn’t have the time to talk.
“My husband just would never communicate — he’d come home from work and just sit there watching TV. I finally gave up on him. Then this man came along who was worlds apart from my husband — he was gentile, loved to talk, and would just share little things about his life with me.”
3. Meeting emotional needs. (Bevredig emosionele behoeftes)
“He understood how I was feeling and offered me the empathy I was hungering for.”
“She was there when I needed her.”
“My ego was so starved for affirmation that I would have taken it from anyone — I guess that’s what started the whole thing.”
“No one had ever really believed in me until he came along. He encouraged me, inspired me, and believed so deeply in what I could become.”
“My wife was busy with the kids and not at all involved with my work. This girl admired me and treated me like I was really somebody. It felt so good.”
4. Looking forward to being together. (sien uit daarna om mekaar te sien)
“I used to dread going to work, but after we started our friendship, I would wake up thinking of how I would see him later that day… it seemed to make getting up easier.”
“I would think of being with her the whole time I was driving to work.”
“I found myself thinking of him as I got dressed each morning, wondering how he would like a certain outfit or perfume.”
“I looked forward to choir practice every week because I knew he would be there.”
“Every time I drove by her house I would think of her and how we’d see each other that Sunday.”
5. Tinges of dishonesty with my mate. (Begin oneerlik te handel met my maat)
“When my wife would ask if she was with the group I’d pretend I couldn’t remember… right there I started building a wall between us.”
“I would act like I was going to practice with our ensemble, but actually I was practicing a duet with him.”
“Once my wife asked about her, but I denied everything, after all, we hadn’t done anything wrong yet. Now I see that this was one of those exit points where I could have come clean and got off the road I was speeding down.”
“Whenever we got together as couples I would act like I didn’t care about him, and afterward I would even criticize him to my husband. I guess I was trying to hide my real feelings from my husband.”
6. Flirting and teasing. (Flirtasie en speelse grapies)
“I could tell from the way she looked at me. She would gaze directly into my eyes, then furtively glance down my body then back into my eyes again — I knew then that she was interested in more than my friendship. But, I was so flattered by her interest that I couldn’t escape.”
“Then we started teasing each other, often with double-meaning kind of things. Sometimes we’d tease each other even when we were together as two couples. It seemed innocent enough at first, but more and more we knew it really did mean something to us.”
“We would laugh and talk about how it seemed like we were “made for each other” so much. Then we’d tease each other about what kind of husband or wife the other one would have been if we’d married each other.”
“He had those killer eyes. When he’d look at me in that “special way” I would just melt. It was hopeless fighting my urges — he had me.”
7. Talking about personal matters. (begin oor persoonlike sake te praat en deel)
“We would talk about things — not big things, just little things which he cared about, or I was worried about.”
“We’d meet together for coffee before church and just talk together.”
“I was having problems with my son and she seemed to understand the whole situation so much better than anyone else I talked with. I’d tell her about the most recent blow-up and she would understand so well. We just became really deep friends — almost soul-mates. That’s what’s so weird about all this — we never intended for it to go this far.”
“I had lost my Dad just before we got to know each other and he had lost his mother a few years earlier. He seemed to understand exactly what I was going through and we would talk for hours about how each of us felt.”
“I was so lonely since my husband died and hungry for someone to share life with. Then he began to call just because he cared. I loved hearing his caring voice at the other end of the line, even though I knew he was married.”
“We spent so much time together at work that I swear she knew more about me than my wife ever did — or even cared to know.”
8. Minor yet arousing touch, squeeze, or hug. (Ligte aanrakings, drukkies, met gevoel)
“He never touched me for months. Then one night after working late, we were walking toward the door when he said ‘You’re so special, thanks for all you do…” then he turned and hugged me tenderly, just for a second. I loved how I felt for that moment so much that I began to replay it over and over again in my mind like a videotape. Now I know that I should have stopped it all right then. I never intended to ruin my family like this.”
“She was always hanging around our house and was my wife’s best friend. Often she would stay late to watch TV, even after my wife went to bed. She would sit beside me on the couch and I was drawn to her like the song says… like a moth to the flame.”
“He would often pat me on the shoulder — you know, in appreciation for a good job I’d done. But I knew it meant more than that.”
“The first time she touched me was when we were doing registration together. We were sitting beside each other. I’d say something cute or funny and she would giggle, then under the table she’d squeeze the top of my leg with her hand. That was really exciting to me.”
“Every time she shook hands with me at the door she seemed to linger, sort of holding my hand more than shaking it. No one else would notice, but I knew there was more to her touch than appeared to the eyes. She knew too.”
9. Special notes or gifts. (spesiaale geskenke, en boodskappe)
“He would write these little encouraging notes and leave them in my desk, pocketbook, or taped to my computer. They didn’t say anything which could be traced. If anyone found them they wouldn’t suspect anything. But we both knew what was going on, we just didn’t want to stop yet.”
“I would sometimes call him and leave a short message on his answering machine. He would leave little notes in my Bible.”
“He would buy me a little gift — not that expensive, but it always showed he had taken extra thought to get exactly what I liked. Of course everyone else thought he was just being a good boss.”
“She started leaving unsigned notes to me in my desk sharing her feelings for me. It scared me at first, because I thought someone would find one. But after a while I found myself looking forward to the next one, even though I knew the risk.”
10. Inventing excuses to call or meet. (Dink verskonings uit om mekaar te ontmoet)
“I started figuring out ways I could drop off something at her house when her husband was gone. He and I knew each other and I would always return borrowed tools in the afternoon when I knew she’d be there alone.”
“I would wait until the end of the workday then I’d call him just before closing time about something I’d made up as a ‘business question’ and we’d talk.”
“The more entangled we got, the more I planned times where he and I could practice together. We started meeting more often.”
“She started arranging her schedule so that her husband dropped her off at committee meetings. I would hang around and offer to take her home, acting with as much nonchalance as I could muster up.”
11. Arranging secret meetings. (Beplan geheime ontmoetings)
“By now we both were so far gone that we started meeting secretly at the mall parking lot. It know now how foolish this was, but I was driven by something other than good sense at that time.”
“We started arranging to work evenings on the same nights, then we would leave early and meet each other in the dark parking lot.”
“I started making sure he knew my travel schedule so we could attend the same conferences. We still weren’t involved physically at that time, but there was such excitement and romance to it all… even the secrecy seemed to make it more exciting.”
“She would sometimes call me just before lunch and we’d sneak through a drive-up together, and then spend the rest of my lunch hour talking quietly to each other.”
12. Deceit and cover ups. (Misleiding en verdoeseling)
“Once we were meeting secretly I had to invent all kinds of stories about where I’d been to satisfy my wife. By now I had built a towering wall of dishonesty between us.”
“Pretty soon my whole life was full of lies. I’d lie about where I was going, where I’d been, and who I’d been with. The more suspicious my husband got, the better liar I became. But he knew something was going on. It’s hard to lie without people suspecting it.”
“I joined several groups so that I would have an excuse to be away in the evenings.”
“She would ask when I’d gotten off work. I’d simply lie about it, and she never knew what hit her. How can I ever regain her trust now?”
“We agreed that if anyone saw us driving around we would both tell the same story: that my car wouldn’t start, he stopped to help, an we were going together to get a new fuse to replace the broken one he’d discovered.”
“By now my whole life was a lie, so I began telling them regularly to cover up our little meetings.”
13. Kissing and embracing. (Soen en vashou, en omhelsings)
“The whole thing seemed so exciting by now. I was such a fool. We were meeting secretly and both of us were fearful of being caught. But that only seemed to increase our common ground. When we’d meet, we would embrace as if we’d not been together for years — like in the movies when someone comes home from the war.”
“Once we started meeting secretly the end came fast. We kissed and hugged like two teenagers going parking for their first time.”
“It just felt so good to be hugged and loved by somebody who really cared about me.”
14. Petting and high indiscretion. (Sekuele voorspel en onbetaamlike gedrag)
“At this point my glands took over. I forgot reason altogether and was willing to risk everything for more.”
“It was like I was a teenager again — going too far, then repenting and promising to do better; then just as quick I was hungrily seeking more sin.”
“When my husband and I were dating we struggled with ‘how far to go.’ Well, here I was again struggling over the same issue. Friendship with this guy didn’t seem so wrong. But now were we’re going further than I ever intended. But, I felt curiously justified going exactly as far as I had with my husband when had been dating. In a way, I think some of my resentment against my husband’s constant pressure on me started coming out. I’m not saying that it wasn’t wrong. Just that I kind of felt justified.”
“At about this time I began fooling myself into thinking I was heroic for not going “all the way.” That’s what I wanted to do. But by doing “everything but” I fooled myself into thinking I was successfully resisting temptation. What I didn’t realize was that, not only was what I was doing wrong, but that eventually I would take the next step. It’s just not possible to freeze a relationship — you have to go ahead with it, or break it off totally.”
15. Sexual intercourse. (Sekuele omgang)
“Soon I quit resisting and was swept into outright adultery.”
“One thing led to another and finally we ended up in bed with each other.”
“Though we never intended it to go that far, we eventually went all the way and had sex.”
“One night we couldn’t seem to stop ourselves (at least we didn’t want to) so I completed my journey of unfaithfulness to my husband — I had sex with this man.”

