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Put back the holy in ordinary secular work.

Key scripture: Mat 5:16 “may your good works glorify your father in heaven” (1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV). Do all to the Glory of God
One of the key concepts of the Reformation was coram Deo: all of life is lived “before the face of God.” In other words, there was no separation between the sacred and the secular Excerpt From: “The Reformation Manifesto: Your Part in God’s Plan to Change Nations Today” by Cindy Jacobs. Scribd.  Read this book on Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/235000503

You cannot fix crooked getting with right giving.

I find sometimes this believe among Christians that they are trying to fix with religious activities like prayer and giving a bad and wrong work-ethic. You cannot fix deceitful getting by giving tithes and offerings. The way you earn your giving is as important as the giving.
It is very clear, work is worship. The manner and way we work glorify God. After all these thousands of years, we still stand in awe at the wonder of God’s work – creation! What can we learn from the way God worked creation? His creation is sustainable, intricate, beautiful, in order, balanced, wonderful, and creative. When Godly character is evident in our work, God gets glorified. Proverbs 22:4,9 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. Many people say I have no skills. You can teach any man a skill, but character is birthed. The most sought-after job-seekers are ones with godly character. Society is calling for leaders with character.
Made in His image we have received the same abilities and potential locked up in all of us, get working! (Prov 22:29) “excel in your work, will bring you before Kings” I believe if every Christian Born Again believer work God’s way, there will be no unemployment in the church. We would be the most sought-after individuals on the planet for employment. He has put the Christ-like ability in us at our salvation. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work (2 Cor 9:8) God even anointed certain men with the skill to do special work. (Ex 31:1-6; 35:30-35) The first ever people to be anointed by God was the artisans. Daniel worked in a Babylonian system: Dan 5:14, could find no error in His work Dan 6:4 Joseph ruled over Egypt through his wisdom and insight – Gen 41:38-39 We have the spirit of God with us, to lead an guide us in business decisions.
I learned that Genesis tells us God gave us a job even before he gave us a family. We were created in the image of God to be co-creators with Him. Gen 1:28 “fill the earth and subdue it. Subdue: kabas: A verb meaning to subdue, to bring into subjection, to enslave. It means basically to overcome. We are destined to overcome, life’s obstacles and difficulties. Every big invention we celebrate today, first have been a big problem.
Avoda, or Avodah is a Hebrew word, literally meaning “work”. In a modern context, usually refers to business-type activities, it can also mean agricultural work and, more traditionally, serving God. In its original, traditional sense, “avodah” was applied to sacrifices offered in Temple in Jerusalem. The word was also used to described the epitome of sacrificial rite, the complex and fraught main service of the The High Priest on Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). Today it refers to a liturgical reenactment of the aforementioned ceremony which is recited during the Musaf Amidah of Yom Kippur.
True Christianity creates no division between secular and sacred. Every task we undertake, paid or not paid, is to be done to the Lord. May the Lord Jesus by His powerful Spirit remove the duality in our thinking today! Work is holy! In Switzerland all work is seen with dignity. Work is dignity. The oppressive slave system of colonialism made certain tasks and work seen as lower, degrading, and of lesser importance and prominence. If you are called as a street sweeper, do it to the glory of Go, so that those who pass by exclaim: “look at the clean streets, it looks like heaven”

Labor for eternal food

(Joh 6:27; Mat 4:4; Joh 4:13-14)
Working for food and belongings can never satisfy your soul, only finding your purpose in God. Our creational purpose is to be Christlike Rom 8:29 Our lives are hidden in Him (Col 3:2) The curse of work that came with Adam’s sin, is loosing our true identity. The curse is not in the work we do, but doing it like a slave, because you have to, not because it is your calling. Many people after retirement become even more busy, because they love their work. Work makes you happy. You feel good after a day’s work. Sleep well.

Remain in your calling

1 Cor 7:20 The Bible does not look negatively to slavery. To build a healthy economy you need workers, slaves and leaders. Each one have received a different talent all according to his own ability. (Mat 25:14, 15) Jesus Himself took on the form of a bondservant. (Phil 2:5) The quickest way to discover your true calling, begin to serve somebody. The Bible is actually specific about this: we should honor our parents, the best way to honor them, is to serve them. Jesus learned to obey earthly parents first for 30 years, before He was released for ministry. He also had no ambition to begin His public ministry, His mother prompted Him. (Joh 2:4) Paul served for 17 years in total before he was commissioned as an Apostle. (Gal 1:18; 2:1) Paul often refer to himself as a Bondservant of Christ. (Gal 1:10) This Bible actually gives specific instructions to Slaves and Owners. (Eph 5:6-9) Paul wrote a letter to the owner of a slave, to honor and respect that role. (Philemon) General instructions is given to not judge another person’s slave. (Rom 14:4)
Once we have discovered His gift of righteousness, we work from a position of rest. (Heb 4:8–11) The rest of faith and obedience. We do not work to achieve his favor, or prominence before man. We have received His favor, acceptance, sonship and want to be productive with what we have received.

Riches is produced by the way we work, not mere work alone.

It is His blessing that makes one rich not to just work harder. (Prov 10:22) It is also important to realize that it is not work itself that brings riches. There are very hard working people in Africa that remains poor. The blessing is not in work alone, but in multiplication. See the parable of the talents. We often equate faithfulness with being steadfast, consistence, dependable, reliable, dependable, loyal, true, trustworthy, devoted, truthful. Jesus equates faithfulness with something else – multiplication. Whatever God gives to us, He expect us to multiply and present it back to Him.

Remove the curse of sin out of work

Most Christians see work as secular and worldly, unholy. With this mindset they seek to now work for God. How do you work for God? Preaching, prison visitation, feeding the hungry? What do pastors do with all their time, when everyone else is working? At least the apostles gave themselves to prayer and study of the Word. Instead we should take the holy back to the workplace, we need Pastors at the forefront to be examples in this.
APOSTLES WORK HARD
Joh 4:38 – and you have entered into their labor
2 Cor 6:5 – labors
2 Cor 10:15 – measure of our labour – We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others
2 Cor 11:23 – with far greater labors 1 Cor 15:10
1 Cor 4:12 Working with our own hands
2 Thes 3:8 with toil and labor
Work is a blessing to be enjoyed. (Eccl 2:24, 26) God is delighted in our fruitfulness. When the faithful servants brought their returns to their master, he not only blessed them, and gave them more he said: Enter into the JOY OF THE LORD. (Mat 25:20)

Work is ordained by God

Ge 1:27-28 See also Ex 20:9 pp Dt 5:13; Ps 104:23
Work is part of the rhythm of life. Like sleep, food, and fun, we need to work. It keeps us healthy. When an old person can do no more work, they die soon. Work keeps you moving, productive, feeling dignified and healthy.
God works Joh 4:34; 5:17; John 17:4 thus being created in His image, there is something Godly and divine about work. Employment is going to become the most scarce resource on earth. May we take up our Godly call not to only find work for ourselves, but create work for others. Like Paul we say: “as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Cor 6:10)
In his book “Jesus a Pilgrimage” James Martin explains in great detail life in Nazareth, we Jesus grew up as boy and young man. Nazareth was located “on the fringe of the Roman Empire, both geographically and politically.” Only two to four hundred people lived there in Jesus’s day. Today the ruins of the houses in Nazareth are scant, but the archaeological evidence has revealed small dwellings built with local stones (basalt or limestone) that were stacked roughly atop one another. The floors were of packed earth and the roofs thatched, constructed over beams of wood and held together with mud. Families lived in small houses clustered together around a “yard” where common activities were performed. Evidence from the rooms points to little privacy for the inhabitants, but a great sense of community. Every one knew each other, is this not the carpenter’s son Mt 13:55–56.
The conditions was “filthy, malodorous and unhealthy” by contemporary standards. Most skeletal remains predictably show iron and protein deficiencies, and most had severe arthritis. A case of the flu, a bad cold, or an abscessed tooth could kill. Life expectancy, for the luckier half that survived childhood, was somewhere in the thirties. Those reaching fifty or sixty were rare.
Life was hard, and people lived perilously close to the edge, economically and socially. People did not travel afar much, since it was both dangerous and expensive. When they did— for example, for the pilgrimage to Jerusalem— they did so in larger groups so as to ward off bandits. Life was, as Crossan and Reed say, “predominantly local.”
Nazareth is not mentioned anywhere in the Old Testament. Nor is it mentioned in the Talmud, which lists sixty- three other villages in Galilee, or in the writings of Josephus, who names forty- five other Galilean villages. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” asks Nathanael. 23 In that Gospel passage Nazareth is, quite literally, a joke. And yet, just four miles from Nazareth was Sepphoris, a bustling city of thirty thousand, which was being rebuilt at the time by Herod Antipas. Yet Jesus chose Nazareth as the proper place to prepare himself for public ministry.
One archaeological team wrote about Nazareth: “The principal activity of these villagers was agriculture. Nothing in the finds suggests wealth.” In his parables and stories Jesus frequently makes use of images not from carpentry, which one would expect, but from farming— the sower and the seeds, the mustard seed, and the weeds that grow up alongside the wheat,

