Beauty & The Gospel MADE PERFECT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
lydia molise south african worshiper
5 tips on how to meditate on the Word of GOD the problem of mary and sarah!
BEWARE OF THE GREAT DECEIVER!
ISSUE NO 7 VOL 2 AUGUST 2019
are you a bride or bridesmaid?
VISION ROMANS 15:20-21 20 Accordingly I set a goal to preach the gospel, not where Christ’s name was already known, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but [instead I would act on this goal] as it is written [in Scripture], “They who had no news of Him shall see, And they who have not heard [of Him] shall understand.”
MISSION 1 CORINTHIANS 1:17 17 For Christ did not send me [as an apostle] to baptize, but [commissioned and empowered me] to preach the good news [of salvation]—not with clever and eloquent speech [as an orator], so that the cross of Christ would not be [b]made ineffective [deprived of its saving power].
TABLE OF CONTENTS PASTOR THUTO GEZANI
THE PROBLEM OF MARY AND SARAH
PROPHET GEOFFREY GEZANI
DEFY THE ENEMIES OF YOUR SOUL
*CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE*
DR ANDRE & JEN ROEBERT
BIBLICAL WOMEN OF VALOR
UNCLE ANGUS BUCHAN
PASTOR BONGANI
5 TIPS ON MEDITATION
TRADE SELF-HELP FOR GOD-HELP
CONQUER THE LAND KENDRA DUBLIN
PASTOR NTSAKO
A FRIEND WHO STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER
IT WAS THE HAND OF GOD MINISTER MONICA
APOSTLE NEO
EDITOR'S NOTE Your majesty THE IMPORTANCE OF TESTIFYING Beloved, so this month I’ve been studying the Book of Luke. How rich and powerful is this Book, well just like the others. Many stories captured me in this Book but let me discuss about the one in Chapter 5 V 12-15 about the man with leprosy. As you read it, you will discover the importance and power of testifying about what the Lord has done for you. Today, churches are filled with Christians that are full of pride, who seem to forget what they have been delivered from, that’s why they have the audacity to not stand up and testify about what the Lord has done, and is doing, because of entitlement and pride. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that your testimony is for the salvation of souls, it’s not about you or how you feel, but about souls. Did you ever think that by withholding your testimony, you are preventing people from getting saved, healed , delivered and knowing King Jesus as the GREAT I AM? In verse 15 it states: But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. (NLT) All in the name of testifying about what the Lord has done. Child of God, we need to repent and take testifying very important, because clearly, it is important to King Jesus as it has to do with souls. The world is waiting for your testimony. Read further in 2Kings 4; 8-36 and 2 Kings 5; 119. Write me your comments and thoughts to our email: beautyandthegospel@gmail.com it might just be printed :-) If you happen to be a new reader, WELCOME ABOARD BELOVED. That’s it for now till month, you’re loved by Him and I.
EMPRESS_TEEKAY
Devotions by the anointed Dr AndrĂŠ and Jenny Roebert
Don't do it alone Message taken from Romans 8:26 (AMPC) Mark 3:21(NKJV): "So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance." If you find yourself in a situation where you're so overwhelmed you don't even know how to pray, don't let panic or despair settle in. Remember you have the Holy Spirit inside you, standing by and waiting for your call for help. The Bible teaches us He comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness. That means He carries and supports us when we can't manage on our own. He sees our need and personally intercedes on our behalf as we pray in the Spirit, speaking His perfect will over our lives and into our situation. What a wonderful, trustworthy friend we have in Him! He is our partner for life - so we never have to do anything alone.
CONTRIBUTOR
A friend who sticks closer than a brother We are so honored to share this beautiful article written by Uncle Angus Buchan . A Born Again spirit filled servant of the Gospel. Thanking you once again Angus for sharing this article with us. He is an Author, Farmer, Husband, Father and Grandfather. A friend who sticks closer than a brother Just not so long ago we observed the Pentecost season and it always warms my heart when I am reminded of the tremendous sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ made for you and I. In John 16:7 (NKJV) the Lord Jesus said “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” I had the privilege of speaking at an open air meeting on a rugby field in Vereeniging on a very warm winter’s day a few years ago and as we spoke about the person of the Holy Spirit a beautiful gentle breeze blew through that rugby stadium and people were amazed at how God physically impressed Himself upon us. I think the biggest problem amongst believers is that they minimise the reality of the third person of the God Head, namely our Lord Holy Spirit. That unbelief limits God to work on our
When she touched the hem of His garment and the
behalf. Horatius Bonar a very famous Scottish
Bible says that that issue of blood that had been flowing
hymn writer who loved the Lord passionately
for twelve years was instantly dried up and she was
said, “All unbelief is the belief of a lie,” and of
healed. Jesus turned around and said “Women your faith
course we know exactly who the father of all
has made you well.” We see the same things happening
lies is, the deceiver of the brethren, it is the devil
to the blind man Bartimaeus in Mark 10:52 (NKJV) where
himself. He hates God so much that his primary
he said “Rabboni (Teacher), that I may receive my sight,”
weapon is to bring “deception” amongst the
and the Lord said, “Go your way; your faith has made you
believer and of course if you can’t believe then
well.” When we start to understand that the Holy Spirit is
God can’t work. The woman with the issue of
a friend who sticks closer than a brother and wants to
blood who said to herself “If I could just touch
help us in every aspect in our lives because He is the
the hem of His garment, I will be healed.” She
Comforter (Parakletos which is Greek), the Encourager,
was desperate, she had no money, all her
the Counsellor and the Advocate. He is available for you
money had been used up and no doctor could
and me. All we have to do is call upon Him.
help her (Matthew 9:22).
I have started to do that more now than ever
Let us not neglect or reject such a beautiful gift
before in my life, because I am realising like never
that has been given to us. Since I have been
before that without Gods supernatural
baptised in the Holy Spirit and God has given me a
intervention you and I are not going to make it. Let
beautiful new language my life has been enriched.
us start to pay more homage, more respect, and
When I have to leave my dear wife, which is quite
more love, towards our Lord Holy Spirit. Jesus
often to go overseas to preach the Gospel, I get
knew the potential of the Holy Spirit to help us so
extremely lonely. I am a real home sick farm boy,
much that He said it is more advantageous for you
but I call upon the Holy Spirit, my Friend and He is
that I go away because if I do not go away I cannot
indeed such a comforter and reassures me that Jill
send the Helper. We need to cultivate our
is well, that the Lord can look after her even better
relationship with Him. Many people say, “But I can’t
than I can and that encourages me.
hear Him speak and I can’t see Him.” No, but He is there. Just like Jesus says you must be born again
May God bless you as you continue to trust the
and Nicodemus said “How can a fully grown man
Holy Spirit for every aspect of your life and of your
go back into his mother’s womb?” and the Lord
family and your business.
said “You don’t know where the wind comes from, you don’t know where it blows to, but it is still
Yours in Christ service
blowing.” That is the same with the Holy Spirit, we
Angus Buchan
need to believe by faith and that comes purely by spending time reading Gods Word, spending time in prayer and fasting. The Lord doesn’t say that we must tempt Him but he says that we can test Him just like Gideon did with that fleece and the Lord honoured him every time.
EVISULCXE
1. Who is LYDIA MOLISE personally and professionally and where are you from? My name is Lydia Molise. l was born at Leratong hospital, Kagiso in South Africa on the 06 April 1987. I’m a recording artist. I started doing backing vocals for Spirit of Praise Vol 4 2012 till Spirit of Praise vol 5, then from Spirit of Praise vol 6 and vol 7. I am now part of Women In Praise. 2. Who does LYDIA MOLISE say, THE UNDEFEATED LION OF JUDAH is ? Undefeated Lion of Judah to me is Jesus Christ. He is Undefeated. l have seen Him in my life working wonders and making a way for me. He is fighting my battles. 3. When I say the name Jesus what comes to mind? My everything all the time, anywhere, anytime. My greatest eternal love. Oh! l could go on and on!!!
4. You’ve only been in the industry for less than 5 years (if not mistaken). How has the journey been and did you think you would be where you are now in such a short space of time? lt’s been 8 years now. The journey has been one of selfdiscovery and great lesson, and memories l have been faced with. The reality is that as an artist you need to adapt to change. You should be willing to improve yourself to be the best you for God because He’s the one who granted you the opportunity to be in that spotlight. 5. On the 26th April 2019 you released 2 anointed singles titled: UNDEFEATED LION OF JUDAH AND MORE OF YOUR LOVE. Tell us more about them? Wow! It was an awesome experience that day. It was at 00:00 am. l was wide awake, checking peoples’ reactions to my music. Some called me exactly at midnight and congratulated me on the day it was released. Undefeated Lion of Judah was number 12 on the International Christian Gospel top 200. l really saw God backing my work up in a way l never imagined.
EXCLUSIVE WITH lydia molise 6. With 2 singles out, is there a plan of an album? Before the end of the year, l’m planning on having a full album. I already have so many songs that are not recorded yet, and I can’t wait to share them with people of God. 7. You are part of Woman In Praise, share with us how that came about and the impact it’s made and still is making on you personally and professionally? Being part of Women in Praise has changed my life for the better in so many ways. l learned that l need to grow as an artist, as Lydia Molise. I also need to grow in knowing how to share my life, space, personal and professional. With ladies it takes a lot of compromise, understanding, patience and love to be part of a girl group.
Many people now know me as Lydia an artist, no longer just a backing vocalist. I also experienced sharing my music with a large number of people when l wrote four songs on our album: ‘Women in Praise live in Johannesburg’. 8. You’ve worked with great anointed worshippers like: Bishop Benjamin Dube, Pastor Sipho Ngwenya, Prophet Neyi Zimu, Omega etc tell us about this mega grace over your life, how you remain SO HUMBLE and what has being humble done for you? The first-time l saw Bishop Benjamin Dube, l was just in awe of how he took me from dreaming of working with him to actually work with him. It was a moment l will never forget. Working with Omega has been amazing. He’s a humble and hardworking artist.
He never had a problem sharing tips on what to do to engage with my fans after releasing my two songs. Pastor Neyi, working with him has been too good to put into words. He’s been in the industry for so long and he takes his music so seriously. Me being part of his team means grace. He’s a legend. l celebrate his ministry. Ps Sipho Ngwenya, what a worshiper, a powerhouse. It was an honour to be featured on his albums.
The Holy Spirit is my guide. He always keeps me in check. If pride or anything ungodly wants to be in me, He will rebuke me. He’s my Teacher, Guide and Helper. Without Him I would fail to uphold a godly character. Everyday I want to please Him. I want only what He wants.
9. Your love for worship and King Jesus is undeniably visible. How and when did you become BORN AGAIN? Thank you so much! l grew up in church. My mom got saved when l was three months old. All my life l have been surrounded by worship and the word. That’s how the seed of worship was watered. l became born again at a very young age. 10. Not only are you a worshipper but also a song writer (if not mistaken). Does every worshipper have the gift to write songs and how did you know you had that gift? I am a songwriter. l discovered this gift from a young age. l would sometimes dream of a song. At times l would be woken up by a melody, sometimes lyrics without a melody. Sometimes, when l pray, God drops a song in my spirit then l record it on my phone.
12. What message do you have to the Church, regarding the end times and especially this “NEW AGE GOSPEL”? Know the Word of God for yourself and don’t let go of Jesus till He comes. Almost everything predicted in the Bible has come to pass. We are living in the last days, hold on and focus. Our King, Jesus Christ is coming!!
!H A D U de J F t a O e f N e d O nu IL e ht , SU S EJ
11. There is power in the name of Jesus Christ, share with someone who doesn’t seem to grasp that exactly? The Bible says the name of Jesus is the name exalted above all other names. You can never go wrong when you call on the name of Jesus.