Categories
Hartklop

15 Steps of Unfaithfulness in Marriage

Sien hierdie kragtige PPT oor Egbreuk vir meer antwoorde:
How does adultery “happen?” People don’t just decide one day to hop in bed and be unfaithful to their spouse. Adultery is the culminating act of a dozen or more tiny steps of unfaithfulness. Each step in itself does not seem that serious or much beyond the previous step. Satan draws a person into adultery one tiny step at a time. And he does this over time so that our conscience is gradually seared. This makes it easier to take “just one more step” thinking such a tiny step won’t hurt us.
The following “15 steps” which analyze how adultery “happens” are based on scores of interviews, counseling, and correspondence with church folk who fell into unfaithfulness. Our question: “How did this happen… what were the tiny steps which led to this mess?” While the order varied from case to case, the following is the general progression which surfaced in most incidents. This is not some sort of theoretical list. These are the actual steps taken by scores of church people who wound up committing adultery and regretting it later. Some of these people sobbed deeply as they shared, hoping that their own pain and failure might save other marriages. This information comes to you at great expense.
This chapter doesn’t have any preaching or analysis… that is left to you. Here we offer you cold word-for-word quotes. You and your Sunday School class can draw out the lessons. How did these lives get ruined? How does it start?
1. Sharing Common Interests. (Deel gemeenskaplike belange)
“We just had so much in common, it was uncanny.”
“She and I both enjoyed music, and we were attracted to each other.”
“He was so spiritually-minded… I’d been looking for someone to share my spiritual struggles with.”
“We both loved horses, and started riding together.”
“We both shared a burden for the church and especially children’s work.”
“She was the first woman I’d ever met who liked the outdoors, even hunting and fishing — I was fascinated!”
2. Mentally comparing with my mate. (Vergelyk my maat, fokus op tekortkominge)
“My husband wasn’t interested much in spiritual things, but this man knew so much about the Bible.”
“She was slim, attractive, and dressed sharp — quite a difference from my wife who didn’t take care of herself much at that time.”
“She was so understanding and would listen to me and my hurts — my wife was always so busy and rushed that we didn’t have the time to talk.
“My husband just would never communicate — he’d come home from work and just sit there watching TV. I finally gave up on him. Then this man came along who was worlds apart from my husband — he was gentile, loved to talk, and would just share little things about his life with me.”
3. Meeting emotional needs. (Bevredig emosionele behoeftes)
“He understood how I was feeling and offered me the empathy I was hungering for.”
“She was there when I needed her.”
“My ego was so starved for affirmation that I would have taken it from anyone — I guess that’s what started the whole thing.”
“No one had ever really believed in me until he came along. He encouraged me, inspired me, and believed so deeply in what I could become.”
“My wife was busy with the kids and not at all involved with my work. This girl admired me and treated me like I was really somebody. It felt so good.”
4. Looking forward to being together.  (sien uit daarna om mekaar te sien)
“I used to dread going to work, but after we started our friendship, I would wake up thinking of how I would see him later that day… it seemed to make getting up easier.”
“I would think of being with her the whole time I was driving to work.”
“I found myself thinking of him as I got dressed each morning, wondering how he would like a certain outfit or perfume.”
“I looked forward to choir practice every week because I knew he would be there.”
“Every time I drove by her house I would think of her and how we’d see each other that Sunday.”
5. Tinges of dishonesty with my mate. (Begin oneerlik te handel met my maat)
“When my wife would ask if she was with the group I’d pretend I couldn’t remember… right there I started building a wall between us.”
“I would act like I was going to practice with our ensemble, but actually I was practicing a duet with him.”
“Once my wife asked about her, but I denied everything, after all, we hadn’t done anything wrong yet. Now I see that this was one of those exit points where I could have come clean and got off the road I was speeding down.”
“Whenever we got together as couples I would act like I didn’t care about him, and afterward I would even criticize him to my husband. I guess I was trying to hide my real feelings from my husband.”
6. Flirting and teasing. (Flirtasie en speelse grapies)
“I could tell from the way she looked at me. She would gaze directly into my eyes, then furtively glance down my body then back into my eyes again — I knew then that she was interested in more than my friendship. But, I was so flattered by her interest that I couldn’t escape.”
“Then we started teasing each other, often with double-meaning kind of things. Sometimes we’d tease each other even when we were together as two couples. It seemed innocent enough at first, but more and more we knew it really did mean something to us.”
“We would laugh and talk about how it seemed like we were “made for each other” so much. Then we’d tease each other about what kind of husband or wife the other one would have been if we’d married each other.”
“He had those killer eyes. When he’d look at me in that “special way” I would just melt. It was hopeless fighting my urges — he had me.”
7. Talking about personal matters. (begin oor persoonlike sake te praat en deel)
“We would talk about things — not big things, just little things which he cared about, or I was worried about.”
“We’d meet together for coffee before church and just talk together.”
“I was having problems with my son and she seemed to understand the whole situation so much better than anyone else I talked with. I’d tell her about the most recent blow-up and she would understand so well. We just became really deep friends — almost soul-mates. That’s what’s so weird about all this — we never intended for it to go this far.”
“I had lost my Dad just before we got to know each other and he had lost his mother a few years earlier. He seemed to understand exactly what I was going through and we would talk for hours about how each of us felt.”
“I was so lonely since my husband died and hungry for someone to share life with. Then he began to call just because he cared. I loved hearing his caring voice at the other end of the line, even though I knew he was married.”
“We spent so much time together at work that I swear she knew more about me than my wife ever did — or even cared to know.”
8. Minor yet arousing touch, squeeze, or hug. (Ligte aanrakings, drukkies, met gevoel)
“He never touched me for months. Then one night after working late, we were walking toward the door when he said ‘You’re so special, thanks for all you do…” then he turned and hugged me tenderly, just for a second. I loved how I felt for that moment so much that I began to replay it over and over again in my mind like a videotape. Now I know that I should have stopped it all right then. I never intended to ruin my family like this.”
“She was always hanging around our house and was my wife’s best friend. Often she would stay late to watch TV, even after my wife went to bed. She would sit beside me on the couch and I was drawn to her like the song says… like a moth to the flame.”
“He would often pat me on the shoulder — you know, in appreciation for a good job I’d done. But I knew it meant more than that.”
“The first time she touched me was when we were doing registration together. We were sitting beside each other. I’d say something cute or funny and she would giggle, then under the table she’d squeeze the top of my leg with her hand. That was really exciting to me.”
“Every time she shook hands with me at the door she seemed to linger, sort of holding my hand more than shaking it. No one else would notice, but I knew there was more to her touch than appeared to the eyes. She knew too.”
9. Special notes or gifts. (spesiaale geskenke, en boodskappe)
“He would write these little encouraging notes and leave them in my desk, pocketbook, or taped to my computer. They didn’t say anything which could be traced. If anyone found them they wouldn’t suspect anything. But we both knew what was going on, we just didn’t want to stop yet.”
“I would sometimes call him and leave a short message on his answering machine. He would leave little notes in my Bible.”
“He would buy me a little gift — not that expensive, but it always showed he had taken extra thought to get exactly what I liked. Of course everyone else thought he was just being a good boss.”
“She started leaving unsigned notes to me in my desk sharing her feelings for me. It scared me at first, because I thought someone would find one. But after a while I found myself looking forward to the next one, even though I knew the risk.”
10. Inventing excuses to call or meet. (Dink verskonings uit om mekaar te ontmoet)
“I started figuring out ways I could drop off something at her house when her husband was gone. He and I knew each other and I would always return borrowed tools in the afternoon when I knew she’d be there alone.”
“I would wait until the end of the workday then I’d call him just before closing time about something I’d made up as a ‘business question’ and we’d talk.”
“The more entangled we got, the more I planned times where he and I could practice together. We started meeting more often.”
“She started arranging her schedule so that her husband dropped her off at committee meetings. I would hang around and offer to take her home, acting with as much nonchalance as I could muster up.”
11. Arranging secret meetings. (Beplan geheime ontmoetings)
“By now we both were so far gone that we started meeting secretly at the mall parking lot. It know now how foolish this was, but I was driven by something other than good sense at that time.”
“We started arranging to work evenings on the same nights, then we would leave early and meet each other in the dark parking lot.”
“I started making sure he knew my travel schedule so we could attend the same conferences. We still weren’t involved physically at that time, but there was such excitement and romance to it all… even the secrecy seemed to make it more exciting.”
“She would sometimes call me just before lunch and we’d sneak through a drive-up together, and then spend the rest of my lunch hour talking quietly to each other.”
12. Deceit and cover ups. (Misleiding en verdoeseling)
“Once we were meeting secretly I had to invent all kinds of stories about where I’d been to satisfy my wife. By now I had built a towering wall of dishonesty between us.”
“Pretty soon my whole life was full of lies. I’d lie about where I was going, where I’d been, and who I’d been with. The more suspicious my husband got, the better liar I became. But he knew something was going on. It’s hard to lie without people suspecting it.”
“I joined several groups so that I would have an excuse to be away in the evenings.”
“She would ask when I’d gotten off work. I’d simply lie about it, and she never knew what hit her. How can I ever regain her trust now?”
“We agreed that if anyone saw us driving around we would both tell the same story: that my car wouldn’t start, he stopped to help, an we were going together to get a new fuse to replace the broken one he’d discovered.”
“By now my whole life was a lie, so I began telling them regularly to cover up our little meetings.”
13. Kissing and embracing. (Soen en vashou, en omhelsings)
“The whole thing seemed so exciting by now. I was such a fool. We were meeting secretly and both of us were fearful of being caught. But that only seemed to increase our common ground. When we’d meet, we would embrace as if we’d not been together for years — like in the movies when someone comes home from the war.”
“Once we started meeting secretly the end came fast. We kissed and hugged like two teenagers going parking for their first time.”
“It just felt so good to be hugged and loved by somebody who really cared about me.”
14. Petting and high indiscretion. (Sekuele voorspel en onbetaamlike gedrag)
“At this point my glands took over. I forgot reason altogether and was willing to risk everything for more.”
“It was like I was a teenager again — going too far, then repenting and promising to do better; then just as quick I was hungrily seeking more sin.”
“When my husband and I were dating we struggled with ‘how far to go.’ Well, here I was again struggling over the same issue. Friendship with this guy didn’t seem so wrong. But now were we’re going further than I ever intended. But, I felt curiously justified going exactly as far as I had with my husband when had been dating. In a way, I think some of my resentment against my husband’s constant pressure on me started coming out. I’m not saying that it wasn’t wrong. Just that I kind of felt justified.”
“At about this time I began fooling myself into thinking I was heroic for not going “all the way.” That’s what I wanted to do. But by doing “everything but” I fooled myself into thinking I was successfully resisting temptation. What I didn’t realize was that, not only was what I was doing wrong, but that eventually I would take the next step. It’s just not possible to freeze a relationship — you have to go ahead with it, or break it off totally.”
15. Sexual intercourse. (Sekuele omgang)
“Soon I quit resisting and was swept into outright adultery.”
“One thing led to another and finally we ended up in bed with each other.”
“Though we never intended it to go that far, we eventually went all the way and had sex.”
“One night we couldn’t seem to stop ourselves (at least we didn’t want to) so I completed my journey of unfaithfulness to my husband — I had sex with this man.”
 

Categories
Preke

Hoeveel 'onse' in jou pond

Hoeveel 'onse' in jou pond

Die woordjie ‘Ons’ is ‘n kritiese woord in NT verbondstaal. Jesus leer ons bid: ‘Ons Vader’ nie ‘My Vader’ nie. Ons bid altyd met ‘ons’ in gedagte. Ons lewe in ’n samelewing waar die ‘ek’ heeltemal te veel gebruik word. Ons het ’n ‘ek’ bewussyn en ook ’n ‘ek’ kultuur terwyl in die Nuwe Testamentiese Kerk het alles om die ‘ons’ gesentreer. Die OT Joodse Godsdiens was eksklusief terwyl die NT Kerk inklusief is. (Efe 2:14)
Leiers word aangestel vir ‘ONS’ nie vir ‘EK’ nie – Jes 55:4 ‘Commander and Leader of the People’ Leiers wat die “ons” perspektief verloor, verloor hulle mandaat. As leiers gaan dit nie oor jou posisie, mag en titels nie. Jy praat namens die mense: Soos Mordegai “well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.”
Ons gebede is namens ONS en nie op self gerig nie – Ese 22:30 (Identificational Repentance) Nehemia bid vir sy mense en sluit homself in by hulle oortredings. (Neh 1:6-7) So ook Daniel (Dan 9:3-19) Abraham tree in namens die volk. (Gen 18:23-33) en so ook Moses (Ps 106:23) God is not interested in what He can do for you, but what He can do through you.
Ons bediening is as ’n span – 1 Kor 1:12 ‘we write’ Paulus is die skrywe tog verwys hy na homself as ONS. Die meeste van sy sendbriewe word geskryf, waar die span deel is van die seëngroet of afsluiting. Daar is nie so iets soos ‘my’ bediening nie. Ons is altyd deel van die groter geheel. Ons vul mekaar aan (1 Kor 3:6) die een plant, die ander gee water, maar God gee die groei. Ons bediening staan ook nooit op sy eie nie, ons bou voort op die wat ons voor gegaan het, en ander bou weer voort op ons werk. (Joh 4:37-38)
Ons het almal saam deel aan Jesus Christus 1 Joh 1:3 Daar is een liggaam, een Vader, een geloof. (Efe 4:4-6) Ons is een gemeenskap van gelowiges in Christus. In Hom is ons beskerming nie in ons groeperinge nie.
The Genius of God is displayed in US – Kol 1:27 Christ in AND Among US. Die volle heerlikheid van Christus kan nie deur een mens omvang word nie. Ons saam verteenwoordig Sy volheid.
Sout werk nie wanneer jy dit nie in die sop gooi nie – Mat 5:13 Ons het geen invloed en outoriteit oor ‘n ander as ons oor ‘n distansie skiet nie. Ons is in hierdie wêreld, maar nie van hierdie wêreld nie. (Joh 17:15) Paulus het ‘n Jood geword om die Jode te bereik, (1 Kor 9:20) Ons moet kontak maak oor die grense wat onsself gestel het. Reik uit en ontmoet jou vyande, met ‘n oop gemoed.
Jy maak nie lig onder ‘n emmer toe nie – Mat 5:15 Ons kan nie die lig van Jesus vir onsself hou nie. Ons kan Hom nie vasmaak en onder ons kerk se vaandel probeer vasmaak nie. Jesus werk nie deur isolasie nie, maar soos suurdeeg affekteer die koninkryk van God die hele deeg. (Mat 13:33)
Elkeen wat vir sy medemens (ons) kwaad bly sal self geoordeel word – Mat 5:22
Partyskappe is ‘n werk van die vlees – Gal 5:20 (SECTARIANISM) sekteywer, sektegees. Dis die werk van die vlees om partyskappe te loots. Mens soek ‘n aanstelling, posisies, wil belangrik wees.
Die wat nie teen ons is nie is vir ons – Mar 9:38-40 en Num 11:27–29 Jesus laat toe dat daar mense bedien in Sy naam, wat nie deel was van hulle groep nie. Ons as mens wil so graag alles beheer, en onder ons beheer kry.
In God’s Kingdom there is no divisions between Jew and Greek – (Rom 2:10; 10:12; Gal 3:28; Col 3:11)
Die eerste linie van die geveg is soms in ons eie huise. Ons ontrek, en begin ons eie ‘ons’ teenoor die ander. Wanneer jy en jou vrou baklei en stry is dit baie keer omdat een buite die sirkel staan. Ons gebruik JY en JOU taal. Verbondstaal is ‘ONS’. As ons hierdie woord gebruik forseer dit ons om anders te dink. Ons haal onsself so baie keer uit die sirkel. Of ons laat mense nie toe in ons sirkel nie.
Wie is my naaste? Wie is die ons? Luk 10:29-37 Jesus leer ons dat ons dieselfde vir ’n vreemdeling doen as wat ons vir die binne die sirkel sal doen. Die man het gedoen, wat familie vir hom sou doen – en hy was ’n vreemdeling, inteendeel hy was van ’n totale ander stand en ras.
Hoe definieer jy jou ONS? Hoe definieer ons kerk – ONS? Sien ons die plek waar ons bly as “ONS” dorp? Die mense van ons dorp as “ONS” mense.
DIE GEVARE EN UITKOMS VAN TE VEEL “ONSE” IN DIE “POND”
(VERDEELDHEID) Dis baie gevaarlik om van binne ’n kollektiewe raamwerk van “hulle” the praat terwyl God net een ‘ons’ sien. Bv.
– Binne een nasie, praat ons van hulle.
– Binne die universele kerk praat ons van ’n ander kerk as ‘hulle’.
– Binne die raamwerk van die Christelike kerk in ’n lokaliteit, praat ons van ander gemeentes as ‘hulle’.
– In ’n maatskappy praat ons van die bestuur as ‘hulle’ die bestuur praat van die mense as ‘hulle’.
– In ’n huwelik praat ons van Jy en Jou, myne.
‘Hulle’ bring skeiding in jou denke, en veroorsaak isolasie. Jou perspektief raak eensydig. Jy kyk net vanuit een perspektief, en verloor objektiwiteit.
Wanneer ons praat van ‘hulle’ is dit nie lank nie of ons gee ‘hulle’ ’n etiket. (LABELING) (Mat 5:22) Noem mekaar name. Jy is altyd so, en jy maak altyd so, en jy doen dit nooit nie. Jy (DEMONISEER) die ander persoon as altyd verkeerd en boos, wat eenvoudig nie die waarheid is nie. Terwyl jy jouself as die engel voorstel, wat ook nie die waarheid is nie. Later sien ons net die etiket en nie die mens agter die etiket nie. (DEHUMANISERING)
(LIEFDELOOS) Wanneer ons praat van ‘hulle’ kan dit lei tot trots – Ons disassosieer met die foute en sonde van ’n groep, en plaas onsself op ’n beter/hoër/verhewe plek. Gevolglik verloor jy jou stem by daardie groep. Hulle beleef jou as (TROTS), hooghartig, en beterwetig. Hulle voel die skeiding aan – en beleef dat daar nie meer liefde is nie. Sonder liefde het jy jou stem tot daardie groep verloor. (Gal 6:1)
(VIKTIMISERING) (Mat 5:22) ‘Jou gek’ Dis is natuurlik dat wanneer jy net fokus op ‘n persoon se foute, en net dit raaksien dat jy op so persoon gaan pik. Jy is negatief ingestel teenoor so ‘n persoon, en het ‘n outomatiese renons. Jy (DISASSOSIEER) jouself van die persoon. In ‘n huwelik is dit bitter gevaarlik want die gevolg is:
(STONEWALLING) Ontoeganglik, hard, en gemeen.
(CONTEMPT) Veragting, minagting, versmading – parmantig
(CRITISISM) Veroordeling, oordeel, afkeuring
Lyk die bogenoemde eienskappe vir jou soos die Koninkryk van God? Nee sekerlik nie! Ons het die hart van Jesus gemis! Jesus het die grense wat mense tussen mekaar stel kom afbreek. Hy het binne al die klieks en groeperinge ingestap en ons ‘n beter weg kom wys. Ons is in geen groepering veilig tov mense se verkeerde en sondige dade nie. Selfs binne jou klein groepie gaan daar mense wees wat jou seermaak. Ons beskerming lê in Jesus! Ons moet deel raak van God se familie en gesin, koninkryk! Dit is ewig! Al die aarde groepies is tydelik, en bied nie veiligheid nie.
As koninkryksburgers het ons dan juis die opdrag ontvang om in hierdie wêreld vredemakers te wees (Not Peace keepers) ons het die bediening van versoening ontvang om mense met Jesus te versoen, (2 Kor 5:18) nie tot ‘n spesifieke kerk groepering nie.
PRAKTIES:
1) Probeer om positiewe en menslike eienskappe by die ander groepering te identifiseer. Dis die begin van ‘EERBIED’ en ‘RESPEK’. Dit impliseer kontak, jy moet jouself bietjie in hulle skoene plaas.
2) Versprei die inligting – Praat positief (Mat 5:46-48) Ons werk mekaar negatief op teenoor mense wat ons nog nooit ontmoet het nie, net deur een persoon se negatiewe storie. Dit spreek van blindheid en kortsigtigheid.
3) Bid vir jou vyande – Wanneer jy bid kry jy weer God se perspektief op die persoon. (Mat 5:33)
4) Wees lief vir jou vyande – gaan dien en bedien mekaar. Gebruik die 1 Kor 13 barometer van wat liefde werklik is en pas dit toe.
5) Wanneer jy iets teen jou broer ‘ONS’ het – gaan konfronteer die probleem en praat dit uit. (Mat 18 en Luk 17) Dit is onvermydelik dat ons deur mense seergemaak gaan word of te na gekom word. Dit gebeur met ons almal, maar oppas om groepies van steun te werf terwyl die probleem nooit aangespreek word nie.
6) Wanneer jy agterkom jou broer het iets teen jou, los jou offer en gaan maak eers reg. – (Mat 5:23-24) Ons moet nie net die wat teenoor ons oortree konfronteer nie, maar ons moet sensitief wees, as ons dalk teenoor iemand oortree het. Gaan maak dit reg.
Wanneer ons as mens begin fokus op ons verskille, verdeel ons die mensdom in groeperinge ons bou grense en mure, ons verloor ons volwassenheid om goddelik en objektief na die mensdom te kyk en aan te raak Ons is (KLEINLIK) en (ONVOLWASSE) en verloor outoriteit om inspraak te hê tot die mensdom. Ons verloor (TOEGANG) en ons (ISOLEER) onsself. Weereens is dit alles oorwinnings vir satan, en God se Koninkryk is vêr verwyder van ons realiteit. Leef as Koningkryksburgers met ‘n ‘ons’ bewyssyn en floreer in Sy oorvloedige genade!
 