We will eventually be judged by our works:

Mat 16:27 reward each one according to his works
Mat 23:3 but do not do according to their works, for they say and do not do.
Mat 26:10 she has done a good work for me
Your works bears witness of who you are: Joh 5:36; not being able to work is compared with darkness. Joh 9:4

Faith is work

Works of faith vs works of the law (James 2:14- 26 vs Heb 6:1)
We are called to be workers of miracles not waiters until he does the miracles
Faith is proven by its works (James 2:22, 25)
Good works acceptable unto God are only possible through God’s grace active in one’s heart (Matt. 5:16; John 6:28; 14:12). They are always the result of salvation and not the means of salvation. Man cannot do any work to earn God’s favor unto salvation (Rom. 4:1- 5; Eph. 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5). Salvation is given by God in grace, and there is no way that it can be earned.

THE PURPOSE OF WORK IS:

God ordained work as the normal routine of living. Every legitimate human task, therefore, is of intrinsic worth, however menial it may seem, and is potentially a means of glorifying God.
• That people should be self-supporting Ge 3:19 See also Ps 128:2; 1Th 4:12
• That people should find self-fulfilment Ecc 2:24 See also Pr 14:23; Ecc 3:22; 5:19
• That people should serve/give to others Eph 4:28 See also Pr 31:15; 1Th 2:9; 1Ti 5:8
• That people should glorify God Col 3:17 See also 1Co 10:31; Eph 6:5-8 pp Col 3:22-24
Surely like all good things the enemy seek to corrupt what God has given as a gift. People get absorbed in their work, they only work and not rest in Christ, we work and have no fun, loosing our playfulness, we become work orientated and task orientated and loose loose our sensitivity for people. Getting the job done becomes more important than people. It is not easy to learn to balance all these priorities and tasks. But the life of the spirit is a life of rhythm, being focussed on HIM, working for Him, obedience to the spirit, rather than obedience to the TO DO list. Daniel made it his duty to pray 3 times per day. Dan 6:10 Cornelius work, and good deeds, and prayers became a remembrance before God. Acts 10:1-3
Your workplace is the only church some people will ever see. Let God open our eyes to see the god-given value of work. We are called to do even greater works than Him Joh 14:10. This is why He has given us His strength to do all things. (Phil 4:13)
 

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Cultivating the Finished Work of Christ

Cultivating the Finished Work of Christ

Notes By Dr. Andre Pelser
Not DO, but DONE – Living from the completed work of Christ (Alan Platt)
It is Finished – (David Wilkerson)
The inception of our spiritual lives began the moment He said it is finished. – Mike Wood
We cannot attain righteousness without God’s inward help.
Eccl 7:20
Isa 64:6
Mat 5:20
Our righteousness is an abomination for God.
Luk 16:15
Mat 23:28
Luk 18:9
Rom 3:10
Rom 3:20
Phil 3:6
Seek and find His righteousness – Mat 6:33
It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process. –Hebrews 10:14, The Message
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. –Romans 10:1–4
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” –Romans 1:17 Herein lies the secret of the power of the gospel; there is no good news in it until the righteousness of God is revealed! –Romans 1:17, The Mirror
Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. –Romans 5:18 The J.B. Phillips translation of Romans 5:18 reads as follows: We see, then, that as one act of sin exposed the whole race of men to God’s judgment and condemnation, so one act of perfect righteousness presents all men freely acquitted in the sight of God.
In Eden the only work Adam had to do was to cultivate the finished product of a perfect Garden and name all the animals (work from a position of rest). The names that Adam called them became theirs forever. His words had so much creative power.
When Adam sinned God drove him and Eve out of the Garden of Eden and commanded him to till the ground and earn his bread by the sweat of his brow (self effort). He had to continually make sacrifices for sins. (Genesis 2:5; 3:23)
Flesh tills the ground; spirit cultivates the finished work of Christ Jesus.
Flesh represents the works that self effort produces (not the physical body as we presume). When you try to finish what God has already finished it is called the works of the flesh. In other places in the Scriptures it is called ‘dead works’ that we have to repent of.
We are not trying to get; we have already received.
We are not trying to get there; we have already arrived.
We are not trying to get healed; we were healed 2 000 years ago already.
We are not trying to become; we are.
The very act of trying spells unbelief.
Mercy destroys sin in people’s lives.
When God planted the Garden of Eden everything was good and perfect in His sight. The fruit were pleasant in man’s sight and pleasant to eat.
The Messiah finished the transgression. He made an end of sin. Sin is no longer a problem. Daniel understood the revelation of the Messiah through reading Jeremiah’s prophecy and then Daniel prophesied: Daniel 9:23: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
The righteousness Jesus brought into the world is everlasting righteousness – not righteousness until your next sin.
Preachers of condemnation tell you to try to get forgiven. It is too late, God already forgave us all at the cross 2 000 years ago. It is the same with healing. You were already healed.
What a glorious Gospel we have! We can only appreciate and enjoy the glory of the Gospel when we are no longer under condemnation and guilt. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who learn to walk according to the prompting of the Spirit and not the flesh. Romans 8:1-8
The spirit realm is the third dimension where things are already established and permanent. When we walk in the spirit we enjoy eternal blessings, not temporal ones. We engage in eternal things because we enjoy eternal life – now in this life, and not just in the life to come.
We don’t take communion to get healed; we are already healed. We take communion to claim Christ’s death where healing was already accomplished. When we worship God in spirit and truth we have fellowship with God and with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanse us from all sin – continually! Jesus’ blood flows through his body (the Church) just as our blood flows through our entire body.
We cultivate the finished work of Christ.
We are complete in Him. When Jesus died on the cross he announced: it is finished! He fulfilled all the requirements of the law that was against us, and wiped out the handwriting that is against us, nailing it to the cross! Colossians 2:13-15
We don’t fight for victory; we fight from a standpoint of victory. God always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus. II Corinthians 2:14, 15
Adam named all the animals and birds in the Garden of Eden. What he said remained true forever. His words had such power. When we are in Christ Jesus our words of faith also have creative ability. The Father of our faith had to learn to speak according to what he believed. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. God told Abraham, ‘you are a father of many nations!’ Abraham believed it and started confessing it continually.
Abraham called things that did not exist as though they were – in spite of sense evidence that proved contrary. He called himself ‘father of nations’ when he and Sarah had no son. He called her, ‘mother of nations’ long before she bore Isaac (meaning laughter). Romans 4:17-24
How you hear determines how it will be given to you. When you hear the anointed Word of God it enters your spirit before it enters your mind. Your spirit illuminates your understanding. That is why we receive the engrafted Word by faith and not by reason. By faith you receive what God says, long before you understand it, and the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ enlightens the eyes of your understanding to see the hope of your calling, the riches of God invested in the saints and the power of God that raised Jesus from the dead that works mightily in us who believe! (Ephesians 1:17-21)
The entrance of God’s Word brings light. When God’s Word enters your spirit you see a lot of good things inside yourself. When you acknowledge the good things Christ has already done in you it stimulates your faith. You communicate your faith much better when you focus on the good things Christ has already accomplished in your life. (Philemon 6: Let the communication of your faith become more effectual by acknowledging the good things of Christ in you – Phillips Translation of the New Testament) If you focus on all the things that still have to change in your life, it makes you discouraged.
The anointing on the Word switches on the light of the Word.
When someone preaches with anointing, it switches on the light. You see the answers you were looking for. You know what to do. David said, ‘in Your light we see the light!’
In order to cultivate the finished work of Christ, we have to stay tuned to the wavelength of Grace. The moment you switch wavelengths, you lose your peace and joy and fall back into the works of the flesh. You try to obey the Law again in your own strength, instead of waiting patiently for the Lord to change things inside of you. It is a work of His grace. Every time you try to change yourself you fail, become discouraged and lose hope. The creature cannot change itself. The Creator alone can change his creatures.
You can yield yourself to God to speed up the process, though. When we worship in spirit and truth, God does so much inside of us that we do not even notice. When we have fellowship with God and with one another, God affects the changes and brings the cure we so desperately need. Then no man can get the glory except God. He does the work we cannot do. He does it by the power of His Spirit. It is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. It is a Spirit of grace and supplication. He graciously makes supplication for us. He intercedes for us, because we don’t really know how to pray. Therefore everything works together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:26-28)
So if God closes a door it is because He is about to open a more effectual door. When God ends one relationship, He is already preparing a better relationship. God only has good things in store for us. He is our loving heavenly Father. Jesus paid the price to reconcile us with Him. The more we love Jesus the less we sin. To whom much has been forgiven, loves much. We love Him because He first loves us.
Love is a grace frequency.
Our faith works through love (Galatians 5:6). When we distort the grace of God and frustrate it in our lives, we feel unloved and deserted by God. Then we feel sorry for ourselves and throw a pity party. The grace is still there, but we have moved positions. We have changed frequency.
God’s grace is sufficient for us – He supplies all our needs. He has already provided everything we need to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. He gave it together with His own son that He sacrificed for our sins. It is already done. We need to cultivate the habit of glorifying God for what Christ has already accomplished for us.
 

