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Preke

Versprei die Woord

Hoe is dit moontlik dat een man, met 12 vriende, en later net 120 mense wat in ‘n bovertrek saam was die hele wêreld verander het? Dis natuurlik nie ‘n alledaagse gebeurtenis dat iemand uit die dood opgestaan nie! So ook nie die Hemelvaart nie. Die uitstorting van die Heilige Gees was so betekenisvol en kragtig, niemand kon dit vir hulleself hou nie! Daar het al verskeie mense uit die dood, weer lewendig geword. Daar was al verskeie ghoeroe predikers, filosowe en mistiese leiers maar niemand het al ‘n groter volhoubare impak op die wêreld gemaak vir twee duisend jaar as Jesus nie! Alhoewel hierdie persone ‘n beweging mag begin het, het niemand dit al ooit reggekry dat ‘n beweging vir nou alreeds bykans 2000 jaar momentum hou, en nog steeds groei nie. Deur die eeue het die realiteit van die persoon Jesus Christus, Sy opstanding en Hemelvaart, en die uitstorting van die Heilige Gees mense aan die praat, mense se lewens verander, groeperinge vorm, want Hy is ‘n werklikheid! Volgens kenners ontketen ‘n storie wat viral gaan die volgende emosies: Geluk, verassing, admirasie, tevredenheid, hoop, liefde, konsentrasie, trots en dankbaarheid. Die uitdaging is dat elke boodskap, video, artikel wat wel viral gaan, nie volhoubaar is nie. Dit trek aandag vir ‘n oomblik, tot die volgende viral boodskap die massas se aandag trek. God soek nie jou aandag vir ‘n oomblik nie, Hy soek jou lewe! Hy soek nie jou admirasie vir ‘n paar minute nie, Hy soek jou oorgawe! Jou betrokkenheid en interaksie met Jesus, spoor voortdurend bogenoemde emosies aan. Hy is die objek van ons liefde, aspirasie, geluk, tevredenheid en fokus. Om vir Christus te volg is nie sommer vir almal nie. Dis nie ‘n populêre tipe voel-goed-oor-jouself godsdiens nie. Dis nie ‘n I’m OK, you’re OK dingetjie nie. Dis nie ‘n resep vir sukses- en welvaart nie. Dit bied geen kitsoplossings nie. Dis die moeilike weg. Dit daag ons uit om meer as net mensekinders te wees, om meer te doen as wat mense maar doen. Dit daag ons uit om kinders van God te wees. Hy wys ons wie ons Skepper bedoel het ons moet wees!JESUS was die perfekte mens! Sy spiritualiteit, denke en nugterheid, emosionele intelligensie, leefstyl en gewoontes, verhoudingeweredigheid en identiteit is die praktiese beste ideaal vir ‘n gesonde lewe. Jesus is nie ‘n mode gier nie. Jesus is die antwoord vir elke menslike nood. Dis soos ‘n perfekte resep, as jy Hom probeer, Hy kan nie flop nie. Jy moet Hom net probeer. Mense beleef dus vandag nog steeds die selfde resultate as 2000 jaar gelede, as hulle kies om Jesus te volg met hulle hele hart. Jesus leer ons om te vergewe, om selfloos te word, om dankbaar en vervuld te bly, om ons besig te hou met dinge wat werklik ewigheidswaarde het. Hy heilig ons van die blindekolle van skadelike gedrag en motiewe. Hy fokus ons bestaan, om ligter te lewe. Hy anker ons identiteit en gee ons ‘n dieper rede vir bestaan. VANDAG WIL EK PRAAT MET DIEGENE WAT JESUS ONTVANG HET!

Versprei SY roem (Spreading His fame)

In hierdie grendel tyd kan mens maklik vasgevang raak, ingesluit, toegetrek, ingeperk! Dit is die regte ding om te doen, om te voorkom dat die virus te vinnig versprei. Maar dit is nou tyd om die woord te versprei. Ons moet nou nie terughou nie! Ons moet elke geleentheid gebruik om die Woord en ons getuienis te laat WEERGALM!

(Mat 9:31) But when they had departed, they spread the news (Literally made Him known) about Him in all that country. (Land) Ten spyte daarvan het hulle weggegaan en oral gaan vertel hoe wonderlik Jesus is.