 
 
 
 

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Preke

Hoeveel ‘onse’ in jou pond

Hoeveel onse in jou pond - Ons Vader nie My Vader nie

Die woordjie ‘Ons’ is ‘n kritiese woord in NT verbondstaal. Jesus leer ons bid: ‘Ons Vader’ nie ‘My Vader’ nie.  Ons bid altyd met ‘ons’ in gedagte.  Ons lewe in ’n samelewing waar die ‘ek’ heeltemal te veel gebruik word.  Ons het ’n  ‘ek’ bewussyn en ook ’n ‘ek’ kultuur terwyl in die Nuwe Testamentiese Kerk het alles om die ‘ons’ gesentreer. Die OT Joodse Godsdiens was eksklusief terwyl die NT Kerk inklusief is.  (Efe 2:14)

Leiers word aangestel vir ‘ONS’ nie vir ‘EK’ nie – Jes 55:4 ‘Commander and Leader of the People’ Leiers wat die “ons” perspektief verloor, verloor hulle mandaat.  As leiers gaan dit nie oor jou posisie, mag en titels nie.  Jy praat namens die mense: Soos Mordegai “well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.”

Ons gebede is namens ONS en nie op self gerig nie – Ese 22:30 (Identificational Repentance) Nehemia bid vir sy mense en sluit homself in by hulle oortredings. (Neh 1:6-7) So ook Daniel (Dan 9:3-19) Abraham tree in namens die volk. (Gen 18:23-33) en so ook Moses (Ps 106:23) God is not interested in what He can do for you, but what He can do through you.

Ons bediening is as ’n span – 1 Kor 1:12 ‘we write’  Paulus is die skrywe tog verwys hy na homself as ONS.  Die meeste van sy sendbriewe word geskryf, waar die span deel is van die seëngroet of afsluiting.  Daar is nie so iets soos ‘my’ bediening nie.  Ons is altyd deel van die groter geheel. Ons vul mekaar aan (1 Kor 3:6) die een plant, die ander gee water, maar God gee die groei. Ons bediening staan ook nooit op sy eie nie, ons bou voort op die wat ons voor gegaan het, en ander bou weer voort op ons werk. (Joh 4:37-38)

Ons het almal saam deel aan Jesus Christus 1 Joh 1:3 Daar is een liggaam, een Vader, een geloof. (Efe 4:4-6) Ons is een gemeenskap van gelowiges in Christus. In Hom is ons beskerming nie in ons groeperinge nie.

The Genius of God is displayed in US – Kol 1:27 Christ in AND Among US. Die volle heerlikheid van Christus kan nie deur een mens omvang word nie.  Ons saam verteenwoordig Sy volheid.

Sout werk nie wanneer jy dit nie in die sop gooi nie – Mat 5:13 Ons het geen invloed en outoriteit oor ‘n ander as ons oor ‘n distansie skiet nie.  Ons is in hierdie wêreld, maar nie van hierdie wêreld nie.  (Joh 17:15) Paulus het ‘n Jood geword om die Jode te bereik, (1 Kor 9:20) Ons moet kontak maak oor die grense wat onsself gestel het.  Reik uit en ontmoet jou vyande, met ‘n oop gemoed.

Jy maak nie lig onder ‘n emmer toe nie – Mat 5:15 Ons kan nie die lig van Jesus vir onsself hou nie.  Ons kan Hom nie vasmaak en onder ons kerk se vaandel probeer vasmaak nie.  Jesus werk nie deur isolasie nie, maar soos suurdeeg affekteer die koninkryk van God die hele deeg.  (Mat 13:33)

Elkeen wat vir sy medemens (ons) kwaad bly sal self geoordeel word – Mat 5:22

Partyskappe is ‘n werk van die vlees – Gal 5:20 (SECTARIANISM) sekteywer, sektegees. Dis die werk van die vlees om partyskappe te loots.  Mens soek ‘n aanstelling, posisies, wil belangrik wees.

Die wat nie teen ons is nie is vir ons – Mar 9:38-40 en Num 11:27–29 Jesus laat toe dat daar mense bedien in Sy naam, wat nie deel was van hulle groep nie.  Ons as mens wil so graag alles beheer, en onder ons beheer kry.

In God’s Kingdom there is no divisions between Jew and Greek – (Rom 2:10; 10:12; Gal 3:28; Col 3:11)

Die eerste linie van die geveg is soms in ons eie huise.  Ons ontrek, en begin ons eie ‘ons’ teenoor die ander.  Wanneer jy en jou vrou baklei en stry is dit baie keer omdat een buite die sirkel staan.  Ons gebruik JY en JOU taal.  Verbondstaal is ‘ONS’.  As ons hierdie woord gebruik forseer dit ons om anders te dink.  Ons haal onsself so baie keer uit die sirkel.  Of ons laat mense nie toe in ons sirkel nie.

Wie is my naaste? Wie is die ons? Luk 10:29-37 Jesus leer ons dat ons dieselfde vir ’n vreemdeling doen as wat ons vir die binne die sirkel sal doen. Die man het gedoen, wat familie vir hom sou doen – en hy was ’n vreemdeling, inteendeel hy was van ’n totale ander stand en ras.

Hoe definieer jy jou ONS?  Hoe definieer ons kerk – ONS?  Sien ons die plek waar ons bly as “ONS” dorp?  Die mense van ons dorp as “ONS” mense.

DIE GEVARE EN UITKOMS VAN TE VEEL “ONSE” IN DIE “POND”

(VERDEELDHEID) Dis baie gevaarlik om van binne ’n kollektiewe raamwerk van “hulle” the praat terwyl God net een ‘ons’ sien. Bv.

– Binne een nasie, praat ons van hulle.

– Binne die universele kerk praat ons van ’n ander kerk as ‘hulle’.

– Binne die raamwerk van die Christelike kerk in ’n lokaliteit, praat ons van ander gemeentes as ‘hulle’.

– In ’n maatskappy praat ons van die bestuur as ‘hulle’ die bestuur praat van die mense as ‘hulle’.

– In ’n huwelik praat ons van Jy en Jou, myne.

‘Hulle’ bring skeiding in jou denke, en veroorsaak isolasie. Jou perspektief raak eensydig.  Jy kyk net vanuit een perspektief, en verloor objektiwiteit.

Wanneer ons praat van ‘hulle’ is dit nie lank nie of ons gee ‘hulle’ ’n etiket. (LABELING) (Mat 5:22) Noem mekaar name. Jy is altyd so, en jy maak altyd so, en jy doen dit nooit nie. Jy (DEMONISEER) die ander persoon as altyd verkeerd en boos, wat eenvoudig nie die waarheid is nie.  Terwyl jy jouself as die engel voorstel, wat ook nie die waarheid is nie.  Later sien ons net die etiket en nie die mens agter die etiket nie.  (DEHUMANISERING)

(LIEFDELOOS) Wanneer ons praat van ‘hulle’ kan dit lei tot trots – Ons disassosieer met die foute en sonde van ’n groep, en plaas onsself op ’n beter/hoër/verhewe plek.  Gevolglik verloor jy jou stem by daardie groep. Hulle beleef jou as (TROTS), hooghartig, en beterwetig. Hulle voel die skeiding aan – en beleef dat daar nie meer liefde is nie.  Sonder liefde het jy jou stem tot daardie groep verloor.  (Gal 6:1)

(VIKTIMISERING) (Mat 5:22) ‘Jou gek’ Dis is natuurlik dat wanneer jy net fokus op ‘n persoon se foute, en net dit raaksien dat jy op so persoon gaan pik.  Jy is negatief ingestel teenoor so ‘n persoon, en het ‘n outomatiese renons.  Jy (DISASSOSIEER) jouself van die persoon.  In ‘n huwelik is dit bitter gevaarlik want die gevolg is:

(STONEWALLING) Ontoeganglik, hard, en gemeen.

(CONTEMPT) Veragting, minagting, versmading – parmantig

(CRITISISM) Veroordeling, oordeel, afkeuring

Lyk die bogenoemde eienskappe vir jou soos die Koninkryk van God?  Nee sekerlik nie! Ons het die hart van Jesus gemis! Jesus het die grense wat mense tussen mekaar stel kom afbreek.  Hy het binne al die klieks en groeperinge ingestap en ons ‘n beter weg kom wys. Ons is in geen groepering veilig tov mense se verkeerde en sondige dade nie.  Selfs binne jou klein groepie gaan daar mense wees wat jou seermaak. Ons beskerming lê in Jesus! Ons moet deel raak van God se familie en gesin, koninkryk! Dit is ewig! Al die aarde groepies is tydelik, en bied nie veiligheid nie.

As koninkryksburgers het ons dan juis die opdrag ontvang om in hierdie wêreld vredemakers te wees (Not Peace keepers) ons het die bediening van versoening ontvang om mense met Jesus te versoen, (2 Kor 5:18) nie tot ‘n spesifieke kerk groepering nie.

PRAKTIES:

1) Probeer om positiewe en menslike eienskappe by die ander groepering te identifiseer. Dis die begin van ‘EERBIED’ en ‘RESPEK’.  Dit impliseer kontak, jy moet jouself bietjie in hulle skoene plaas.

2) Versprei die inligting – Praat positief (Mat 5:46-48) Ons werk mekaar negatief op teenoor mense wat ons nog nooit ontmoet het nie, net deur een persoon se negatiewe storie.  Dit spreek van blindheid en kortsigtigheid.

3) Bid vir jou vyande – Wanneer jy bid kry jy weer God se perspektief op die persoon. (Mat 5:33)

4) Wees lief vir jou vyande – gaan dien en bedien mekaar.  Gebruik die 1 Kor 13 barometer van wat liefde werklik is en pas dit toe.