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Made for His Presence

Made for His Presence

100_2331 (Small)
WORD WEALTH
60:1 glory, chabod (kah-vohd); Strong’s #3519: Weightiness; that which is substantial or heavy; glory, honor, splendor, power, wealth, authority, magnificence, fame, dignity, riches, and excellency. The root of chabod is chabad, “to be heavy, glorious, notable,” or “to be renowned.” In the OT, “heaviness” represented honor and substance, while “lightness” was equated with vanity, instability, temporariness, and emptiness (see Judg. 9:4; Zeph. 3:4). Chabod is God’s glory, not only His honor, renown, and majesty, but also His visible splendor, which filled Solomon’s temple and will someday fill the Earth (1 Kin. 8:11; Num. 14:21). From chabod are derived the names “Jochebed” (“Yahweh Is Glory”) and Ichabod (“Where Is the Glory?”). Hayford, J. W. (Ed.). (1997). Spirit filled life study Bible (electronic ed., Is 59:21). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
We have all been in a meeting where you suddenly feel a presence, a heaviness as God manifest His presence to our senses. This experience is God’s manifested presence, where He allow us to feel Him through our senses. On the other hand, God is omnipresent. Everything has been created through Him, and for Him. Colossians 1:17 But God cannot be contained in Creation Deuteronomy 4:39 Nor can He be contained in our Cathedrals and Church Buildings. 1 Kgs 8:27; 2 Chr 2:6; Ps 139; Isa 66:1. He Holds everything created together by His Word. Ps. 33:6; John 1:3; 2 Pet. 3:5.
GOD IS ALWAYS PRESENT
This truth is a sobering realization. God is always present, and He is always there. The fact that you do not feel him or sense Him, does not mean He is not there. Jacob also did not initially recognize God’s Presence. Genesis 28:16 When Adam & Eve sinned, God knew yet He continued to come and meet them in the evening as usual. The fact is, they moved. This is the reason why God asked: “Adam where are you?” God has not moved, sin moved man away. Asking the question: “Where is God?” is like asking where is the Earth? Or “Where is the Sun?”? The fact that you haven’t seen the earth from a satellite or spaceship perspective does not mean it is not there. God is the suffering God, that although not bound or contained by Creation, allow Himself to feel the groanings of Creation. Rom 8:21
THE BIBLE IS A COMPILATION OF ENCOUNTER STORIES BETWEEN GOD & MAN
The Bible is man’s narrative with a God that is present, and the different ways He makes Himself known to man.  We were made for His presence, Gen 1:24; 28. His presence is the homecoming all mankind is seeking.  In His presence we find ourselves, we get healed and restored, and we find real peace.  In His presence, we find rest for our souls.  Man’s strange attraction to psychedelic drugs is a clear sign of our inward desire to be raptured to a place of peace and rest. The word Shekinah Glory has this meaning to be raptured into a state of ecstasy.
Gen 3:21 God slaughtered the first kind of sacrifice by killing an innocent animal to make clothes covering their sin/shamed/nakedness. Even right here at the opening of the Story, God shows his heart and intent of one day slaughtering His own Son for our sins.
FAITH IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT
Why was Cain’s gift not excepted? What’s wrong with you? Why do you look so angry? If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling. But you did the wrong thing, and now sin is waiting to attack you like a lion. Sin wants to destroy you, but don’t let it!”
Genesis 4:6-7 CEV What did he do wrong? By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain Heb 11:4 By Faith Abel saw or understood that God wanted the Firstfruits of his herd, slaughtered. God is not impressed with what we can do for Him, He wants to do great things through us, if we are willing to listen and obey. Cain trusted in his own ability and wanted to show-off! Abel obeyed what he heard in His heart.
From hear on the Bible story continues and we see individual appearances and encounters.
Ex. 3:5 – God appearing to Moses – Holy Ground
Exo 33:15-16  Moses see God face to face.
Exo 40:34-40 – The fire column at night and the cloud in the day. The moved after the presence
Moses – Exodus 40:34–35 – cloud filled the Temple – Salomon – 2 Chron. 5:13–14
As the Story unfold God’s intend is becoming clearer.
Lev. 26:12 God wants to walk among His people.
Ex. 25:8–9 – God’s presence located in the temple.
1 Chron 13 – Uzza dies trying to save the Ark from falling. In Verse 1 David’s mistakes is made evident. He consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader… After the tragedy he too had to first consult God, on the procedure. 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?”  In 1 Chron 15:2 David consulted God’s Word on instructions how to move the Ark.  Man’s effort to try to contain or control God’s presence become withcraft! No one method works every time. We need to get to know God, find out what He wants, and then by faith obey. This is why Jesus never did any miracle in the same way. There is no methods. There is no “Glory” recipe. God will not allow us to demand and control Him. Sometimes people begin to worship the method. Worship the temple. Worship the worship! God is a relational God. Our sacrifices and worship become unbearable for Him to listen to because there is no faith and no heart in it.
1 Sam. 4:21 – Ichabod – Eventually the glory departed
The Prophets prophesied what is to come – Ezek. 47:9; Ezek. 37:26–28
1Ki 8:27 pp 2Ch 6:18 See also 2Ch 2:6; Isa 66:2-3 God never wanted our buildings, He wanted to live in a man and a woman, whose heart is upright and contrite.
JESUS became the full manifestation of His presence – Kingdom is near.
John 1:1–4, 14 – Jesus became God’s presence in the flesh (Matt. 1:22–23; cf. Isa. 7:14) “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world” (John 17:24).
Jesus bought us the right to passage by a new and living way.  To enter with boldness. Heb 4:14-26 & Heb 10:19-21.
Acts 2:1-2 Poured out on all flesh
It is to your advantage that I go John 16:6-10
The Baptism of the HS is the final part of the process where God finally finds his Earthly habitation in His people!
The presence lives in us:
–1 Corinthians 3:16; 1Corinthians 6:19 (we are God’s habitation)
David longed for this reality – Ps 27:4
God’s glory revealed through the church
2Co 3:18 See also Eph 1:12; 3:21; 1Pe 4:14;
Especially when we operate in the gifts of the Spirit – 1Co 14:25
Indwelling habitation
Jn 14:18; Eph 2:22; 1Jn 3:24
By the Spirit we see Him, like John – the revelation of Jesus
–Revelation 1:16–18 (awesomeness of the one who was John’s close personal friend)
In Death we will be unshackled totally from sin to be eternally in His presence.
–Psalm 23:4 (God with us is reason not to fear)
–Revelation 21:3–4 (dwelling in the presence)
Matt 18:20 – when two or three are gathered in His name (corporate Presence)
Encounters are the introduction to His person, like Paul on the road to Damascus Acts 9. We should all have some kind of encounter with God, where He becomes a reality to you. This is the basis of Apostolic Ministry: we have seen Him with our own eyes 1 Joh 1:1-2.  But this encounter or visitation is for the intend to dwell, find a home in us. “If you search for His visitation you miss His Habitation” JHK
“To have found God and still to pursue Him is the souls paradox of Love.” Todd Atkins
The greatest gift we can give someone is your presence. Be there for them. This is why we do not want to give Christmas Gifts to the Children at Riverview at the end of the year anymore. They need your presence. We give them meals every day, but they need a caring teacher who knows them.
In the Church, this presence does not have to be physical only. “For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit” 1 Cor 5:3 We have a presence in one another together as a body. This UNITY is a great mystery and wonderful revelation. Col 1:27 Christ in / Among you the hope of Glory.
 

