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SIT – Always our First step in the Spirit

SIT - Always our First step in the Spirit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The thing that steals your peace will reign over you

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

The enemy’s intend is to steal you peace.

Remain in the rest of faith

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

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Exposing the spirit of Entitlement

Exposing the spirit of Entitlement

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

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

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

“I deserve some pleasure and me-time”

“I should have received that reward”

“I will take what I want”

“I deserve this, because…”

ENTITLEMENT IS THE BELIEF THAT YOU DESERVE TO BE GIVEN SOMETHING

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

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

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

Isa 14:14-15 Lucifer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOW DO WE BECOME ENTITLED??

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

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

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

4) ME-DOM

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

THE ANTIDOTE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Learn to love and honor God’s Judgments

Learn to love and honor God's Judgments

Love and honor God’s Judgments

We live in an age where the following statement has never been more accurate and relevant; “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” Judges 21:25 We have more information availible than ever yet people appear to be entirely ignorant of their lifestyle decisions, and it’s consequences. Our alienation from God and Truth has set us onto a course of deep darkness.

The sad truth though is that many Christians and believers are also just as ignorant of their behavior, habits, and incompetence in certain areas. This ignorance became very apparent to us in our recent encounters to Uganda. These are beautiful people, but they are totally ignorant of their incompetence in the workplace. Maybe in some way this is a good thing, for ignorance is bliss. Samuel Lwandasa, who have lived in the USA for more than 15 years relayed a little story to explain the problem with Africans. One man has five cows, he is very proud and feels like a wealthy man, because his neigbor only has two. Not realizing there are people who have more than thousand cows.

Against this backdrop of Earthly reality, I see in the scriptures an incredible hidden truth.

David loved God’s Judgments!

Psalms 18:22 For all His judgments were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me.

Psalms 19:9-10 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psalms 36:6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast.

David sings a song on God’s Judgments, about how he loves it! Psalms 119:7, 13, 20, 30, 39, 52, 62, 66, 75, 102, 106, 108, 137, 156, 160, 164, 175

Loving Judgements is a difficult concept to comprehend at first; most children writing exams surely cannot agree that they love it! We as adults are not far behind; we’re just happy that we do not have to write them anymore. An interesting read on the subject is the study done by Justin Kruger and David Dunning.

People tend to hold overly favorable views of their abilities in many social and intellectual domains. The authors suggest that this overestimation occurs, in part, because people who are unskilled in these domains suffer a dual burden: Not only do these people reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the metacognitive ability to realize it. Across 4 studies, the authors found that participants scoring in the bottom quartile on tests of humor, grammar, and logic grossly overestimated their test performance and ability. Although their test scores put them in the 12th percentile, they estimated themselves to be in the 62nd. Several analyses linked this miscalibration to deficits in metacognitive skill, or the capacity to distinguish accuracy from error. Paradoxically, improving the skills of participants, and thus increasing their metacognitive competence, helped them recognize the limitations of their abilities. 1

I also remember a most interesting TED talk, we reviewed in BibleSchool class on Being Wrong by Kathryn Schulz. https://youtu.be/QleRgTBMX88 She explained how like the Wolf in the Road Runner animation, we run over the edge believing we can walk on air, to then suddenly realize we’re dead wrong. We all have moments like this, and it is what makes us human. The problem is when decision makers are wrong and want others to believe their error. Not knowing I am wrong, is possible one of our biggest handicaps.

Seek criticism from friends and peers

Elon Musk explains in an interview about Starting up a new business on how important it is to seek Criticism. 2 He calls it “rigorous self-analysis.” Obviously, you should ignore the ignorance of people that do not understand your cause and is just sowing doubt and unbelief. Learn and attract criticism from your friends, invite them to speak into your life. Make yourself vulnerable. Prayerfully extract the gold from every criticism, reproof, rebuke, admonishment, exhortation that comes your way. Say thank you, the person correcting you is taking a significant risk, and a show of courage to point out a possible error.

Peer review analyses: Because it ‘s hard for most professionals to recognize and improve on their weaknesses on their own, aviation has developed structured mechanisms of check questions to a relative peer. Like flight attendants checking each other on door closing procedures, Pilots going through checklists with Co-pilot etc, and flight crew awareness of problems reported to the captain. This system was only introduced after the fatal crash of Trans World Airlines (TWA) Flight 514, a Boeing 727 inbound from Columbus, Ohio, that was scheduled to land at Washington National Airport. The crew had flown a normally functioning Boeing 727 aircraft into a hill at an altitude of 1669 feet, just short of the hill’s peak of 1764 feet. The 85 passengers and seven crew members died in a horrific fiery crash 29 miles northwest of Dulles International Airport. Human error and Pilot’s misunderstanding each other was the cause of this accident.

How many people have suffered terrible harm because of the absence of correction in the offender’s life?

Elite athletes, musicians, and other top performers understand that excellence occurs through extensive study and practice, with constant feedback, and by adopting techniques and tools that have led to others’ success. For elite performers, this extends well beyond the formal training period. (An entire scientific discipline is devoted to this topic, as detailed by Ericsson 34.)

 Maybe this is why Weigh-less is so successful in helping people loose weight, the weekly weigh-ins.  The AA has sponsors.  Covenant eyes provide a accountability software program for Internet Porn Addicts, where you share your online traffic with a partner.

Take regular tests, to evaluate your ability, performance, and development.

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified 2 Corinthians 13:5. Doing inward self-analysis is fruitless and futile. Paul says that he does not even judge himself. 1 Corinthians 4:3. Judgment has to be external. Our own hearts are too deceptive. Jeremiah 17:9.

The Word and the Spirit is the perfect Judge

Jesus learned His judgment from the Father. Do not trust your own judgment, seek His judgment. John 5:30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” John 8:15-16 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.

The more we Study the Word, the better we can judge. The Word is a discerner. Hebrews 4:12. Like not judging a matter by the first testimony, cross-examine and then make a conclusion. Proverbs 18:17.

David made several prayer requests to God to search Him, test Him and examine him. Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, Ps 139:23

The judgment of the Father

In recent times so many worship songs focus on loving God, and His amazing enduring love for us. Although this is important, yet the context of our relationship is always explained in terms of that of a disciple, a bond-slave, a child, a friend. Even our love is contextualized: if you love me you will obey my commandments. John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

We do not fear His judgment because of His perfect love. 1 John 4:17-19 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. Love is made perfect through obedience. Hebrews 5:8.

Having God as our Father, does not only mean we are now protected, He will take care of everything. It means He will correct us, chastise, and rebuke us if nessasary.