5) Wanneer jy iets teen jou broer ‘ONS’ het – gaan konfronteer die probleem en praat dit uit.  (Mat 18 en Luk 17) Dit is onvermydelik dat ons deur mense seergemaak gaan word of te na gekom word. Dit gebeur met ons almal, maar oppas om groepies van steun te werf terwyl die probleem nooit aangespreek word nie.

6) Wanneer jy agterkom jou broer het iets teen jou, los jou offer en gaan maak eers reg. – (Mat 5:23-24) Ons moet nie net die wat teenoor ons oortree konfronteer nie, maar ons moet sensitief wees, as ons dalk teenoor iemand oortree het. Gaan maak dit reg.

Wanneer ons as mens begin fokus op ons verskille, verdeel ons die mensdom in groeperinge ons bou grense en mure, ons verloor ons volwassenheid om goddelik en objektief na die mensdom te kyk en aan te raak Ons is (KLEINLIK) en (ONVOLWASSE) en verloor outoriteit om inspraak te hê tot die mensdom.  Ons verloor (TOEGANG) en ons (ISOLEER) onsself.  Weereens is dit alles oorwinnings vir satan, en God se Koninkryk is vêr verwyder van ons realiteit. Leef as Koningkryksburgers met ‘n ‘ons’ bewyssyn en floreer in Sy oorvloedige genade!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Social Relevance

Children are the future of our world

At time when the focus many in Nation’s Capital is on youth gangs and violence, historic Metropolitan AME Church in down town will spot light youth who are achieving academically and will display their creativity in music and dance  at Youth Day 2014.

The community is invited to share the joy of this event on Sunday, June 8 at 11 am at the church, located at 1518 M St. NW.
The church will hold its usual 7:45 am worship service; however,  the congregation and community will gather at 11 a.m.  in a  special service tp spotlight their youth.
Rev. Rodney Barnes, pastor of Gethsemane AME Church, Landover, Md. will be guest preacher. With the theme of “God’s Gift Looks Good on You,” the worship service will feature the youth choir, small youth orchestra and Liturgical Dancers.  Metropolitan’s 2014 graduates will also be recognized.

A new future vision for youth was stated by the Rev. William H. Lamar IV, who was named  Metropolitan’s new pastor  on April 11.  When asked in an interview if he had any specific plans for Metropolitan’s youth, he responded with his philosophy.

“(I plan) first of all to listen to the youth and not tell them who they are; give them permission and support to do the kinds of ministry that speaks to their generation.  We have to be a permission-giving culture for the young.  …We have to speak to who (they) are or aspire to be.    The best and healthiest churches are multigenerational.
Our biggest mission is to build a stronger Metropolitan for today, bringing generations together– doing things together.  One of Metropolitan’s greatest assets is that we have people over 100 and we have babies too.

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Preke

Hoe om God se stem te hoor Deel 1

Hoe om God se stem te hoor

“WIE ORE HET EN KAN HOOR,

 MOET LUISTER!”

 In Lukas 8:4-15 (Mat 13 en Mark 4) vertel Jesus die gelykenis van die saaier asook die uitleg daarvan. Hierdie gelykenis is ‘n sleutel tot al die ander geheimenisse van God se Koninkryk.

Ons leer hieruit die belangrikheid van “luister”. Om te kan luister is ‘n baie belangrike vorm van geestelike dissipline en noodsaaklik vir ons om as geestelike mense te kan funksioneer. Dit is nie moeilik nie, want die oomblik wanneer ons moeite doen, sál ons hoor. Die geheim is egter om reg te hoor en nie te hoor wat ons dink ons wil hoor nie. Daarom sê die Here in Jes 6:9: “Julle sal hoor en hoor en tog sal julle niks verstaan nie,….” Hierdie skrif beskryf die realiteit van “being disconnected” Ek het my konneksie met my maat verloor wanneer ek hoor, maar nie hoor nie, sien maar eintlik nie sien nie.  Mag die Here ons konneksie met Hom en met mekaar herstel, sodat ons werklik mekaar kan begin hoor en sien.

Verder lees ons in Mat 13:16: “….julle oë is bevoorreg dat hulle sien, en julle ore dat hulle hoor.” Om hoegenaamd geestelik te kan hoor (God se stem te hoor) is ‘n geskenk van God……’n Godgegewe gawe! Die begin van jou geestelike bestaan, is om te hoor. Om te hoor is die proses van redding deur die gehoor: Luk 8:11: “Die saad is die woord van God…” en die bekende teksvers Rom 10:9-12 sê: “As jy met jou mond bely dat Jesus die Here is, en met jou hart glo dat God Hom uit die dood opgewek het, sal jy gered word.” Van die oomblik wanneer ons “gehoor” het, raak ons hoorders – as ons dus nie hoor nie, het ons nie geloof nie en as ons nie geloof het nie, kan ons nie vrugte voortbring nie.

Ons gehoor word verhinder deur

drie tipe obstruksies wat ons mee moet

 deel, om reg te kan hoor.

1)    Dit word dan ook die eerste obstruksie van hoor: Luk 8:12 “…maar dan kom die duiwel en neem dit uit hulle harte weg sodat hulle nie tot geloof kom en gered word nie.” Die satan kom belemmer ons hoor sodat hy die saad van hoor sommer reg in die begin kan steel. Hy wil die Woord steel, want hy weet ook God se Woord is saad en dit genereer groot, sterk bome “….soos ‘n boom wat by waterstrome geplant is, wat op die regte tyd vrugte dra en waarvan die blare nie verdroog nie. Hy is voorspoedig in alles wat hy aanpak” (Ps 1:3). Satan wil die volheid wat uit die saad moet kom met alle geweld keer! Koester die éérste saad, die saad van lewe. Leer om fyn te luister, want God praat met ‘n stil stem en gee in die begin klein opdragte – as ons nie leer om moeite te doen met die klein “hoor” nie, sal ons nie die groot “hoor” kan doen nie. Wees wakker vir satan se versoekings en vleeslike moegheid.

2)    Luk 8:13 sê: “….die woord met blydskap aanneem wanneer hulle dit hoor, maar dit skiet nie wortel nie. Hulle geloof hou net ‘n tydjie…” Wat ons hoor moet met geloof gemeng word, anders geld dieselfde vir ons waarvan Heb 4:2 praat: “…maar hoewel hulle die prediking gehoor het, het dit hulle niks gebaat nie, omdat hulle nie geglo het wat hulle gehoor het nie.” En omdat ons weet dat geloof ‘n aksie is, moet ons reageer op dit wat ons hoor in geloof.  Ons kan nie net hoorders wees en nie doeners nie! Jak 4:22 “Julle moet doen wat die woord sê en dit nie net aanhoor nie, anders bedrieg julle julleself.”  Die Woord van God wil gelééf word – dit is wanneer dit krag het! Ons moet begin deur die Woord in ons binnekant te hoor en dit te doen. God het reeds die woord in ons geplant: Jak 1:21 “….en ootmoedig die woord aanneem wat God in julle geplant het, want dié woord kan julle red.”  En net soos ons God is, Hy plant die saad, maar sit ook genade en die lus en wil  daarby om dit uit te voer! Die grootste fout wat ons egter maak is dat ons nie die Woord uitloop nie! Gal 6:9 sê: “Laat ons dan nie moeg word om goed te doen nie, want as ons nie verslap nie, sal ons op die bestemde tyd ook die oes insamel.” Penetrate the truth of the Word beyond the suffering! Die tiende-beginsel is ‘n voorbeeld hiervan: géé, al sien jy nie vrug op jou saad nie! Ons moet dus volhard in geloof soos die geloofshelde gedoen het waarvan Heb 11 praat, want “As ‘n mens nie glo nie, is dit onmoontlik om te doen wat God wil. Wie tot God nader (moeite doen om Hom te hoor), moet glo dat Hy bestaan en dat Hy dié wat Hom soek, beloon.” (Heb 11:6). God se Woord is nie kitskoffie nie – dit is om konstant in die aroma en geur (koninkryk) van God te leef. Dit is ‘n lewensstyl. Wanneer ander met ons te doen kry, moet hulle die koninkryk van God (lieflike geur) beleef!

3)    Luk 8:14 sê: “…dui op dié wat die woord hoor, maar deur die sorge van die lewe word dit gaandeweg verstik, en dit skiet nie saad nie.” Baie keer kan die einste dinge / seëninge waarvoor ons gevra het, die bekommernisse word wat ons weghou van die Here. Die genietinge van die lewe lei ons aandag af en blokkeer die hoor van God se woord.

Akkurate gehoor ontstaan vanuit ʼn

gesonde rein hart!

Die groot geheimenis van hierdie gelykenis word in Luk 8:15 geopenbaar: “Die deel wat in goeie grond val, dui op dié wat die woord met ‘n goeie en opregte hart hoor en dit bewaar en deur volharding vrug dra.” (Amp – “But as for that [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just (noble, virtuous) and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience.)

Die Here is agter ons harte aan. Daar is ‘n groot verskil om net met ons ore te luister en om met ons harte te luister.  Wanneer ons harte enigsins besoedel is, kan ons nie met ons ore hoor nie. Ons ore is verbind met ons harte en wanneer ons harte kwaadwilligheid, afguns, bitterheid, vertwyfeling, angs, bekommernisse, verwerping en onvergenoegdheid huisves, besoedel dit ons harte en belemmer dit ons gehoor sodat ons nie kan hoor nie. Wanneer ons dus ook emosioneel nie op ‘n goeie plek is nie, gaan ons nie kan hoor nie. Ons moet te alle tye ons harte beskerm en reg hou, want dit gaan beïnvloed hoe ons hoor. “Pas dus op hoe julle luister, want wie het, vir hom sal daar nog meer gegee word, maar wie nie het nie, van hom sal ook wat hy dink dat hy het, weggevat word.” (Luk 8:18).

Hoe ons hoor, gaan bepaal wat die oes of vrug op ons lewens gaan wees. Wanneer ons harte reg is, kan saad inval en ‘n honderdvoudige oes oplewer.  Die dinge wat dan uit daardie oes groei, is werke van die lig. Ons kan duidelik uit mense se lewens aflei of hulle goeie luisteraars is – hulle dra vrug en is besig met dade en aksies wat getuig van mense wat by die Here was. Dink byvoorbeeld aan Henry Zackson ʼn boer van Zimbabwe se getuienis…

Jesus sê: “My moeder en my broers is dié wat na die Woord van God luister en daarvolgens handel.” (Luk 8:21). Ons is Jesus se familie wanneer ons hoor en doen.

The Gospel is simple… it takes simple people to do the things God order to do…..

We now have way too much knowledge to ever apply in one lifetime.

Luister is ʼn kuns wat ons moet leer ontwikkel. Hier is ʼn paar praktiese beginsels om jou te help om ʼn beter luisteraar te word.

First key to listening – become an empty canvas, so that the other person can draw in your space and you can hear the other persons heart. Hearing implies that we become silent. Stop being busy with “self” and hear!!! Die grootste en algemeenste argumente in verhoudings is: “jy hoor my nie!” Een van die grootste behoeftes van die mens is om gehoor te word, geken te word en te ken. Ons sal dit eers regkry wanneer ons leer om God se hart te hoor en te ken – to experience first hand knowledge from and of Him.

Second key to listening – The direction of our hearts. Ons moet ons harte oefen, sodat ons reg kan hoor. Wanneer twee harte op mekaar gefokus is, hoor hulle mekaar akkuraat. In akoestiek is dit bewys: sound is all about direction and focus. Hoe ons mekaar hoor, dui op die rigting van ons harte. Die rigting waarin jou hart gefokus is, is die rigting waarin jy sal hoor. As ek dus my hart na God rig – as ek Hom wíl hoor, sál ek Hom hoor.

Third key in listening – Deal with the  distractions, noise, alienation of the mind.  Practically make time, sit still, find a private place, silence your soul.  Make an appointment/time to speak to someone, engage, look at one another, penetrate beyond the chit-chat, and go deeper.

Die praktiese applikasie vir ons gemeente is:

Baie keer het iemand net ‘n vriend nodig wat sal luister… Hoe gaan ons ‘n mensdom aanraak, as ons nog nie eers die hoor-beginsel (wat blyk uit die gelykenis van die saaier essensieel is) baasraak nie? Daarom is dit nodig om mense in die liggaam te hê wat dieper luister, wat gefokus is op ander mense se harte, want dit is ‘n groot sleutel tot dissipelskap.

Omdat God se Woord reeds in en deur die Gees aan ons die sleutel van “hoor” bekend maak, hoef ons net stil te word, ons harte na God te rig, te luister en deur die geloof tot aksie oor te gaan! Hierin vertrou ons die Here vir ‘n nuwe kapasiteit om te hoor en akkuraat met opregte harte te hoor!

Uiteindelik gaan dit in hierdie gelykenis oor gehoor, en luister met jou hart.  ʼn Hart wat bereid is om te doen en te gehoorsaam.

 

Amen!

 

 

Categories
Preke

Hoe werk die lofprysing by Harvester?

Hoe werk die lofprysing by Harvester?