En die woord van God het toegeneem, en die getal van die dissipels het in Jerusalem baie vermeerder, en ’n groot menigte van priesters het gehoorsaam geword aan die geloof.” (Acts 6:7, DIE BYBEL: Afrikaans 1933/1953-vertaling) “Maar die woord van God het gegroei en toegeneem.” (Acts 12:24, DIE BYBEL: Afrikaans 1933/1953-vertaling) FURTHERMORE, BRETHREN, do pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may speed on (spread rapidly and run its course) and be glorified (extolled) and triumph, even as [it has done] with you, (2 Thes 3:1) (Amplified) 1310. διαφημίζω diaphēmízō; fut. diaphēmísō, from diá (G1223), denoting dispersion, and phēmízō (n.f.), to speak. To rumor abroad, divulge, advertise (Matt. 28:15; Mark 1:45). Spoken of a person and meaning to spread one’s fame abroad (Matt. 9:31).Syn.: koinóō (G2840), to communicate, make common; apaggéllō (G0518), to report, announce, declare; anaggéllō (G0312), to bring back word, declare; diaggéllō (G1229), to proclaim; exaggéllō (G1804), to publish, show forth.Ant.: phimóō (G5392), to muzzle, put to silence; sigáō (G4601), to be silent; siōpáō (G4623), to be silent; krúptō (G2928), to keep secret.Die gevaar vir baie gelowiges is dat ons fokus op ons eie oorlewing, en dus preke, leringe, motivering soek om onsself te voed! Die doel van lering is nie om self gevoed te word nie, dit is om inspirasie te ontvang om die goeie nuus te versprei. “As die wêreld julle haat, onthou: Hy het My voor julle gehaat.” (John 15:18-27)Dra jou deel van die ontberings soos ‘n goeie soldaat van Christus Jesus. (2 Tim 2:3)Niemand moet dit vir my verder moeilik maak nie, want ek dra al klaar die littekens van Jesus aan my liggaam. (Gal. 6:17)Daar is ‘n leuen wat baie mense laat terug hou: Moenie dweep nie. Moenie met die Bybel onder die arm rondloop nie. Jy moet die preek leef, nie dit preek nie. As dit die waarheid was, is almal in die Bybel gediskwalifiseer. Ons moet aanvaar dat met verkondiging kom vervolging!! 4742. στίγμα stígma; gen. stígmatos, neut. noun from stízō (n.f.), to make a puncture or a mark (e.g., with a hot iron), to brand. A mark, brand, as pricked into or burnt upon the body, such as the marks with which slaves and sometimes prisoners were branded.Ek en Chantál is bekend met stigma, die stigma van inkommers, die sogenaamde sektegroep, die charismatiese ‘te’ mense! Hulle is ‘te’ geestelik! ‘te’ heilig! Verder het baie van ons eie lidmate ons al vreeslik teleurgestel, deurdat hulle nie leef soos Jesus mense nie. So het Jesus se eie naby dissipels hom verloën, verraai, en getwyfel. Maar vergeet van ons. Ons het self ook al mense teleurgestel, deur te haastig te wees, ons woord nie na te kom nie, nie te help soos verwag is nie. Die kwessie is: HOOR EN DOEN. Om te hoor is nie genoeg nie… daar is duisende miljoene mense wat die Woord gereeld hoor! Vir die WOORD om te werk, moet die Woord GEDOEN word! Jy weet jy moet jou lewe regmaak: Doen dit nou! Jy weet jy moet daardie verhouding beëindig, doen dit nou! Jy weet jy moet ‘n sekere persoon vergewe en regmaak, doen dit NOU! Jy weet jy moet nie jou humeur verloor nie, Stop nou! Ek sien in die laaste 3 maande een van ons gemeente lede geestelik groei, hy woon die Bybelskool by, sy huiswerk is meestal eerste gedoen, en die groei is ooglopend! Ek is amptelik die meeste onfiks wat ek in 2 jaar was. Omdat ek nie meer fiets ry nie. Ek moet bloot op die fiets klim en begin! Waarvoor wag ek?

KOM ONS VERSPREI/VERKONDIG/DEEL JESUS

Die krag van die Woord:

Die krag van die evangelie lê in die Woord. Die Heilige Gees het ons oor die jare gelei, om in ons programme op die radio, internet die Woord van die Here te lees en aan te haal. Omtrent 60% van ons aanbiedinge is die Woord wat gelees word. Mense lees nie meer hulle Bybel nie, wat nog te sê bestudeer. Die woord van God is lewend en kragtig. Dit is skerper as enige swaard met twee snykante en dring deur selfs tot die skeiding van siel en gees en van gewrigte en murg. Dit beoordeel die bedoelings en gedagtes van die hart. (Heb 4:12) Die hele Skrif is deur God geïnspireer en het groot waarde om in die waarheid te onderrig, dwaling te bestry, verkeerdhede reg te stel en ‘n regte lewenswyse te kweek, sodat die man wat in diens van God staan, volkome voorberei en toegerus sal wees vir elke goeie werk. (2 Tim 3:16)

Die krag van jou getuienis:

14Hierdie Goeie Nuus van God se koningsheerskappy sal eers in die hele wêreld, aan al die nasies, verkondig word voordat die einde kom. (Mat 24:14) “as a witness to all the nations” Die krag van die Woord wat in jou lewe werk, is jou getuienis! And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:33)

Die krag van die Here wat ons volg:

Ten spyte hiervan het die apostels ‘n geruime tyd in die stad gebly en in vertroue op die Here onbevrees gepreek. Die Here het ook die boodskap van sy genade bevestig deur die apostels tekens en wonders te laat doen. (Acts 14:3) Ons as gemeente is tans meer as ooit gefokus om ons self met verspreiding van Sy woord besig te hou! Ons vind verskillende maniere op digitale media. – Brugbou – Radio Namakwaland Dinsdae 9:30 – Hartklop – Weeklikse 10min videoinsetsel op Facebook – Jesus, die beste lewe ooit geleef. 40 weke Aanlyn Bybelkursus – Weeklikse Video Onderhoude oor relevante vrae met Jan-Hendrik Kleynhans. – Verskeie weeklike ZOOM byeenkoms met Manne, Chantál my vrou met vroue en ons jongmense. – Weeklikse Aanlyn Kerk byeenkomste in Afrikaans en Engels. – Weeklikse 10min kort video insetsel vir “gedagte van die week” – Weeklikse Webjoernaal. – Alle boodskappe word gepodgooi. – Internetblad word aanlyn bronne sentrum vir soekende gelowiges.Iemand het vir ons ‘n 2dse Digitale drukker geskenk, waarby ons vir minimale herstelwerk moet betaal. Maar dit gaan ons in staat stel om klein boekies te druk, en uit te gee! Ons gaan uiteindelik nog boeke druk, ons lofprysing en musiek opneem, nog meer aanlyn webinare aanbied! Daar is nie meer grense nie!! Jesus Genees! Jesus RED, Jesus maak vry!! Ons is die ingangspunt, die deur “entrypoint” die liggaam, die advertensie wat mense lus maak om in te kom!

Categories
Sermons

Wie is my Navolger? Wie los jy in jou plek, wanneer jy weg is?

Discipleship

Wie is my Navolger?

PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah). 1 Cor 11:1 Wie is jou navolgers? Kan jy ook hierdie vers met oortuiging vir jou kinders en volgelinge sê? In terme van Leierskap sê John Maxwell; “If you leading and no one is following, you’re only taking a walk in the park.” Iemand het my eendag gevra: “What type of Christianity are your church creating?” Die vraag het lank by my gebly. Die vraag wat elke leier sekerlik sal moet antwoord aan die Here is; watse tipe Christene wil God hê? Die Woord is egter duidelik. Ons verheerlik God die meeste wanneer ons die meeste soos Jesus leef en handel! Mense wat nie meer rondgegooi word deur winde van lering nie, wat standvastig in hulle geloof kan bly staan selfs in tye van verdrukking, vervolging en lyding. Mense wat onder die moeilikste omstandighede, nog steeds Jesus se geur versprei! Mense wat nie meer vasgevang is in gewoonte sondes nie, maar heilig en toegewy aan God lewe, sonder trots, ego en selfverheerliking. Mense wat gesterf het in self, en daagliks hulle kruis opneem in Sy opstandingskrag! DIT IS DIE TIPE CHRISTENSKAP WAT GOD SOEK!

Van alle aktiwiteite, programme, byeenkomste, konferensies, wat die kerk ook al mag hou; as ons nie dissipels maak nie, is die groei en getalle van korte duur. Dis maklik om duisende mense te kry vir een byeenkoms, maar baie moeilik om een dissipel te maak wat uiteindelik op hulle beurt ook weer ‘n dissipel sal maak.

 

Volhoubare groei in die kerk is alleenlik moontlik wanneer elkeen lewe om die wêreld volgelinge te maak van Jesus!

DiscipleOns natuurlike navolgers is ons kinders. Hulle sien, hoor, en voel ons elke beweging en modelleer hulle lewens volgens ons voorbeeld, en ook ons foute. Casting Crowns se liedjie “Slow Fade” sê dit mooi; “Be careful little feet where you go, for it’s the little feet behind you that are sure to follow”.

Jy maak dissipels sonder dat jy dit weet. Wat jy praat en leef, raak mense om jou. Sonder dat jy weet sien hulle of jou dade ooreenstem met jou uitsprake. Jesus leef in jou, en mense word outomaties na Hom toe aangetrek. Skinder is niks anders as dissipels maak van jou storie nie. Deur jou offense te deel, en mense te kry om simpatie te hê, wen jy dissipels vir jou ‘cause’, oor hoe verontreg jy is. Ons is geroep om mense te inspireer om ook te wil hê wat ons het – JESUS die Christus!

Die groot “Commission” Jesus se opdrag aan sy dissipels was: “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life” (Message) of “Daarom moet julle na elke volk op aarde toe gaan en hulle my volgelinge maak” (Lewende Bybel) Mat 28:19 Dis die enigste volhoubare groei in die Kerk. Jou redding is nie net vir jouself nie, God wil deur jou die Wêreld raak met Sy genade en manier van lewe.

Jesus is ons missie, visie en algehele rede waarom ons bestaan.

Ons geloofspad met Jesus is ‘n reis van groei na volwassenheid in Hom. Hierdie groei kan nie sonder die medewerking van die liggaam plaasvind nie. (Efe 4:11-16) Dit is belangrik om ook te besef dat dissipelskap die beste werk binne die liggaam, want ons skiet almal tekort, mense faal ons, dit is ongesond dat leiding net van een persoon afkomstig is. Binne die raamwerk van familie, en die dinamiek van familie, en juis die diversiteit van verskillende rolle, ouderdomme en persoonlikhede wat optimale groei meebring. Die dissipelskap verhouding is net vir ’n tydperk, nie vir ’n leeftyd nie. Jesus het net 2,5 jr gehad om sy dissipels gereed te kry om oor te neem.

Lewensfase Behoefte Volgeling se rol Leier se rol
Geboorte Voorbeeld en rigting gee Gehoorsaamheid Inspireer
Kleuter Onvoorwaardelike Liefde, en beskerming Waarheid Modelleer
Jongmens Vorming van identiteit en vryheid om op eie te ontwikkel Nederigheid Afrigter
Volwassene Vennootskap en vriendskap Samewerking Vennoot

Terwyl ons almal in Hom opgroei na volwassenheid, hardloop ons ons eie wedloop. Petrus wou weet wat van Johannes? Jesus antwoord hom: “As Ek wil hê dat hy in die lewe moet bly totdat Ek weer kom, is dit nie jou saak nie. Volg jy My!” Dis nog een van die paradokse van die Evangelie: Ons kan nie sonder mekaar nie, maar elkeen hardloop volgens sy of haar eie pas. Ons oë is nie op mense gevestig nie, maar op Jesus die voleinder van ons geloof. (Heb 12:2)

Harvester is by uitstek ‘n verhouding georiënteerde gemeente, mense stap nie noodwendig sommer net in ‘n diens in en word deel nie. Groei vind veral binne die raamwerk van verhoudinge en spesifiek die dissipelskap-verhouding plaas. Ons hou tans verskeie “oes” (Harvest Events) waar mense kom besoek, dit is belangrik dat elke medewerker in die geloof wakker is in die gees om konneksie te maak met hierdie ‘soekers’. As volwasse gelowige kom jy nie meer na die diens net om te kom ontvang nie, jy kom om mense te bedien met dit wat jy in Christus ontvang het.

andyDISSIPELSKAP 101

– Kom gereeld bymekaar. Weeklikse saambid, Bybelstudie, gesprekke, berading, uitreike en bediening aan ander.

– Die ideale dissipelskap groep is 3 mense. Dit verplaas die fokus van een persoon as die leidende figuur, na die hele groep. Dit maak die mees volwasse lid ook ‘n deelnemer. Daar is meer veiligheid, volhoubaarheid, balans en krag in die verhouding van drie as net twee.

– Die kleingroep bring intieme interpersoonlike vertroue en oopmaak mee, sodat Jesus se lig verandering kan bring deur die krag van die Heilige Gees. Onbybelse geloofsoortuigings wat mense gevange hou, kan aangespreek word soos die die Here dit na voorskyn bring. Dissipelskap is die proses, waar die Here alles wat nie Jesus is nie wegsny.

– Beweging is lewe en groei: Deur passief net dienste by te woon, lei tot stagnasie. Deur aktief te begin bedien, van jouself te gee, en mense se groei op jou hart te dra bring jou eie groei mee. Ons Christenskap kan nie net oor ons eie belange gaan nie, dus juis in jou uitgee dat jy weer vol word. Dis in dien, dat jy bedien word. Dis in gee, dat jy vol word! Ha nee, spectators!