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Getting to the root of racism and pulling it out.

Getting to the root of racism and pulling it out

Truth is Balanced.  For us to truly prosper is not the absence of problems. True prosperity is determined by how your soul prospers in the midst of trials and persecution.  The Message of the Gospel contains many opposites and paradox.

We see the unseen. We subdue by submitting. We win by losing. We are made grand by making ourselves little. We come in first by becoming last. We are honored by being humble. We fill up with God by emptying out ourselves. We become wise by being fools. We possess all things by having nothing. We wax strong by being weak. We find life by losing ourselves in others. We live by dying. Leonard Sweet, Beautiful.

The same applies to the Race issue. God has set boundaries for Nations, yet He wants us to respect and love all mankind, showing no partiality as if there is no boundaries.  He divided the languages at Babel, yet wants us to find a Divine Love language in Christ.  We need to overcome our race issues because there is ONE heaven, ONE Father to us all in Christ.

In an interview with Neels Jackson, the infamous Beyers Naudes says the following: “Ek hóóp ek het ’n boodskap,” sê hy en praat dan met dieselfde drif wat ek oor jare leer ken het. “Dis absoluut noodsaaklik dat ons leer om saam te leef, om mekaar te verdra – ook mense van verskillende godsdienste. Ons moet leer om met liefde en toegeneentheid saam te leef met mense en godsdienste wat geweldig van ons verskil,” sê hy. “Ook verskillende kleure,” voeg tannie Ilse by. Oom Bey beaam dit. “Ek kan nie sien waarom dit nie kan gebeur nie. Die Woord van God sê julle moet mekaar liefhê en verstaan en vergewe,” en hy beklemtoon dat dit teenoor álle mense geld, nie net teenoor Christene nie. Die Here het dit ook nie só bedoel dat die rykes ryker word, terwyl die armes armer word nie. Almal moet hande vat en kyk hoe hulle ’n regverdiger bedeling kan bewerkstellig. Excerpt From: “Ek kies steeds die kerk” by Neels Jackson. Scribd.

Most people have an immediate defensive reaction when they hear the word racism, or touching the wealth issue.  The fact that some become immediately emotional and defensive is a dead give away.  The truth is: we all have certain prejudices and pre-conceived ideas. Belief systems based on a subjective one-sided perspective of the truth.  These prejudices are also mostly subconscious.

Malcolm Gladwell’s book Blink provides an anecdotal account of how split-second decisions called “rapid cognition” or “thin-slicing” assist us in decision making. Gladwell distinguishes this type of rapid cognition from intuition, which he claims has a more emotional source. Rapid cognition is a distinctly rational process, a thinking process that moves a little faster than ordinary conscious and deliberate decision-making. One of the most interesting parts of the book deals with first impressions about race, particularly those that happen at a subconscious level. In the chapter entitled “The Warren Harding Error: Why We Fall for Dark, Handsome Men,” Gladwell describes the Implicit Association Test (IAT). The IAT, developed by Anthony G. Greenwald, Mahzarin Banaji and Brian Nosek, measures a person’s attitude on an unconscious level and the immediate, and automatic associations a person makes before that person has time to think. The IAT test is designed to examine automatic associations with race. A tested individual is timed to see how quickly they associate categories of good and bad adjectives with black and white faces. The test results reveal that the 80% of Americans more quickly pair words like “love, peace” and “joy” with white faces and words like “terrible, evil” and “failure” with black faces. The level of difference is a matter of microseconds, yet is still statistically significant. What the IAT most significantly reveals is that unconscious attitudes and the behaviors which those attitudes give rise to may be completely incompatible with a person’s conscious values. Even those who consider themselves very enlightened in matters of race still overwhelmingly tend to have an implicit preference for whites.  https://everydaythomist.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/what-malcolm-gladwells-blink-teaches-about-virtue/

Let us all thus reverently allow the Holy Spirit and the Word to convict us of the division and alienation in us we do not see ourselves. Be our mirror Lord, show us the spots in our feasts. Study 1 Cor 11:17-34Ecclesiastes 7: 10 Don’t always be asking, “Where are the good old days?” Wise folks don’t ask questions like that. “Moenie sê: “Waarom was die ou dae beter as die huidige?” nie. Dit is nie uit wysheid dat jy daaroor vra nie. PREDIKER‬ 7:10‬ NLV‬‬ It is common for people to romanticize the old days, and consequently skip the responsibility of doing what is right in the present. Racism is relevant in every age. People will continue to offend another even without knowing it, because we do not see another in the spirit. It is in reality part of our sinful nature. See Mike Woods notes on sin = missing the mark. In other words “mistaken identity”. Mistaken identity is a ‘seeing’ problem. Eventually, you will mistake the character of everything around you. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single (whole), thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil (disease), thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness Mat 6:22-23 David’s brothers did not see him in the spirit, Joseph’s brothers tried to kill him, the Jews did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Prejudice is an ancient human problem. ‬‬There is not a race in this world that does not have some embedded prejudices against a particular group.
Racism is taught. Racism is a faulty false belief system. nelson-mandela-quote
Scientifically, humanity is comprised of exactly one race. Although the world has different ethnicities, geographies, citizenships, and cultures, all human beings are nearly identical genetically. The genetic differences that reflect variation in physical appearance across all humankind involve 0.01% of our genes. And all humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), brought to life by His breath (Genesis 2:7), and imbued with an immaterial and immortal soul.
All men have the same struggle with Sin. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God therefor God’s heart is for all to be saved. Yet God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4. No Racial group in the world is free from jealousy, rage, contempt, offense, resentment and hatred. We all have a common struggle with sinfulness.
According to an article by Institute of Relations in South Africa, our tolerance of different races are actually sound. Click Here to Read Article. The Media and specific parties are painting a gloomy picture of South Africa’s rainbow nation.  The professional culture of the workplace demands tolerance and acceptance. Out quest of survival seems to surpass our need for separation.  Like the openly racist farmer who invited the black business man for supper, when the price for selling his farm was agreed.
Unfortunately, the most prominent places on earth where racism is most evident is often the most Christianized areas. The struggle I believe for most Christians is to remain holy and pure, while reaching and loving the lost, broken and dirty. Usually, we either become so holy we hardly ever see anyone get saved, or we try so hard to win the lost that we begin to compromise biblical values. Loving God and loving people!
God was clear in His rules to the Israelites regarding those from different nations. In Deuteronomy 10:17-18, Moses asserts God’s love of the foreigner and then exhorts the Israelites to love them as well (verse 19). God did make a distinction between aliens who desired to follow Him and/or blessed His people and those who didn’t. In 1 Kings 8:41-43, Solomon acknowledges that immigrants will pray to God, and God will hear them. Nations that respected God’s will were to be blessed (Genesis 12:2-3). However, nations that practiced widespread child sacrifice and temple prostitution were to be destroyed (Deuteronomy 20:17-18). The call for separation was not a racial issue. It was God protecting His people from sinful influences. We should never abandon the great commission.
He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation. Acts 17:26 God gave the boundaries, and we ARE different, WE ARE NOT INSTRUCTED TO BECOME COLORBLIND, BUT COLOR SHOULD NOT EFFECT THE WAY WE TREAT/FAVOR/LOVE PEOPLE. Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation, the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. Acts 10:34-35
The Greek word “prosopolemptes” literally means ‘a receptor of the face or person’. It is part of a larger group of similar words which combine to form an idiom which refers to the principle of non-discrimination, one being not a respecter of persons, and the like. Jesus applied this principle very clearly in his interactions with the Samaritans and His teaching on the subject, to even love your enemies. (Luk 6:27-36) Jesus underlines God’s mercy on Heathen (Luke 4:26-27) He rebukes the disciples when they want to pray for God’s judgment on a town that would not receive them. (Luk 9:51-56) The story of the good Samaritan also deals with religious prejudices. (Luk 10:33)
Is it not an interesting fact that the gifts of the Spirit are much more evident in the mission context than ministering to those within your family or social circle? More people get healed in the outreach mission context than in the local church. “Go and make contact” (Mat 28:19) and treat every person with respect. (1 Pet 2:17)
NO PARTIALITY WITH GOD
Romans 2:11 For there is no partiality with God.  1 Timothy 5:21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, DOING NOTHING IN A SPIRIT OF PARTIALITY.
NO DISTINCTION MADE AN ACCOUNT OF YOUR EARNINGS
Proverbs 22:2 The RICH AND THE POOR have a common bond, The LORD is the maker of them all. No partiality according to salary level: John 13:16 “Truly, truly, I say to you, A SLAVE IS NOT GREATER THAN HIS MASTER, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. From prison, Paul wrote to a friend whose slave had run away, had met Paul, and had come to faith. Paul appealed to his friend on the basis of their relationship to welcome the slave back not as a slave but as a brother. He offered to repay any loss from his own pocket. The letter survives in the New Testament as the book of “Philemon” and is a touching example of a dedicated believer seeking to motivate a slaveholder internally to change his attitudes and behavior. Philemon 1-25. The point is clear, do not treat rich people differently because they are rich, the same applies to the poor. Treat everyone the same – LOVE THEM!
At this moment Social Integration is a National Government drive.  Should it not be the church leading society towards what is right? See these drone photos taken of areas in the Western Cape showing the segregation and division made between the rich and the poor.  This is certainly a worldwide phenomenon, and not a Western Cape issue.  Click Here to View Photos  This division is justified, for economic reasons. But when God looks at it, what are we preaching to the World?
SHOW NO PERSONAL FAVORITISM
James 2:1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. James 2:2-4 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?
NO NATIONAL CULTURAL FAVORITISM
Romans 10:12-13 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” See  Colossians 3:11
NO PARTIALITY ACCORDING TO TITLE AND POSITION:
Matthew 23:8 “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
NO GENDER INEQUALITY
Galatians 3:28
EQUAL RIGHT TO INCOME:
1 Samuel 30:24 “And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.”
Ephesians 6:9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
THE UNITING FACTOR IS OUR FAITH IN CHRIST.
Jesus openly showed a bias to this women. See the story of Racial Slurs of Jesus towards the Syrophoenician Woman Mark 7:24-37 Apparently she is “a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia” — a Gentile considered to be spiritually and racially inferior to a Jew. The story of Jesus’ encounter with the Syro-Phoenician woman illustrates the way that none of us can come out of a broken society unscathed by its deceptions and injustices. We had no control over the race, social class, into which we were born, but moral choice enters the picture at the moment that we are confronted by the people whose humanity we have overlooked. This story is balanced with the story In John 4, He had a long conversation with a Samaritan woman, although the Samaritans were an ethnic group the Jews despised.  It is her faith that saved these women.  I find that amongst all kind of churches and ministries, this to be the ONE uniting factor above all. Many proclaim Christ, but they show no faith through their actions.  Call it a frequency, a way of speaking and living, but you cannot hide real faith! it is in the open, and it challenges you, to either reject or get doing the Word too.
GROW IN TOLERANCE
We all need the grow in Tolerance.  Disunity is a sign of our immaturity.  Mature children or people have no problem playing with small children.  But children fighting amongst themselves are usually only because of this lack of maturity and godly character. Grow up in wisdom on how to handle each person differently (Jud 22-23) Overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:21) And look after your witness among the people. (Jam 3:13) And let your conduct be honorable among the Gentiles. (1 Pet 2:12)
NO RIGHT TO SEPARATE
As a Christian you are not alone, and cannot operate in isolation, you are part of a family. Your suffering and honor have an effect on the people around you. (1 Cor 12:26) Paul kept himself blameless not to have preached to others and he himself is disqualified. (1 Cor 9:27) There are different vessels in house, some for glory, some for dishonour. Paul instructs us to cleanse ourselves from the latter to all become vessels of honour. (2 Tim 2:20-21) Like in any family, the conduct of one member has an effect on the others. The actions of white believers have an effect on our black brothers in the squatter camp close by. What the labor force do in town, has an effect on the Farm’s productivity.
God sees us as a whole, and whether we acknowledge the diversity or not, our lives affect each other. We need each other!
UNITED ONLY UNDER HEADSHIP OF CHRIST
Equality is only possible IN CHRIST! The biggest divide in Humanity is different Values.  Pursuing Christlike values and character is the best way to live life.
In Christ we possess His nature and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This unity is already established for us in Christ. We do not have to fight for it or seek it. We are taught to protect and maintain this Divine Unity though, (Eph 4:1-4). Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
The former Minister of defense during the Apartheid era has begun a journey of reconciliation. First his confessions before the Truth & Reconciliation Committee, then God spoke to Him to wash Frank Shikane’s feet, the President of the AFM Africa church. Later he would also wash the feet of some victims in Mamelodi. He discovered the root of Apartheid being, that he loved himself more than he loved his neighbor.