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Hebrews 12:5-7

See Prov 15:31-32 Today’s scripture reading…

  1. “Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One’s Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments” Justin Kruger and David Dunning Cornell University  ↩︎
  2. Elon Musk https://youtu.be/NU7W7qe2R0A “Constantly seek criticism” 11minutes into video ↩
  3. Ericsson KA. The influence of experience and deliberate practice on the development of superior expert performance. In: , Ericsson KA. ed. The Cambridge handbook of expertise and expert performance. New YorkNew York: Cambridge University Press, 2006; 683–704. CrossRef
Categories
Sermons

Learn to love and honor God's Judgments

Love and honor God’s Judgments

We live in an age where the following statement has never been more accurate and relevant; “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” Judges 21:25 We have more information available than ever yet people appear to be entirely ignorant of their lifestyle decisions, and it’s consequences. Our alienation from God and Truth has set us onto a course of deep darkness.
The sad truth though is that many Christians and believers are also just as ignorant of their behavior, habits, and incompetence in certain areas. This ignorance became very apparent to us in our recent encounters to Uganda. These are beautiful people, but they are totally ignorant of their incompetence in the workplace. Maybe in some way this is a good thing, for ignorance is bliss. Samuel Lwandasa, who have lived in the USA for more than 15 years relayed a little story to explain the problem with Africans. One man has five cows, he is very proud and feels like a wealthy man, because his neigbor only has two. Not realizing there are people who have more than thousand cows.
Against this backdrop of Earthly reality, I see in the scriptures an incredible hidden truth.
David loved God’s Judgments!
Psalms 18:22 For all His judgments were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me.
Psalms 19:9-10 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psalms 36:6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast.
David sings a song on God’s Judgments, about how he loves it! Psalms 119:7, 13, 20, 30, 39, 52, 62, 66, 75, 102, 106, 108, 137, 156, 160, 164, 175
Loving Judgements is a difficult concept to comprehend at first; most children writing exams surely cannot agree that they love it! We as adults are not far behind; we’re just happy that we do not have to write them anymore. An interesting read on the subject is the study done by Justin Kruger and David Dunning.

People tend to hold overly favorable views of their abilities in many social and intellectual domains. The authors suggest that this overestimation occurs, in part, because people who are unskilled in these domains suffer a dual burden: Not only do these people reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the metacognitive ability to realize it. Across 4 studies, the authors found that participants scoring in the bottom quartile on tests of humor, grammar, and logic grossly overestimated their test performance and ability. Although their test scores put them in the 12th percentile, they estimated themselves to be in the 62nd. Several analyses linked this miscalibration to deficits in metacognitive skill, or the capacity to distinguish accuracy from error. Paradoxically, improving the skills of participants, and thus increasing their metacognitive competence, helped them recognize the limitations of their abilities. 1

I also remember a most interesting TED talk, we reviewed in BibleSchool class on Being Wrong by Kathryn Schulz. https://youtu.be/QleRgTBMX88 She explained how like the Wolf in the Road Runner animation, we run over the edge believing we can walk on air, to then suddenly realize we’re dead wrong. We all have moments like this, and it is what makes us human. The problem is when decision makers are wrong and want others to believe their error. Not knowing I am wrong, is possible one of our biggest handicaps.

Seek criticism from friends and peers

Elon Musk explains in an interview about Starting up a new business on how important it is to seek Criticism. 2 He calls it “rigorous self-analysis.” Obviously, you should ignore the ignorance of people that do not understand your cause and is just sowing doubt and unbelief. Learn and attract criticism from your friends, invite them to speak into your life. Make yourself vulnerable. Prayerfully extract the gold from every criticism, reproof, rebuke, admonishment, exhortation that comes your way. Say thank you, the person correcting you is taking a significant risk, and a show of courage to point out a possible error.
Peer review analyses: Because it ‘s hard for most professionals to recognize and improve on their weaknesses on their own, aviation has developed structured mechanisms of check questions to a relative peer. Like flight attendants checking each other on door closing procedures, Pilots going through checklists with Co-pilot etc, and flight crew awareness of problems reported to the captain. This system was only introduced after the fatal crash of Trans World Airlines (TWA) Flight 514, a Boeing 727 inbound from Columbus, Ohio, that was scheduled to land at Washington National Airport. The crew had flown a normally functioning Boeing 727 aircraft into a hill at an altitude of 1669 feet, just short of the hill’s peak of 1764 feet. The 85 passengers and seven crew members died in a horrific fiery crash 29 miles northwest of Dulles International Airport. Human error and Pilot’s misunderstanding each other was the cause of this accident.
How many people have suffered terrible harm because of the absence of correction in the offender’s life?

Elite athletes, musicians, and other top performers understand that excellence occurs through extensive study and practice, with constant feedback, and by adopting techniques and tools that have led to others’ success. For elite performers, this extends well beyond the formal training period. (An entire scientific discipline is devoted to this topic, as detailed by Ericsson 34.)

 Maybe this is why Weigh-less is so successful in helping people loose weight, the weekly weigh-ins.  The AA has sponsors.  Covenant eyes provide a accountability software program for Internet Porn Addicts, where you share your online traffic with a partner.

Take regular tests, to evaluate your ability, performance, and development.

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified 2 Corinthians 13:5. Doing inward self-analysis is fruitless and futile. Paul says that he does not even judge himself. 1 Corinthians 4:3. Judgment has to be external. Our own hearts are too deceptive. Jeremiah 17:9.

The Word and the Spirit is the perfect Judge

Jesus learned His judgment from the Father. Do not trust your own judgment, seek His judgment. John 5:30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” John 8:15-16 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.
The more we Study the Word, the better we can judge. The Word is a discerner. Hebrews 4:12. Like not judging a matter by the first testimony, cross-examine and then make a conclusion. Proverbs 18:17.
David made several prayer requests to God to search Him, test Him and examine him. Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, Ps 139:23

The judgment of the Father

In recent times so many worship songs focus on loving God, and His amazing enduring love for us. Although this is important, yet the context of our relationship is always explained in terms of that of a disciple, a bond-slave, a child, a friend. Even our love is contextualized: if you love me you will obey my commandments. John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
We do not fear His judgment because of His perfect love. 1 John 4:17-19 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. Love is made perfect through obedience. Hebrews 5:8.
Having God as our Father, does not only mean we are now protected, He will take care of everything. It means He will correct us, chastise, and rebuke us if nessasary.
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Hebrews 12:5-7
See Prov 15:31-32 Today’s scripture reading…

  1. “Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One’s Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments” Justin Kruger and David Dunning Cornell University  ↩︎
  2. Elon Musk https://youtu.be/NU7W7qe2R0A “Constantly seek criticism” 11minutes into video ↩
  3. Ericsson KA. The influence of experience and deliberate practice on the development of superior expert performance. In: , Ericsson KA. ed. The Cambridge handbook of expertise and expert performance. New YorkNew York: Cambridge University Press, 2006; 683–704. CrossRef
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Die krag van 'n vrolike hart in Jesus