AKSIES:

1. Vas en Bid oor dissipelskap: Laat die Here self vir jou sleutels gee en lei hoe om te begin.

2. Lys die name van wie die Here na jou toe gestuur het om te help en te mentor. Identifiseer jou dissipels, hulle is na jou toe gestuur, en jy na hulle. “Divine Connections” Dink aan Cornelius en Petrus.

3. Verskillende tipe en vlakke van dissipels. (3, 12, 70, skare) Wie is jy besig om op te rig, om te doen wat jy doen? Aan wie gaan jy oorgee? Wat los jy agter, en wat vat jy saam na jou dood? Siele is ’n ewige kommoditeit.

4. Kry ’n tyd wanneer jul bymekaar kan kom. As jy net 2.5 jr gehad het om iemand alles te leer wat jy weet, met watse dringendheid sou jy aandag gegee het aan die taak?

Categories
Preke

Wie is my Navolger? Wie los jy in jou plek, wanneer jy weg is?

DiscipleshipWie is my Navolger?

PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah). 1 Cor 11:1 Wie is jou navolgers? Kan jy ook hierdie vers met oortuiging vir jou kinders en volgelinge sê? In terme van Leierskap sê John Maxwell; “If you leading and no one is following, you’re only taking a walk in the park.” Iemand het my eendag gevra: “What type of Christianity are your church creating?” Die vraag het lank by my gebly. Die vraag wat elke leier sekerlik sal moet antwoord aan die Here is; watse tipe Christene wil God hê? Die Woord is egter duidelik. Ons verheerlik God die meeste wanneer ons die meeste soos Jesus leef en handel! Mense wat nie meer rondgegooi word deur winde van lering nie, wat standvastig in hulle geloof kan bly staan selfs in tye van verdrukking, vervolging en lyding.  Mense wat onder die moeilikste omstandighede, nog steeds Jesus se geur versprei! Mense wat nie meer vasgevang is in gewoonte sondes nie, maar heilig en toegewy aan God lewe, sonder trots, ego en selfverheerliking.  Mense wat gesterf het in self, en daagliks hulle kruis opneem in Sy opstandingskrag! DIT IS DIE TIPE CHRISTENSKAP WAT GOD SOEK!

Van alle aktiwiteite, programme, byeenkomste, konferensies, wat die kerk ook al mag hou; as ons nie dissipels maak nie, is die groei en getalle van korte duur. Dis maklik om duisende mense te kry vir een byeenkoms, maar baie moeilik om een dissipel te maak wat uiteindelik op hulle beurt ook weer ‘n dissipel sal maak.

Volhoubare groei in die kerk is alleenlik moontlik wanneer elkeen lewe om die wêreld volgelinge te maak van Jesus!

DiscipleOns natuurlike navolgers is ons kinders.  Hulle sien, hoor, en voel ons elke beweging en modelleer hulle lewens volgens ons voorbeeld, en ook ons foute. Casting Crowns se liedjie “Slow Fade” sê dit mooi; “Be careful little feet where you go, for it’s the little feet behind you that are sure to follow”.
Jy maak dissipels sonder dat jy dit weet. Wat jy praat en leef, raak mense om jou. Sonder dat jy weet sien hulle of jou dade ooreenstem met jou uitsprake. Jesus leef in jou, en mense word outomaties na Hom toe aangetrek. Skinder is niks anders as dissipels maak van jou storie nie.  Deur jou offense te deel, en mense te kry om simpatie te hê, wen jy dissipels vir jou ‘cause’, oor hoe verontreg jy is. Ons is geroep om mense te inspireer om ook te wil hê wat ons het – JESUS die Christus!
Die groot “Commission” Jesus se opdrag aan sy dissipels was: “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life” (Message) of “Daarom moet julle na elke volk op aarde toe gaan en hulle my volgelinge maak” (Lewende Bybel) Mat 28:19 Dis die enigste volhoubare groei in die Kerk. Jou redding is nie net vir jouself nie, God wil deur jou die Wêreld raak met Sy genade en manier van lewe.

Jesus is ons missie, visie en algehele rede waarom ons bestaan.

Ons geloofspad met Jesus is ‘n reis van groei na volwassenheid in Hom. Hierdie groei kan nie sonder die medewerking van die liggaam plaasvind nie. (Efe 4:11-16) Dit is belangrik om ook te besef dat dissipelskap die beste werk binne die liggaam, want ons skiet almal tekort, mense faal ons, dit is ongesond dat leiding net van een persoon afkomstig is. Binne die raamwerk van familie, en die dinamiek van familie, en juis die diversiteit van verskillende rolle, ouderdomme en persoonlikhede wat optimale groei meebring.  Die dissipelskap verhouding is net vir ’n tydperk, nie vir ’n leeftyd nie. Jesus het net 2,5 jr gehad om sy dissipels gereed te kry om oor te neem.

Lewensfase Behoefte Volgeling se rol Leier se rol
Geboorte Voorbeeld en rigting gee Gehoorsaamheid Inspireer
Kleuter Onvoorwaardelike Liefde, en beskerming Waarheid Modelleer
Jongmens Vorming van identiteit en vryheid om op eie te ontwikkel Nederigheid Afrigter
Volwassene Vennootskap en vriendskap Samewerking Vennoot