13. Lastly, what advice can you give to young people desiring to join the gospel industry? l would tell them to be prepared mentally and spiritually because what we do is not easy. If it’s not your calling, you will quit as there are many challenges. They should still go to school and keep prepared all the time. God will surely make it happen for them also. 24. When people hear the name LYDIA MOLISE. What do you want them to know? Worshipper, a soul winner and someone crazy in love with Jesus. 15. How can people get in touch with you and access your music and schedule? They can find me on Facebook and Instagram as Lydia Molise. 16. Plans for the year 2019? Finish working on my album, and pursue business not related to music. l will say more once l have completed it.
fact file Legacy is What one leaves behind that will benefit even generations to come. An important part about your destiny In my bag you will find My phone, earphones, sweets and books (Parack daily devotional by Prophet Bushiri) Can’t live without God Almighty I dream of having a rehabilitation center to help drug and alcohol abusers 2019 is…. my year of open doors! There’re so many things l wanted to do but never managed until 2019 began Lipstick or eyelashes? Definitely eyelashes What people don’t know is that I l used to play bass guitar at music school If it weren’t for Jesus I would be dead! Everything l have been through He has been the One helping ME to escape what killed many Can’t stop thinking about making my dreams a reality by the grace of God Daily mantra Approach everyday differently Purpose is tthe reason for your being and your assignment Favourite Artist Tasha Cobbs, there are many I will retire the day Until Jesus comes back, we don’t retire Best advice ever received Approach every year differently because doing same thing over and over and expect different results is madness
"THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY GUIDE. HE ALWAYS KEEPS ME IN CHECK. IF PRIDE OR ANYTHING UNGODLY WANTS TO BE IN ME, HE WILL REBUKE ME. HE’S MY TEACHER, GUIDE AND HELPER. WITHOUT HIM I WOULD FAIL TO UPHOLD A GODLY CHARACTER. EVERYDAY I WANT TO PLEASE HIM. I WANT ONLY WHAT HE WANTS.." - LYDIA MOLISE
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ONE DAY YOUR WAR WILL END! Article by Iain Duguid
Nearly all Christians are familiar with the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10–20. But fewer are aware that the armor Paul describes traces its roots back to the Old Testament. In fact, the armor given to the Christian for his fight against the forces of sin and darkness is quite literally God’s armor — armor designed for and worn by God first and foremost. We fight and stand firm against Satan only in the strength that comes from the victory that Christ has already won for us. This is why each of the various pieces of armor points us to Christ. The belt of truth is the belt that girds the messianic King (Isaiah 11:5). The breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation come from the divine warrior’s arsenal (Isaiah 59:17). The feet shod with gospel readiness are the feet of those who proclaim the arrival of Messiah’s kingdom (Isaiah 52:7). God himself is the shield of faith (Genesis 15:1). The sword of the Spirit, the word of God, is the weapon wielded by the promised servant of the Lord (Isaiah 49:2). Christ Our Conqueror In other words, God clothes us with nothing less than his own armor, the same armor that Christ has already worn on our behalf in his lifelong struggle with the mortal enemy of our souls, Satan himself. Jesus is no armchair general, who hands out the equipment but then watches the fighting from a safe distance. No, he has himself worn the armor and won the victory in our place!
You are called to wear the Christian armor not because that’s what Jesus would do if he found himself in a similar situation to yours; you are called to wear God’s armor because that is what Jesus already has done, wearing God’s armor all the way to the cross. Jesus stood firm against Satan’s schemes throughout his earthly life and ministry. Each of those specific temptations to which we have given in this week — lust, gossip, anger, pride, self-exaltation, lying, coveting — is a temptation he faced and stared down in your place. What is more, Jesus laid his life down at the cross for you, thereby accomplishing the victory that pours out God’s sanctifying Spirit into your life. Because of his victorious life, death, and resurrection, the same power that raised Christ up from the dead is now at work inside you and me through the ongoing work of the Spirit, raising us from spiritual death to new life. (In Ephesians 6:10, Paul echoes a trio of Greek words that he uses in Ephesians 1:19–20 to describe God’s power in the resurrection.) Holiness Belongs to the Lord However, the ongoing sanctifying work of the Spirit in your life is not ultimately under your control. In John 3, Jesus compares the process of becoming a Christian to birth. Just as a baby doesn’t have control over the time and circumstances of her birth, so God chose when to regenerate you and bring you to faith in Christ.
But even after a child is born, he does not decisively control his own physical growth. He may wish to be taller or shorter, but wishing won’t make it so — or hasten the natural (slow) processes of physical growth. In the same way, we are not ultimately in control of the process of our spiritual growth. Sanctification is decisively God’s work from beginning to end (Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24). That perspective is enormously encouraging in our daily struggle with sin and Satan. We often imagine we are fighting on our own in our struggles against sin. Not at all. That is why Paul reminds us that prayer is such an integral part of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:18–20). It is not enough to put on the armor of God; we need to be in constant communication with the God of the armor. The reality is that your victory over sin is ultimately up to Jesus, not you. His struggle was the decisive one, not yours. His victory on the cross purchased your complete sanctification, your ultimate holiness before God (Ephesians 5:25–27). His Spirit is now at work within you, growing you toward his goal of your complete purity. Your spiritual growth may be much slower than you might wish, but if you are in Christ, God will sanctify you completely.
Distant Triumph Song This means that in the midst of the pain of the frustrating daily struggle against sin and Satan, you can plead with God to continue to advance that process here and now, whether strengthening you to stand against Satan, or by sometimes allowing you to fall, in order to grow your humility and dependence upon him (see Westminster Confession of Faith, 5.5). The knowledge that God is sovereign over your sanctification gives you hope to keep on trying, even in areas of your life where sin continually seems to have the upper hand. It reminds you that even when you are seeing real advance in your life, it is nothing you have accomplished and gives you no reason to boast. God’s Holy Spirit deserves all the glory, not you. And he will receive the glory on that last day, when all of God’s weary, battle-stained children enter into the gates of the new Jerusalem, with their warfare, trials, and travails now a memory of the past, and a new song on their lips — a song of praise to Christ, the victorious Divine Warrior, who won their redemption through his fight. As William Walsham How put it in his song “For All the Saints,”
Daily Struggle That doesn’t mean that we’ll never have to struggle with sin, of course. Quite the reverse: Paul clearly expects us to be engaged in a daily life-and-death struggle with Satan in all of his awesome power. The imagery of armor and battle shows us that our fight against sin must involve blood, sweat, and tears — our blood, sweat, and tears, as well as that of our Savior. We too are to take up our cross and follow after our Master on the road of hardship and suffering (Matthew 10:38). We are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Yet Paul tells us to work out our own salvation precisely because God is at work in us (Philippians 2:13). Christ’s wearing of God’s armor in your place and his triumphant victory over sin at the cross mean that your struggle against sin is never hopeless. God will ultimately sanctify you — he has promised to do so. On that last day, you will rise to new life in Christ and stand in God’s presence, made perfect forever. No Christian will be left behind, half-sanctified. Sin and Satan shall not have ultimate dominion over you (Romans 6:14).
And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong. Alleluia! Alleluia! But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day; The saints triumphant rise in bright array; The King of Glory passes on his way. Alleluia! Alleluia! The golden evening brightens in the west; Soon, soon, to faithful warriors comes their rest. Sweet is the calm of paradise the blest. Alleluia! Alleluia! ----------------------------------------------Iain Duguid is Professor of Old Testament at Westminster Seminary, Philadelphia, and author of several books, including The Whole Armor of God: How Christ’s Victory Strengthens Us for Spiritual Warfare. A native of Great Britain, Duguid served as a missionary in Liberia before completing a PhD in Old Testament at Cambridge University. He and his wife, Barbara, have six grown children.
Devotions by the anointed Dr AndrĂŠ and Jenny Roebert
Healing Your Soul Message taken from Proverbs 15:13 (AMPC) Proverbs 15:13 (AMPC): "A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken."
It's one thing to be physically injured or hurt, but an entirely different one to be hurt in your soul. Our bodies have a natural ability to heal themselves and with medical attention, the healing process can be even quicker. However, when we have suffered an injury to our soul, through disappointment, stress, and emotional trauma, it takes a special kind of medicine to heal us. The Bible says when we surrender all our cares to Jesus and yield to His loving care; we will receive the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. This happens as we soak our minds with the truth of His Word. When we allow the Holy Spirit to use the Word to minister life and healing to us, as we meditate on it and apply its practical wisdom to our lives, healing comes. Today, begin to saturate yourself in the Word, let its power go to work in you. It will stir up a thankful praise in your heart until you overflow with the oil of joy - healing every hurt and brokenness in your soul.
CONTRIBUTOR
the problem of Sarah and Mary We are so honored to share this article written by: Apostle Neo Motaung. The founder of Crystal House of the Prophets Church based @ Ratanda Heidelberg, South Africa. A former Radio Presenter and Gospel prolific writer. Professional motivational speaker, Mc and life coach. To contact him do email: websterkutoane@gmail.com THE PROBLEM OF SARAH AND MARY The two women Mary and Sarah both got their children through divine intervention, but through different conditions. One was a barren and the other was a virgin. There are people whom God rush to bless and those He delays but still blesses them. In the church today we have such instances. Hebrews 11 verse 11, through faith Sarah herself received strength to conceive a seed, and delivered a child when she passed age, because she judged Him
You have applied for a job or school and they have
faithful who had promised. If you read the
rejected you or haven’t responded, listen to me, even in
verse carefully, you will see that Sarah was
those trials and tribulations, He is still God.
not given a child but rather strength to conceive. Her situation needed strength.
When you read the book of Luke 1 verse 28, the Angel
Many Christians today don’t need
came to her and said: You are honored very much. You
breakthrough or prosperity but need
are a favored woman. The Lord is with you. You are chosen
strength of faith, strength not to give up
from among many women. divinity graduated Mary from
even when it seems so. When Sarah was
being a Virgin Girl to a favored and honored woman.
taking the child to the clinic, people were
When God is about to use you, He suspends the laws of
asking her where the mother of the child
the universe. Same as Sarah, Mary also suffered
was because of her age. That’s why God had
badmouthing and gossip because she was a virgin and yet
to strengthen her to be able to carry the
was pregnant. Nobody believed her story of carrying the
blessing. When it seems like your blessing is
Messiah. She was a low life because Joseph had not
delaying, it’s because you’re being prepared
touched her, but she was pregnant. Remember the ways
to be strengthened by God to be able to
of God are not our ways, nor are His thoughts. The hand of
carry the blessing. You might be out of the
God will single you out. For his grace has neither age,
calendar but not out of the purpose of God,
entry level nor limitations. Choose to run with your calling
for a blessing delayed is not a blessing
and gather strength from the word of God. Remember
denied. Even if it may take long to come to
that the anointing brings about challenges and when God
pass, never lose hope, it shall happen. It
elevates you, the attacks also become great. Fear not, for
might appear like you won’t make it. Child
your redeemer lives!!!
of God remember that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. .
WHAT ARE YOU BUSY WITH? (PART 3) WRITTEN BY: M.K
WHAT ARE YOU BUSY WITH? #whose feet are you sitting on? (Whose word or voice are you listening to? Taken from Luke 10:38-42 The books, newspapers and magazines you are reading, what are they talking about? Jesus or the world. If those I have mentioned do not talk about the Word or Jesus, then they are devilish no matter how innocent they may look. There is nothing innocent in this world. There is no in-between. It’s either it’s of God or of the devil. The child of God can never get enough of listening to the preaching’s of God’s Word, reading the Bible or also reading any gospel magazine (like this one) or book. These can never be boring at all. They nourish your spirit. Mary represents Gods children who are always aware that Jesus is coming soon and have to prepare their hearts to meet Him.
They are the narrow way Christians who do not care about being up to date with the things of the world. Martha represents the broadway Christians who only remember the Lord when the going gets tough. Otherwise life is good for them as they are following the latest trends and are so busy on social media that the Word of God is the last thing on their minds. God is not a priority at all. They try to squeeze Him in their busy schedule whenever they can. What a shame and sadistic life it is. God have mercy! Jesus is coming for a spotless church that is without blemish. Are you ready for Him??? In conclusion, keep yourself busy with God and His business. You will never regret it. If you have chosen Jesus, nobody will take Him away from you, HE IS YOURS FOREVER!
TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR SAY THIS FOLLOWING PRAYER
-FEATURE-
BY: KRISTEN WETHERELL
5
Tips of MEDITATION ON SCRIPTURE
Not long ago, I asked Pastor Colin about the difference between meditation and prayer, as the two can be hard to distinguish, and understandably so. His reply: “In Scripture, God speaks to us. In prayer we speak to him. What God says to us prompts what we say to him.” To meditate, then, is to think deeply about what God has said to us in the Bible and to prepare our minds and hearts for prayer. Scripture is the foundation of our praying; meditation readies us for it by helping us focus, understand, remember, worship, and apply. Meditate to Focus I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. (Psalm 119:15) Whether we read the Bible in the morning, over our lunch break, or before bed at night, our schedules and responsibilities tend to assail us with distractions. In fact, distractions are a tool the enemy of our souls uses to take our eyes off Christ and to keep us from hearing God clearly in his Word. Aleph says in Psalm 119 that he fixes his eyes on God’s ways. As wayward humans with many pursuits, temptations, and people vying for our attention, we are greatly helped by meditation, which leads us to fix our eyes on the Lord and tune out distractions…even if only for five or ten minutes. Focusing on what we are reading in the Bible provides us clarity when we enter into prayer. Meditate to focus on how God is speaking to you through his living and active Word.
Meditate to Understand Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. (Psalm 119:27) When we meditate on the Word of God, we seek to understand how the God of the universe is speaking: about himself, about our world, and about our own hearts. We can begin our Bible reading by praying along with the Psalmist, “Make me understand your way!” God delights to answer this prayer. Some questions to ask during meditation include: Why is this passage important? What do I need to know?What does it say about God? What does it say about me? How does this reading point to Jesus? Meditate to understand what God is communicating to you through his Word. Meditate to Remember I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. (Psalm 143:5) The whole Bible is one grand story that all the way through points to Jesus Christ. When we meditate on Scripture, we do so to remember all that God has done in his great redemption story and how he sent Christ to save a people from their sin. We ponder the work of God’s hands. Remembering in meditation may also bring us to ponder all that God has done in our own lives: how he saved us in Christ, what opportunities he is giving us to share the Good News with others, and what we have learned about who God is throughout our days. Meditate to remember all that God has done through the gospel of grace.
23
Meditate to Worship …but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2) Once we have meditated to focus, understand, and remember, we will find our hearts inclined to worship! So we pause in meditation to lift our gaze to the excellencies of Jesus Christ, to take our eyes off the world, and to express to him thanksgiving and adoration when we pray. Meditation leads to delight when the Holy Spirit inclines our hearts to understand how glorious our God is. Because of sin and its effects, there will be times when our hearts do not feel like delighting in the reading of the Bible. During these moments, the temptation is to stop reading, lose focus, and move on to other activities. So meditation is also key to exhorting our hearts to delight in God’s Word, which is necessary for our spiritual strength and joy! Meditate to worship the God who deserves all our thanks and praise for who he is and what he has done in Christ. Meditate to Apply This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. (Joshua 1:8) Finally, we are better able to understand how to apply God’s Word to our lives when we slow down to meditate on it. Meditate to apply what you have read in the Bible to your daily life and to ask for help in prayer.
IT WAS THE HAND OF GOD YOU KNOW SO MANY TIMES AS CHRISTIANS, WAIT LET ME SAY AS HUMAN BEINGS WE FACE ENCOUNTERS THAT CAN ONLY BE SOLVED BY JESUS. THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS ONCE SOLVED, MAKE YOU SIT AND BE IN AWE OF HOW A HUMAN COULD HAVE NEVER SURVIVED THAT. IN EVERYDAY LIFE WE GET TO SEE THE HAND OF GOD BY MERELY BEING ALIVE , WE GET TO EXPERIENCE WHAT AN AWESOME GOD WE SERVE . IN EVERY ISSUE WE FEATURE A STORY THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE IN EVERY WAY. IF YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOD CAN DO , THIS IS ONE TRUE EXAMPLE . THIS STORY IS BY: MPHO. YOU CAN ALSO SHARE YOURS WITH US AT: BEAUTYANDTHEGOSPEL@GMAIL.COM.
NO SITUATION IS BIGGER THAN GOD
September 15 2017 (The strength you need) Deuteronomy 33 v 25, as your day so shall your strength be. The scripture says your
13 September 2017, it was on a Thursday I went to my regular
strength will always be equivalent to what you need. If I were to
heart check up. My heart rate was 36% and I was given a letter to
get a negative medical report, I was going to have strength to deal
go apply for sassa pension fund. While I was there God's grace
with it. I was not going to fall apart.
stepped in I received a call of employment opportunity. To think I
woke up to a scripture of 1st Corinthians 16vs 13 ( in it to win it)
September 16 2017 (strength in reserve) Psalms 46v1, God is our
keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The good news
you've got to be resolute, and love without stopping.
is that God had the same strength in reserve for me. When I hit a
tough time I do not worry.
Then I was sent to Bramley ( South Africa) to go and write a test, a
math's test to be specific, I was not even aware I'm going to write I
September 17 2017 (Do not fear) Isaiah 41 vs 10, so do not fear for
only knew I was going for an interview, but when I got there I was
I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will
given a question paper to write. I sat down stared at the paper did
strengthen you and help you. In short I've learned that the closer I
not understand a thing but I found myself writing. Took the paper
get to my destiny the tougher the battles become, so every
forward as I'm standing there it was marked immediately then I
challenge I come across I see it as a sign that I'm closer to my
passed, passing mark was 70% but I got a good 100% (Grace). Then
destiny.
when I left I was told to go for medicals , knowing that I have a
heart condition scared me, like what now?
September 18 my journey of employment with Unilever started. I was employed as a field sales consultant (Rap)
September 14 (The finishing line) 1st Corinthians 10 v 13 God is
Faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can't
September 19 ( more grace) James 4 v 6, But he gives us more
bear, but when you're tempted He will also provide a way out so
grace that is why the scripture says " God opposes the proud but
that you can endure it. "This came to me as I was about to be
shows favour to the humble. September God communicated with
discouraged"
me in a very special way I will forever be grateful to the month September. I call it my month. Ever since I've found Ebenezer fellowship Centre my life changed. I will remain humble and committed. Ebenezer my rock of hope, my home , my comforter.
-sermon-
ARE YOU A BRIDE OR BRIDESMAID? written by: Pastor Tee
Scripture: John 14 V 1-4
but the bride doesn’t know when he will return nor does the bridegroom, which we can also
In this passage, we read that King Jesus has
refer to in Matthew 24: 36.
gone to His Father’s house (Heaven ) to prepare a place for us . He also adds that He Himself will
There is a switch to this reality as compared to
come again and receive us unto Himself. In
the marriage celebration on earth. In this world,
other scriptures the Us is referred to as THE
it is the bridegroom who waits for the bride to
BRIDE and Jesus as THE BRIDEGROOM
arrive. Even if he waits for hours for her to
.
arrive on the wedding day, it is okay, but in the
Before we go deeper, I want to ask you child of
heavenly Kingdom, it is the bride who is waiting
God: ARE YOU A BRIDE OR BRIDESMAID? Will
for the bridegroom for the wedding celebration
you be ready as a bride when Rapture occurs, or
and both have no idea when it will take place.
will you still be partaking as a bridesmaid? (Galatians 4:9, Colossians 2:20).
We know from scripture that King Jesus is busy preparing for the wedding feast. Are you
THE BRIDEGOOM HAS GONE TO PREPARE A
preparing for Him?
PLACE FOR US I was intrigued to find that in the Jewish religion
THE BRIDES PREPARATION
definitely the bridegroom goes to his father to
Normally a bride prepares for her big day in
prepare a dwelling place for him and the bride,
advance by:
Definition of Bride: woman on her wedding-day
The bridesmaid may have a partner but he is not
and for some time before and after it.
the groom. The surname, association, home,
• Slimming
family, friends, lifestyle and title is still the
• Massages
same, also known as Miss.
• Manicure • Hairstyle
ARE YOU A BRIDE OR BRIDESMAID?
• Pedicure
When preparing this sermon the Holy Spirit
• Makeup
reminded me of the parable of the 10 virgins
• Facial
(Matthew 25:1V13). The parable speaks about
• Dress
the 5 wise virgins which signify the BRIDE who
• Décor
had prepared themselves by “while the wise
• Invitations
ones took containers full of oil for their lamps”
• Venue
Matthew 25 V4. “The five who were ready went
• Programme
in with Him to the wedding feast, and the door
• Menu
was closed” Matthew 25 V10.
• Colour scheme etc The 5 foolish virgins signify the BRIDESMAID THE BRIDESMAID PREPARATION:
who wasn’t prepared “the foolish ones took
Definition of Bridesmaid: unmarried woman or
their lamps but did not take any extra oil with
girl attending to the bride at a wedding.
them” (Matthew 25 V3.) “So, the foolish went
• Doesn’t really need to prepare in advance like
off to buy some oil; while they were gone, the
the bride. Can prepare a week in advance.
bridegroom arrived”( Matthew 25 V10). “Later
• Simply accompanies the bride
the other women arrived. Sir, sir! Let us in! they
• Only an assistant
cried out. Certainly not! I don’t know you, the
• Has no say in wedding planning e.g: ideas,
bridegroom answered” (Matthew 25 V 12).
input and especially once the bride and
Child of God Almighty are you preparing
bridegroom agree
yourself?
• The bridesmaid’s duty is to show up and finds everything prepared
KING JESUS, THE BRIDEGROOM
• Dress, shoes, makeup, hairstyle is chosen for
Is coming back for a spotless bride. Who is
them
without blemish, pure, faultless and perfect without wrinkle? (Ephesians 5 V 27).
BRIDES LIFE AFTER WEDDING CELEBRATION The bride’s life after the wedding celebration is
We are about to encounter a REVIVAL that has
no longer the same and we could say it’s in
never happened before. Said by Prophets of God
another realm. There are many changes that
that: “Thus says the Lord: I am preparing my
have occurred like the change of surname,
church and sending a revival that will shake the
friends, home, family, lifestyle, association and
earth, but I need my people to be ready for the
she is no longer a Miss but Mrs.
outpouring of the Holy Spirit. You need to be prepared for Him as He is about to be poured
BRIDESMAID LIFE AFTER WEDDING
out like rain” (Joel 2 V 28-29) Child of God, we
CELEBRATION
are about to experience this scripture being
Life for the bridesmaid is still the same because
fulfilled like never before, but we must PREPARE
at the end of the day it was never about her but
AND POSITION OURSELVES AS THE BRIDE.
the bride.
HOW DOES ONE BECOME THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
JESUS AND PREPARE
YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR NOW IS THE TIME.
• Firstly, believe that King Jesus is Lord and has
CONFESS THIS PRAYER WITH BELIEF IN YOUR
died for you. Do confess Romans 10: 9-13.
HEART.
• Cleanse the spirit • Worship • Pray without ceasing • Meditate on the Word of God • Do the Word of God • Go back to the First love ( The Groom) • Live in Holiness • Total dependence and Reliance on God • And Seeking Him daily diligently IN CONCLUSION I just want to pass this by you, have you prepared these things: • The venue= eternity • Hairstyle= your mind • Wedding dress= your body/spirit (God’s Temple) • Hands ready= Got no blood (souls accountable for) • Shoes ready= being busy travelling and preaching the Good news • Invitation sent out= Sent out the news about God’s grace and His return P.s read Daniel 12V 10 AMP version Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are living in the last days. As you are getting ready to come fetch your bride , I pray that you fill me with your Spirit and power, to remain seated at your feet and ready for Your return . It is written that: Lord that you are fetching a bride that is spotless without blemish , help me Father to clean my self up and remain spotless. I cannot do life without you. I pray may your Holy Spirit dwell in and I abide in You. Help me Father to continue in the path of holiness, fear for You , righteousness, purity and love . Thank you Father , Glory be to Your Name.