Die krag van 'n vrolike hart in Jesus

“Die blymoedige mens se hele lewe is ’n fees” (Prov 15:15) Blydskap laat ‘n mens se gesig straal; smart maak ‘n mens terneergedruk. (Prov 15:13) ‘n Vrolike mens is ‘n gesonde mens, ‘n neerslagtige mens raak uitgeput. (Prov 17:22) Die Bekende KIPP Skole baseer onder andere hulle sukses met kinders deur te fokus om die kinders se “zest” passie te ontwikkel.  Gelukkige en “happy” kinders leer makliker. Hulle droom is om 100% van alle leerders te laat kwalifiseer vir Nagraadse Studies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAsSdyb6YMY&app=desktop

Scientists have been studying the effect of laughter on human beings and have found, among other things, that laughter has a profound and instantaneous effect on virtually every important organ in the human body. Laughter reduces health-sapping tensions and relaxes the tissues as well as exercising the most vital organs. It is said that laughter, even when forced, results in beneficial effect on us, both mentally and physically. Next time you feel nervous and jittery, indulge in a good laugh. —Executives’ Digest[i]

Die Here wil nie hê ons moet Hom dien soos slawe sonder vreugde nie.  Deut 28:47 Daarom was die Joodse Kalender gevul met 7 feeste. God wil hê ons moet kan feesvier! (Ezra 6:22)
Jesus was so ‘n vrolike blymoedige mens.  (Luk 10:21) “rejoiced in spirit” (agalliō) – to leap. To exult, leap for joy, to show one’s joy by leaping and skipping denoting excessive or ecstatic joy and delight.  Hy het die krag van vreugde in die Gees verstaan, en dit het Hom die krag te gee om Sy lyding te ontbeer. (Heb 12:2) Hy het geleef vanuit ‘n intieme verhouding met die Vader, wetende dat die Vader Sy gebede antwoord. (Joh 11:41-42) Hy het die guns ontvang van die Vader. (Mat 3:17) Die Vader het hom verheerlik (Joh 8:54) Sy verhouding met die Vader, en gehoorsaamheid aan die Vader, was die bron van Sy vreugde.  “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Neh 8:10) Sien die klem in hierdie vers. Sy vreugde gee ons krag. Soos ‘n man krag kry uit sy vrou wat gelukkig is, kry ons krag wanneer ons weet ons lewe behaag die Here.
Alhoewel Jesus ‘n man was wat lyding en pyn geken het, het Hy nogtans met vreugde gelewe. Sondaars was aangetrek na Hom en onthou hulle is nie juis bekend dat hulle die ernstige, gewyde, hoog heilige mense opsoek nie! Jesus se gelykenisse, en teenvraag stellings, wys op sy fyn sin vir humor.
Een van my gunsteling outeurs John Eldredge beskryf Jesus op die volgende manier vanuit die perspektief van die natuur wat van Hom getuig in sy boek Beautiful Outlaw.

I was sitting out back yesterday morning sipping coffee, watching the young chipmunks chase one another at breakneck speeds across the deck. One clever daredevil, hoping to get the advantage, jumped up on the fence rail and continued the chase from above, leaping at the last moment upon his littermate like a Hollywood stuntman. This morning one of them adopted a new strategy. The little rascal found an ambush spot, clinging from the side of the house, where he waited for his playmate to wander by unawares; he then pounced, and the two somersaulted off the deck and into the grass, squealing. Only to dash off and do it again. And again. Now—what does this tell us about the personality of Jesus, who created these little dynamos with striped masks and boundless enthusiasm? What do they say about his heart? Polar-bear cubs will hurl themselves down snowy hillsides headfirst and upside down, just for fun. Spinner dolphins love to romp in the bow-wake of a boat, cavorting, leaping into the air and, well, spinning. Otters play tag. Our horses play tug-of-war with a stick—which is really quite funny when you think of how nobly a horse normally likes to carry himself. [ii]

HOE ONTVANG EN LEEF JY IN HIERDIE BLYMOEDIGHEID?
Ons verbondenheid met Christus, die Vader en die Heilige Gees – (Joh 15:11-12) Dit sê Ek vir julle sodat my blydskap in julle kan wees en julle blydskap volkome kan wees. Dit is my opdrag: Julle moet mekaar liefhê soos Ek julle liefhet. Ons verbondenheid met Jesus gee ons ewige vreugde. Soos ‘n wingerdtak in die boom ingeënt is, en sy lewe ontvang van die boom, so leef ons in Christus.  Maar ons kan nie in die boom ingeënt wees sonder dat ons outomaties nie ook in mekaar ingeënt is nie.  Vergelyk (Col 1:27) in die ou vertaling en die nuwe vertaling: Christus IN en Onder ons.
Ons verbondenheid met mekaar in Sy liggaam – Todd Adkins post op sy Twitter blad: “Geen mens kan Jesus alleen volg nie.” Ware Apostoliese leiers soos Johannes se teenwoordigheid het sy vriende en medegelowiges se harte met vreugde gevul. (2 Joh 1:12) In Johannes se eerste Brief weerklank hy Jesus se gebed in Joh 17:21 “Hom wat ons gesien en gehoor het, verkondig ons aan júlle, sodat julle aan ons gemeenskap deel kan hê. En die gemeenskap waaraan ons deel het, is dié met die Vader en met sy Seun, Jesus Christus.” (1 Joh 1:3-4) Dit skryf ons sodat ons blydskap volkome kan wees. John Piper volg dieselfde gedagterigting wanneer hy verduidelik dat dissipels-maak eintlik ‘n korporatiewe en groeps-gebeurtenis is.  Want jy word deel van die “Jesus” groep.
Sy tasbare teenwoordigheid en heerlikheid – Deur ons verhouding en intimiteit met die Vader behou ons die vreugde. Hy is vreugde! Sy teenwoordigheid is loutere vreugde en ekstase!
ekstase = ecstasy, rapture
(Ephesians 5:18) Nie dronk van wyn nie, maar dronk/gevul met die Heilige Gees.
Full of joy, filled with HS.  (Acts 13:52) vergelyk (Acts 2:2) Die uitstorting van die Heilige Gees.
Shekhinah “that which dwells” the radiance, glory or presence of God dwelling in the midst of his people, is used by Targumist and Rabbi to signify God himself, for legal Judaism dislikes ascribing form or emotion to deity.[iii] It refers to the instances when God showed Himself visibly, as, for example, on Mount Sinai (Ex. 24:9–18) and in the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle and in Solomon’s Temple.[iv] This term is not found in the Bible. It was used by the later Jews, and borrowed by Christians from them, to express the visible majesty of the divine Presence, especially when resting or dwelling between the cherubim on the mercy-seat in the tabernacle and in the temple of Solomon[v] The Shekinah, nearest Jewish equivalent to the Holy Spirit,[vi]
Early Christian Prophetic Ecstasy The early church included an element of ecstatic prophecy. John describes his ecstatic encounter in stating, “I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day” (Rev 1:10 NRSV). This incident and others that he recounted involved an out-of-body experience during which John had visions into the heavenly realm and received instructions and revelations from God and/or the exalted Christ. Peter (Acts 11:5) and Paul (2 Cor 12:1–7) had similar ecstatic experiences.[vii]
Eugene Peterson says that the Hebrew root word for “prosperity” is more accurately translated “leisure”—“ the relaxed stance of one who knows that everything is all right because God is over us, with us and for us in Jesus Christ.” [viii]
Vrug van Sy karakter permanent in ons – Blydskap is deel van die vrug van die Gees. En die vrug is enkelvoud. Die primêre vrug is liefde! Al die ander 8 vrugte is ‘n voortvloeisel van liefde. Vergelyk (1 Cor 13:3-4), Liefde is geduldig, vriendelik ens. Blydskap, vreugde, vrolikheid is ‘n inherente eienskap van liefde.  Daar is net hoofsaaklik 2 primêre emosies wat ons as mens beleef, of liefde of vrees.  Woede/wraak/haat is die hoogste emosie van vrees: Euforiese sprankelende, huppelende, vreugde is die hoogste emosie van liefde! Om met God versoen te wees, en met Hom reg te wees – bring vrede en vreugde in die Heilige Gees. (Rom 8:17)
BLYDSKAP ROWERS:
Hierdie eenwording met Hom en met mekaar, is net moontlik as ‘n mens se hart heeltemal skoon is van “Offense”. Ons afrikaners sukkel maar met dié woord die woordeboek vertaal “offense” as volg: Gebelgd, gekrenk, beledig voel, gesteurdheid, afgehaal, gekwets, geraaktheid.  Luk 17:1-5 leer ons die stappe om met iemand te maak wat jou te na kom.  Hoe meer jy hierdie stappe volg, hoe sterker word jy, en hoe minder voel jy te na gekom.
BLYDSKAP EN VROLIKHEID IS ‘N WAPEN IN ONS GEESTELIKE ARSENAAL