Vlok sê hy het God toegelaat om hom te lei. Hy was nie self regstreeks betrokke by die dood van dié vroue se geliefdes nie, maar hy het hom afgevra wat die grondliggende sonde van apartheid was. Hy het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat dit is dat hy homself baie meer liefgehad het as sy naaste. Dit het gegroei tot trots, die gedagte dat jy beter as “hulle” is.  Excerpt From: “Ek kies steeds die kerk” by Neels Jackson. Scribd.

Lastly, who helped Jesus carry his cross, in the end when he could no longer carry it?  Simon of Cyrene, most likely was a black man. What we do know about Simon called Niger is his name.  Simon is a Jewish name and Niger comes from the Latin word for “black”.  Research shows that Simon of Cyrene was from a country in ancient northern Africa (bordering Egypt) called Libya.
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Love, the way Jesus loved.

Love the way Jesus loved

He gave His Life – Mt 20:28; Joh 10:15; Joh 15:13; 1John 3:16
He did good – Acts 10:38
He showed compassion – Mat 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 20:34; Mark 1:41; Luk 7:13; 10:33; 15:20; 1 Pet 3:8
He did not came to Judge – Joh 3:17; Joh 8:11; Joh 12:47
Do Not judge by appearance Joh 7:24
Love will cover a multitude of sins 1Pet 4:8
Jesus looked at him, loved him… Mark 10:21
Love of the Spirit Rom 15:30
Faith working out in love Gal 5:6
Law of Christ… Bear another’s burden Gal 6:2
Keep yourself in the Love of God Jude 1:21-23

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Exposing the Spirit of individualism in the Church