Devotions by the anointed Dr André and Jenny Roebert
Above Human Wisdom Message taken from 1 Corinthians 2:5 (AMPC) 1 Corinthians 2:5 (AMPC):"So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God."
Paul was addressing people who were caught up in a society that was saturated with all kinds of human philosophy and thought processes that encouraged people to seek out knowledge above all else to solve their problems and enrich their personal and professional lives. Here he was, a learned man himself, facing a crowd of well-educated people who were waiting for a new scope of philosophy that would enlighten them. But he made it clear: what he was presenting to them was far more than another human philosophy; he was presenting them the tangible power of God. Today we are even more inundated with society’s quest for knowledge, and its more available and accessible than ever before. Remember, Paul wasn’t teaching against acquiring knowledge; rather, he was against using human understanding and philosophy to answer the questions and moral dilemmas we face in society. Through His Word and Spirit, God will impart all the power and wisdom we need to overcome every situation in life.
-SERMON-
We are honored to feature a woman of God by the name : Pastor Thuto Gezani. Truly a remnant of our generation! Prepare a journal and pen!
BEWARE OF THE GREAT DECEIVER BEWARE OF THE GREAT DECEIVER What you should know about the devil or the deceiver: - In order to stand & resist the great deceiver - We need to learn all we can about his origin, plans ,personality & purpose, what he’s like & what he does. THE DEVIL IS A RELIGIOUS LEADER TODAY - This may come as a surprise , but Satan exerts scriptural leadership on earth, - Scripture describes how he disguises himself & is transformed into an angel of light - READ: 2 Corinthians 11: 14-15 , Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness TEMPTATION - SATAN is the chief agent in TEMPTATION- Gen 3: 1-13 you will-
not surely die, says the devil. This is the first recorded lie in human history & thus identifies Satan’s deceiving nature - The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 11: 3 Eve was deceived by Satan to eat of the forbidden fruit - Satan appealed to Eve's lust of the flesh. The tree was good for food, lust for the eyes, pleasant to the eyes & pride of life. WHERE DOES DEVIL COME FROM? - The devil was created by God - We must always remember that everything made by the Almighty is pure and perfect- that includes the DEVIL. Read: Ezekiel 28:12. Before Lucifer was cast out of HEAVEN, God said to him, thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created.
- The Bible in Colossians 1:16 tells us that for by him were all things created that are in Heaven , that are on earth , visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, dominions , principalities or powers. All things were created by Him. THE DEVIL WAS THE FIRST RULER OF THE EARTH - Yes Satan was banished from HEAVEN, but long before that time he ruled this planet, this was his kingdom. - In Isaiah 14: 13 the devil bragged " I will ascend the stars of God THE DEVIL WAS SEEN WITH A PHYSICAL BODY -Most people have a mental image of the devil with horns & a tail, holding a pitchfork. - It is recorded that when the devil appeared on the MOUNT OF TEMPTATION, he had a human – like, physical body & walked with YESHUA: Matt 4 - In addition, John in his revelation, saw an angel get hold of the devil and bind his body with chains - READ:- REV 20:1-3 THE DEVIL IS FULL OF PRIDE - It has been said that pride goes before a fall & this was certainly true in the case of Lucifer. Scripture vividly tells of the devil's self - admiration & conceit: Read: Ezekiel 28:17 - The devil has a heart - : we know from God's word that Satan has an inner man that feels emotional & makes decisions. READ: Isaiah 14: 13 he wanted to be like the Almighty God. THE DEVIL HAS THE ABILITY TO SPEAK - READ: Job 1:8-10 - God however, had the final word & Satan had to flee from the presence of the Lord. - READ: Matt 4:3-4, the devil has the ability to speak. - The devil has power.
- Read: 2 Thessalonians 2: 9. We also know that in the final battle of the ages , John saw a beast rise up ,& the dragon (Satan ) gave him his power & great authority According:- Rev 13:2 The devil has desires: - The enemy of your soul hungers & craves after certain objectives. - Yeshua said to Peter at the last supper, “Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” According to Luke 22: 31 - Nothing has changed through the centuries. THE DEVIL HAS A DWELLING PLACE - Read: Rev 2: 13 - Since the enemy's prime priority is to find a home in your heart, take the offensives & build a strong ,spiritual barrier. -The devil rules and controls on earth, READ Eph 2:2. Satan is called the prince of the powers of the air. As such, he spreads his rebellion & evil into every corner of mankind, including family, business, social, political & even religious life. THE DEVIL HAS A KINGDOM - At this very moment, Satan is still a king who rules over a kingdom. - During the early days of Yeshua’s earthly ministry, the religious leaders accused Him of using the power of the devil to cast out demons, - But Yeshua answered them with a thought provoking question: How can satan cast out satan? -If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand according Mark 23 TO BE CONTINUED.....
sifting equals victory!
BY:KENDRA HAMILTON
Kendra, Satan has asked to sift you as
How can we brush our pride to its death?
wheat, but I have prayed for you and
Do you believe so much in not failing that
when you come back strengthen your
you fail? Then I have to look at myself and
brothers. I had this thought the other day.
say, what am I willing to submit to the
I feel like I’m in a sifting process at this
Holy Spirit, so defeat won’t be as great.
moment and although I may fail in certain aspects of this test, I will surely come
One of the answers lies in our impatience.
back and strengthen my worldwide family
Patience is accepting God’s will and
in Christ.
having humility, which breeds faith. Therefore, humility is the first issue. We
These were the words Jesus spoke to
tend to have a higher view of ourselves
Peter while they were having the Passover
then we ought to have. When we put
dinner. I’m sure Peter was taken back
ourselves in the proper perspective God
when Jesus told him Satan’s plan. How do
can work with us, but when we think we
we prepare for those attacks?
are equal to him, there lies the problem.
We didn’t make ourselves, God did, and our
Being married for almost a year and a
parents assisted in our physical makeup.
half has had its challenges and I’m sure
God willed this earth, our souls, this
many more will come. Living with someone
universe. When we stop and think of all the
else with a different history, outlook on
wonders of God and compare them to what
life, habits, thoughts, and aim is
we have done, it’s easier to have a modest
challenging, burdensome, and painful.
view of ourselves. That type of examination
When you go into marriage it is no
must happen daily. We can easily get off
fairytale. My parents iterated that to me
track, but that’s were our discipline and
many times, but being in it is a different
understanding in God kicks in.
type of story. I feel like a sifting process is at hand, but I have confidence in God’s
When Jesus talked to Peter, He already knew
plan. If our aim is to stay in God’s peace,
what was going to happen. Jesus doesn’t
we will handle what we go through better
need faith because He sees all; He even
than pridefully answering, I got this.
told Peter without him fully understanding
Because we will soon realize it’s Satan
that he will have a misstep. “When you turn
that got us and he doesn’t want to let up
back, strengthen your brothers.” That was a
on his grip. So, we can’t let up on God.
clear indication that he would sin, but the amazing thing about this statement is it was
How do you handle trials and adversity?
a clear indication of his victory as well.
We give up way too easily when it comes
Jesus prophesied to Peter. Hallelujah! He
to what God has for us. I can’t even
says you will fall, but you’ll get back up
imagine the thoughts God has towards
again.
the people he fathered. “I made their souls and yet, they don’t believe. They get
Satan’s aim is for us to feel so much shame
weary and feel as if perseverance is a
about our sins that we stay in them. He
disease.” We think it is an attack that
prefers our worship to him through sin
can’t be won. Time is not on our side
because he can’t stand that God is Lord. He
because if it was it would help me
hates that his time is fleeting and the best
produce what’s inside of me. We are a
way to get back at God is to confuse the
strange people to think God is the Alpha
souls He created. His sole aim is to bring as
and Omega, but he doesn’t know what
many people to Hell as he can, and he
he’s doing. Do you ever question God’s
doesn’t let up. Satan lives out his purpose in
authority?
a way that should make us feel inadequate. He doesn’t just talk the talk he walks the
Over the past few years, I’ve seen God
walk. He doesn’t rest. He doesn’t chill after
move in ways I could never imagine. From
a long day of work, nor does he ever tire of
breaking my addiction, restoring my
being evil. Yet we have the audacity to say
health, helping me focus on Him,
we are weary in the Lord. Satan is on
publishing two books with three and four
mission and his attacks will keep coming.
on the way, owning a business, speaking
We must see how it is imperative to stay in
at conferences, and things I will never
God’s presence. We must be in constant
know.
prayer while being bold in God.
-contributor-
THE POWER OF RESISTANCE by: Pastor Ntsako Scripture readings: Acts 16:22-26 “The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundation of the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.” The above scripture is well known; we usually talk and hear about it. Paul and Silas were jailed for no reason, they were in fact serving God in a mightily way, they dedicated themselves in the ways of God, yet this terrible thing happened to them. Think about it for a minute, what would you do in that situation, perhaps questions like: Why me? Where is God? Does God love me? And many more negatives questions would have crossed your mind. It is in a nature of men to always complain when something wrong happens. Even the disciple, they asked Jesus: “who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? (John 9:2). They thought it is impossible for something negative to happen without a sin involved. .
We sometimes blame ourselves for the wrong things happening to us, we often think that is our faults. Some situation needs you to stand and resist, and stop blaming yourself and feeling sorry for yourself. Resist to remain in that situation, you are empowered and able to stand that situation. There is power in resistance, resistance will open doors for you. In reality, Paul and Silas were not in a position to stand and pray, the situation did not allow them to worship God. But because of their attitude of resistance, they did not mind the place they were in.
They resisted the chains to keep them quiet; the prison did not put them down. There is power in resistance; it will open doors for you. The bible says that as they were praying and worshiping God, the foundation of the prison shook, doors opened. You might be sick today, resist that sickness. Whatever type of prison you are in, it’s temporary, resist and worship God. When we read about the story of the women with the issue of blood, she resisted her condition. First of all she was not allowed to mix with other people because of her condition, but she made means to touch the garment of Jesus. The crowd did not stop her; she pushed on, and resisted the situation. And that opened the door of her healing… When the door of prison opened for Paul and Silas, it opened for all the prisoners. Stand up for your family, church, community and all people around you. When you resist, God will open greater doors for you. The bible says RESIST the devil and he will flee from you, even the devil cannot stand the power of resistance. He has no choice but to flee…
He has no choice but to flee…
-contributor-
Monthly Devotion with: BERNI DYMET
Living in Fear 1 Corinthians 15:57,58: But we thank God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Don’t let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted. It’s amazing how many times throughout the Bible, God says to us “Fear not!” Don’t be afraid. And it’s equally amazing to me, how many of God’s people live in a constant state of fear and anxiety. We actually don’t like being afraid. “I love being afraid,” said no one, ever! And whilst fear is a perfectly good and reasonable short-term response to a threat, when it becomes a constant sense of foreboding, it’s like a cancer that eats away at you from the inside. It destroys your life. Whether the thing that you’re afraid of is threat to your faith or to your life, whether it’s your outer life or your inner life that’s being threatened, what I see happening around the world, is that so many Christians are starting to think like victims, to behave like victims, instead of living in the victory that Jesus purchased for them through His death on the Cross and His resurrection. Too many of Christ’s followers are living as though somehow, they’ve been defeated. I wonder if you know anyone like that, hmm? If fear is something that you’re dealing with right at the moment, then today, I have some good news for you. Some fantastic news, actually! 1 Corinthians 15:57,58 But we thank God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Don’t let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted. Wherever you live, whatever your circumstances, however your life or your faith are being threatened today, if you believe in Jesus, you have victory in Him. Today. Here and now. Get on and live your life, serve the Lord. Your King reigns! That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
SCRIPTURE OF THE MONTH
Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.