Terwyl ons almal in Hom opgroei na volwassenheid, hardloop ons ons eie wedloop. Petrus wou weet wat van Johannes? Jesus antwoord hom: “As Ek wil hê dat hy in die lewe moet bly totdat Ek weer kom, is dit nie jou saak nie. Volg jy My!” Dis nog een van die paradokse van die Evangelie: Ons kan nie sonder mekaar nie, maar elkeen hardloop volgens sy of haar eie pas.  Ons oë is nie op mense gevestig nie, maar op Jesus die voleinder van ons geloof. (Heb 12:2)
Harvester is by uitstek ‘n verhouding georiënteerde gemeente, mense stap nie noodwendig sommer net in ‘n diens in en word deel nie. Groei vind veral binne die raamwerk van verhoudinge en spesifiek die dissipelskap-verhouding plaas.  Ons hou tans verskeie “oes” (Harvest Events) waar mense kom besoek, dit is belangrik dat elke medewerker in die geloof wakker is in die gees om konneksie te maak met hierdie ‘soekers’. As volwasse gelowige kom jy nie meer na die diens net om te kom ontvang nie, jy kom om mense te bedien met dit wat jy in Christus ontvang het.
andyDISSIPELSKAP 101
–   Kom gereeld bymekaar. Weeklikse saambid, Bybelstudie, gesprekke, berading, uitreike en bediening aan ander.
–   Die ideale dissipelskap groep is 3 mense.  Dit verplaas die fokus van een persoon as die leidende figuur, na die hele groep. Dit maak die mees volwasse lid ook ‘n deelnemer. Daar is meer veiligheid, volhoubaarheid, balans en krag in die verhouding van drie as net twee.
–  Die kleingroep bring intieme interpersoonlike vertroue en oopmaak mee, sodat Jesus se lig verandering kan bring deur die krag van die Heilige Gees.  Onbybelse geloofsoortuigings wat mense gevange hou, kan aangespreek word soos die die Here dit na voorskyn bring. Dissipelskap is die proses, waar die Here alles wat nie Jesus is nie wegsny.
–  Beweging is lewe en groei: Deur passief net dienste by te woon, lei tot stagnasie. Deur aktief te begin bedien, van jouself te gee, en mense se groei op jou hart te dra bring jou eie groei mee.  Ons Christenskap kan nie net oor ons eie belange gaan nie, dus juis in jou uitgee dat jy weer vol word. Dis in dien, dat jy bedien word. Dis in gee, dat jy vol word! Ha nee, spectators!
AKSIES:
1.  Vas en Bid oor dissipelskap: Laat die Here self vir jou sleutels gee en lei hoe om te begin.
2.  Lys die name van wie die Here na jou toe gestuur het om te help en te mentor. Identifiseer jou dissipels, hulle is na jou toe gestuur, en jy na hulle. “Divine Connections” Dink aan Cornelius en Petrus.
3. Verskillende tipe en vlakke van dissipels. (3, 12, 70, skare) Wie is jy besig om op te rig, om te doen wat jy doen? Aan wie gaan jy oorgee? Wat los jy agter, en wat vat jy saam na jou dood? Siele is ’n ewige kommoditeit.
4.   Kry ’n tyd wanneer jul bymekaar kan kom. As jy net 2.5 jr gehad het om iemand alles te leer wat jy weet, met watse dringendheid sou jy aandag gegee het aan die taak?
 

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Johnny Louw – Jesus is Liefde

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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)

Categories
Blogs

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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Sermons

Die Jesus Lewe

Om soos Jesus te word is die sleutel tot ʼn vervulde en gelukkig lewe. Jy sal die beste huweliksmaat wees om mee te leef, die beste sakeleier of werker wees vir enige sakeonderneming, die beste tipe vriend, die beste ouer. Die hoogste ideaal vir elke mens se bestaan is Jesus. Mense vergeet die wenners van die Olimpiese spele, die beste akteurs van die jaar, en selfs die mees beroemdste mense verval later in vergetelheid. Maar om Jesus te leef elke dag van my hele lewe, maak ʼn ewigheidsverskil in my lewe sowel as die mense wat ek aanraak.

Die uitkoms van alle geestelike aktiwiteit behoort Jesus Christus te wees.

Of jy ‘n belewenis gehad het soos Paulus, (hy sê nie sy naam nie) om in die derde hemel opgeneem te wees, of jy bloot nuwe betekenis in ‘n teksvers ontdek het, dit moet alles jou meer soos Jesus laat klink en lyk. Ons karakter, gesindheid, waardes, denkpatroon, lewenstyl en identiteit moet alles in lyn wees met Jesus. Die fokus van gebed is uiteindelik om meer soos Jesus te word. God het nie ons lofprysing nodig nie. Lofprysing is God se werktuig in ons lewens om ons te vorm om soos Hy te wees. Dit wat jy op fokus en aanbid, word jy. Prediking, vermaning, korreksie, Dissipelskap, lering, alles is gerig om ons te vorm na die beeld van Jesus. Die sukses van ʼn bediening is dus nie net die grote van die skares en geboue nie, maar in watter mate die mense soos Jesus begin te leef en handel. Hoe meer ons een raak met Jesus, hoe meer een sal ons raak met mekaar, en sal die Wêreld glo dat ons van God is. (Joh 17:21)

Misty Edwards sing oor Jesus in “a beautiful heart” hoe perfek en rein Jesus se hart is.

There is no shadow of turning in You

No rebellion or pride

You don’t know greed or envy or strife

Your intentions are pure and holy

Delighting to do the Father’s will

You don’t have a thought against Him

But humbly You live in perfect restraint

Waiting for promises given

Chorus:

Jesus, You have a beautiful heart

Jesus, You have a beautiful heart

Verse 2:

You’re gentle, You’re meek,

yet Your heart is strong

Jesus, Your gladness is contagious

You are not selfish,

You can’t compromise

You are the truth, You can’t lie

You don’t hold a grudge or have a cynical eye

Bitterness has no part of You

But You’re quick to forgive,

let me back in again

Your kindness is so liberating

God wil uiteindelik hê dat al Sy kinders net so ʼn mooi hart soos Jesus sal hê.