  • Vreugde gee ons krag tydens verdrukking. In al ons sorge is ek vol moed en oorstelp van blydskap. 2 Corinthians 7:4
  • Mag God, die bron van hoop, julle deur julle geloof met alle vreugde en vrede vervul, sodat julle hoop al hoe sterker kan word deur die krag van die Heilige Gees! (Romans 15:13–14) Vreugde versterk jou geloof.  Hoop en vreugde is vennote.  Joy is the keeper and vehicle of hope. Joyful expectation of hope. Vreugde hou jou in die atmosfeer van geloof, hoop en die bonatuurlike!
  • Vreugde maak ons beter getuies van Sy lewe.  Jesus se vertelling van gelykenisse en slim humor het sy luisteraars ontwapen om met ‘n vars oor en oop hart te luister.  ‘n lewendige, opgewekte, en opgeruimde onderwyser sal nie sukkel om sy of haar kinders se aandag te kry nie.
  • Innerlike vreugde en vrolikheid is ‘n teenmiddel teen verslawing.  Iemand wat innerlike vreugde beleef gaan nie probeer om dit chemies aan te vul of te kry nie. Jy is vol!
  • Vreugde ontlont moeilike situasies.  Dink maar hoeveel keer ‘n bietjie humor op die regte tyd, ‘n argument met jou huwelikmaat ontlont het.

WAT VREUGDE EN VROLIKHEID NIE IS NIE.
Dit nie sarkasme nie, ek lag vir jou.
Dit is nie ligsinning nie.
Dit is nie onkenning nie. Onkenning is ‘n vorm van “presumptuous” geloof. Jy het nie ‘n sekre Woord van God nie, maar wens maar net dat die probleem self sal verdwyn. Nou maak mens grappies en deel nie met die kern van ‘n probleem nie.
INSPIRASIE!
‘n pragtige voorbeeld van die krag van ‘n positiewe uitkyk op die lewe en die krag van blydskap is die film “Life is beautiful”. Rick Lawrence verduidelik dit pragtig in sy boek Shrewd.
Pain is a predator, and all of us have felt its bite—some have been eaten alive by it. But laughter raises its fist to a corrupted world and proclaims, “This cannot destroy me!” This is, in the end, the message delivered in the 1997 Oscar-winning foreign film Life Is Beautiful. In the film a Jewish-Italian man named Guido (played by writer/ director/ actor Roberto Benigni) uses laughter to help his four-year-old son survive a Nazi concentration camp. He convinces his son that the camp is just an elaborate game, and that the boy will win an actual tank if he’s the first child to earn one thousand points. He will lose points, explains Guido, if he cries, complains about missing his mother, or begs for food. Despite his stark and horrific surroundings, the boy believes his dad’s version of reality—the killing factory becomes his playground. In the end, as American liberators are closing in on the camp, Guido is caught trying to find his wife and led off by Nazi guards to be shot. He sees his son watching as he’s taken away, so he mimics and satirizes the guard as he marches behind him, to the delight of his son. The father is killed, but the son and the mother survive. Later, when the boy is old enough to understand what happened, he realizes that his father’s shrewd sense of humor saved his life. [ix]
George Mueller would not preach until his heart was happy in the grace of God; Ian Ruybroeck would not write while his feelings were low, but would retire to a quiet place and wait on God till he felt the spirit of inspiration. It is well-known that the elevated spirits of a group of Moravians convinced John Wesley of the reality of their religion, and helped to bring him a short time later to a state of true conversion. The Christian owes it to the world to be supernaturally joyful. —A. W. Tozer[x]
Nog verdere Skrifgedeeltes:
Ps 63:5; 66:1; 89:15; 96:12; 149:5-6

[i] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 678). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.
[ii] Beautiful Outlaw – John Eldredge
[iii] Stewart, R. A. (1996). Shekinah. In D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (3rd ed., p. 1090). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[iv] Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., & Harrison, R. K., Thomas Nelson Publishers (Eds.). (1995). In Nelson’s new illustrated Bible dictionary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
[v] Smith, W. (1986). In Smith’s Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[vi] Stewart, R. A. (1996). Shekinah. In D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (3rd ed., pp. 1090–1091). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[vii] Seal, D. (2016). Prophetic Ecstasy in the Ancient Near East. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[viii] Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience In the Same Direction (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 45.
[ix] Shrewd: Daring to live the startling command of Jesus. Rick Lawrence
[x] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 679). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.
Categories
Social Relevance