ISAIAH 60:20 (NIV)
women of valor Join us we celebrate the women of valor from the Holy Bible. Check also which one fits with your character. BY: BIBLEGATEWAY.COM
Hannah: A Woman of Prayer Eli answered [Hannah], “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. — 1 Samuel 1:17,18
For anyone who has faced the heartbreak of repeated disappointment — whether it’s an inability to have children, to find employment, or to foster a lasting relationship — the story of Hannah provides a much-needed balm. Hannah, as you may remember, was barren, unable to conceive — a condition that was considered a curse in ancient Israel. Added to her shame was the fact that her husband took another wife, as was the custom, who made life miserable for Hannah by taunting and insulting her. Even when Hannah, in absolute desperation, prayed fervently to God for a son, the priest, Eli, mistakenly thought she was drunk! Hannah had more than enough reasons to be discouraged and to give up. But that’s not what Hannah did. Instead, she brought her problem honestly before God and prayed that He would “look on your servant’s misery and remember me and not forget your servant but give her a son” (v. 11). In return for His favor, Hannah vowed to dedicate her son in lifelong service to God. After pouring out her heart to God and receiving encouragement from Eli that God would grant her request, Hannah was able to leave in peace, entrusting her problem with God and having faith that He would answer her prayer in His timing and according to His plan. To Hannah’s credit, when she at last gave birth to a son, she remembered her vow to God, and at the proper time, brought her beloved son, Samuel, to serve with Eli as a priest. She did so, as the Bible tells us, joyfully because Hannah knew that this gift of a son was given to her from God and she was returning him to God for His purposes. During those barren times in our lives, when nothing positive seems to be happening in our work, our relationships, or our service, we can feel that our prayers are unanswered and our faith ineffectual. But, as Hannah discovered, continued prayer opened the door for God to work. And as Hannah waited in faith and trusted God, she was rewarded. Hannah had supreme confidence in God’s sovereignty and thankfulness for everything he had done. Indeed, her beautiful response is recorded for us in 1 Samuel 2: 1–10. Let Hannah’s story encourage you in facing the disappointments and the trials of this life. Rejoice in what God has done for you already, be thankful for all He has given you, and have confidence that our sovereign God is in control.
Rachel: A Woman of Compassion This is what the Lord says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” — Jeremiah 31:15
Machpelah in Hebron, except one: Rachel. Her husband Jacob buried her on the road near Bethlehem because he foresaw in the future that when the Jewish people were exiled from their homeland, they would need her. Here’s why. Jewish tradition records a wild debate up in heaven. As the Jews were being exiled from their land, all of the holiest souls tried to intercede before God on their behalf. Abraham spoke first: “I overcame my nature and was prepared to sacrifice my only son. Won’t you remember my devotion and have mercy on my children?” Then Isaac tried: “When I realized that my father had been commanded to slaughter me, I faithfully accepted my fate. Won’t you remember my strength and have mercy on my children?” Next, Jacob: “I suffered so much in my lifetime. I had to work for Laban, escape from Esau, and I suffered so much raising my children. Now they are being led like sheep to the slaughter. Won’t you remember my pain and redeem them?” Then Moses stated his case: “Wasn’t I a loyal shepherd for Israel all the years in the desert? I didn’t even get to enter the Holy Land, but brought them dutifully to its entrance. And now they go into exile – won’t you listen to my cries?” Finally, Mother Rachel came before God: “Master of the Universe, you know that Jacob loved me most and worked for my father for seven years in order to marry me. When the time of my marriage came, my father switched my sister for me and I didn't begrudge my sister and I didn't let her be shamed. I had compassion for my sister; won’t you have mercy on my children?" Immediately, God's mercy was awakened and He said: “For you, Rachel, I will bring Israel back, as it says: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded . . . Your children will return to their own land” (Jeremiah 31:16,17). From all the holy souls that tried to save the Jewish people, only Rachel’s plea was answered. Why? Because of her unselfish, unwavering compassion for another human being. The message is clear: When we treat others with tremendous compassion, God will treat us with nothing less.
Esther: A Woman of Courage “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” — Esther 4:16
As queen of Persia, we might have expected that Esther had one of the most secure positions in all the empire. Yet, such security came with a price. Queen Esther enjoyed the privileges of her position as long as she obeyed the king and did nothing to incur his wrath. Her “security” teetered on a delicate balance that could easily tip if she made the wrong move. So when Mordecai, her Jewish cousin, informed her of Haman’s plot to kill all the Jews in Persia and begged her to intervene on her people’s behalf, Esther faced a difficult choice. Either she could remain silent and hope that the king would not discover her secret identity as a Jew, and thus, survive; or she could risk death by appearing before the king, revealing her identity, and seeking relief for her people. Mordecai’s words surely must have guided her decision: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13–14). Esther must have realized that her security did not rest upon her position, or her possessions, or even her husband, the king, but in the One whose name is not mentioned at all in the book: God. And so she made her decision to approach the king, calling upon her fellow Jews to fast and pray for her. And, as she told Mordecai, “If I perish, I perish.” We might not face such grave circumstances as Esther did, but God has placed each one of us in unique situations and positions. We all have a choice to make — to remain silent in the face of injustice and suffering to “save” our reputation. Or we can decide, like Esther did, to be courageous and take a stand, no matter what the consequences. What will you decide? Where will you stand and be accounted for in a time such as this?
Ruth: A Woman of Character “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done.” — Ruth 2:11,12
Sometimes, you can tell a lot about people just by watching them interact with others and studying their body language. It’s evident from the Bible account that others knew a lot about Ruth’s character just by watching her. After arriving in Bethlehem, widowed and with no means of providing for herself and Naomi, her mother-in-law, Ruth went out into the fields to pick up the leftover grain — a practice known as gleaning. This was an Israelite law that provided a way for the poor and needy, like Ruth and Naomi, to feed themselves. As Ruth was gleaning, the owner of the field, whose name was Boaz, stopped by to check on the harvesters. He noticed Ruth and asked the workers, “Who is that young woman?” The workers replied, “She is the young woman from Moab who came back with Naomi. She asked this morning if she could gather the grain behind the harvesters, and she’s been hard at work ever since. She’s not stopped except for a few minutes.” Impressed by this hard worker, Boaz told Ruth that she could glean in his fields as long as she wanted. Then, he invited her to eat with the harvesters. Not only that, but Boaz told his workers not to bother her, but to drop even more grain for her to gather. Ruth was overwhelmed, and asked Boaz, “Why are you so kind to me? I’m just a foreigner.” And Boaz said, “Yes, I know. But I have heard all about you. I have heard about the kindness and love that you have shown to Naomi since the death of your husband and her son. I have heard that you left your family and have come here to live among strangers.” How Ruth cared for Naomi was obviously the talk of Bethlehem! Even though she was a stranger among them, the people knew she was kind, loving, and a compassionate woman — just by watching her actions! Her reputation had spread so that when the harvesters told Boaz who was in his fields, he had already heard about her. Ruth’s life exhibited admirable qualities. She was hardworking, loving, kind, and faithful. She had gained a reputation for these qualities but only because she exhibited them consistently. Wherever she went, Ruth’s character remained unchanged. What do your actions say about your reputation? Remember, a good reputation is something we earn when we consistently live out those qualities we believe in.
Rebekah: A Woman of Kindness “Drink, my lord,”’ she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” — Genesis 24:18,19
The iconic fashion designer Oscar de la Renta once said, “The qualities I most admire in women are confidence and kindness.” Jewish sages would agree with de la Renta’s message — kindness is beautiful. The sages liken the matriarch Rebekah to a “rose among thorns.” She merits that title because of the great act of kindness she performed for Abraham’s servant. When the servant encountered Rebekah at the drinking well, he was tired and parched with thirst. Yet Rebekah not only offered to draw water for him, she also offered to draw water for his camels as well. The sages note that this was an almost super-human feat for a young girl. They calculate that she would have had to make dozens of trips to the well to provide enough water for ten camels — that’s about 140 gallons each! The fact that she was able to do so indicates that this was not the first time that Rebekah had gone to the well for others. To have that strength and ability, Rebekah must have shared her kindness with countless other strangers. That, say the sages, is what made her beautiful – like a rose among thorns. Thorns assert themselves. They protrude outward and prick anyone who comes near them. A rose, on the other hand, is soft and gentle. It spends its life opening up, offering those who come close a gift of beautiful fragrance and a pleasing sight. The rose and the thorn are two visual aids for understanding what it means to be a person of kindness or a self-centered individual. Selfishness is closed to others, sharp, and ugly. Kindness is open to others, giving, and beautiful. We live in a world where selfishness reigns. People are far more focused on what they can get than on what they can give. In this me-centered world, life can get a little thorny; people are pricked and bleed. Our mission is to be “the rose among the thorns,” to be a bastion of kindness in a sea of selfishness and a true reflection of God’s love. We need to offer hugs and smiles, food and warmth. We need to give generously and love passionately. Nothing in the world is more beautiful than that.
Deborah: A Woman of Leadership “When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves — praise the Lord!”— Judges 5:2
As the father of three daughters, I know how important it was to provide them with strong women role models to emulate as they were growing up. This is particularly needed in our culture that all too often celebrates the beautiful, the wealthy, or the famous (even the infamous). Thankfully, the Bible provides us with a number of outstanding female role models who can inspire women of all ages along a desired path of character-building and leadership. Among those notable women is Deborah. Her story is found in Judges 4—5. As a prophet and a judge, Deborah had a unique role in the story of God’s people. She was known for her wisdom, holding court “under the Palms of Deborah,” where the people came to her to resolve their disputes. As with the others judges of that period, Deborah was not merely an arbiter of justice. She had been appointed by God to help deliver His people from bondage. At the time of Deborah’s leadership, the people of Israel had been oppressed for twenty years by the Canaanites. Deborah’s leadership in the face of this great challenge stands in stark contrast to her second-incommand, Barak. Whereas Deborah took charge as God commanded her and ordered her military commander, Barak, to face Sisera on the battlefield, Barak refused to go without Deborah. Even when Deborah told him that God would grant the Israelites victory, Barak needed more assurance. Barak’s response shows that he trusted in human strength rather than in God’s promise – as Deborah did. As a person of true faith, Deborah was willing to step out in obedience to God’s call, no matter what the circumstances. Because of her close relationship with God, Deborah was able to lead — and succeed — when others hesitated and balked. In her victory song following the Israelites’ defeat of the Canaanites (Judges 5), Deborah praises those people who “take the lead” and the people who “willingly offer themselves” to obey and accomplish God’s work. In other words, leaders like herself! Deborah is an inspiration to all who are committed to following and obeying God. Her story challenges us to be willing to take charge and obediently follow what God has called us to do. And her story reminds us to focus our energies on what we can accomplish — rather than worry about what we can’t do.
Sarah: A Woman of Learning Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. — Genesis 23:1
Sarah lived to be 127 years old, and the Jewish sages comment that every single one of those years was good. But how can that be? Doesn’t every life have ups and downs, good years and not-so-good ones? Sarah’s life clearly did. For most of her adult years, Sarah was barren, she was kidnapped twice, and she had to deal with the difficult personalities of Hagar and Ishmael in her home. So how can the sages make such an outrageous claim? What makes any year a good one? Is it the one in which we earn the most money? Or when we enjoy a wonderful vacation? The sages teach there is only one criterion for judging any year, or any day, for that matter: How much did we grow? Life is about changing and improving. It’s about learning and growing. Easy or hard, fun or boring, every day is measured by the degree to which we are different than the day before. Sarah was a prized student in the classroom of life. She knew how to learn from everything and everyone who came her way. That’s why the sages call her life good. By the truest standards of living, Sarah met the highest standard possible. I once visited a woman who is an art professor in New York City. I couldn’t help but notice a very unusual piece among her drawings and paintings. The “work of art” was a single cigarette butt, mounted onto a piece of black velvet and enclosed in a beautiful golden frame. When I asked the woman what inspired the art piece, she chuckled and explained that it was to teach her students about the value of a frame. Anything can become beautiful – even an ugly cigarette butt – when placed in the right surroundings. What the art professor said about art also is true about life. How we judge the content of our life is determined by how we frame it. Do we view our lives in the context of how much we grow? Or do we see it in terms of how much we gain? The context we give our lives will determine how we see its contents. Try this: Reframe your life. Try to see everything that has happened so far and everything that you hope for the future in terms of how much you have learned and how much you will continue to grow. Then, like Sarah, you can count all your days as “good.”