Hoe meer ons konformeer en transformeer om gelykvormig te word met hierdie eienskappe hoe meer vind ons vervulling in ons eie skeppingsdoel. (Rom 8:29) Want ons is geskape met die potensiaal om soos Hy te kan wees. Hierdie potensiaal is in elke mens, maar is deur sonde verdraai. Ons fokus soms so in ons teologie op die verdorwenheid van die menslike natuur dat ons vergeet waarom God die mens geskape het. Die skrif is duidelik ons is geskape:

  • Om aan God toegewy te wees (2 Tim 1:9)
  • Om sy kinders te wees (Efe 1:5) ‘Kinders’ spreek van afstammeling, soos Hy, beelddraers, dieselfde karakter eienskappe. Kinders weerspieël natuurlik die eienskappe van die ouers.
  • Om heilig en onberispelik voor Hom te wees. (Efe 1:4)
  • Om alles onder een hoof te verenig naamlik Jesus (Efe 1:10)

Ons verheerlik God die meeste, wanneer ons soos Jesus leef en handel. Sy heerskappy dui bloot op Sy manier van leef, volgens Sy wil. Hoe meer my lewe onder Sy heerskappy kom, hoe meer reflekteer ek Sy karakter. As die doel hoekom God ons geskape het Christus is, dan beteken dit dat die potensiaal om Jesus te wees alreeds in ons opgesluit is.

Fokus op die Jesus wat alreeds in ons is.

Die Here het my jare gelede geleer: “baie mense probeer om hulle Jesus in mense af te druk, in plaas daarvan om die afdruk van Jesus wat alreeds in elke mens is te ontdek.” Dis tog baie duidelik: Die templaat/afdruk van die mens is nie die duiwel nie, maar Jesus. Ons is geskape in God se beeld nie satan se beeld nie. Hierdie beeld word egter geskend deur sonde, en hoe meer ons aan sonde blootgestel word en self begin deelneem, hoe meer word Jesus se beeld in ons verdraai. Net soos daar sleg in elke mens is, of sonde in elke mens is (Rom 3:23) net so is daar ‘n afdruk van Jesus in elke mens. Ons kies om oor tyd ons ledemate al hoe meer aan sonde en satan te wy. (Rom 6:15-23) Sodoende het ons kinders van satan geword, toegewy om sy wil te doen. Wanneer ons egter tot bekering kom en omdraai, begin die pad van toewyding aan God. Die sondige natuur is nie ‘n keuse nie, dit kom soos ‘n siekte saam met ons geboorte in hierdie wêreld. (Efe 2:3) Daarom moet ons weergebore word, om ons goddelike natuur terug te kan ontvang. (Joh 3:2; 1 Pet 1:23)

Wanneer ons weergebore word, neem God weer Sy regmatige plek van heerskappy in ons lewens in, en leer Hy ons om te leef volgens Sy bloudruk – ons skeppingsdoel. Die verderf en verwoesting om teen Sy wil te leef is duidelik. Kyk maar net hoe ʼn stukkend en verskriklike plek die wêreld geword het omdat mense leef volgens hulle eie raadsbesluit. Die teenoorgestelde is ook waar, wanneer almal sal leef volgens Jesus se gedragskode en waardes sal dit hemel wees op aarde. ‘n Wêreld sonder ambisie, bitterheid, wraak, haat, selfsug, eiegeregtigheid, selfverryking, rassisme, egosentrisme, onreg, ongehoorsaamheid.

Net so natuurlik as wat sonde kom vir die mens wat nog nie weergebore is nie, so natuurlik en spontaan kom heiligheid vir die weergebore persoon. Paulus verduidelik hierdie bestaan baie raak in Rom 7:19: “Die goeie wat ek wil doen, doen ek nie, maar die slegte wat ek nie wil doen nie, dit doen ek” Maar die teenoorgestelde gebeur vir die weergebore gelowige: Ons dink soms daaraan om sleg te doen maar dan wanneer dit by doen kom dan doen ons die regte ding voor ons dink. Ons natuur het verander. (2 Kor 5:17) Ons is met God verenig en Hy lewe nou deur ons, soos ons Hom toelaat.

Vir die apostels was die einddoel van alle hulle bediening altyd Christus.

  • Totdat Christus volkome in julle gevorm word – Gal 4:19
  • Om elke mens volmaak in Christus Jesus te stel – Kol 1:28-29
  • Julle aan een man verbind, om julle as ʼn rein maagd aan Christus voor te stel – 2 Kor 11:2
  • Niks anders onder julle te weet as Jesus Christus en Hom as die gekruisigde – 1 Kor 2:2
  • Nie ledig of onvrugbaar tot die kennis van ons Here Jesus Christus nie – 2 Pet 1:8
  • Eenheid van geloof en kennis van die Seun van God, tot ʼn volwasse man, tot die mate van die volle grote van Christus – Efe 4:13

Die vrug van geregtigheid wat by gelowiges pas is die lewe en karakter van Jesus opgesom in die vrug van die Heilige Gees as ons nuwe natuur. (Gal 5:20-22) Dit beteken ook dat die einddoel van al die gawes en werk van die Heilige Gees ook die natuur en lewe van Christus is. Volheid van die Heilige Gees is om gevul te wees met die karakter van Jesus Christus. Hoe voller ek van die Gees is, hoe meer sal ek die natuur en karakter van Jesus openbaar. Heiligheid is dus nie hoe eksentriek ek kan wees nie, maar of ek die natuur, hart, en persoon van Jesus openbaar. Heiligheid beteken bloot dat ek vol is van God se teenwoordigheid! Wanneer jy baie tyd met iemand spandeer, veral as die persoon ‘n baie sterk karakter het, dan begin mens al hoe meer soos die persoon klink, praat, en lyk. Ons menswees boots spontaan die sterkste karakter waaraan ons blootgestel word na. Wanneer Jesus verwys na die vrug wat ons dra, verwys hy na die karakter eienskappe van God in ons lewens.

Die waarheid van die Jesus Lewe is ʼn universele beginsel – Die mense wat oor die eeue die mees langlewende afdruk op die mensdom gemaak het, was diegene wat die meeste volgens Jesus se lewe geleef het. Moeder Teresa, Ghandi en Mandela. Alhoewel die persone nie noodwendig ʼn intieme verhouding met God gehad het nie, en ook nie noodwendig belydende Christene was nie, het hulle lewe die meeste indruk gemaak op die mensdom omdat hulle bereid was om radikaal Jesus se lewe te leef.