Lofprysing wat God behaag.
Die objek van ons lof is die Here, God van hemel en aarde, verlosser en koning van ons hart! Ons fokus is nie die orkes, die sangleier, die liedjies, of die bewegings nie. Ons fokus is God en God alleen.
Ons lofprysing en aanbidding is nie gefokus om mense te vermaak nie. Jy kan ook nie eintlik ʼn toeskouer van ons aanbidding wees nie. As aanbidding span fasiliteer en help ons mense om elkeen sy/haar individuele offer van lof aan God te bring. (Heb 13:15) Die fokus is egter nie net op die individu se konneksie met God nie, ons fokus ook op mekaar om saam ons lof en eer aan die Here te bring.  Omdat God nie in offers belang stel nie, maar in gehoorsaamheid is ons vandag nog steeds saam met die Heilige Gees en die Woord op ʼn pelgrimsreis om die lof te ondek wat God behaag. (1 Sam 15:22) Ware lofprysing is nie net die sing van liedjies nie, maar ʼn regte lewenswyse gebaseer op Jesus Christus en sy Koninkryk bedryfstelsel. (Amos 5:23-24; Mat 5-6) Soos wat ons meer vrymoedig raak om nie meer lof te gebruik om by God uit te kom nie, maar Hom te loof en prys op grond van die voltooide werk wat Jesus Christus alreeds vir ons gedoen het om ons te regverdig, maak ons gedurig nuwe ondekkings soos Hy Sy hart aan ons ontbloot. Lofprysing is dus ʼn geloofsweg om elke dag meer en meer God se hart te ondek soos ons in die geloof op grond van die kruis in Hom leef en wandel.

Aanbid Hom in gees en waarheid. (Joh 4:24)

Dit beteken om Hom te loof met opregtheid, eerlikheid, ongeveinste, lof wat nie omgee wat die mense sê nie. Waarheid spreek van die egtheid van ons fokus. Ons bid nie gebede om deur mense gehoor te word nie. (Mat 6:5-8) Aanbidding deur die Gees spreek van aanbidding wat uit jou hart kom, deur die Gees in jou geplaas tot God se eer. Dit is die kern van ons hele aanbidding is om terwyl ons sing en aanbid die Heilige Gees se hulp te soek, dat Hy ons help. Want niemand kan God werklik aanbid of sien sonder dat die Vader Homself deur Sy Gees aan ons openbaar nie. (Mat 16:17; Matt. 11:27; 1 Cor. 2:10; Gal. 1:16)

Lofprysing begin die dag wanneer God vir jou ʼn werklikheid word.

Wanneer jy God persoonlik sien, beleef of ervaar sal jy Hom loof en prys. Niemand sal jou hoef te leer hoe om dit te doen nie. Dis ʼn spontane reaksie op die werklikheid van Sy bestaan in jou lewe. Die probleem is dat baie mense oor die jare in ʼn kerk groot geword het, waar God net op een sekere manier geloof en geprys word. As gevolg van kulturele invloede en humanisme het aanbidding in die kerk vervreemd geraak met die voorskrifte en voorbeelde wat die Bybel leer. Spontane lofprysing gebeur hoogstens in ons binnekamer of in privaatheid. Die meeste mense wat in die kerk grootgeword het se reaksie oor ons lofprysing is: “Ons hou daarvan en dit is mooi, maar dit is vreemd” Mense is dit nie gewoond nie, en weet nie wat hulle moet doen nie. Ons begeerte is om ons eie opinies en idees neer te lê en soos kinders te word sodat die Heilige Gees ons kan leer deur die Woord hoe ons God moet aanbid in Gees en in Waarheid.

Hoekom Loof ons die Here so? Ons loof die Here volgens Bybelse Voorskrifte en nie ons eie opinie of mensgerigte planne nie.

Nadat Dawid se eerste poging om die Ark terug te bring na Jerusalem misluk het omdat hy nie die voorskrif wat God neergelê nagekom het nie, maak Dawid groot voorsorg en stel verskeie families aan om hulle lewe te wy aan die ontwikkeling van lofprysing en aanbidding soos God dit verlang. Want omdat julle in die begin nie by was nie, het die Here onse God teen ons uitgebreek, omdat ons Hom nie gesoek het soos dit behoort nie. (1 Kron 15:13) Dit is dan ons doel om die skrif te ondersoek en presies soos die woord vir ons voorskryf God te aanbid met ons hele hart, krag en verstand.

Loof die Here met jou alles, die hele mens is betrokke.

“Jy moet die Here jou God liefhê met jou hele hart, jou hele siel, al jou krag en jou hele verstand” (Luk 10:27) Dit impliseer eenvoudig dat jy die Here moet liefhê met jou gedagtes, jou emosies, jou liggaam, jou alles! Ons hele menswees is teenwoordig en betrokke om God voluit lief te hê. God is dus die fokus van ons hart. Ons alles, ons wil, ons lewe, ons begeertes, ons drome ons passies, ons gedagtewêreld is gerig om God te loof en te prys. Geen meer dualisme (verdeling in opponerende kompartemente)

Lofprysing is nie ʼn offer om God se guns te probeer verdien nie.

Die ondekkings wat ons gemaak het oor tyd rakende lofprysing is nie ʼn nuwe lys van werke om God te probeer behaag en so Sy guns te wen nie. Jesus het alreeds God se guns vir ons bekom. Soos ons in Sy teenwoordigheid staan en leef sien ons Sy hart en liefde om selfs in ons dade van lofprysing, óns aan te raak en te seën. Dis is wonderlik om te ondek hoe elkeen van die dade van lof, eintlik gerig is tot ons voordeel. God het nie ons lofprysing nodig nie, maar soos ons Hom meer en meer loof en prys verander ons perspektief, ondervind ons genesing, restoureer Hy ons lewe, en word ons getuies van Sy liefde. Daar is al so baie mense wat kan getuig dat hulle genesing, bevryding en redding ontvang het tydens ons lofprysing.

Verskillende tipe Liede en die sing van Geestelike Liede, ʼn nuwe lied, “the song of the Lord” 

Terwyl julle saam psalms en lofgesange en geestelike liedere sing. Sing en jubel met julle hele hart tot eer van die Here. (Efe 5:19) Psalms is skrifgefundeerde melodieë met begeleiding van ‘n musiek instrument. ‘n Deuntjie wat jy sal onthou. “op die wysie van…” Gesang = ‘n uitgewerkte musikale verwerking van ‘n lering, poësie, lofsang. Gesange is liede wat meer skrifgebonde is en die fokus is op die woorde wat ons sing. Tydens gesange staan ons gewoonlik stil en konsentreer op die inhoud van die woorde wat ons sing.

Geestelike liede is liedjies wat uit ons gees kom, dit word op die oomblik geskep volgens dit wat ons in ons hart ervaar en in ons gees sien. Dit is ook die tipe liede waarvan Paulus in Korintiërs 14:15 praat. Ons sal met ons verstand sing, maar ook met ons gees. In vers 14, verduidelik Paulus dat iemand wat in tale bid, of dan in die gees bid se verstand nie betrokke is nie, die woorde kom deur die Gees. Wanneer ons dus in die gees bid of sing, gebeur dit in tale. Maar Paulus lê in die hoofstuk juis klem op die feit dat ons eerder moet profeteer en die taal moet uitlê, sodat mense daardeur opgebou kan word. Tale is gerig tot die Here, en nie ʼn mens nie. (1 Kor 14:2) Die vraag is: is alle liede nie per definisie geestelik nie? Hoekom die verwysing dat dié liede dan nou meer geestelik is as psalms en gesange. Dis duidelik dat geestelike liede verwys na die oorsprong. Psalms en gesange kan ons sing met ons verstand omdat ons die woorde en lirieke ken, maar geestelike liede is deur die gees geïnspireer en werk soos tale en profesie, dis bonatuurlik. Wanneer ek ʼn nuwe lied begin sing, is die deuntjie sowel as die lirieke spontaan en uit die gees. Net so min as wat ek die profetiese woord kon uitdink en uitwerk, so min kan ek ʼn nuwe geestelike lied oefen of uitwerk. Wanneer mens dit eers regkry om in die gees te sing, raak dit ʼn fontein wat nie opdroog nie. Jy kan vir ure aangaan, want in die gees is daar nie beperkinge nie.

Soms het dit spontaan in die byeenkoms gebeur dat iemand ʼn lied gesing het, hier word nie melding gemaak van ʼn sangleier nie, maar dat elkeen ʼn lied kon sing en bydra tot die opbouing en stigting van die liggaam. (1 Kor 14:26; Heb 2:11-12) Die term “nuwe lied” kom 19 keer in die Bybel voor, en beteken juis net dit: sing ʼn lied uit jou hart. Soos jy nie ʼn gebed kan aflees wanneer jy met God praat nie, maar eerder uit jou hart met God praat is dit die fokus van ʼn nuwe lied. (Ps 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 149:1)

Dit is glad nie moeilik vir mense wat vervul is met die Heilige Gees om spontaan lof aan God te bring nie. (Hand 2:11; 10:46) Die klem op al die bogenoemde skrifgedeeltes is die spontane lofprysing wat onvoorbereid gebeur. Dit is ook wat die mense gedoen het toe hulle palmtakke voor Jesus se donkie gegooi het en uitgeroep het “Hossanna, Hosanna in die hoogste hemele” (Mat 21:9-11) Die gebeurtenis staan in sterk teenstelling met die organiseerde Godsdiensbeoefening van die Fariseërs in die tempel en hierdie spontane feestelikheid op straat.

Die rol van die aanbiddingsleiers teenoor die rol van die gemeente.

In 2 Kron 29:25 – 29 sien ons hoe die volk die Here loof en prys. “Terwyl die brandoffer aangebied is, het die lofliedere tot eer van die Here begin. Hulle is begelei met die trompette en ander instrumente van Dawid, koning van Israel. 28Die hele gemeente het die Here aanbid terwyl die sangers gesing en die trompette weerklink het” In die gedeelte kan ons aflei dat die aanbidding van die volk baie spontaan was, die volk het nie noodwendig die liedjies geken of saamgesing nie. Later sou hulle spesifieke liede sing en saamsing. “Koning Hiskia en die amptenare het die Leviete beveel om die Here te prys met die psalms van Dawid en Asaf die siener. Hulle het met vreugde lofliedere gesing, neergebuig en aanbid.”

Lofprysing as gebed en intersessie.

Ek sal aan hulle vreugde gee in my huis van gebed, hulle brandoffers, hulle offers op my altaar sal vir My aanneemlik wees, want my tempel sal uitgeroep word tot ’n huis van gebed (tephillah) vir al die volke. (Je 56:7) Tephillah is ‘n gesang wat as ‘n gebed aan God gesing word. Die Bybel is vol voorbeelde van hierdie tipe gesange. Ps 7, 9, 10, 11, 17, 55, 57, 70. So is ook ons klaagliedere en versoeke aan God gesing. Ps 22, 94, 102, 109, 140. Verder is mense bemoedig en versterk deur sang. Ps 66, 100, 103, 113, 114, 150.

Profeteer deur musiek.

Dawid en die amptenare in beheer het die seuns van Asaf, Heman en Jedutun vir ’n besondere diens afgesonder. Hulle was mense wat onder begeleiding van liere, harpe en simbale as profete opgetree het. Hier volg besonderhede oor die manne wat ’n funksie gehad het in hierdie diens. (1 Kron 25:1) Moreover David and the captains of the host set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of them that did the work according to their service was: (1 Chro 25:1)

Hoor dit, alle volke, luister, alle bewoners van die wêreld, geringes sowel as aansienlikes, tesame ryk en arm! My mond sal louter wysheid spreek, en die oordenking van my hart is net verstand. (Ps 49:2-4) My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp. (Ps 49:2-4)

Skryf dan nou vir julle hierdie lied op, en leer dit aan die kinders van Israel; lê dit in hulle mond, dat hierdie lied vir My ’n getuie teen die kinders van Israel kan wees. (De 31:19)

Maar bring nou vir my ’n siterspeler. En toe die siterspeler op die snare speel, het die hand van die Here op hom gekom, (2 Konings 3:15)

Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord also began, with the trumpets and with the instruments of David king of Israel. (2 Kr 29:27)

Dans
En Mirjam, die profetes, die suster van Aäron, het ’n tamboeryn in haar hand geneem; en al die vroue het uitgegaan agter haar aan, met tamboeryne en in koordanse. (Exodus 15:20) Daarby het Dawid met alle mag gedans voor die aangesig van die Here; en Dawid was omgord met ’n linneskouerkleed. (2 Samuel 6:14) Laat hulle sy Naam loof in koordans, Hom psalmsing met tamboeryn en siter. (Psalm 149:3) Loof Hom met tamboeryn en koordans, loof Hom met snarespel en fluit (Psalm 150:4) Die beste voorbeeld van hoe hierdie “koordanse” gelyk het is ons volksdanse of die Indiese Groep Danse. Dans vir die Here is so spontaan en natuurlik soos ʼn kind wat skielik aan die das raak vir sy ma en pa. Ons moet nie probeer om die dans te veel te vergeestelik nie. Sommige mense glo dat koordanse verwys na ʼn in ʼn geestelike vervoering, in-ʼn-trans tipe beweging. Alhoewel dit verseker kan gebeur dat ons só meegevoer kan raak in die teenwoordigheid van die Here, is dans bloot ʼn reaksie op wat God gedoen het. Omdat hy ons gered het, omdat ons gevul is met Sy vreugde volg ons liggaam spontaan ons hart en begin ons jubel en dans.

Selfs Jesus het spontaan in ‘n dans losgebreek! Jesus het die Vader geprys – Luk 10:21 In dieselfde uur het Jesus Hom in die gees verheug en gesê: Ek loof U, Vader, Here van die hemel en die aarde, dat U hierdie dinge verberg het vir wyse en verstandige mense en dit aan kindertjies geopenbaar het. Ja, Vader, want so was dit u welbehae. (Lu 10:21) Agalliao = Om te spring, om in die lug te spring van blydskap, ekstaties en uitermatig bly en vol vreugde.