Understand how the Spirit of Individualism is weakening the Body of Christ
When people want to start a new ministry, I often hear the following statement: “It should not be linked to a certain church or in the name of an existing local church, so as not to cause offense”
To me the basis of this statement is fundamentally flawed.  It is like someone is saying to their spouse: “let’s have children, but not name them, nor let them carry our surname, not to offend someone who may not like our family.” All churches are flawed, and has offended someone. Not even Jesus’ could please everyone, nor did all his disciples remain faithful.  There is no local church or denomination that is getting everything right, yet we all need to be part of this family. God has one family of which He is the father. (Eph 4:2-6) So much focus has been given in the Charismatic era on the ministry of the individual, the gifts and authority of the believer, our identity in Christ.  This emphasis is essential to get people to wake up to the fullness of their calling, inheritance and power in Christ. (Eph 1:17-21) Equally important is the truth that no man is an island, our growth is always connected with OUR growth in the body of Christ. (Eph 4:16) Essentially becoming a follower of Christ entails denying self and the taking up of our cross. (Mat 16:24) This refers to our obedience to Christ, even to the point of death.
Orange 3 parts For a person to grow spiritually, they have to eventually be part of a local intimate family. The pattern we find in Acts was either small group meetings from house to house the household of faith, or big gatherings or meetings drawing a crowd.  We need to find the balance between these two activities, and see how they actually compliment the other.  Why do we wait so long to initiate house churches? Should the outflow of big gathering not be to get the seekers into a local church, family, house church immediately? This solves the demand for follow-up activities after the meeting?
The DNA of church, God’s sanctuary is made up of three entities: The individual 1 Cor 6:19; the church in the Locality 2 Cor 6:16; the universal church 1 Cor 3:16 based on the context of these scriptures declaring that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. In the case for the individual Paul warns that man cannot have intercourse with a prostitute and not become one with her. (1 Cor 6:15-18) In the second instance Paul addresses the Corinthian Church not to be defiled with the witchcraft in the city. (2 Cor 6:11-16) Then he warns all believers in general to remain holy and sanctified, set apart for God.  In is thus very clear that like an orange, a cell, within a cell, within a cell makes the orange the church is made op three parts. You cannot remove a part; A church where individuals are not born again that church becomes a lifeless institution like a social club. Individuals that do not partner and become part of the church in a location became rogue agents that do not submit to any authority. Local churches that separates them from the greater community of faith becomes Sects.  We are all three at the same time, to become the habitation of the Holy Spirit in the Earth.
Traveling ministry is biblical and in essence apostolic. It was one of the primary roles of the apostles to visit the local church in a certain location and to align them to the truth.   The goal was apostolic alignment to Christ, not to get a nice big offering.  Surely we should not muzzle the ox where he has trotted, a minister is worthy of our honor and support.  The premise and foundation is always family and relationship.  When traveling ministries operate on their own, with out a given family, they tend to build and gather people around themselves.  They inevitably build a family, yet without the nurturing and closeness that a true local family provides.  Being a traveling minister can be glorified. You can preach your best 10 sermons from meeting to meeting, people treat you like some kind of celebrity and give you their best treatment.  This is proper and right, but again not outside the context of family.
Kingdom & family is synonymous.  Our King is our Father! The godhead is in essence a family. The purpose of traveling ministers is thus, to strengthen and build the local family.  To come alongside the local leadership and assist, correct, admonish, rebuke and chasten the family to mature in Christ.
The mass gathering is a wonderful tool to strengthen the small group, making them feel they are part of a greater cause.  Being faithful to the few is not easy.  People begin to know another, nothing is hidden, accountability and correction can cause offense.  The Large gathering does not produce this kind of inward growth.  We need both the small group, household setting and the big large crusade setting.
At his point of time many people have become disillusioned with structured church, mostly because that Church has become alienated from the head which is Christ.  But being a structured church is not wrong or intrinsically evil. It is when the structure migrate away from their original position in Christ.  When this happens we need to question our loyalty to this church. Like most of the NT believers had to do the same, regarding their Jewish Faith upbringing. They had to decide to leave, and face persecution to become part of the new Jesus family.  Today people are leaving church, but not connecting again with church.  God has no plan B. Christ gave His life for His church.  Some seek a new expression of church but they are not willing to pay the price of obedience to Christ to become and be that accurate Christ-like expression. It is easier to only criticize, point finger but not doing anything to help or better it.
God’s heart is always family. God is in essence family, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Starting a ministry on your own, not linked to any family, not being send or under supervision of any existing family is dangerous and arrogant.  You will start this family without you knowing it, and soon there will be children, and without you wanting to be a family become a family – a church.  You are going to have to deal with the mess of raising and disciplining children, or you going to abandon them like many ministers do.
We as people find it hard to follow someone else.   It is in our human individualistic nature to always seek a new path, find our own way, do our own thing.  This pioneering spirit is wonderful and God has used it to start wonderful ministries to reform another human trait, the ability to get stuck in the familiar.  Both these traits need to come under the supervision and control of the Holy Spirit.  When we submit and obey the Spirit, we will never get stuck in tradition for our tradition is obedience to the Spirit.  Obedience to pioneer comes under His control for it to be properly mandated, else it can become mere ambition.  This brings us back to family.  A Family where God is the Father, and the fathers in the house submits and point everyone to the One and only True Father there will be no ambition, selfish interests, striving, competition, suppression and bondage.
This family has matured in Christ, and will cover the world with His Glory.  The current exodus out of formal religion is understandable in context of the church loosing its life and soul – Jesus Christ.  Yet the power of an Christlike family over generations cannot be underestimated! The God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob! There is a generational power in a large family that helps the next generation, making it easier for them to move forward.  The enemy knows this and has released the spirit of divorce, betrayal, division and strive in the church trying to stop this Godly momentum.  You cannot build or plant a new church/family based on division.  You have to live and remain in honor, to also receive honor.
There is wisdom and much benefit being linked to a greater extended family. There are more resources, help and support, and a greater doctrinal accuracy.  It is evident that smaller separate groupings tend to enter into error more quickly. We need to learn to think WE and not ME. Jesus did not function on His own, he gathered friends (Disciples) around Him, he later called His family. (Mark 3:31-35) Paul always took an companion, and greets his Co-workers.  (Acts 19:29; Phil 4:3; Philemon 1:24; Gal 2:9)

We do not have it all together, but together we have it all. (Michael Wood)

Even more so, having more than one apostolic father and the input of all the five Ascension gifts gives balance and depth. (Eph 4:11-16) Some ministers speak out against the local church, then they should also not expect support from the local church.

May God continue to reform the church, so that the church can reform the Land. (Andre Pelser)

We need to come out of old obsolete structures and systems who are keeping His body in bondage, but not at the cost of the true Church.  I believe God has already preserved a remnant of true believers all over the World, that has kept true to His Word and the Spirit of Christ.  Churches who seek to continue to obey and reform into His likeness in everything they do.  The true church is build on a divine revelation of Christ. (Mat 16:18) This revelation installs an inward operating system that continually reforms and updates us to His present revealed truth.
 
Grace & Peace
 
Apostle Jan Oosthuizen
 
 
 
 

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8 ingredients to a perfect day

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Why we need to reach all nations

Why we need to reach all nations

 