Om Jesus se lewe te leef, gaan jou lewe kos!

Dis die raaisel en misterie van die Jesus lewe, jy kan nie sy lewe naboots en soos ‘n selfhelp ghoeroe probeer om in stappe te verdeel nie. Sy lewe gaan jou lewe kos. Mat 16:24
Jesus het toe vir sy dissipels gesê: “As julle my volgelinge wil wees, moet julle julle eie, selfsugtige ambisie prysgee, julle kruis op julle skouers neem, en agter My aan kom. Sy lewenstyl is reguit in teenstelling met die lewenstyl van die Wêreld. Matteus 5 – 6 is die moeilikste hoofstukke in die Bybel om te leef, daarom is ons lief om daaroor te praat en te debatteer, want die doen is gans onmoontlik vir die eie ek. Elke daad wat hier bespreek word en beveel word, kos jou alles. Dit kos dat jy jou regte opgee, jou drome, ambisie, jou eie wil – alles! Dit is hoekom so min mense die ware karakter van Jesus openbaar, want alhoewel ons by tye reg doen en goed doen, is Sy lewe alleen moontlik wanneer ons ‘n algehele oorgawe maak om ons self te verloën, en Sy wil te doen. Dit raak ‘n lewenstyl – dit is nooit maklik nie, en dit hou nooit op nie. Elke ware kind van God, word daagliks uitgedaag om dinge ‘ anders’ te doen.

  • As jy jou lewe wil vind, moet jy dit verloor.
  • As jy mense wil lei en voorloop, dien mense.
  • As jy meer wil hê, gee meer weg.
  • As jy aansien wil verkry, steek jouself weg.
  • As jy vry wil wees, spreek ander vry.

Dit is heeltemal in kontras met wat self wil doen. Daarom moet elke mens by die plek kom, om te glo in Jesus of nie. Gaan jy Sy lewe leef of nie? Daar is nie ‘n middeweg wat volhoubaar is nie. Kompromie werk vir ‘n kort tydjie, maar deurstaan nie die toets van tyd en vervolging nie. Sommige kan probeer om al die mooi goed te doen vir die aansien van mense, maar wanneer vervolging en verdrukking oor ons pad kom, dan kom self-oorlewing sterk na vore. Iemand wat sy lewe in Christus verloor het, skyn Sy lewe juis te meer onder druk. Dis juis dan wanneer Sy lewe in ons die helderste skyn! Deur die eeue is daar menigte heiliges wat hierdie lewe geleef het, hulle lewe skyn deur die eeue vandag nog Sy heerlike lig! Lewens van selfopoffering, hulle het nie hulle lewe as kosbaar geag nie, maar was bereid om bo alles aan God gehoorsaam te wees. Hulle lewe roep ons op om hierdie reis saam met hulle te voltooi. Mag die kerk van die laaste dae, nog te meer Sy lig en lewe deur ons laat skyn.

Mense wat oorgelewer is aan Hom sal Sy karakter openbaar: vergenoegdheid, nederigheid, vol van geloof, vorstelik en onbeweeglik ten opsigte van wat reg en waar is, sagmoedig, liefdevol, vol van lewenslus en passie, inskiklik en gemaklik met hulleself, vreugdevol en gelukkig, innerlike vrede en rustigheid, sensitief wees vir menslike nood maar iets doen daaraan. Mense wat deur hulle dade getuig van Jesus. Jy kan dus Jesus se lewe in hulle dade opmerk. Volwassenheid van karakter om selfs onder opposisie steeds nie reaktief te lewe nie, maar dan juis Sy manier van doen te openbaar.

Hierdie lewe kom nie vanself nie – Dit is nie in die mens nie. (Jer 10:23) Dis alleenlik wanneer ons, ons eie lewe neerlê en in die geloof Sy lewe ontvang. (Gal 2:20) Ons reken onsself dood. (Rom 6:11) en as ‘n daaglikse lewenswyse offer onsself as lewende heilige offers om Sy wil te doen. (Rom 12:1) Soos ons op Hom wag vir Sy manier, kom wys die Heilige Gees die weg en lei ons in die waarheid. Hy leer ons om ons vyande en vervolgers te vergewe, die wat ons beroof het vry te spreek en te seën, en te bid vir die wat ons misbruik.

Paulus som hierdie lewe op soos volg: 1 Corinthians 4:10-15; 2 Corinthians 4:8-18; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

Being reviled we bless

Being persecuted we endure

Being defamed we entreat

Much patience

By purity

By knowledge

By long-suffering

By the Holy spirit

By sincere love

By the word of truth

By the power of god

By the armour of righteousness

Wat Paulus hier vir ons wys, is dat hy in elke krisis ʼn goddelike antwoord en strategie ontvang het om te oorwin en staande te bly. Hy is nooit ʼn slagoffer van slegte omstandighede nie, maar het deur Jesus se leefwyse antwoorde verkry om elke uitdaging te oorwin.

Hoe word ons meer soos Jesus?

Jy kan nie ‘n toeskouer van hierdie lewe wees nie. Die enigste manier om die seën van Sy lewe te ontvang is om dit te leef. Jy kan dit dus nie deur iemand ontvang nie. Hy self is die bron, anders eet ons weer van die boom van kennis van goed en kwaad. Niemand kan dit vir jou doen nie, en namens jou die prys betaal nie. Jy moet self jou eie lewe opgee, en in die geloof Sy lewe ontvang, en dan werk Hy Sy lewe in jou.