Die dans was gewoonlik gelei deur ʼn dansleier. (Miriam – Eks 15:1-20; Jefta – Rig 11:34; Barak en Dobora -Rig 5) Dit is ook waarskynlik dat Koning Dawid spontaan begin het om die dans te lei. (2 Sam 6) Die gebruik van tamboeryne tydens die dans was ook algemeen – (2 Sam 6:5; 6:19-20; 6:22) Volgens Wiseman was Mikal se probleem juis dat sy veronderstel was om as Koningin die Vroue se groep te lei, maar sy het geweier. Die doel van hierdie gesamentlike volksdanse, was om die volk te verenig in hul aanbidding en omdat hulle as nasie God gedien het. Die Jodedom is ʼn teokrasie – naamlik: ʼn volk waar God die Koning is, en die kultuur bepaal. Dit staan teenoor ʼn demokrasie, waar die mense die leiding en kultuur bepaal. Dans was dus deel van hul kultuur om vir die ander volke te wys, dat hulle nie dans vir plesier, self verheerliking of seksuele konnotasies nie, hulle dans vir die Here!

Profetiese aksies en beweging is die dans:

Toe die Here die dans herstel het in ons kerk, het ons begin besef dat net soos daar verskillende ekspressies is in Lofprysing is daar verskillende fokusse in die dans: Die musiek en fokus van die lofprysing bepaal dan ook die vorm wat die dans gaan aanneem. Sou die fokus oorlogvoering en oorwinning wees, dan is die dans meer ekspressief en meer manlik, sterk, vorstelik. Sou die fokus van die aanbidding wees, hoe lief ons die Here het, raak die dans meer vloeiend en vroulik van aard. Soms is die dans kinderlik, en gefokus om die kinders te kan laat deelneem, ander kere is die dans diep en intens en ernstig. Die dans het al hoe meer ʼn fisiese ekspressie geword van wat ons as kerk gesamentlik moet doen. Sou die fokus byvoorbeeld wees dat gedurende ons aanbidding die Here ons lei om die oes te gaan insamel, dan beeld ons dit uit in die dans. Die dans word dan ʼn sterk visuele metafoor en profetiese teken van wat die Here besig is om vir die kerk te sê.

In Ou Testamentiese tye was dit ook algemeen dat die mans en die vrouens apart in groepe gedans het, en baie keer teenoor mekaar gestaan het in die dans. Mans sou dan ʼn sekere boodskap aan die vrouens dans, en die vrouens wees aan die mans. Dit is baie praktiese omdat mans se liggame anders werk as vroue sin, en sekere bewegings beter vertoon by mans as by vrouens. Daarom sal jy opmerk in ons dienste dan daar gewoonlik ʼn man dansleier voor staan met die mans agter hom, en die vrouens het ook ʼn dansleier met die vrouens agter haar. Soos in die tyd van Dawid, het die hele volk nie altyd saam gedans nie, die dansers was uitgekies en het die volk voorgegaan in die dans. Tog was daar tye waar die hele volk saam gedans het. Toe ons kerk anders begin sien, nie meer as ʼn organisasie of klub nie, maar as ʼn liggaam waarvan elke lid deel vorm en aktief sy of haar rol speel, het ons besef dat God die hele gemeente wil bevry en genees deur die dans. So alhoewel ons ook dans leiers het, wil ons graag dat die hele gemeente saamdans, anders is dit weer ʼn kwessie van toeskouers teenoor “performers”. Dans is so bevrydend, en al hoe meer New-Agers is besig om die krag van dans te ondek, en hou dans kampe waar mense soos die Indiane om ʼn vuur dans. Dans behoort aan die Here, en ons is besig om dans weer terug te eis van die vyand wat dans verwring en besmet het vir sy doeleindes. Dar is vir my niks lekkerder om te sien hoe die kinders lofprysing geniet as gevolg van die dans nie. Hulle is natuurlike dansers en is nie gepla oor wat die mense sou sê nie, en nou dans ons vir die Here!

God jubel en juig oor ons.

Die Here jou God is by jou, ’n held wat verlossing skenk. Hy verheug Hom oor jou met blydskap; Hy swyg in sy liefde; Hy juig oor jou met gejubel. (Sef 3:17) Suws = om bly te wees, vreugdevol, verblydend, vrolik en opgeruimd. Rinnah = jubel, ‘n skril geluid, van blydskap of rou, uitroep van vreugde en blydskap, proklameer.

Selah.

Die woord word meer as 70 keer gebruik in die OT. Die betekenis van die woord is onduidelik, maar sommige dink dit is ʼn “A liturgical mark (sālal, ‘to lift up’; Akkadian sullu, ‘prayer’), perhaps to lift up the voice or the hands in prayer. It may have come into use, possibly in the exilic period, in connection with psalms used in public worship to denote those places at which the priest should pronounce a benediction. Some take it to mean ‘to lift up’ the eyes, for the purpose of repeating the verse, thus the equivalent of ‘da capo’. Others would derive it from an Aramaic root sl, ‘to bow’, and so interpret it as directing the worshipper at this point to prostrate himself.” Vir ons beteken dit dat daar tydens aanbidding tyd vir refleksie en meditasie moet wees. Lofprysing is nooit eenrigting nie, ons wil ook op die Here wag, en hoor wat Hy wil sê tydens die aanbidding.

Verder gebeur die volgende sporadies en spontaan tydens ons Aanbidding.

Hande Klap – Ps 47:2; Jes 55:12
Juig, toejuig, uitroepe – Esra 3:11; Ps 95:1-2
Sang – Ps 100:4; Ps 101:1; Ps 105:2
Op jou aangesig lê – Gen 17:3
Kniel en neerbuig – Ps 95:6; Esra 9:5; Efe 3:14
Staan – Gen 18:22
Ophef van hande – Ps 63:5; Ps 28:3; 1 Tim 2:8; 1 Kon 8:54
Antifonies – (Weerklink, ego) Ps 107; 136; Neh 12:31, 40-42

Wat moet jy doen tydens aanbidding?

Bono die bekende popgroep U2 se hoofsanger wat ‘n belydende Christen is; sê dat alle musiek ‘n vorm van aanbidding is. Die een persoon aanbid sy verlore liefde, of ‘n plek, of ‘n persoon ens. ens. Wanneer ons dan dans en saam hande klap op die ritme van ‘n mooi liedjie waarvan ons hou is ons besig met ‘n vorm van aanbidding. Wanneer ons egter God moet aanbid dan is ons geïnhibeerd en voel ons ongemaklik.

Beweeg en sing saam. Al kan jy nie al die bewegings doen nie, of al ken jy nie die liedjies nie. Neem deel. Dis familie! Ons is mos nie vreemd saam met familie nie? Ons wys die gereedheid en gesindheid van ons hart, deur onsself nooit te vervreemd van familie nie. Sou jy gelowiges van ʼn ander taal en nasie besoek het, sou jy nie eers die woorde kon verstaan nie, maar nog steeds saam neurie en deelwees!

Moet net nie die werk van die Gees teëstaan nie, of verag soos Migal, Saul se dogter nie. (2 Sam 6) Niemand word verplig om enigiets te doen tydens aanbidding nie, ons doel is om mense te lei en te help om hulle eie lofoffer aan die Here te bring. Fokus dus op die Here, en loof Hom met jou hele hart.

Soms is daar tyd vir individuele aanbidding.

Toe buig die man hom neer en aanbid die Here (Ge 24:26)
En as Moses in die tent ingaan, kom die wolkkolom af en gaan by die ingang van die tent staan, en dan spreek Hy met Moses. En as die hele volk die wolkkolom sien staan by die ingang van die tent, staan die hele volk op en buig, elkeen aan die ingang van sy tent. Dan spreek die Here met Moses van aangesig tot aangesig soos ’n man met sy vriend spreek. (Ek 33:9-34:8)

Die belangrikheid van korporatiewe aanbidding.

Daarna het Dawid aan die hele vergadering gesê: Loof nou die Here julle God. Toe het die hele vergadering die Here, die God van hulle vaders, geloof; en hulle het gebuig en voor die Here en voor die koning neergeval. (1 Kr 29:20) Wanneer ons byeenkom is dit nie eintlik nie die tyd vir individuele aanbidding nie, alhoewel ons meestal daarvoor tyd inruim. Die liggaam wat saam die Here soos een mens aanbid, is welbehaaglik vir die Here! (Hy woon onder die lofsange, let wel meervoud, van Sy volk) Ps 133:1

Die gees waarin ons aanbid.
God sien ons hart en nie ons lofprysing bewegings nie. Jy kan dans, spring en juig maar God sien die hart waarmee jy dit doen. Dit is wesenlik belangrik dat ons sonder toorn, bitterheid, twis, onenigheid ons hande op steek na die Here. (1 Tim 2:8) Die Gees van aanbidding is die Gees van Christus nl: diens, onderwerping, die ander hoër ag, sensitief, nugter en ongeveins. Dit is wat die dinamika van korporatiewe aanbidding so kragtig maak, ons leer om saam die Here te loof en eer. Die hele gesin, en die hele gemeente loof die Here saam. Niemand staan eenkant of vervreem nie. God se koninkryk is insluitend, niemand word uitgesluit nie. Daarom neem ons mekaar in ag, ook in die keuse van die liedjies. Jonk en oud, lê ons eie smake en voorkeure neer om God saam te aanbid. Al hierdie ‘saam’ aksies is gesetel in die verloëning van self. Dit is in sterk teenstelling waar lofprysing maklik kan ontaard in selfgerigtheid, self verheerliking, mens verering, vleeslikheid en wedywering, vleeslike drif en fokus op menslike prestasies. Nederigheid, diensbaarheid, eenheid, ootmoed, gehoorsaamheid is die Gees van Christus wat moet heers in ons aanbidding.

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Mag die Kerk Oordeel?

Mag die Kerk Oordeel?

Oordeel word meestal in ʼn negatiewe lig gesien. Ons konnotasie met die woord bring ander woorde tot ons gedagtes soos: finaliteit, verwerping, afskryf, verwydering, straf en hel. Ons weet ook dat ons dit nie moet doen nie… maar tog doen ons almal dit selfs sonder dat ons weet. Skinder is ʼn vorm van oordeel, want ek het alreeds ʼn waarheid/oordeel oor iemand gevorm sonder dat die persoon ooit die geleentheid gekry het om hulleself te verdedig. Broeders, moenie van mekaar kwaad spreek nie. Die wat kwaad spreek van sy broeder en sy broeder oordeel, spreek kwaad van die wet en oordeel die wet; en as jy die wet oordeel, is jy nie ‘n dader van die wet nie, maar ‘n regter. (Jakobus 4:11)
Die wat daarvoor veg om nie te oordeel nie, oordeel die wat oordeel.
Die grootste rede hoekom die kerk sy stem verloor het om ʼn morele kompas vir die Wêreld te wees, is omdat ons nie eenstemmigheid het oor dissipline en oordeel nie. Ouers verloor ook op dieselfde wyse hulle gesag met hulle kinders wanneer die een sag is en die ander hard, en later met mekaar baklei oor die dissipline proses. Dit verwar die kind. Tog is die skrif duidelik oor die saak: Ons moet net eers ons eie voorbehoude en opinies uit die weg ruim. Soms is ons negatiewe perspektief oor dissipline ons eie subjektiewe seerkry ervarings waaroor ons nog nie genesing gekry het nie.
Maar wat is oordeel nou eintlik?

Uiteindelik is ons aardse oordeel net ʼn beoordeling en nie ware oordeel nie. Uiteindelik is God die enigste een wat oor ons almal gaan oordeel. Maar ek kies om God se oordele in my lewe nie te verontagsaam nie. (Ps 119: 4, 15, 27, 40, 45, 56, 63, 69, 104, 128, 134, 173) Eerder nou geoordeel word terwyl ons almal nog ʼn kans het om reg te maak, as die ewige oordeel, en ewige straf. Geen straf is sonder ʼn mate van oordeel nie. Daarom voel die persoon veroordeel. Oordeel en straf is onlosmaaklik deel van mekaar. ʼn Ouer wat sy kind die heeltyd waarsku maar nooit sover kom om sy kind te straf nie, verloor gesag in daardie kind se lewe.
Die kerk se straf en oordeel is die van ʼn mens en tydelik. Wanneer God finaal straf is daar geen uitkomkans nie . Dan is daar nie meer kans vir bekering nie. Menslike straf is altyd met die hoop op herstel en bekering! Wanneer die hele Christenkerk in eenheid kan kom met God se prosesse in ons lewens, kan ons meewerk tot genesing en herstel.
Dink gou aan die volgende scenario: Jou beste vriend kom vertel jou in die geheim, en neem jou in sy vertroue dat hy op pad is om moord te pleeg. Hoe sal jy dit hanteer? Gaan jy hom paai, en met hom barmhartig wees? Gaan jy sy sonde toe maak? Of gaan jy bereid wees om ʼn vriend te verloor om ʼn lewe te red? Hoe ondersteun jy ʼn vermeende moordenaar sonder om ʼn medepligtige te word? Hoekom breek jy kontak; hoekom gee jy jou vriend oor aan die gereg? Want uiteindelik wil jy hom/haar red van doodstraf en ook die persoon wat hy/sy wil vermoor.
Die kwessie is nie óf ons moet oordeel nie, maar hoe ons moet oordeel. Daar is net twee tipes oordeel: Regte oordeel en verkeerde oordeel. Om iemand te oordeel sonder dat jy al die feite het, betrokke is in die saak, en eerstehands getuienis het is soos om jouself regter oor ʼn saak te maak en die saak het nooit voorgekom nie. Regte oordeel is wanneer ons ʼn saak
en persoon direk konfronteer en na ʼn proses tot ʼn beslissing kom.
Verkeerde oordeel kom voor wanneer ons:

  • Iemand anders se gesag en hantering oordeel wat nie aan ons gegee is nie. Soos om ʼn pa wat sy kind straf te oordeel , bloot omdat ek nie van dissipline hou nie. Jy is nie betrokke in die verhouding en geskiedenis van ʼn saak nie. Paulus verduidelik dat ons nie iemand anders se hantering van sy dienskneg kan oordeel nie. (Rom 14:4) Kerke is soos gesinne en families, wanneer ʼn sekere kerk een van sy familie lede korrigeer en aanspreek, moet ander kerke die proses respekteer. Wanneer ons iemand wat onder dissipline is jammer kry, en simpatiseer misken ons die agent wat verandering en redding in daardie persoon se lewe moet bring. Dan begin die oortreder fokus op die sogenaamde verkeerde strafproses sonder om te deel met die oorsaak van die straf. Soos ʼn ma kan so ʼn persoon liefde wys, maar nie die straf in twyfel trek nie, eerder dit versterk en met sagtheid die persoon lei om hulle fout raak te sien. As almal saamwerk in die strafproses, is daar nie dubbelstandaarde en onsekerheid nie. Elkeen kan op verskillende wyses hulle onderskeie gawes gebruik om so ʼn persoon te help om tot hulle sinne te kom. Die Herder troos, maar is ferm om nie op die pak te fokus nie maar om die oorsprong van die sonde te vind. Die profeet vermaan van komende oordeel. Die apostel spreek saak direk aan, denkende aan die invloed wat sonde op die groter liggaam het. Die evangelis wys daarop dat so ʼn persoon hul invloed as getuie verloor. Die leraar wys op die skrifte en God se hart en hantering van die saak. Indien elkeen hulle rol in die restourasie proses verstaan, is die kans dat so ʼn persoon gered kan word mos soveel groter. (En aan sommige wat twyfel, moet julle barmhartigheid bewys; 23 maar ander moet julle met vrees red deur hulle uit die vuur te ruk; en ook die kleed moet julle haat wat deur sonde bevlek is.” (Jud 21-23)
  • Jy iemand vanuit ʼn toeskouer rol oordeel, veroordeel en straf toepas. Jy moet betrokke wees, en as te ware lisensie/gesag/aangestel/mandaat hê om te oordeel. Is die saak aan jou gegee? Almal het ʼn opinie oor ʼn saak, maar Bybelse oordeel soek altyd een uitkoms : Redding! Selfs toe Paulus die sonde van ʼn gemeentelid in Korinte oordeel was dit met dié doel in gedagte: “om so iemand aan die Satan oor te lewer tot verderf van die vlees, SODAT DIE GEES GERED KAN WORD IN DIE DAG VAN DIE HERE JESUS.” (1 Kor 5:5) Soos ʼn pa sy kind straf en ʼn pakslae gee om hom te red van onheil, so word oordeel gebruik as ʼn laaste uitweg om iemand tot sy/haar sinne te bring. Dit is vir die ouer geensins aangenaam om sy/haar kind te straf nie, inteendeel dis soms traumaties. Maar juis omdat ons, ons kinders lief het, en wil voorkom dat hulle in dwaasheid en in rebellie tot hul einde kom straf ons, ons kinders. (Heb 12:5-11) Dis tog algemene professionele praktyk, om nie mekaar se sake te bespreek en opinies daaroor te lewer alvorens ek nie aangestel is en al die feite voor my het nie.
  • Jy oordeel sonder dat jy die Bybelse pad met iemand gestap het. “EN as jou broeder teen jou sondig, gaan bestraf hom tussen jou en hom alleen. As hy na jou luister, dan het jy jou broeder gewin; 16 maar as hy nie luister nie, neem nog een of twee met jou saam, sodat in die mond van twee of drie getuies elke woord kan vasstaan. 17 En as hy na hulle nie luister nie, sê dit aan die gemeente; en as hy na die gemeente ook nie luister nie, laat hom vir jou wees soos die heiden en die tollenaar. (Mat 18:15-17) Vinnige oordeel is nooit goed nie, gee dit tyd en stap die pad van dissipline uit. Die uitsondering is wanneer mens regtig deur die Heilige Gees gelei word soos toe Paulus die Waarsêer Gees in ‘n vrou bestraf het. (Hand 16:18) Maar dit het tot haar vrymaking gelei. Jy beplan dit nie, en die saak wat jy oordeel het niks met jou as persoon te make nie. Dis die Heilige Gees wat deur jou werk om orde in die kerk te bring. (1 Tim 5:20; 4:2; Tit 1:13; 2:15) Wanneer jy iemand bestraf (rebuke) is dit ook korrek, omdat dit direkte konfrontasie is. Jesus se styl van bediening was direk, nooit met ompaadtjies, en mooi praatjies nie. Ek glo dat as ons self-verwoestende gedrag direk reguit konfronteer en sake reguit met mekaar uitpraat daar baie meer vrede in die huis van die Here wees. “Pas op vir julleself. En as jou broeder teen jou sondig, bestraf hom; en as hy berou kry, vergewe hom.” (Luk 17:3) Ons is soms so bang vir konflik en om iemand te na te kom, dat ons nie besef dat ons stilswye op die einde baie meer skade veroorsaak nie.
  • Jou oordeel nie waar en regverdig is nie. Lees Mat 23:1-31 Jesus spreek Hom uit teen die Fariseërs en Skrifgeleerdes. Hy maak baie kras en harde uitsprake: “Wee julle, skrifgeleerdes en Fariseërs, geveinsdes, blinde leiers, dwase, gewitte grafte, slange addergeslag!” Die feit is: Dit is die waarheid. Jesus voeg nie by, of oordryf nie. Hy sê dit presies soos dit is. Hy maak ook nie die oordeel as reaksie uit bitterheid of omdat hulle Hom nie ontvang nie. Enige kind ontvang sy pak wanneer Hy weet hy/sy was verkeerd. Wanneer hulle egter onregverdig of onskuldig gestraf word, maak dit hulle opstandig. Daarom is dit so belangrik om nie te vinnig ʼn oordeel te vel nie. Kry eers al die inligting ter sake, alvorens jy oordeel en konfronteer. Wanneer jy iemand konfronteer werk net met eerstehandse inligting en dit wat die Heilige Gees aan jou openbaar.
    Om nie regte oordeel toe te pas nie het konsekwensies:

    Sou ons as kerk nie die sonde in ons midde oordeel en hanteer nie, word die hele gemeente uiteindelik besoedel met die sonde. “Julle roem is nie mooi nie. Weet julle nie dat ‘n bietjie suurdeeg die hele deeg suur maak nie?” (1 Kor 5:6)
    Die laaste uitweg wat niemand graag wil doen nie:

    Om iemand vir wie jy eens lief was te vermy, en die verhouding te breek oor sonde is geen maklike taak nie. Hierdie hantering van verkeerd druis regstreeks in teen populêre opinie en die gees van die wêreld. Tog is dissiplinêre optrede alledaags in die werksplek. Wat laat ons dink dat dissipline nie ook in die kerk geld nie? Toe priesters hulle skuldig gemaak het aan seksuele misdrywe, wou ons nie graag hê dat daar opgetree word teen hierdie individue nie? Die oordeel hoef nie in gevangenisstraf te eindig nie, maar die verkeerd moet aangespreek en hanteer word.
    Die Bybel is baie duidelik dat ons mense wat hulle skuldig maak aan die volgende oortredings uit ons gemeenskap moet verwyder; hulle soos heidene moet behandel, nie met hulle moet kuier of eet nie.
    1 Kor 5:11-13: hoereerders, gierigaards of rowers of afgodedienaars.
    Rom 16:17: tweedrag en aanstoot veroorsaak teen die leer wat julle geleer het,
    Tit 3:10-11: ‘n man wat partyskap verwek,
    2 Tes 3:6: wat onordelik wandel en nie volgens die oorlewering wat hy van ons ontvang het nie.
    2 Tes 3:14-15: iemand aan ons woord in hierdie brief nie gehoorsaam is nie,
    1 Tim 6:3-5: 3 AS iemand iets anders leer en nie instem met die gesonde woorde van onse Here Jesus Christus en met die leer wat volgens die godsaligheid is nie,
    Tit 1:10-11: wat tugteloos is, wat onsin praat en verleiers is,
    Soos met enige vorm van straf is daar bitter min mense wat hulle sonde onmiddellik erken en bereid is om dit reguit en eerlik in die oë te kyk en ʼn pad van restourasie te soek.
    Tog is dit die enigste pad. Hoeveel huwelike het misluk en die partye het nog steeds nie ʼn benul oor wat verkeerd gegaan het nie. So stap ons met ons foute en tekortkominge van die een verhouding na die ander. Daar vind nie groei plaas nie, want ons regverdig ons verkeerd, ons verskuif die blaam, en ons is nie eerlik met onsself nie.
    Wanneer die kerk iemand tugtig is daar vele uitroepe wat sê: Wie is julle om te oordeel, het julle nie ook sonde nie. Is alle sonde nie dieselfde nie? Daar is ʼn reuse verskil tussen mense wat deur die geloof en Sy genade deurentyd wegstap van sonde, en diegene wat doelbewus en vasberade hulle oorgee aan sonde. Al het ons die grootste moontlike sonde gedoen, ons kan met ons sonde na die troon van genade kom en vergifnis ontvang. (Heb 4:14-16) As ons sonde bely is Hy getrou… om ons te vergewe (1 Pet 1:9) Vir die vrou wat op heterdaad in haar sonde gevang was, was daar genade. Jesus se Woord: “Gaan en sondig nie meer nie” was haar uitkomskaart na ʼn nuwe lewe. Sou sy egter nie gehoor gee, en terugdraai na sonde, sal sy nie van oordeel ontkom nie. Wanneer ons as kerk sonde oordeel sê ons nie ons is sonder sonde nie. Inteendeel die lig van God skyn tydens oordeel op almal se harte, en buig ons almal ons harte na die Here om ons te ondersoek. Ons tree nie uit hoogmoed op en oordeel nie. Ons verneder onsself voor die Here en laat juis toe dat Hy ons was. Inderwaarheid staan ons almal onder die Here se oordeel. Die kerk is net die Here se stem.
    Is dit dan nie die kerk se verantwoordelikheid om mense te vertel van God se genade EN oordeel nie. Ons sal mos nie die waarheid praat as ons net die een kant verkondig en swyg oor die ander nie?
    Jesus waarsku die fariseër van komende oordeel oor hulle valsheid. (Mat 23:14) Laster teen die heilige Gees sal nie vergewe word nie. (Mar 3:29) Dit sal draagliker wees vir Tirus en Sidon as vir die wat Hom nie ontvang het nie in die oordeelsdag. (Luk 10:14) En dit is die oordeel: dat die lig in die wêreld gekom het, en die mense het die duisternis liewer gehad as die lig; want hulle werke was boos. 20 Want elkeen wat kwaad doen, haat die lig en kom nie na die lig nie, dat sy werke nie bestraf mag word nie. 21 Maar hy wat die waarheid doen, kom na die lig, sodat sy werke openbaar kan word, dat hulle in God gedoen is. Die wat glo en doen sal die oordeel vryspring wat kom oor die hele aarde (Joh 5:24)
    Die Voordele om Dissipline en korreksie te ontvang:

    (Gal 6:1) Oordeel herstel in ʼn groot mate die vrees van die Here in ʼn huis. Net soos met enige familie: wanneer pa ʼn sekere kind straf, bring dit orde in die hele huis. Almal is sommer meer bewus van reg doen en reg leef. Paulus vertel dat hy sekere dinge gelei het ter wille van die liggaam. (Kol 1:24) Soms is een se korreksie ʼn geleentheid vir die wat nog wik en weeg om tot inkeer te kom. Daarom moet sekere sonde oop gemaak word, soos Dawid se owerspel, sodat ons vandag nog kan leer uit sy foute.
    Wanneer mens korreksie ontvang bespoedig dit die prosesse van God in jou lewe. Ons kan nie onsself verander nie, een van God se agente van verandering is korreksie (Heb 12:8) deur dit te weier en aan te hou om jouself te regverdig kan die verandering wat in jou nodig is nie plaasvind nie. (Heb 12:8) Jou smaak bly dieselfde (Jer 48 :11) God het ons genesing en herstel, restourasie in gedagte, sodat ons uiteindelike volkome in Christus sal wees en Hy volkome in ons. (Kol 1:27)
    Nog nooit was ons meer in gebed, meer voor die Here se lig en oë op ons lewens nie. Almal se harte word ontbloot by die straf van sonde. Mag die Here ons almal genadig wees en skenk dat ons goddelike berou sal ontvang en draai van dit wat sleg en verkeerd is. (2 Kor 7:7-10)
    Vrede en Genade in Christus !
    Jan Oosthuizen
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Sermons