The Church and Missions – Nations
We should never forget that the western church, black and white are by default gentiles. If the early church never crossed their borders and own cultural comfort we would never have received the gospel.
Studying the Luke-Acts perspective on missions provides us with a very important and biblical framework for missions that should be part of our objectives and value system as the church that He builds. Ultimately I do not believe that the local church should have a mission program separate or outside of its daily activities and focus as a church as a whole. Missions and being missionaries are the fundamental reason for being church. (Luk 4:16-21) For example: Reaching the youth/elderly/poor in our community is also a form of missions. Missions should not only be restricted to reaching foreign people groups afar. This is one of the primary principles taught in Luke and Acts; Moving from the core outward to the ends of the Earth.
When Jesus stood up among the people of His hometown in the synagogue and said: “today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” He was stating the course and mandate of His ministry. Luke is the only author of the gospels who is Greek, writing to a second generation church made of Jew and Gentile, shortly after the fall of Jerusalem. Matthew mainly writes his gospel for a Jewish audience; while Luke had a much broader audience in mind.
In the time of Luke the church was made up of a very large number of gentiles but also a great number of Jews. He thus had to appeal to both. Luke has an exceptional positive attitude towards the Jewish people, their religion and culture. Jesus does criticize the Pharisees but not as severely as what the Matthew’s account reveal. Luke omits words like “hypocrites and blind guides”. He omits the passage from Mark 7:1-20 which deals with the deception of the Pharisee’s focus on outward rituals without dealing with the defilement of the heart. Luke relates at least three instances where Jesus was invited by Pharisees for a meal. He does not apply the parable of the evil tenants directly to the chief priest and Pharisees as Matthew does although suggesting it. (Luk 20:9-19) In his Passion narrative he is the only gospel writer to include the words of Jesus: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they are doing”. He omits the words “his blood be on us and on our children”.
He writes his two volume work in the Hebriazed Greek of the Septuagint, also mainly used in synagogues of the Jewish diaspora. He is trying to reach both the Jewish and Gentile communities of his time. He also does not deny Israel its proper place as the womb of the Christian church, mentioning the early prophesies over Jesus the expectation of the salvation of Israel. (Luk 1:54; 68; 2:25, 30, 32, 38) The Church Luke envisages includes the restored/saved Israel and the redeemed Gentile. The Jew has to repent of rejecting and killing their Saviour, and the Gentile of serving worthless idols. There is no proof in Luke or Acts of the Christian church replacing Israel, yet both have to become converted; the one from dead religion and the other of its idols.
On the other hand he is trying very clearly to challenge the Jews to look beyond the salvation of ‘only’ Israel, to God’s desire to save the world. Luke’s account of Jesus’s reading from the Prophet Isaiah is unique in comparison with the other gospel writers who do not include the reason why the Pharisees and listeners became so suddenly offended at Jesus’s words; that after first admiring his gracious words, the next moment they try to kill Him. (Luke 4:28-30) This passage forms the bases of the whole Lukan paradigm of Mission and Salvation. He is the only writer to also include the verse from Isaiah 58:6 between Isaiah 61:1 and 2. “Let the oppressed go free” Because throughout his Gospel; he appeal to the rich to share with the poor. The rich and the poor both need salvation, the one from putting their trust in their riches (Luke 8:14) and the other of putting their trust in man. (Luke 9:59-61)
The reason why these people became so angry? Jesus started with the expectation that was in all of them; the salvation and redemption of Israel and the vengeance of God on their oppressors is to be fulfilled! But He stopped short of reading the complete passage from Isaiah. Instead of granting vengeance He rather made an appeal to notice God’s desire to save their enemies and have compassion on them by mentioning Elijah who was sent to a Gentile widow, and Elisha healing a pagan Ruler Naaman. (Luke 4:26-27) This became Jesus’s theme and number one rule of understanding and living in HIS kingdom; love your enemies! Bless those who curse you. (Luke 6:27-36)
This is why Luke makes an attempt to lay this emphasis throughout his gospel; God is seeking the salvation of the Samaritans and Gentiles too. When James and John wanted to call God’s fire of judgement on a Samaritan town who did not receive them Jesus rebuke them. “You do not know of what spirit you are of” (Luke 9:51-56) He addressed this point very clearly with telling Jesus’s story of the good Samaritan. The church of the day did not help the person in need, but the Samaritan did. He is therefore challenging their narrow idea of “who is my neighbour”. To the Jews, their neighbour was ONLY Jew, children of Abraham! Jesus taught that our neighbour is whoever comes our way, whether Jew or gentile, that needs help and assistance. This was a huge offence to the Jews who despised the way and faith of the Samaritans as false and opposite to their own. In many ways in the same way as what Christians view Moslems today. I include the following information of exactly who the Samaritans were, to proof this comparison.
The origin of the Samaritans
Strictly speaking, a Samaritan would be an inhabitant of the city of Samaria; but the term was applied to all the people of the kingdom of Israel. After the captivity of Israel, B.C. 721, and in our Lord’s time, the name was applied to a peculiar people whose origin was in this wise: At the final captivity of Israel by Shalmaneser, we may conclude that the cities of Samaria were not merely partially but wholly depopulated of their inhabitants in B.C. 721, and that they remained in this desolated state until, in the words of 2 Kings 17:24, “the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava (Ivah, 2 Kings 18:34), and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.” Thus the new Samaritans were Assyrians by birth or subjugation. These strangers, whom we will now assume to have been placed in “the cities of Samaria” by Esar-haddon, were of course idolaters, and worshipped a strange medley of divinities. God’s displeasure was kindled, and they were annoyed by beasts of prey, which had probably increased to a great extent before their entrance upon the land. On their explaining their miserable condition to the king of Assyria, he despatched one of the captive priests to teach them “how they should fear the Lord.” The priest came accordingly, and henceforth, in the language of the sacred historian they “feared the Lord, and served their graven images, both their children and their children’s children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.” 2 Kings 17:41. A gap occurs in their history until Judah has returned from captivity. They then desire to be allowed to participate in the rebuilding of the temple at Jerusalem; but on being refused, the Samaritans throw off the mask, and become open enemies, frustrate the operations of the Jews through the reigns of two Persian kings, and are only effectually silenced in the reign of Darius Hystaspes, B.C. 519. The feud thus unhappily begun grew year by year more inveterate. Matters at length came to a climax. About B.C. 409, a certain Manasseh, a man of priestly lineage, on being expelled from Jerusalem by Nehemiah for an unlawful marriage, obtained permission from the Persian king of his day, Darius Nothus, to build a temple on Mount Gerizim for the Samaritans, with whom he had found refuge. The animosity of the Samaritans became more intense than ever. They are said to have done everything in their power to annoy the Jews. Their own temple on Gerizim they considered to be much superior to that at Jerusalem. There they sacrificed a passover. Toward the mountain, even after the temple on it had fallen, wherever they were they directed their worship. To their copy of the law they arrogated an antiquity and authority greater than attached to any copy in the possession of the Jews. The law (i.e., the five books of Moses) was their sole code; for they rejected every other book in the Jewish canon. The Jews, on the other hand, were not more conciliatory in their treatment of the Samaritans. Certain other Jewish renegades had from time to time taken refuge with the Samaritans; hence by degrees the Samaritans claimed to partake of Jewish blood, especially if doing so happened to suit their interest. Very far were the Jews from admitting this claim to consanguinity on the part of these people.
The parallels are obvious. The samaritans were a mixed breed and the jews looked down on them. We as a church should be aware that we do not fall in the same trap as the Pharisees did. The NT church is never exclusive, hod want to see all men be saved. (John 12:32; 1 Tim 2:4) The way to salvation is exclusively Jesus, and Jesus alone. The Spirit of God fell on all flesh, at the day of Penticost. (Acts 2:17)
Luke furthermore adds the story of the healing of the ten lepers again unique to Luke. The one who came back and thanked Jesus was off course a Samaritan. (Luke 17:11-19) In Acts Samaria is included in the list of those to receive salvation. (Acts 1:8; 8:1, 5; 9:31; 15:3) Thus making it very clear to the church of his day, and today, Jesus came for the religious outcasts too!
Salvation in Luke and Acts are thus seen to include the whole world. Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32) Whether you are a heathen (Galilean) or born in Jerusalem, Everyone needs to repent and be saved. (Luke 13:1-5) Instead of announcing wrath on the perpetrators, he calls everyone to repentance.
Jesus started in Galilee (Luk 4:14-9:50), then on route to Jerusalem (Luk 9:51-19:40), and concluded with the final events in Jerusalem (Luk 19:41-24:53). The early church started in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and then to the end of the Earth. This focus describes a certain methodology and balance between missions at home and missions abroad. The efforts of the one are not at the cost of the other, but rather to support the other. There is also a certain movement and growth starting at home, expanding naturally further and further to the ends of the earth.
THE REAL PROBLEM WITH MISSIONS
We preach to them but not include them into our family. We have millions of people getting saved, but very view discipled. Crusade Evangelists lay this task before the local church’s door. The local church seems to fail miserably at this task, which can be thrown back at the Evangelist’s type of message and gospel preached. In terms of our biblical understanding thus far, it is very clear that God’s idea for making disciples is making families.
According to the most recent census in South Africa 81.7% of the people in South Africa are Christians. We are the fifth nation in the world to legalise homosexual marriages. We have legalised abortion and are in the process of legalizing prostitution. How is this possible in a country with so many Christians?
The most Christianized nations are in Africa. But often these nations are the poorest, with the highest numbers of HIV AIDS, human right abuses and corruption. Basic services like sanitation, clean water and sufficient food sources are desperately lacking. Nigeria has a population of 149 million people, of which 45.3% are Christian, 95.3% of this number of Christian visits a church at least once a month, 78.8% believes the church has the answer to their problems, 98.2% finds consolation and support in the local church. The church is thus seemingly very successful in this Nation, but Nigeria is 157th on the world ranking of most developed countries. We have been highly successful in making converts, but is failing to disciple the people in the principals and values of Kingdom living.
The fact that we go in, and out is the problems. We preach and leave, not willing to lay down our lives for a community, to become fathers and older brothers that will lead them out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Pet 2:9) The true heart of the apostolic is thus to be fathers to the churches. (Gal 4:19; 1 Cor 4:15; ). The context of the true church is also set, within the context of family. How can you take care of His church, when your own family is ruins? (1 Tim 3:5) Church history is full of stories where leaders forsake their own families, and it lead to all kinds of error and misconduct.
Jesus started His earthly ministry with these words; “repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!” His family has come to earth, wanting us to become part. (Mat 4:17)

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Eternal Capital, the Riches we have in Christ

It is said that the greatest need in Uganda is Capital. Their is no lack of ideas and plans in Uganda. Like ants scavenging, people are constantly seeking work and means of income. People looking for ways in which they too will become the blessed, rich, wealthy, victorious kings and queens everyone is preaching about.
The truth is: God’s Capital is within you if you are a born again believer.  Godly character is an Eternal commodity we carry within us – the Bible calls it the fruit of the spirit.  When you meet someone wealthy their money carries weight and authority in this world, people seek to gain their favor, and they are reckoned as powerful and blessed.  They get things done, and have entrance into VIP restricted areas of society. In the same way a Christlike Character and Activity brings favor.

Mother Theresa had no money when she started to look after the orphans, destitute, and Lepers in Kolkata, yet she addressed the united Nations in 1984.  This is the prayer she prayed:

 

Make us worthy Lord to serve our fellow men throughout the world, who live and die in poverty and hunger.

Give them through our hands, this day, their daily bread

and by our understanding love give peace and joy

Lord, make me a channel of thy peace.

That where there is hatred I may bring love,

That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness,

That where there is discord, I may bring harmony

That where there is error I may bring truth,

That where there is doubt I may bring faith,

That where there is despair I may bring hope,

That where there are shadows I may bring light,

That where there is sadness I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort that to be comforted,

To understand than to be understood,

To love than to be loved.

For it is by forgetting self that one finds.

It is by forgiving that one is forgiven,

it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.

Amen.