En moenie vir mekaar lieg nie. Julle het met die ou, sondige mens en sy gewoontes gebreek 10en leef nou die lewe van die nuwe mens, wat al hoe meer vernuwe word na die beeld van sy Skepper en tot die volle kennis van God Kol 3:9-10

Jy moet Hom ontvang. Jy neem Sy lewe aan as jou eie. Jy trek Hom as te ware aan as jou nuwe identiteit. Om te strewe om soos Hy te wees, bly ʼn strewe soos ʼn wortel voor ʼn donkie se neus aan ʼn stok. Strewe is nie genoeg nie. Dis soos ʼn nuwejaarsvoorneme wat nooit realiseer nie. NEE, Jy neem Sy lewe aan in die GELOOF. Ek is saam met Jesus begrawe en Hy is elke dag besig om meer en meer in my op te staan soos ek in die geloof Hom gehoorsaam. Hoe meer bewus ek raak van Jesus in my, en begin fokus op dit wat Hy alreeds in my is, hoe meer raak ek soos Hy. Hoe kry jy die lug uit ʼn glas? Deur dit vol water te maak. Hoe oorwin jy sonde in jou lewe? Om vol te wees van Jesus. Ons fokus is nie sonde nie, ons fokus is Jesus en die werk wat Hy vir ons gedoen het aan die kruis.

Om soos Jesus te wees is gans onmoontlik vir die mens. As ek net dink aan al die karaktertrekke van Jesus, weet ek nie waar om te begin nie. Dank God die Heilige Gees lei ons en help ons in alle waarheid. Hy lei ons elke dag. Hy gee ons daaglikse instruksies, en lei ons om Hom te vertrou. Vir elkeen gee Hy ander opdragte en bevele, want Hy is met ons elkeen op reis na die selfde doel – Jesus. Soos ons hoor en gehoorsaam, voel dit soms dat ons ook soos Jesus wil vra: “Laat hierdie beker my verbygaan, Here!” Hy werk egter die vermoë en genade in ons om die opdrag uit te voer, en soos ons dit doen ervaar ons ʼn heerlike opstanding in ons. Genade is nie eenmalig gegee nie, maar is die kragtige werking van God wat daagliks in ons werk. (Fil 2:13) Hoe weet jy of jy in genade leef óf nie? Jy weet dat dit nie jy is nie, maar genade. Jy het duisend keer probeer en gefaal, hierdie keer is dit Hy wat die werk in jou doen. Dis nie hoe hard jy probeer nie, maar hoe hard jy glo in Sy werk.

Die uitkoms!!!

Mag elke persoon wat God aan ons gegee het, om deel te wees van hierdie deel van die familie van Christus, groei in volwassenheid en Jesus-vrug! Mag ons getuienis onder mense van hierdie omgewing wees dat ons;
Liefdevolle, sagte spontane mense is. Mense wat geestelike diepte het en standvastig is in hulle geloof. Mense wat jy kan vertrou, en deur wie God se Gees kragtig werk. Betroubare, getroue en opregte mense op wie jy kan staatmaak. Pilare in die gemeenskap wat hulle invloed gebruik ten bate van die wat onderdruk en minder bevoorreg is. Mense wie se karakter en woorde 100% op-lyn en waar daar geen valsheid te vinde is nie. Mense wat jou nie net seën met hulle woorde nie, maar wat daadwerklik jou help en ondersteun totdat jy weer op jou voete is. Mense wie se besigheid en werksaamhede getuig van godsvrug: op tyd wees, deugsaamheid, netheid, kreatiwiteit, gehalte werk en akkuraatheid. Mense vol van genade, geloof en vryheid! Tog spreek hulle lewe van eenvoud, innerlike tevredenheid en kalmte. Jy hou daarvan om by hierdie mense te wees want hulle is gemaklik, uitgesorteer en volwasse. Hulle geniet die lewe sonder om te sondig en leef die lewe voluit! Hulle is vrygewig en heg meer waarde aan ewigheidsgoed as aardse besittings, roem of aansien. Hulle rykdom is in Jesus se karakter wat elke dag meer en meer duideliker word in elkeen. Hulle is nie te trots om saam met kinders op die vloer te speel en uitbundig te lag nie. Hulle is kinderlik, spontaan en het weinig vrese of inhibisies. Hulle erken gou hulle foute en menslikheid sonder skaamte, want hulle weet hoe afhanklik hulle van die Here is. Hulle is “bold” en passievol oor hulle geloof, en is nie skaam oor God se liefde en nabyheid nie. Hulle teenwoordigheid maak jou veilig voel, en hulle bring Goddelike perspektief en wysheid na elke moeilike situasie. Hulle is konstant en gebalanseerd maar tog nie vervelig nie. Hulle ingesteldheid getuig van lewenslus en geloof in die onmoontlike, hulle is optimisties maar nie ligsinnig of oppervlakkig nie. Hulle grappies getuig van goeie smaak en eerbied vir alles mense. Hulle is in alles dankbaar en godvresend, meer as wat hulle bang is vir wat die mense gaan sê of dink. Hulle is nie ingestel op die opinies en sake van mense nie, en praat nooit oor mense wat nie teenwoordig is nie. Hulle is bidders en ken en verstaan die wil en hart van God. Hulle is op frekwensie met wat die Gees van die Here tans mee besig is in die Wêreld. Jy sal dieselfde fokus optel by gelowiges regoor die wêreld, want hulle leef in die Wil van God. Jy voel altyd ʼn beter mens as jy van hulle weggaan. Jou geloof is gebou en jy voel opgebou en gestig om ook meer soos Jesus te lewe. Hulle is aangename en vriendelike mense, sonder veroordeling en kritiek, negatiwiteit en gemeenheid. Tog is daar geen kompromie by hulle te vind nie, en voel dit asof die ligte aan is wanneer jy by hulle is. Wanneer hulle jou bedien is dit met liefde, maar ferm en in waarheid. Sonder bybedoelings of selfsugtige motiewe. Hulle lewe daag passiwiteit en valse verskonings uit. Hulle bring dinge aan die lig, sodat daar lig en groei kan kom. Hulle is wetsgehoorsaam, en wys respek en eerbied vir alle mense. Hulle neem verantwoordelikheid vir die foute wat hulle maak en maak reg waar verbrou is. Hulle lewe spreek van orde en dissipline sonder om rigied of wetties te wees. Hulle handhaaf gesonde roetines en gewoontes in hulle private sowel as publieke lewe. Hulle is eerlik en sonder fieterjasies, ongekunsteld en vol van die teenwoordigheid van die Here. Hulle is ‘kerk’!

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