When Love is not enough

When Love is not enough

Please read (Mat 7:15-23)
We so often say we love You Lord, but do they really? It is so easy to sing along songs in church about how much we love Him, but do we obey Him? Jesus’ love for the Father was tested, when He endured the most difficult burden of our sins and death saying: “Not My will be done, but thine!”
There are so many things in my life, that I know God wants me to do, but I never get around doing it. My spouse asked me to do something in the house ages ago, and I simply never do it. The Church made and appeal, and I felt that God wants me to respond, but I never did it.
Are we not singing too many love-songs in church, and doing too little? When we are asked to labor and come and work in church, like attending the prayer meetings, visiting the poor, praying for people at work. We just never get around to do it, with a long list of excuses.
God is not looking for obedience grounded in a slave mentality. He wants us to want to obey. Obedience should come naturally. There is nothing so offending when my spouse makes it clear that they did something out of obedience and I should take note that it was not easy, and that actually they did not want to do it. Love says: you should have wanted to do it for me, because you love me!
When people commit sin, adultery, deceit, selfish ambition, selfishness I cannot but question their love for God. Even more, I question their experiential knowledge of the Love of God.
No one filled with the love of God, can continue in sin.
We should focus more on trying to understand and come to see for ourselves the width, depth, and height of His love. (Eph 3:16-19) His love is what heals us. His love quench the hunger of your deepest desires. His love completes every yearning and longing you have in your heart. His love restores all the heartbreak. It is in seeing His love that we understand that all our desires were actually seeking Him. No husband or wife, no children, no perfect job, no conquest of any kind, can permanently fill and satisfy your desires like God. He is the author of Love. He is love! There is no true love without Him.
Let us study this passage closely in Matthew 7.
In vers 15 we are warned of false teachers. Ravenous wolves! How will you be able to discern them? By their fruits. Meaning the stuff they do! How they live, their attitude, values, habits and actions will prove whether they are true or not. In vers 17-19 Jesus explains that fruit bearing is a natural process. No matter how hard a citrus tree will strive to bear bananas, it cannot. You bear naturally according to your DNA. This is why our natures needs to be transformed by God. We need to be born again. (Joh 3:3-5; 1 Pet 1:21; 2 Cor 5:17) When we are changed from the inside we will naturally bear His fruit. (Gal 5:21-22) The opposite list mentioned in Galatians 5, is called “works” of the flesh. You cannot work godliness from the flesh. These people have a show of godliness but lacking the power. (2 Tim 3:5) When God transforms us from within, He becomes the means and power towards Godliness. He works His grace in us to do according to His will. (Phil 2:13)
Someone who is still struggling with sin, has not yet received this power. This is how you know that you walk in His grace. You overcome sin naturally. (Rom 5:17) Through God’s mercy we have gained access, but through His grace we have received power to overcome. (Heb 4:14-16) Obedience is thus not a work like that of a slave. Godly obedience is a grace that He works in us, because of our faith in Him. We have come to the place of desperation because we find no good in ourselves, we simply cannot perform His will. (Rom 7:19-25) But thank God through Jesus Christ, I find a power in Him that enables me to overcome sin. (Rom 8:2)
Back to Matthew 7:
In vers 21 Jesus continue with His line of thought saying that not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord shall enter the Kingdom. He is not interested in what we have done for Him, even performing miracles. Did we obey Him? This is what He is looking for. Vers 21 exclaimed: “You who practice lawlessness!”
Let us all come to realize this truth – The law cannot save you and make you right with God. But you cannot disobey the law and say you love Him. Whoever therefor breaks one of these commandments and teaches men so, will be called least in the Kingdom. (Mat 5:19) You are my friends if you do what I command them. (Joh 15:15) My food is to do the will of God. (Joh 4:34) As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons of God. (Rom 8:14) Obedience is important to God.
You cannot divorce your spouse, and say I love God. You are breaking His law! He hates divorce! (Mal 2:16) Read (Mal 2:12-17) It also speaks of people bringing their sacrifices of worship to God, they come with weeping and crying. But you deal treacherously with the wife of your youth? You have wearied the Lord with your words v17.
You cannot be guilty of the following practices and fruit and be named among the elect. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person. (1 Cor 5:11)
When one turns from these and repent there is mercy and grace. (Heb 4:14) But when one identifies with sin, and line yourself up with it, you will be judged with the sin by the church. “put away from yourself this evil person” (1 Cor 5:13) Paul’s plea to the church in this whole chapter is: Why are you as the church not judging this person? Do you not know that little leaven leavens the whole lump? (v6) He exclaims: as absent from the body but present in the spirit, I have already judged this person! (v3)
God will cut away the branch that does not bear fruit. (John 15:2) If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (v6)
We cannot escape God’s law. We cannot disobey Him, and think we can correct our rebellion with nice words and emotional worship songs! May we be totally raptured in His love! May we be so filled with His presence and love that shines on our darkness and draws us unto Himself, so that He can heal us. “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (Joh 3:18)
We all like to know God. We even presume we know Him. What a shock it will be one day to hear: “I never knew you; depart from Me!” (Mat 7:23) When we read further in Mathew 7:24-29 Jesus continues to explain why this is so important for us to not just hear His words but to obey Him. When we only hear, but do not obey we are like someone who builds his house on sand. This is why so many Christian leaders and people are losing their testimony and fall into sin. They did not obey! Whether you are a Christian for many years or only a few months the same standard is set for everyone –obedience! You need to mix your hearing with actions of faith. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (Heb 4:2)
Why do some Christian believers marriage’s fail, are their business not producing good success, and their relationship with people always in troublesome waters? I am over simplifying. But hear the truth: Obedience is good fruit! Obedience is building your house on the rock! Obedience is what gives us authority. (2 Cor 10:6)
though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, (Heb 5:8) Even Jesus had to learn obedience! We do not learn obedience when everything is going well. It is when we struggling through difficulties and hardship, that we need to hear from God what to do. Do not pray to God for the problem to go away. Rather ask Him for a ‘Jesus’ strategy on how to overcome it. We are not victims of people’s wrongdoing. We cannot blame others for our sin. In God, in the scriptures, in the life and way of Christ there is solutions to be found on how to handle every difficulty! Instead of searching for the problem in someone else, rather seek the answer in the Word of God. Let the Holy Spirit guide and teach you His ways. Learn from other believers who have already discovered truths and ways on how to overcome. I have found that with obedience, comes the grace to obey. Before obedience the task may seem daunting, but the moment you agree to do it, you will feel the energy of God’s Spirit working in you to do it. The more you obey, the more you will want to obey. Just do it!
We all know the feeling when your spouse, declares that “they love you” yet when you ask them to do something for you, they forget, or went and did something else for you. This is really frustrating. May God wash our hearts and work His grace of reverence and the fear of the Lord in our hearts, dealing with all rebellion, hardness of heart, unwillingness to yield, resentment, excuses, procrastination, and everything that hinders us to walk an obedient life to His Glory! God is most glorified in us, when Christ is most evident in us!
We receive His obedience by faith.
Grace and Peace
Apostle Jan and Prophet Chantál, called by the grace of God to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
 

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When Love is not enough

Please read (Mat 7:15-23)
We so often say we love You Lord, but do they really? It is so easy to sing along songs in church about how much we love Him, but do we obey Him? Jesus’ love for the Father was tested, when He endured the most difficult burden of our sins and death saying: “Not My will be done, but thine!”
There are so many things in my life, that I know God wants me to do, but I never get around doing it. My spouse asked me to do something in the house ages ago, and I simply never do it. The Church made and appeal, and I felt that God wants me to respond, but I never did it.
Are we not singing too many love-songs in church, and doing too little? When we are asked to labor and come and work in church, like attending the prayer meetings, visiting the poor, praying for people at work. We just never get around to do it, with a long list of excuses.
God is not looking for obedience grounded in a slave mentality. He wants us to want to obey. Obedience should come naturally. There is nothing so offending when my spouse makes it clear that they did something out of obedience and I should take note that it was not easy, and that actually they did not want to do it. Love says: you should have wanted to do it for me, because you love me!
When people commit sin, adultery, deceit, selfish ambition, selfishness I cannot but question their love for God. Even more, I question their experiential knowledge of the Love of God.
No one filled with the love of God, can continue in sin.
We should focus more on trying to understand and come to see for ourselves the width, depth, and height of His love. (Eph 3:16-19) His love is what heals us. His love quench the hunger of your deepest desires. His love completes every yearning and longing you have in your heart. His love restores all the heartbreak. It is in seeing His love that we understand that all our desires were actually seeking Him. No husband or wife, no children, no perfect job, no conquest of any kind, can permanently fill and satisfy your desires like God. He is the author of Love. He is love! There is no true love without Him.
Let us study this passage closely in Matthew 7.
In vers 15 we are warned of false teachers. Ravenous wolves! How will you be able to discern them? By their fruits. Meaning the stuff they do! How they live, their attitude, values, habits and actions will prove whether they are true or not. In vers 17-19 Jesus explains that fruit bearing is a natural process. No matter how hard a citrus tree will strive to bear bananas, it cannot. You bear naturally according to your DNA. This is why our natures needs to be transformed by God. We need to be born again. (Joh 3:3-5; 1 Pet 1:21; 2 Cor 5:17) When we are changed from the inside we will naturally bear His fruit. (Gal 5:21-22) The opposite list mentioned in Galatians 5, is called “works” of the flesh. You cannot work godliness from the flesh. These people have a show of godliness but lacking the power. (2 Tim 3:5) When God transforms us from within, He becomes the means and power towards Godliness. He works His grace in us to do according to His will. (Phil 2:13)
Someone who is still struggling with sin, has not yet received this power. This is how you know that you walk in His grace. You overcome sin naturally. (Rom 5:17) Through God’s mercy we have gained access, but through His grace we have received power to overcome. (Heb 4:14-16) Obedience is thus not a work like that of a slave. Godly obedience is a grace that He works in us, because of our faith in Him. We have come to the place of desperation because we find no good in ourselves, we simply cannot perform His will. (Rom 7:19-25) But thank God through Jesus Christ, I find a power in Him that enables me to overcome sin. (Rom 8:2)
Back to Matthew 7:
In vers 21 Jesus continue with His line of thought saying that not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord shall enter the Kingdom. He is not interested in what we have done for Him, even performing miracles. Did we obey Him? This is what He is looking for. Vers 21 exclaimed: “You who practice lawlessness!”
Let us all come to realize this truth – The law cannot save you and make you right with God. But you cannot disobey the law and say you love Him. Whoever therefor breaks one of these commandments and teaches men so, will be called least in the Kingdom. (Mat 5:19) You are my friends if you do what I command them. (Joh 15:15) My food is to do the will of God. (Joh 4:34) As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons of God. (Rom 8:14) Obedience is important to God.
You cannot divorce your spouse, and say I love God. You are breaking His law! He hates divorce! (Mal 2:16) Read (Mal 2:12-17) It also speaks of people bringing their sacrifices of worship to God, they come with weeping and crying. But you deal treacherously with the wife of your youth? You have wearied the Lord with your words v17.
You cannot be guilty of the following practices and fruit and be named among the elect. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person. (1 Cor 5:11)
When one turns from these and repent there is mercy and grace. (Heb 4:14) But when one identifies with sin, and line yourself up with it, you will be judged with the sin by the church. “put away from yourself this evil person” (1 Cor 5:13) Paul’s plea to the church in this whole chapter is: Why are you as the church not judging this person? Do you not know that little leaven leavens the whole lump? (v6) He exclaims: as absent from the body but present in the spirit, I have already judged this person! (v3)
God will cut away the branch that does not bear fruit. (John 15:2) If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (v6)
We cannot escape God’s law. We cannot disobey Him, and think we can correct our rebellion with nice words and emotional worship songs! May we be totally raptured in His love! May we be so filled with His presence and love that shines on our darkness and draws us unto Himself, so that He can heal us. “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (Joh 3:18)
We all like to know God. We even presume we know Him. What a shock it will be one day to hear: “I never knew you; depart from Me!” (Mat 7:23) When we read further in Mathew 7:24-29 Jesus continues to explain why this is so important for us to not just hear His words but to obey Him. When we only hear, but do not obey we are like someone who builds his house on sand. This is why so many Christian leaders and people are losing their testimony and fall into sin. They did not obey! Whether you are a Christian for many years or only a few months the same standard is set for everyone –obedience! You need to mix your hearing with actions of faith. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (Heb 4:2)
Why do some Christian believers marriage’s fail, are their business not producing good success, and their relationship with people always in troublesome waters? I am over simplifying. But hear the truth: Obedience is good fruit! Obedience is building your house on the rock! Obedience is what gives us authority. (2 Cor 10:6)
though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, (Heb 5:8) Even Jesus had to learn obedience! We do not learn obedience when everything is going well. It is when we struggling through difficulties and hardship, that we need to hear from God what to do. Do not pray to God for the problem to go away. Rather ask Him for a ‘Jesus’ strategy on how to overcome it. We are not victims of people’s wrongdoing. We cannot blame others for our sin. In God, in the scriptures, in the life and way of Christ there is solutions to be found on how to handle every difficulty! Instead of searching for the problem in someone else, rather seek the answer in the Word of God. Let the Holy Spirit guide and teach you His ways. Learn from other believers who have already discovered truths and ways on how to overcome. I have found that with obedience, comes the grace to obey. Before obedience the task may seem daunting, but the moment you agree to do it, you will feel the energy of God’s Spirit working in you to do it. The more you obey, the more you will want to obey. Just do it!
We all know the feeling when your spouse, declares that “they love you” yet when you ask them to do something for you, they forget, or went and did something else for you. This is really frustrating. May God wash our hearts and work His grace of reverence and the fear of the Lord in our hearts, dealing with all rebellion, hardness of heart, unwillingness to yield, resentment, excuses, procrastination, and everything that hinders us to walk an obedient life to His Glory! God is most glorified in us, when Christ is most evident in us!
We receive His obedience by faith.
Grace and Peace
Apostle Jan and Prophet Chantál, called by the grace of God to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.