Discover the well of God's Provision within

Spencer Johnson wrote a book called “who have moved my cheese”, giving us a beautiful metaphor of mice in a maze dealing with change. Someone decides to moved the cheese, the mice either continue to go look for the cheese at the same place and eventually die, or begin the journey to look for new cheese.
Since we have been dealing with calling and identity, we understood that we are not chasing riches, we appreciate and acknowledge the riches we already have, and live in obedience the workethic and values of Jesus. Riches and provision then seems to follow us.
A BIBLICAL METAPHOR FOR PROVISION
The well served as a place of rest and refreshment in a dry land. Wells just outside a city or village served as a meeting place for local women but also for travelers, where news would be passed along (1 Sam 9:11; compare 1 Sam 19:22) Wells play a significant role as an image of God’s provision (e.g., Judg 15:18–19; Deut 6:11; compare Neh 9:25)
At Qumran, the well and water were understood allegorically as God’s law and the faithful followers, respectively (CD 6:2–11). As an image in common life, wells were pictures of physical beauty (Song 4:15). Likewise, a dry or broken well served as a metaphor for disobedience. Because wells were the primary source of water, a dry well was a curse (Jer 14:3). They could be used as an image for faithlessness or disobedience (Jer 2:13; compare Prov 25:26). A well could also serve as a metaphor for death (Pss 55:23; 69:15; compare Rev 9:1).
JESUS OUR PERMANENT WELL
1 Cor 10:4
SOME LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM WELLS IN THE BIBLE
Jer 2:13 – seek a living well, and live eating from the tree of Life, not the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The second tree is like a broken cistern that does not keep the water. Religion is second-hand knowledge of God, Jesus came to be our eternal fountain. John 4
Judg 15:18–19 – supernatural provision, God supplied a water source supernaturally, like the rock in the desert. Ex. 17:1–7 God can thus give you a supernatural plan, strategy, for provision.
Gen 21:31 – oath, contract. Sometimes we need to form a alliance with someone for provision.
Gen 26:18 – dig old wells open again. At times we need to go and open an old well. Many internet startups, is simply modernizing an old industry, like Uber and AirBnB.
Gen 26:22 – Made room for me. Rehoboth Walk away from places of contention, until God makes room for you.
FINDING AND INDUSTRIALIZING A WELL
Once we have have received our well of provision, we need to look after it. Towns and cities came into existence from a well. Having a well alone is not enough, we need to begin to produce food, grow plants, build homes and markets. Fruit & Veg City Holdings is the lasrgest fresh produce retailer in southern Africa. It serves customers in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Zambia and Mauritius. Brian Coppin founded Fruit and Veg City with his brother Mike. He related how they took the business from one relatively modest store in Kenilworth to a multi-brand giant in its sector within less than two decades.
Faithful Stewards – 1Pet 4:10
Faithful in multiplying – Mat 25:14-30
THE RIGHT BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE ABOUT RICHES
There truly is no division between sacred and secular except what we have created. And that is why the division of the legitimate roles and functions of human life into the sa-cred and the secular does incalculable damage to our indi-vidual lives and to the cause of Christ. Holy people must  stop going into “church work” as their natural course of action and take up holy orders in farming, industry, law, education, banking, and journalism with the same zeal previously given to evangelism or to pastoral and missionary work.
The organized churches must become schools of spiritual discipline where Christians are taught how to own without treasuring (Matt. 6:21); how to possess without, like the “rich young ruler”, being possessed (Mark 10:22); how to live simply, even frugally, though controlling great wealth and power.
Possessions, then, are an extension of the body and of the self, for through them our will and character extend their range, just as they do through our tongue, our arms, and our legs. Our possessions increase the range within which we can reign in life by Christ Jesus and see spiritual power defeat the deadly reign of sin
“Get all you can; save all you can; freely use all you can within a properly disciplined spiritual life; and control all you can for the good of humankind and God’s glory” Dallas Willard
Excerpt From: “The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives” by Dallas Willard. Scribd.
Prov 1:32 the prosperity of fools destroys them.
Paul understood the riches found within first: Col 1:27
2 Cor 6:10 as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Phil 4:11-13 contentment comes from living in His strength
The rich young ruler, trusted and loved his riches and possessions.
We as believers trust in Him who makes rich and ads no sorrow 3 John 1:2
THE FINAL GOAL AND MANDATE
All nations come to his light
Mic 4:2; Mat 24:14; Isa 51:4; Isa 60:3
Glory cover the earth Hab 2:14
THE HEART OF THE MATTER
Giving is an issue of the heart. We give because this is who we are. God is a giver. Tithing is about consistent faithful giving, the church can rely on it. The law is like a tutor, giving your tithes teaches you to first give, before using your income. First fruits. It is an issue of the heart! We sometimes wait for the right moment to give, to feel like it, giving should be automatic. Your right hand not knowing what your left hand is doing. Mat 6:3 Generous giver. Ps 112:5; Prov 11:25; 22:9; 2 Cor 9:11; 1 Tim 6:18

Categories
Sermons

Discover the well of God’s Provision within

Discover the well of God's Provision within

Spencer Johnson wrote a book called “who have moved my cheese”, giving us a beautiful metaphor of mice in a maze dealing with change. Someone decides to moved the cheese, the mice either continue to go look for the cheese at the same place and eventually die, or begin the journey to look for new cheese.

Since we have been dealing with calling and identity, we understood that we are not chasing riches, we appreciate and acknowledge the riches we already have, and live in obedience the workethic and values of Jesus. Riches and provision then seems to follow us.

A BIBLICAL METAPHOR FOR PROVISION
The well served as a place of rest and refreshment in a dry land. Wells just outside a city or village served as a meeting place for local women but also for travelers, where news would be passed along (1 Sam 9:11; compare 1 Sam 19:22) Wells play a significant role as an image of God’s provision (e.g., Judg 15:18–19; Deut 6:11; compare Neh 9:25)

At Qumran, the well and water were understood allegorically as God’s law and the faithful followers, respectively (CD 6:2–11). As an image in common life, wells were pictures of physical beauty (Song 4:15). Likewise, a dry or broken well served as a metaphor for disobedience. Because wells were the primary source of water, a dry well was a curse (Jer 14:3). They could be used as an image for faithlessness or disobedience (Jer 2:13; compare Prov 25:26). A well could also serve as a metaphor for death (Pss 55:23; 69:15; compare Rev 9:1).