Devotions by the anointed Dr André and Jenny Roebert
Never Fall Away Message taken from 2 Peter 1:10 (NLT) 2 Peter 1:10 (NLT): “So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.” Once we have received our new life in Christ Jesus, it’s imperative for us remain strong in our faith, moving forward in the freedom and victory we have in Him. Too often believers fall back into their old habits and life choices the moment temptation or trouble appears. We don’t have to forfeit God’s blessing, protection and purpose when hardships come - not if we choose to stand trusting Him and hold on tightly to His Word. Peter teaches us to live holy lives, as people who are genuinely saved, by separating ourselves from all forms of corruption. He encourages us to increase the power and peace in our lives by regularly spending time with God in His Word. This is what grows our faith and keeps us living in victory, free from our past sinful nature. If you feel you’ve been on the brink of quitting your faith, it’s time to completely turn your back on the devil. Push forward in your commitment to Jesus and you will not fall away.
Defy the Enemies of Your Soul BY: Kaitlin Miller
There is something in the sheer act of defiance that can ignite us. The determination of refusal can stiffen our spine, tense our muscles, and amplify our resolve. Of course, defiance can be directed in a million sinful ways when driven by our pride — toward rebellion against parents, resistance to repentance, disrespect of authority, or any other rejection of God’s commands. But there is also a holy defiance that fires us up to resist temptation, reclaim enemy territory, and refuse to curse God in suffering. These are the kinds of battles for which God’s blood boils. And by the blood of Christ that saves us, they can boil ours as well. Defy the True Enemy Our enemy is cunning and dangerous. He prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). But he is also a defeated foe — and he knows it. He is incapable of tempting with more than we can withstand (1 Corinthians 10:13). ). He is forced to flee from us as we resist him (James 4:7). And he and his demons tremble at the truth that even they rightly believe (James 2:19). “Holy defiance fires us up to resist temptation, reclaim enemy territory, and refuse to curse God in suffering.”
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We are right to take him seriously — to be alert to his tactics, on guard against his methods, and soberminded in consideration of him. But we are also right to remember that in Christ we have been given the power to demolish strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4), and that we have joined ranks with the winning side who will soon crush him under our feet (Romans 16:20). Trusting only in our own strength, we find ourselves cowering in fear, deceived by tactics, or fearfully fleeing the battle altogether in assumed defeat. But “strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10–11), we can fearlessly look our enemy’s alreadythwarted schemes squarely in the face, confident in our undefeatable King and the invincible armor he gives. Spirits Set to Boil Paul admonishes us not to “be slothful in zeal,” but “fervent in spirit” (Romans 12:11), a command that carries the idea of boiling with passion — either in anger for what is bad, or love for what is good. Such fervency is in stark contrast to the unacceptable state of being lukewarm (Revelation 3:16). But we can’t kindle that fire on our own. Rather, we must look to our God, the consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), whose Holy Spirit heats up our own spirit to love what he loves, hate what he hates, defend what he defends, and refuse what he refuses.
Defiance of Refusal
Boiled to determination not to fall again
This defiance comes as we refuse to submit
for the enemy’s first lie, that God is
to alluring temptations by exposing them
withholding something good from us
for what they really are — deceitful
(Genesis 3:4–5), we instead assure our
schemes to steal, kill, and destroy (John
disappointed hearts that God withholds
10:10). Boiled to disgust, we can foil the
no good thing from those who walk
enemy’s plans by rejecting his malicious
uprightly (Psalm 84:11; Romans 8:32).
invitations, turning instead to walk in the
Defiance comes as we refuse to resent
life of our God-given freedom from sin
God’s sovereignty when he allows a
(Romans 6:6).
diagnosis, natural disaster, persecution, or seemingly senseless tragedy. Boiled to
Defiance comes as we refuse to tolerate the
faithfulness, we declare that no matter
lies we see taking ground in the lives of
what the enemy takes from us — even our
those we love — lies that they are unloved,
very lives — still he will not take the
without hope, or masters of their own fate.
ultimate treasure for which we regard
Boiled to jealous love, we can raise over
everything as loss: the surpassing worth of
them our shields of faith, quenching fiery
knowing Christ Jesus our Lord
arrows from the evil one (Ephesians 6:16).
(Philippians 3:8).
Defiance comes as we refuse to be swept
Tremble Not for Him
into our society’s irrational generalization
We may not always feel that fiery
of truth, as if such “relativism” is not based
determination of resistance. Far more
on an absolute truth claim of its own.
often, we may feel captive to
Boiled to passion for the unchanging truth
discouragement, doubt, and despair. But
of God’s word, we resolve to remain
in those moments, we can pray for faith
steadfast and immovable (1 Corinthians
to believe in our enemy’s defeat and
15:58) in our submission to its loving
clarity to see the way out from under his
authority, standing always in fear of a holy
attacks (1 Corinthians 10:13). We can
God rather than mere men (Matthew
assure our anxious souls that God is still
10:28).
worthy of our hope — and that only he is
Defiance comes as we refuse to be
(Psalm 42:11; 43:5). We can again bank our
discouraged to inaction over the
trust on the power of Christ’s prayer that
overwhelming global suffering beyond our
our faith would not fail (Luke 22:32).
human ability to combat — spiritual lostness, poverty, slavery, and the
We can assure our hearts that if God is for
persecution of the church. Boiled to
us, nothing can ultimately stand against us
righteous anger over the dark forces
(Romans 8:31). We can sound a battle cry
behind those movements, we can begin by
to our soul — those songs of praise that
assuming the offensive stance of kneeling
we blast from our car speakers in triumph
in prayer, waging war against the true
or whisper on our knees in tearful resolve
powers of this dark world and “the spiritual
or declare just as confidently in the
forces of evil in the heavenly places”
darkest hour from a prison cell (Acts
(Ephesians 6:12). Defiance comes as we
16:25). We can call to mind how we
refuse to doubt God’s goodness when he
overcome in the end: by the blood of the
doesn’t give us what we think we want —
Lamb and by the word of our testimony
the relationship, the job, the house, the
(Revelation 12:11).
deal.
Defiance of Refusal
Boiled to determination not to fall again
This defiance comes as we refuse to submit
for the enemy’s first lie, that God is
to alluring temptations by exposing them
withholding something good from us
for what they really are — deceitful
(Genesis 3:4–5), we instead assure our
schemes to steal, kill, and destroy (John
disappointed hearts that God withholds
10:10). Boiled to disgust, we can foil the
no good thing from those who walk
enemy’s plans by rejecting his malicious
uprightly (Psalm 84:11; Romans 8:32).
invitations, turning instead to walk in the
Defiance comes as we refuse to resent
life of our God-given freedom from sin
God’s sovereignty when he allows a
(Romans 6:6).
diagnosis, natural disaster, persecution, or seemingly senseless tragedy. Boiled to
Defiance comes as we refuse to tolerate the
faithfulness, we declare that no matter
lies we see taking ground in the lives of
what the enemy takes from us — even our
those we love — lies that they are unloved,
very lives — still he will not take the
without hope, or masters of their own fate.
ultimate treasure for which we regard
Boiled to jealous love, we can raise over
everything as loss: the surpassing worth of
them our shields of faith, quenching fiery
knowing Christ Jesus our Lord
arrows from the evil one (Ephesians 6:16).
(Philippians 3:8).
Defiance comes as we refuse to be swept
Tremble Not for Him
into our society’s irrational generalization
We may not always feel that fiery
of truth, as if such “relativism” is not based
determination of resistance. Far more
on an absolute truth claim of its own.
often, we may feel captive to
Boiled to passion for the unchanging truth
discouragement, doubt, and despair. But
of God’s word, we resolve to remain
in those moments, we can pray for faith
steadfast and immovable (1 Corinthians
to believe in our enemy’s defeat and
15:58) in our submission to its loving
clarity to see the way out from under his
authority, standing always in fear of a holy
attacks (1 Corinthians 10:13). We can
God rather than mere men (Matthew
assure our anxious souls that God is still
10:28).
worthy of our hope — and that only he is
Defiance comes as we refuse to be
(Psalm 42:11; 43:5). We can again bank our
discouraged to inaction over the
trust on the power of Christ’s prayer that
overwhelming global suffering beyond our
our faith would not fail (Luke 22:32).
human ability to combat — spiritual
“Even if we lose all earthly treasures, yet
lostness, poverty, slavery, and the
will we praise him. Even though he slays
persecution of the church. Boiled to
us, yet will we hope in him.
righteous anger over the dark forces behind those movements, we can begin by assuming the offensive stance of kneeling in prayer, waging war against the true powers of this dark world and “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Defiance comes as we refuse to doubt God’s goodness when he doesn’t give us what we think we want — the relationship, the job, the house, the deal.
Monthly Devotion with: BERNI DYMET
Holy Spirit Power Ephesians 1:17-19: I pray that God will open your minds to see his truth. Then you will know … that God’s power is very great for us who believe. It is the same as the mighty power he used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in the heavenly places. None of us like to admit that we’re powerless. But in some situations, under some circumstances, that’s exactly what we are. So when you’re in that place, how do you lay hold of the power that you need. We image sometimes that we’re alone in struggling through whatever it is that we’re struggling with. And yet, there’s a fairly standard list of things that people struggle with. Take for instance the top ten new year’s resolutions that people make: (1) Lose weight (2) Get organised (3) Spend less, save more (4) Enjoy life to the fullest (5) Stay fit and healthy (6) Learn something exciting (7) Quit smoking (8) Help others with their dreams (9) Fall in love (10) Spend more time with my family. It’s almost exactly six months since people went through that exercise. Maybe you recognise one or two of those from back in January as well. So, how are you getting on? The reality is that just days into each new year, 99 percent of new year’s resolutions are broken. It seems that people are powerless to change. Change is really hard. What we need is power. And that’s exactly the sort of power that Jesus came to give you. To crash through things that you – in and of yourself – are completely powerless to change. Ephesians 1:18-20 I pray that God will open your minds to see his truth. Then you will know … that God’s power is very great for us who believe. It is the same as the mighty power he used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in the heavenly places. Holy Spirit Power. Resurrection power. The power to overcome. If you believe in Jesus, you’ve already received it! So stop asking for more power and start praying with the power you already have. That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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CONQUER THE LAND by: Minister Monica The Israelites faced opposition on every side, and even from themselves. Pharaoh tried to delay their departure and freedom from slavery in Egypt, but God was on their side The enemy will try to get people to speak negatively into your life, he will try to assign spies to try to enter your camp and steal your goals, dreams and derive you from your purpose. Be on the lookout, the enemy is always seeking whom He can devour). Eventually, the Israelites stood in the way of their own blessing, by murmuring and sinning against God (that’s a place we don’t want to get to. Don’t abandon the Promised Land, the vision of God for a temporary satisfaction of the flesh). The people became their own distractions, so what should have been a forty day trip turned into forty years. Have you been murmuring in preparation for the Promised Land after crying out to God to answer your prayers? Where is your heart of gratitude? The groaning of the Israelites, “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt, There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death (Exodus 16:4). “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness! Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? (Numbers 14:3). As a result of their lack of trust or faith in God, He replied, as surely as I live you will all drop dead in the wilderness!
Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? (Numbers 14:3). As a result of their lack of trust or faith in God, He replied, as surely as I live you will all drop dead in the wilderness! Because you complained against me...And your children will be like shepherds, wandering in the wilderness for forty years in this way they will pay for your faithlessness” (Numbers 14:32). God was preparing them way back in Egypt to trust Him through hardships, through Pharaoh's stubbornness, and in the process to get to the Promised Land, yet before they could even see it, they withered with their lack of faith. God is preparing all of us for what He has promised and He has not forsaken us, but we must follow even the simple instructions and have a cheery heart as we prepare for elevation. To get to the Promised Land requires dying to self, shedding an old mindset and being transformed and renewed by God's power, word, and Holy Spirit. It requires leaving some old friends behind, leaving a few family members behind. It doesn’t look pretty with a bow on top because it is a battlefield. As God preps you for higher, for elevation so that you soar on His wings be ready for warfare, be ready to annihilate distractions, but most of all keep your heart of gratitude in check. You will possess the land! Love Monica
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Trade Self-Help for God-Help written by: Greg Morse They set out to get help from a higher power.
Can we learn anything from the self-help
The lion needed courage. The tinman needed a
movement? Why does this placebo help some?
heart. The scarecrow needed a brain. The little
Many will line up to testify of its cure-all power.
girl longed to return home. But at journey’s end,
What’s in the snake oil?
they came to the unfortunate discovery: The Wizard of Oz was no wizard at all. He relied on
At least one true ingredient: self-help
screens and microphones. His wand was broken.
acknowledges our personal agency. Self-help
He had only pins and needles to give.
assumes that you can indeed do something to
Yet, all was not lost. Our four heroes realized
help yourself. It too rejects the deceit that we
that what each had sought, each already
drift helplessly downstream from our past or
possessed. Along the way, Tinman loved, Lion
current circumstances. We are not leaves floating
risked, Scarecrow thought. Dorothy carried the
down from trees. The me of yesterday doesn’t
ability to travel home wherever she went. They
have to be the me of tomorrow. We can learn
discovered that they did not need an all-
discipline. We can “take control” of various
powerful Oz behind the curtain. What each truly
aspects of our lives, escape addictions, and
needed he already held within.
overcome fears.
Whether or not Frank Baum meant it or not,
At least self-help affirms what God always has: we
Wizard of Oz is an apt parable of the
can, even now, reap a different harvest by sowing
generations-old self-help movement in our
a different crop. It properly highlights the truth
increasingly post-Christian West. The Oz, many
that we can — and must — own some measures of
say, has nothing to offer. God, the wisdom of
responsibility for our lives. We each can choose,
modern man finally confirms, is a fraud. Yet,
as Luther once said, many things under heaven.
some rush to tell us, all is not lost. After sobering
And each decision will have consequences.
from the opiate of the masses, they tell us to awaken to reality: what we’ve needed all along
Self-help advice rescues some from the fatalistic,
already resides within each of us.
paternalistic, dehumanizing worldviews (so common today) that deny a crucial component of
Truth in Self-Help
God’s world: “So God created man in his own
Some professing Christians are promoting self-
image, in the image of God he created him; male
help resources at alarming rates. As can happen
and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).
when biting into that pizza roll too quickly, we can lose the ability to taste differences. We chew
Diagnosing the Difference
pop-psychology’s ideology of self-reliance and
The ineptitude of the self-help philosophy
discern no real difference from Christianity,
becomes apparent when we contrast it with God-
which builds upon God-dependence. We
help. Note three differences, among others.
swallow both indiscriminately and wonder why our stomachs hurt.
1. On Whom Do You Rely? Self-help gurus have little to sell us other than
Before we look at the differences between the
ourselves. In stopping at mere personal agency,
ideologies, first a question:
they send us to build a new life while denying us straw for our bricks.
-FEATURESure, they interject themselves to get us going
Whereas self-help can tidy a sinking ship, “godliness
(for a small fee, of course), but the real power
is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the
resides within. The god they point to stoops
present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy
down to fit into every mirror we see. Returning
4:8). Grace trains the Christian to say “No!” to theft,
to our childhood optimism, “I think I can, I think
anger-issues, pornography, pride, laziness, and say,
I can,” this endless search to find your true
“Yes!” to self-control, uprightness, and godly lives in
potential borrows from the oldest heresy: “And
the present (Titus 2:11–12) — all while steering us
you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5).
home and preparing us for heaven, not hell.
Claiming to be wise, these gurus exchange the glory of the immortal God for images of
3. Who Gets the Glory?
successful man. Believe in yourself. Clutch the
When we trust in self — and actually succeed— we
scepter of your life. You can do all things
get the glory. I am smarter, more disciplined, better.
through you who gives you strength. As if God,
When we become self-made men and women, and
looking down from heaven without any mercy,
not God-made men and women, we run from
thundered, “Just figure it out!”
disordered lives into the arms of pride. Having
Promoters of self-help have not been tutored in
escaped the cobra, we encounter the bear. And this
that school that Paul had:
tempts the self-reliant to look down on others who aren’t successful, and, whether they ever succumb
We were so utterly burdened beyond our
to temptation or not, they never bother looking up
strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed,
to God.
we felt that we had received the sentence of
But the man who makes God his trust has a very
death. But that was to make us rely not on
different victory song:
ourselves but on God who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:8–9)
Not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. But you have saved us from our foes and have put to
The illusions of self-help shatter when suffering
shame those who hate us. In God we have boasted
weighs so heavily on our backs that we despair
continually, and we will give thanks to your name
of life itself. Pain reminds us that we are still but
forever. (Psalm 44:6–8)
creatures — for the gods do not bleed. But all affliction is a choice friend when it teaches us to
The Christian, awake to the reality that he has no
sing, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where
good apart from his God (Psalm 16:2), speaks
does my help come? My help comes from the
repeatedly, “Not to me, O God, not to me, but to
Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1–
your name give glory” (Psalm 115:1). Christ is his
2). The shoulders of him alone, who carried the
boast. Christ is his refrain. He wants every triumph
cross and willingly bled for the treason of our
to add another jewel to the crown of his King.
self-reliance, can bear all of our further needs. Make the Trade 2. What Help Do You Get?
Self-help gives me my own small, fleeting glory.
When we look within for help, we receive only
God-help offers us deep, everlasting joy, secure in
temporal solutions to what amounts to eternal
his unfading glory. Self-help offers a temporal good
problems. That alcohol addiction is not first and
(at best). God-help gives eternal good with the
foremost a sin because it destroys one’s family
temporal thrown in. Self-help relies on my
and poisons oneself. All transgression, as we
discipline, my resolve, and my effort. God-help
shall all soon discover, is against God: “Against
builds upon a child’s cry to his father, leaning on
you, you only, have I sinned and done what is
one’s eternal family, and trusting God’s unfailing
evil in your sight” (Psalm 51:4). God has the first
promises. God-help sustains me with daily bread
grievance, though the shrapnel certainly strikes
from heaven. Self-help cannibalizes me, for it can
others as well. Self-dependence may subdue
find no other food. God-help ends in salvation, glory,
some of the symptoms of sin — you stop
and the conquering of the world, the flesh, and the
drinking, overeating, or committing adultery —
devil. Self-help addresses the coughs and sneezes of
but a life of sin against God remains
this life but leaves me, at the end of it, without
unaddressed and ultimately unaltered.
hope, without forgiveness, and without God in this world.
contributor
We are honored to feature a TRUE PROPHET OF OUR TIME. Sharing with us the true and undiluted Word of God. WE WELCOME PROPHET GEOFFREY GEZANI. Continuing with the series of: REAPING AND SOWING
WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH ; THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP ... THIS IS THE YEAR OF REAPING AND SOWING: Read :-GALATIANS: 6 : 6--9. Cain killed his brother Abel because he was jealous of him. But then he said, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.” Samson fell by lust with Delilah, and the Philistines gouged out his eyes. Haman erected gallows to hang Mordecai, only to be hanged on those gallows himself.
Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den, but God shut the their mouths and they didn’t hurt him. The next morning when the king ordered the accusers of Daniel to be thrown into the den, they were killed by the lions. Whatever a man or woman sows, he or she will reap. That is a law of nature, and it is the law of God. Third, we will reap what we sow. Job 4:8 says, “Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same.”
We see people every day who have been sowing wrong deeds– lust, jealousy, lying, drinking too much, taking drugs, shoplifting or cheating on paying their tithes. Sow Lust you will reap sicknesses. Sow wrong deeds you will reap prison. Sow unfaithfulness with your tithes you will reap unprotected life in all your life in general Sow disrespectful to your biological parents and your SPIRITUAL LEADERS or parents -
you will reap the same later on in life. Some people live by the philosophy that you can sow your wild oats all week and then go to church on Sunday morning and pray for a crop failure. But Scripture says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). Notice we have to confess and forsake our sins. Then we will receive mercy. But we can’t think, as many people do, that going to church on Sunday is enough. Opening the Bible to read a couple of verses during the week or nodding toward God with a little prayer during the day is not enough. We think we are all right, but we’re not. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). There is a high price to pay for low living, and sin is no respecter of persons. The only way for sin to be taken away is at the cross. Fourth, ignorance of what you are sowing won’t keep you from reaping. Leviticus 19:19 says,
“You shall not sow your field with mixed seed.” The devil sows tares. That is his business. The Word of God is proclaimed, then the devil comes along and sows tares. There is a devil; there are demons; they are real; they are dangerous. Jesus said, “He who sins is of the devil” (1 John 3:8). All sin originates with the devil. 1 John 3:8 “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil We can live a Christian life only with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes into our hearts when we receive Christ. He lives the Christian life through us and produces the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. No one can live the Christian life on his own. If we try to do it by ourselves, we will fail. Satan is too strong. The devil is after all of us daily. That is why it is important to read the Bible every day.
When Yeshua met the devil and the devil tempted Him , it was a real temptation. He tempted Him to turn stones into bread. Yeshua could have done it, but He was here to take people to heaven, to give them eternal life. And He could do that only by going to the cross and taking their judgment and their hell. From the cross He was saying, “I love you. I love you, whoever you are.” He would have died on that cross if you had been the only person in the whole world. He loves you. You are important to Him. The Apostle Paul said, “God commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has [chosen]” (Acts 17:30-31). Jesus Christ is Saviour, but someday He will be Judge. TO BE CONTINUED....
YOU ARE BLESSED , BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE OTHERWISE: PROPHET GEZANI
L
IVING LIFE AS AN AMBASSADOR OF CHRIST WRITTEN BY: BERNI DYMET
Many, many people believe in Jesus Christ – and yet somehow there’s a gap between what they believe and how they live. It seems that other people are out there doing things for God, and yet they feel as though there’s something missing in their lives in that regard. That’s because there is. The Lord means for us to be Ambassadors – Ambassadors of Christ. What does that mean? How does that work? So why not join Berni Dymet – as he opens God’s Word to discover what it really means to live out a life that truly counts for something. Most of us are immersed in the cultures in which we live. And that’s as it should be. But there’s a risk for the person who believes in Jesus, in getting to thinking that their a local … a citizen of this earth. They’re not – they’re a citizen of Heaven and what’s more, an Ambassador of Christ. FIRST A CITIZEN, THEN AN AMBASSADOR
And the history of humanity is a history of
Right about now, depending on how you
wars, invasions, conquests, dominance,
count some of the smaller ones, there are
exploitation – in fact right now, there are
over 200 countries in this world. One source I
around thirty recognised wars going on
read lists 223, another 192. Let’s say there
around the world, not to mention the
are around 200 – some of them are huge and
other, quote “lower level” conflicts.
powerful, right down to the smallest country
So how do all of these cuntries get on?
in the world. What a huge variation: China,
Well, hopefully these days, most of the
population 1.34 billion, at one end of the
time, when there’s disagreement on an
scale, right down to the Pitcairn Islands,
issue, instead of fighting wars as the first
official population 50, at the other end and
step in the process, countries use a thing
everything in between.
called, “diplomacy”. They have diplomats and so they use diplomatic channels to
Now, anyone whose had brothers and sisters
discuss and resolve most of the issues
knows that siblings don’t always get on.
between them.