She was granted a state funeral by the Indian government in gratitude for her services to the poor of all religions in India.[63] Her death was mourned in both secular and religious communities.
IRENE GLEESON, 1944-2013

Mission accomplished: Irene Gleeson surrounded by some of the children she spent decades helping. Photo: Supplied —

Irene Gleeson fought and overcame many battles in her time as a missionary: late-night attacks by rebels, recurring bouts of malaria, depression, extreme isolation and the challenge of being a single white woman in one of the most volatile regions of the world.
For 22 years, her home was Kitgum – a small, isolated community 30 kilometres from the Sudan border and seven hours’ drive from the capital of Uganda, Kampala. ”Mama Irene” or ”The General”, as she was otherwise known, began her work on 7.3 hectares of dry, scrubby land donated by the local government. It was a ministry that would leave an indelible imprint on the hearts and lives of more than 20,000 war-affected Ugandans. (http://www.charismanews.com/world/40359-missionary-to-uganda-irene-gleeson-dies-at-68)
PATIENCE NAMANYA
When Patience Namanya was 12, she came home from school with a bad report card. She was failing literature, history, civics and math. Her teacher had scrawled a note at the bottom. “Patience can do better than this. Should please put in more effort.” Patience sat alone, ashamed. She ached for her parents. She was afraid of her abusive aunt. Who would she show this wrinkled piece of paper to? She knew one person who would understand. One woman who would both challenge and comfort her. Patience picked up her pencil and began to write. “The good Lord solves our problems even though they are big. This year was not wonderful for me because of the problems I had. I lost my grandma and my mummy in the same year and month, but I surrendered them to Jesus Christ.”
Patience has surrendered a lot to Jesus in her young life. She grew up in Kyebando, a slum in Kampala, Uganda, mired in unemployment, alcoholism and malnutrition. In Patience’s own home, tragedy was relentless. Her father died of AIDS, the disease that would gradually take the lives of her mother and two of her younger siblings. While AIDS still ravaged her body, Patience’s mother enrolled her at Compassion’s Gayaza Road Child Development Center.
Patience was eventually promoted to the Anti-Corruption National Strategic Planning Team for Uganda. A job at the national level affords her both freedom and safety. Her team has appeared on radio and television in their efforts to protect fellow Ugandans from government corruption. Earlier this year, Patience helped reinstate 6,000 teachers who had been illegally removed from their jobs. She says she hopes to one day be appointed to parliament, where she can fight corruption from within. (http://www.communityglobal.org/-blog/patience-namanya)
 
 
WAYS IN WHICH GOD PROVIDES FOR US:
Christ within the hope of glory:
Col 1:27 Speaks of this great mystery that now has been revealed, namely Christ in and among us! Paul knew of this riches and said that although he has nothing, he is making many rich. 2 Cor 6:10. He was content within, no matter the state of the conditions on the outside. Phil 4:11-12 in verse 13 he victoriously  declares “I can do all things, through Christ that strengthens me!” God made an huge capital investment within us, His own Son!
Living the life of Jesus, is true riches indeed.  As you begin to follow Him, laying down your own life, dreams and ambitions, He begins to teach you His way of riches.  The greatest statesman Mr Nelson Mandela was not known for his politics and accomplishments But for his humility, compassion, forgiveness, and unity he brought about.
The Holy Spirit is our guide, but once we decided to surrender self, He is also the one that raise Christ up in us. Christ resurrected in us, and through us. In Him we live and move and have our being.  We are crucified with Him, but we will also live and reign with Him.
He will lead each one of us, into the rich tapestry of Christlike destiny He has purposed for all of us.   Like Him we learn obedience through the things we suffer. Heb 5:8 and being perfected by Him, we become the author of an aspect of Christ’s riches He has chosen to reveal through us to the world.
We cannot choose this destiny for ourselves, we discover it as we continue to obey Him in the small things, here a little, there a little, step upon step, line upon line.  In total trust we blindly follow Him, until He choose to open our eyes, now seeing like He sees.  Paul had to first be blinded naturally, and see in the spirit, before God could give him back his sight.

  1. Christlike character is a commodity! It gives you heavenly currency to trade and do business and gain favor and success in everything you do.  The president [Yoweri Museveni] turned to the church when it became evident that the army was getting nowhere with the war. The president went so far as to ask Christians to volunteer for public service. “The president says that only the principled can make a difference,” Senyonga told Charisma Magazine. “He would say, ‘If [born-again Christians] don’t have skills I will give them the skills. But I want the heart.” (http://www.charismamag.com/site-archives/146-covers/cover-story/1965-ugandas-miracle) More and more christians are coming in demand in the job sector, business that core character is essential to business success. For born again believers, the character of Christ becomes the fruit of your new nature in Christ.
  2. Inherent provision in creation: Every created thing has an inherent provision. (Mat 6:22-35) The way that God blesses us is, through blessing the land. Ps 65:9-13 God provides by blessing the Land.  The most natural way of God’s provision to us lies in nature, farming, sowing and reaping.  Hos 10:12 The prophet asked the widow: “What do you have?” Often God’s provision is in what we already have. “silver and gold I have not, but what I have I give you” Jesus also taught His disciples “You give them something to eat”. Like Paul I like to pray that our spiritual eyes be opened to the calling, inheritance and power we have within us. (Ephe 1:19-21)
  3. Money is only a means: Poverty lack access to a means. We do not need money, we need a means, to make, or earn money. Many people who have won a lot of money do not know what to do with it. They lack a means. We cannot trust in the means, because it can change, we can loose it, either by our own doing, or someone else doing. Mat 6:26 God cares for the birds, who do not sow or reap, nor gather into barns.  Do not trust in your sowing, trust God! We on a constant journey to discover different means of income, to provide not only for ourselves but others also. Each person ought to develop their vocation in obedience to Christ. Nic ” ” do not have any legs or arms, yet he minister all over the world. He became perfected through obedience and now have a power story to tell, thus becoming n author of hope to millions.
  4. See the Lord’s Provision: Jehovah Jireh: H3070. יִרְאֶה יְהוָֹה y hōwāh yir’eh:A proper noun designating Jehovah Jireh, a name given to designate the Lord by Abraham for providing a sacrifice in place of Isaac (Gen. 22:14). It means “the Lord will see to it” literally but also means “the Lord will provide.” You need to see your provision to be able to obtain it. Often in survival circumstances people die, because they could not see the provision in what they had around them.  Abraham had to see God’s provision in the ram.  Look at what is obvious, close proximity to you. You will not become good in anything, if it is not already within you. I was told this week by Ellen Odendaal, MD of Bokomo Uganda. If you have to do a course at something so that you will be able to do it, your were not meant to do it.  Doing course in public speaking, wont make you a good speaker, you should ready have it in. The course is only for improvement. See the gifts what God has already put in you.
  5. Faithfulness in the small things.  Being faithful is so important for success.  You will never go forward if you never learn to first be faithful in the small things.  Luk 16:19. The way I move people forward, is to first give them simple commands, then once they complete them accurately, we can ahead to greater things. No plant in God’s garden begins as a full-grown tree. We want to skip the steps, and create plastic human made plants, that looks nice, but they’re dead. 
  6. Shrewdness and prudence: 5430. φρονίμως phronímōs; adv. from phrónimos (G5429), prudent. Prudently. It denotes the wise, prudent and sensible manner in which one conducts himself and his affairs. In Luke 16:8 the word means with advantage, shrewdly. “Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.” Message
  7. Principle of sowing and reaping: Everything in God’s Kingdom/creation works on this principle/law. Gen 8:22 The more one sows, the more one can reap. 1 Cor 9:6 The measure of your sowing determines the measure of your harvest.  Like a farmer, he cannot eat the seed. He will have nothing to eat in the future! Most people eat all their seed, they do not know how to make money, only how to spend it. The way of the Kingdom is: the more you need, the more you need to give.  The people in our church, who are most blessed and prosperous are the ones that give.
  8. Get going do something: Deut 8:18 Give you power to attain wealth – God has made provision for every man, it is what you make of the opportunities you did receive that will bring you greater opportunities. Charismatic and Pentecostal people can fall in the trap of trying to fix everything with prayer, laying of hands, and having more church meetings. Although these things are important for spiritual growth, it does not sustain us. Paul says: “working with my own hands” he provided for those who was in his company. Pastors who forsake work and labour, become professional beggars and shrewd in taking up offerings to sustain themselves. Much error has crept into the church because of this.  Apostles work hard. 2 Cor 6:5 – labors, 2 Cor 10:15 – measure of our labour – We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. 2 Cor 11:23 – with far greater labors 1 Cor 15:10; 1 Cor 4:12 Working with our own hands; 2 Thes 3:8 with toil and labor
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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.