JESUS OUR PERMANENT WELL
1 Cor 10:4

SOME LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM WELLS IN THE BIBLE
Jer 2:13 – seek a living well, and live eating from the tree of Life, not the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The second tree is like a broken cistern that does not keep the water. Religion is second-hand knowledge of God, Jesus came to be our eternal fountain. John 4
Judg 15:18–19 – supernatural provision, God supplied a water source supernaturally, like the rock in the desert. Ex. 17:1–7 God can thus give you a supernatural plan, strategy, for provision.
Gen 21:31 – oath, contract. Sometimes we need to form a alliance with someone for provision.
Gen 26:18 – dig old wells open again. At times we need to go and open an old well. Many internet startups, is simply modernizing an old industry, like Uber and AirBnB.
Gen 26:22 – Made room for me. Rehoboth Walk away from places of contention, until God makes room for you.

FINDING AND INDUSTRIALIZING A WELL
Once we have have received our well of provision, we need to look after it. Towns and cities came into existence from a well. Having a well alone is not enough, we need to begin to produce food, grow plants, build homes and markets. Fruit & Veg City Holdings is the lasrgest fresh produce retailer in southern Africa. It serves customers in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Zambia and Mauritius. Brian Coppin founded Fruit and Veg City with his brother Mike. He related how they took the business from one relatively modest store in Kenilworth to a multi-brand giant in its sector within less than two decades.
Faithful Stewards – 1Pet 4:10
Faithful in multiplying – Mat 25:14-30

THE RIGHT BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE ABOUT RICHES
There truly is no division between sacred and secular except what we have created. And that is why the division of the legitimate roles and functions of human life into the sa-cred and the secular does incalculable damage to our indi-vidual lives and to the cause of Christ. Holy people must  stop going into “church work” as their natural course of action and take up holy orders in farming, industry, law, education, banking, and journalism with the same zeal previously given to evangelism or to pastoral and missionary work.

The organized churches must become schools of spiritual discipline where Christians are taught how to own without treasuring (Matt. 6:21); how to possess without, like the “rich young ruler”, being possessed (Mark 10:22); how to live simply, even frugally, though controlling great wealth and power.

Possessions, then, are an extension of the body and of the self, for through them our will and character extend their range, just as they do through our tongue, our arms, and our legs. Our possessions increase the range within which we can reign in life by Christ Jesus and see spiritual power defeat the deadly reign of sin

“Get all you can; save all you can; freely use all you can within a properly disciplined spiritual life; and control all you can for the good of humankind and God’s glory” Dallas Willard

Excerpt From: “The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives” by Dallas Willard. Scribd.

Prov 1:32 the prosperity of fools destroys them.
Paul understood the riches found within first: Col 1:27
2 Cor 6:10 as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Phil 4:11-13 contentment comes from living in His strength

The rich young ruler, trusted and loved his riches and possessions.
We as believers trust in Him who makes rich and ads no sorrow 3 John 1:2

THE FINAL GOAL AND MANDATE
All nations come to his light
Mic 4:2; Mat 24:14; Isa 51:4; Isa 60:3
Glory cover the earth Hab 2:14

THE HEART OF THE MATTER
Giving is an issue of the heart. We give because this is who we are. God is a giver. Tithing is about consistent faithful giving, the church can rely on it. The law is like a tutor, giving your tithes teaches you to first give, before using your income. First fruits. It is an issue of the heart! We sometimes wait for the right moment to give, to feel like it, giving should be automatic. Your right hand not knowing what your left hand is doing. Mat 6:3 Generous giver. Ps 112:5; Prov 11:25; 22:9; 2 Cor 9:11; 1 Tim 6:18

Categories
Preke

Waarheidsoomblik met minderwaardigheid

Waarheidsoomblik met minderwaardigheid

superior-inferior

Die groot vrae en soeke in die lewe:

  • Sosiale erkenning en waarde
  • Aanvaarding en liefde.
  • Sin en betekenis van die lewe.

Indien ‘n persoon nie wesenlike antwoorde op hierdie vrae kry nie lei dit tot

  • Jaloesie of selfbejammering.
  • Verwaandheid, ydelheid en leegheid.
  • Liggeraaktheid en onsekerheid.  “Easily offended” – gou op sy perdjie.
  • Twyfelagtige en onvastige bestaan.
  • Onvergenoegdheid en leegheid.
  • Minderwaardigheid  So ‘n persoon loop rond met ‘n reuse vakuum en lugleegte in hulle binnekant wat hulle dan op allerhande maniere probeer vul.

Ons lewe in ʼn wêreld van intimidasie.  Verskillende vorme van intimidasie:

  • Vergelyk jouself met ander in terme van geld, besittings, kennis, vermoëns, skoonheid, geestelikheid, en persoonlikheid.
  • Intimidasie gebaseer op ras, geslag, ouderdom, of ʼn sekere portuurgroep.
  • Kultuur en groepsintimidasie.
  • Tradisies en religieuse sisteme kan intimiderend wees.
  • Elke ware kind van God wat vir waarheid staan en nie meer saam met die stroom loop nie beleef vorme van intimidasie.
  • ʼn Kerk soos Harvester en sy manier van aanbidding en prediking kan intimiderend wees.
  • Die duiwel intimideer ons deur op ons sondes te fokus.  Deur sonde verloor ons, ons vrymoedigheid voor God en sy mense.
  • Elkeen van ons het verskillende swakhede en defekte, waaroor ons skaam en selfbewus is.  Ons kan derhalwe gou geïntimideer word, omdat ons nie graag van onsself ʼn gek wil maak nie.
  • Intimidasie in die werksplek is ʼn werklikheid.
  • Intimidasie wat daartoe lei dat jy nie met vrymoedigheid kan praat en jou saak stel nie, is nie van die Here nie.  Jy kan niks daaraan doen dat iemand probeer om jou te intimideer nie, maar jy kan besluit om nie in te gee nie!

DAAROM: steek ons, ons swakhede weg. Ons plak vyeblare, en soek verskonings. Ons kruip weg en verdoesel die waarheid.  We hide our shame! Ons kompenseer vir ons gebreke, deur ‘n valse lewe te leef.

  • Grootsheidwaan
  • Fantasie lewe
  • Valse mikpunte
  • Valse spesialis
  • Vereenselwig wet Wenners

So sien ons dat Saul ook gesukkel het met minderwaardigheid, toe hy hoor hoe juig die vroue oor Dawid se suksesse. (1 Samuel 18:1-7) Daarom wou hy ook vir Dawid doodmaak.  Die man wat bo al die ander uitgestaan het! Die eerste Koning van Israel was onseker oor homself, daarom raadpleeg hy Samuel en soek sy aanvaarding, uiteindelik raadpleeg hy die waarsêer.  As gevolg van die leegheid in sy binneste voel hy gou bedreig, hy is suspisieus, besluitloos en rigtingloos.  Niks kan hierdie leegheid vul nie, nie eers rykdom of mag.

Sommige mense verlang dat ‘n persoon hierdie leegheid vul.  Maar die skrif sê dat dit beter is om op die Here te vertrou as op mense (Psalm 118:8-9) want in hierdie lewe gaan ons verseker herhaaldelik te na gekom word en teleurgestel word deur mense. (Lukas 17:1) Moenie eers jou vertroue in jou familie en naasbestaandes plaas nie. (Miga 7:5-7)

Op watse fondament is jou huis gebou?  (Matteus 7:26) Geld, besittings, mag, posisie, vermoëns: Dit kan alles in ‘n oomblik van jou weggeneem word en dan?

Net die liefde van die Here kan hierdie leegheid vul. Hoor hoe praat die bruid van Salomo oor haar geliefde.  “Ek is bruin gebrand maar ek is mooi, vroue van Jerusalem. Ek is so bruin soos die tente van Kedar, soos die tentdoeke van Salomo. Moet my nie so aankyk omdat ek donker is nie, omdat die son my gebrand het nie: my broers het my so bruin laat brand, hulle het my die wingerde laat oppas; ek kon my eie wingerd, myself, nie versorg nie. (Hooglied 1:5-6) Sy moes verseker geïntimideer gevoel het tussen al die mooi meisies van die koningshof, tog styg sy bo dit uit. Hoekom? Want sy het geweet sy het die Koning se hart gewen!  Hy het haar gekies! Die man wat ek liefhet, is myne, en ek syne. (Hooglied 2:16) Salomo is ook nie skaam om sy bruid vir almal te wys, en ook hoe lief hy haar het nie.  Hy is nie skaam vir ons nie en is nie bang om in die openbaar saam met ons gesien te word nie. Hy wil met ons geassosieer word.  Hy vat my na ’n feesplek toe; hy straal van liefde vir my. (Hooglied 2:4)

So het God ons ook lief, en is Sy liefde ons sekuriteit en teenmiddel teen intimidasie.  Die evangelie is die goeie en blye nuus, dat Hy ons liefhet en Sy lewe vir ons afgelê het.  (Joh 3:16) Baie mense vra egter; “hoe weet ek dat hy MY regtig liefhet?” Paulus gee vir ons ʼn barometer van liefde in 1 Korintiërs 13:4-8  Die eerste bewyse van iemand se liefde is geduld.  Is God geduldig met jou?  Is God sagmoedig met jou? Wel daar is jou bewys! Lees gerus deur die hele gedeelte en toets God aan Sy liefde vir jou.

Die Here jou God is by jou, Hy, die krygsman wat red. Hy is vol vreugde oor jou, Hy is stil-tevrede in sy liefde. Hy jubel en juig oor jou: (Zephania 3:17)

Van ver af het die Here Hom aan Israel bekend gemaak: Ek het jou nog altyd liefgehad, daarom het Ek jou met geduld verdra. (Jeremiah 31:3)

Omdat jy vir My kosbaar is, omdat Ek jou hoog ag en jou liefhet, gee Ek mense in jou plek, volke in ruil vir jou lewe. (Isaiah 43:4)

Hy self was die engel wat hulle gered het. Hy het hulle verlos deur sy liefde en ontferming; Hy het hulle opgetel en hulle altyd gedra. (Isaiah 63:9)

Ek dank God dat ons nie die enigste mense is wat gesukkel het met intimidasie nie.  Dawid het maar ook gesukkel.  “Maar ek is ’n wurm en geen man nie, ’n smaad van die mense en verag deur die volk.” (Psalms 22:7) Later verander sy perspektief en hy verklaar: Ek loof U, omdat ek so vreeslik wonderbaar is; wonderbaar is u werke! En my siel weet dit alte goed. 15My gebeente was vir U nie verborge toe ek in die geheim gemaak is nie, kunstig geweef in die dieptes van die aarde. 16U oë het my ongevormde klomp gesien; en in u boek is hulle almal opgeskrywe: dae dat alles bepaal was, toe nog geeneen van hulle daar was nie. (Psalms 139:14-16)

Uiteindelik bou ek my selfvertroue (confidence) nie op wat ek doen en is nie. Ek kyk en fokus op die perfekte werk wat Jesus gedoen het. My legitimacy, rightness, confidence is based on/in Him. Hierdie geloof in Hom, bemagtig my om die onmoontlike te doen.  Die para-olimpiese spele toonbeeld mense wat ten spyte van ‘n fisiese gebrek, oefen en meeding op internasionale vlak!  ‘EK IS TOT ALLES INSTAAT DEUR CHRISTUS WAT MY DIE KRAG GEE’ Ek kon nooit skool toe gaan nie, met Sy hulp gaan ek terug skool toe, en kry my matriek sertifikaat.  God gaan dit nie vir jou doen nie, Hy wil dit deur jou doen.  Ons oorwin minderwaardigheid in die waarheidsoomblik met Jesus. Die vrou by die put se lewe is ontbloot voor Hom, en tog is sy nie daardeur geintimideer nie. Sy kry egter haar skeppingsdoel, en gaan vertel die mense wie sy ontmoet het. Sy word die instrument wat redding bring aan haar hele gemeenskap.  Wanneer ons voor Hom staan, staan ons naak en onbeskaamd.  Soos ons gehoorsaamheid leer in ons swaarkry, ontdek ons wie ons is, om die outeur te word van ons storie, sodat ander daardeur ook lewe kan ontdek. Heb 5:8

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Oorwin die laagtes in jou lewe!

Oorwin die laagtes in jou lewe

Conquer your lowland

So the Lord was with Judah. And they drove out the mountaineers, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowland, because they had chariots of iron. Judg 1:19 “Die Here was by Juda, en hulle het die Bergland in besit geneem. Maar Juda kon nie die inwoners van die Vlakte verslaan en hulle stede verower nie, want hulle het yster strydwaens gehad.”  Judah se roeping en “destiny” is om te regeer. Gen 49:8-12 Hy was bestem om al sy vyande te oorwin, en tog as gevolg van een nederlaag, gee hy moed op en neem nie hierdie land in beslag nie.  Daar is areas in ons lewens, waar ons nie in oorwinning lewe nie, omdat die vyand sterker wapens het.  Die Here was met Judah, maar hy kon nie die gebied inneem oor hierdie baie wettige en wesenlike probleem. Die vraag is, kon Judah nie ook leer om strydswaens van yster te vervaardig nie? Hoekom net hierdie probleem aanvaar asof dit nou maar net so is, en niks verder daaraan doen nie?

Daar is sekere areas in ons lewens waar ons gevange gehou word en beperk word deur wesenlike weerstand, maar God is met ons, Hy het bedoel dat ons die vlaktes “lowlands” in besit neem, nou word ons net tot die bergagtige gebied beperk.

Elke mens het ‘n wettige verskoning om iets nie te doen nie.  Baie verskonings: legally, realities Luk 14:16-2 Die een het ‘n os gekoop, die ander ‘n vrou getrou, en die ander het ‘n stuk lang gekoop. Wettige verskonings om nie die fees by te woon nie.

Ons is maar as mens altyd bang om ‘n nuwe vaardigheid aan te leer. ‘n kind aanvaar ‘n 50% punt vir wiskunde, ek is nie goed met somme nie, die onderwyser is moeilik en pik op my, die onderwyser verduidelik swak… Alles dalk wesenlike verskonings, maar beteken dit nou dat jy moet dit nou maar aanvaar? Ek kan nie swem nie, daarom gaan ek nie in water in nie… Daar het ‘n opposisie reg oorkant ons winkel oop gemaak daarom…

Terwyl ons onlangs in Uganda bedoen het, hoor jy die talle “challenges”:

Bv. Droogte in ‘n hoë reënval tropiese gebied – Feitlik geen besproeing word gebruik nie.

Grond is gefragmenteer – Hoekom werk julle nie saam in Kooperasies nie?

Elke groot uitvindsel van die 21ste eeu, was eertyds ‘n reuse probleem.

Words spelled out in the 18th Olympics in 1964 in Tokyo “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle, the essential thing is to have fought well”.

•George Stephenson spent fifteen years to perfect the locomotive.

•Watts worked for thirty years on the condensing engine    

•Charles Goodyear spent ten years of study, poverty and public ridicule.

William Wilberforce early became enflamed with the idea of stopping the slave trade and slavery in England. He succeeded in becoming a member of Parliament. Goaded by William Pitt, he spoke often against slavery and the slave trade but suffered repeated defeats in Parliament. In 1807 he persuaded his colleagues to ban the slave trade. Not until 1833 did both houses of Parliament finally abolish slavery in Britain. The news of total victory came to Wilberforce on his deathbed. He was motivated in his life’s career by an idea whose time finally came.

“Our men were not braver than the enemy. They were brave five minutes longer” (attributed to Lord Wellington after the great victory won over Napoleon at Waterloo).

Edison did not give up when his first efforts to find an effective filament for the carbon incandescent lamp failed. He did countless experiments with countless kinds of materials. As each failed, he would toss it out the window. The pile reached to the second story of his house. Then he sent men to China, Japan, South America, Asia, Jamaica, Ceylon and Burma in search of fibres and grasses to be tested in his laboratory. One weary day on October 21, 1879—after 13 months of repeated failures—he succeeded in his search for a filament that would stand the stress of electric current. This was how it happened:

 

 

 

 

 

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How not to loose your Identity in Christ

How not to loose your Identity in Christ

We fail in life when we forget who we are in Christ. We forget who we really are, and because of our mistaken identity we fall into sin and error. This is actually the root of the word sin, mistaken identity. The Greek word for sin is “hamartia” which literally means “to miss the mark”. When you look up the word mark in any dictionary it has the following meaning: identity, blueprint, to make you mark, signature, consciousness.
Jesus had no sin, why? He knew who He was, and He never forgot or gave up who He was. Even when he was still a young boy he explained to His earthly parents why he remained behind in the temple; “do you not know that I’m busy with My Father’s business.” (luk 2:49) This is such in contrast with most of our teenagers today, who suffer an identity crisis, and conform so easily to the images of the world. Jesus’ struggle was never to understand or believe who he was, it was getting people to believe who He was. (John 6:28-29; Mat 16:15)
We are sons and co-heirs with Christ, a holy priesthood, seated in heavenly places, more than conquerors, set apart, sanctified, justified, righteous, well accepted and loved by God our Father. We have great boldness through the Spirit working it in us, to call the Creator of the universe “Dad”!
And raised us up together, and MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS (Ephesians 2:6)
To the praise of the glory of His grace, by WHICH HE HAS MADE US ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED. (Ephesians 1:6)
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:1) Yet in all these THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM who loved us. (Romans 8:3)
IN HIM ALSO We Have Obtained An Inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, (Ephesians 1:11)
But now IN CHRIST JESUS YOU WHO ONCE WERE FAR OFF HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NEAR by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)
Nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)
Now thanks be to God who ALWAYS LEADS US IN TRIUMPH IN CHRIST, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14)
Therefore, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
For YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.(Galatians 3:26)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has BLESSED US WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST, (Ephesians 1:3)
For we are His workmanship, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
The curse of work, is not work itself. “In toil you shall eat of it” & “in the sweat of your face you shall eat your bread” Gen 3:17-18. God gave Adam & Eve work to do before they sinned. “Subdue the earth, multiply and be fruitful” Gen 1:28 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. Gen 2:15 and later to give all the animals their names. Gen 2:19. We say “rest in peace” when someone has died, because we think there is no one working in heaven. Working and being productive is enjoyable. Many people when they retire, work harder than ever, now having time for their passions. Work is not a curse, loosing your identity, and continue work without purpose is the curse. Adam & Eve did not realize they were already made in God’s image. They did not have to eat of the fruit to be like God. Gen 3:5-6 But to satisfy their immediate fleshly needs, they missed their purpose and identity. The root of sin – missing the mark, mistaken identity. Esau selling his birthright. Gen 25:32; Heb 12:16
We recognize our true identity when we discover and see Jesus face to face. When one turns to Him, the veil is removed. 2 Cor 3:14. As we continue to look at Him, we are changed and restored to our true identity. 2 Cor 3:18 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Heb 12:1 our lives are hidden in Him Col 3:2 because we were made, destined, fore-ordained to be like Jesus. Rom 8:29.
Reasons why we loose our Identity in Him.
1) False beliefs. We have not heard the truth. We believe the lies of what we have been told and experienced over years. Know the truth Joh 8:32
2) Why do we forget so easily who we are? But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25) The word must become flesh in our lives.
3) We do not know how to feed our Spirit, Soul and flesh. Luk 12:16-31 The man did not know what his soul required. Like feeding your wood table some marmight. Jesus offered spiritual water to the women at the well. Joh 4. He knew how to feed himself in the Word, when satan tried to test Him with bread. Mat 4:4
Our body: Food, sleep, exercise,
Our soul: Connections, growth in learning something new, accomplishing and being fruitful to help someone.
Spirit: Encounters with the Word & Spirit, winning souls, hearing God’s voice.