The head of a diplomatic mission is usually
Second Corinthians chapter 5, verse 16:
called, “the ambassador”. So in my country
From now on, therefore, we regard no one
we have an American ambassador, we
from a human point of view; even though
have a Chinese ambassador; we have an
once we knew Christ from a human point of
Indian ambassador and so on. And here’s
view, we know him no longer in that way.
the thing: none of those people are
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new
Australians. The American ambassador is,
creation: everything old has passed away;
well, he’s American, the Chinese
see, everything has become new! All this is
ambassador is Chinese, the Indian
from God, who reconciled us to himself
ambassador is, well, as you would expect,
through Christ, and has given us the
Indian.
ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,
So not only is the ambassador a citizen of
not counting their trespasses against them,
the country which he or she represents,
and entrusting the message of reconciliation
they also look like they come from that
to us.
country and they speak like that they come from that country because they do come
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since
from that country. Now, all of that is, I
God is making his appeal through us; we
would hope pretty much blindingly,
entreat you on behalf of Christ, be
glimpsingly, obvious to all of us and the job
reconciled to God. For our sake he made
of the ambassador of each country is to be
him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him
his or her country’s representative with a
we might become the righteousness of God.
foreign government – the channel through
See, almost sounds as if Paul is saying he’s
which their country raises issues with
not so much a Roman citizen, which he was,
another government and vice versa.
but he’s a citizen of God’s Kingdom, sent as
Sometimes; many times those are difficult
an ambassador to explain and to share
issues. You can imagine, for instance, the
God’s message of reconciliation and
exchanges that occur between Indian and
forgiveness into a foreign world. “So we are
Pakistani diplomats or at times between
ambassadors for Christ since God is making
China and America on trade issues or
His appeal through us.” And in fact,
between the various European countries
elsewhere, Paul writes exactly that.
within their Union. Ambassadors are there
Philippians chapter 3, verse 20:
to represent their country; the country of
Our citizenship is in heaven and it is from
their citizenship, in a foreign land.
there that we are expecting a saviour, the
The Apostle Paul had this to say on the
Lord Jesus Christ.
issue. Have a listen it comes – if you have a Bible, open it up –
So there it is. Paul sees his role as being an
Are you a citizen of this world or are you an
ambassador of Christ – declaring the
ambassador in a foreign land, bringing the
forgiveness that God has for each and
Good News of the Gospel of reconciliation
every person on this planet, if only they will
with God, through Jesus Christ, into a lost
put their faith in His Son and the eternal
and hurting world? My hunch is that anyone
and glorious reconciliation we can have
who calls themselves a Christian; anyone
with Him when we take that step. And that
who takes on themself the name of Christ, is
… that is simply carrying on what Jesus
called, not to a life of comfort, so much, as
came to do. Mark chapter 1, verse 38 –
a life of following hard after Jesus. Luke
Jesus answered:
chapter 4, verse 27: Whoever does not carry the cross and
Let us go on to the neighbouring towns so
follow me cannot be my disciple.
that I may proclaim the message there also for that is what I came out to do.
Over these coming weeks on the
John chapter 18, verse 37 – Pontius Pilot
programme we are going to be talking
asked Him:
about living our lives as ambassadors … ambassadors of Christ. What does that
So are you a king? And Jesus answered,
mean – what does that look like?
“You say that I am a king, for this I was born and for this I came into the world, to
Well, we will be looking at that. Today the
testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs
point I think we are meant to get out of our
to the truth listens to my voice.
time together, you and I, is that firstly a disciple is a citizen of the country that he or
Jesus came in order to tell us the Good
she represents. And if we are to be
News, and in fact, to “be” the Good News.
ambassadors of Christ, as Paul wrote, as
The Apostle Paul saw himself as an
much as we are immersed in our culture, as
ambassador of that Good News, even to
important as that is in reaching out to those
the point of being an ambassador in chains,
around us with the Good News of Jesus, we
on death row. Ephesians chapter 6, verse
are not, my friend, citizens of this world, but
19:
we are citizens of heaven, sent as
“Pray also for me so that when I speak a
ambassadors into a foreign land.
message may be given to me to make known with boldness, the mystery of the
And as ambassadors often find, the foreign
Gospel for which I am,” writes Paul, “an
places into which they’re sent – they don’t
ambassador in chains”.
always want to hear what they have to say. It’s not always easy being an ambassador.
My friend, what did you come to do? Where is your citizenship?
In fact, the reason that countries need
So lots and lots of people have come to the
ambassadors is to deal with difficult issues;
conclusion that they have nothing to
the tensions that could escalate into
contribute – lots and lots of people have
conflicts. Ambassadors, yes, have to be
stopped trying to live out their faith in
diplomatic but they also have to tackle the
Jesus; a faith that used to burn so brightly,
difficult issues. And as Jesus came as an
and gradually, little by little, the flame
ambassador of heaven to proclaim the
within has grown dim – it’s almost gone out.
truth and was ultimately crucified for it
But for some reason … some reason they
and if Paul followed in His footsteps as an
can’t quite put their finger on, they toddle
ambassador of Christ and was ultimately
along every Sunday, hoping … no, surely,
executed for it, if you and I are going to
there’s no more hope; secretly hoping
life out our lives in the small corner where
perhaps – hoping in a way that they would
God has put us as citizens of heaven, we
never admit to themselves, let alone anyone
are to be ambassadors of Christ.
else – that God is going to come along and
That’s not always going to be easy! The
do something powerful in their lives and
world won’t always want to hear – it could
through their lives.
cost us everything but I’m afraid it comes with the territory … the territory of being
I wonder if you know anyone like that. Well,
an ambassador of Christ.
if you do, if perhaps there’s just a little or even a lot of that going on in you; if
DID GOD REALLY MEAN THAT?
perhaps you’ve been waiting and waiting
I know of people who believe in Jesus,
and waiting for God to do something
who go to church Sunday and Sunday;
powerful in you and through you; to give
they sit there in the pews, sing the songs,
you some part to play in His plan that’s
listen to the preacher but they’re not
custom made, handmade for who He made
flashy; they’re not up front performers or
you to be, and I believe with all my heart
musicians or speakers or leaders. Every
that today, that wait comes to an end.
now or then perhaps, they make morning
Today, that is over because He has a word
tea or contribute somehow to the life of
for you today – His Word, not mine – that
the church, but because they’re not high
will set you free to be what He always
profile, up front people, because they’re
planned for you to be an ambassador of
more people who blend into the
Christ.
background, they’ve decided, in their heart of hearts, that they have nothing to
Not in the same way as anyone else, you
contribute. The world’s been telling them
know, because you are not the same as
and subtly the church has been telling
anyone else you know, but in a unique way
them, too, “You have nothing to
that fits with who you are.
contribute”.
Now, I know beyond any shadow of any doubt that there are countless of people listening to this message today who simply cannot believe that this could possibly be true – the flame has almost gone out. That’s why we are going to share with you a powerful, powerful word from God from Jesus own lips, in fact. Anyone who spent just five minutes reading one of the Gospel accounts of His life, in the first century, Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, will be able to account a stream of powerful miracles that Jesus performed. He healed the sick, He raised the dead, He made water into wine, He fed thousands with almost nothing – He did so many amazing, powerful miracles … miracles that were witnessed by many people. I mean, there’s no doubt that He actually performed those miracles. It was this power that in the end got Him crucified. Not only did He preach with power, He acted in power and the people flocked to Him. It was because of the preaching and the deeds of power, the miracles that the Pharisees and the Sadducees – the religious leaders of the day – became so threatened by Jesus that they had Him crucified. And ultimately, just in case anyone was in any doubt, He Himself was raised from the dead. Now you and I, we look at Jesus – He is after all, the Son of God. He is someone that you or I can never, ever, ever be. We look at Him and we think to ourselves, “WOW, no one could ever minister that powerfully again here on earth.” Have a listen to what Jesus said to His disciples, just before He was crucified – John chapter 14, verses 11 and 12: Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Jesus didn’t say that we would just be able to do the things that He did. No, no, He said that “anyone who believes in him will not only do the things he was able to do but, in fact, will do greater works than these,” Even greater! Now, it seems to me we have a choice here. We can sit quietly in church, the third pew from the back, on the left hand side – you know, where we have sat every week for what seems like an eternity – we can just sit there and believe the world and the devil’s perception, that we have nothing to contribute, no role to play in God’s great plan of redeeming and saving and reconciling this world to Himself. ________________ TO BE CONTINUED ________________
Monthly Devotion with: BERNI DYMET
The Dark Cloud Matthew 24:9-14: Then you will be arrested and handed over to be punished and killed. People all over the world will hate you because you believe in me. During that time many believers will lose their faith. They will turn against each other and hate each other. Many false prophets will come and cause many people to believe things that are wrong. There will be so much more evil in the world that the love of most believers will grow cold. But the one who remains faithful to the end will be saved. And the Good News I have shared about God’s kingdom will be told throughout the world. It will be spread to every nation. Then the end will come. I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like to be martyred for your faith in Jesus. And yet, more people have died for Christ in just the last century than in the 1900 years before that. Just think about that. There are terrible things happening in this world that we never thought that we’d see in our lifetimes. Wars, terrorism, Christians being beheaded, all sorts of things. And as you watch this stuff on the news each night, it starts to become part of you. Whether you realise it or not, a sense of foreboding, of fear, strikes root in your heart. So many Christians, people who believe with all their hearts in Jesus, harbour that sense of foreboding and fear, when all along, what’s happening is exactly what Jesus predicted would happen, to usher in the end of this age. Matthew 24:9-14 Then you will be arrested and handed over to be punished and killed. People all over the world will hate you because you believe in me. During that time many believers will lose their faith. They will turn against each other and hate each other. Many false prophets will come and cause many people to believe things that are wrong. There will be so much more evil in the world that the love of most believers will grow cold. But the one who remains faithful to the end will be saved. And the Good News I have shared about God’s kingdom will be told throughout the world. It will be spread to every nation. Then the end will come. Yes, it’s terrible. Yes, it is unsettling. But God is in control. Your King reigns. And one day, soon, Jesus will be back to take those who belong to Him to be with Him for all eternity. That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
GODLY MOTHERS ARE AN ETERNAL BLESSING BY EMPRESS TEEKAY A godly mother lays the foundation for a child to grow up in God. With her husband, she shepherds her family flock. She’s the gateway to spiritual understanding and stability for her children. Call her blessed In a time of “super-heroes”, someone said that behind every traveling preacher is a super-wife. In truth, this is a shallow observation and does not do her justice. In my experience, she is so much more – she is courageous, resilient, humble and resourceful. Above all, she knows how to pray.
“Pray to remain faithful to the heavenly calling” I first met Anni Bonnke in 1981 when my husband and I joined Christ for all Nations in Witfield, South Africa and, true to form, it was at a meal around her own family table. In those days, she was known as “Mama Bonnke” amongst the staff, and I soon discovered that she had earned this name with her love and hospitality, always making sure that each member of the team had their turn at her table. Sometimes it would be a family, but often we would be a group of wives around the table, all holding the fort while our husbands were away, all doing our best to fill the space left by absentee fathers,
especially during those childhood crises that seemed to wait for whenever they were gone! As time went on I saw how often she was invited to speak at conferences and women’s meetings. I asked her why she never accepted. Without hesitation, she told me that God had called them both to the mission field, but making sure their home was a safe haven for her husband and children was the outworking of that calling in her life. She made sure I understood that my children would see my own husband’s absences through the filter of my emotions and expectations, and so to weigh my words and attitude carefully.
In later years I one day asked her what advice she would give a young woman starting out in the ministry with little children and a traveling husband. She smiled. “Pray. Pray for your husband, pray for your children, pray to remain faithful to the heavenly calling. Pray.” Good advice for any woman, at any time! Navigating challenges with grace and dignity Reinhard Bonnke has now retired. A new season has come for CfaN and with it, a new man at the helm with his wife of 16 years and their five children. Rebekah Kolenda is now in much the same situation that Anni Bonnke was in for so many years. She met Daniel whilst at Bible School, and has shared his passion for the Gospel and the salvation of souls from the very beginning of their relationship. I asked her if she knew what she was signing up for when they got engaged. “He told me that he could not promise me the American Dream, the white picket fence, a dog and two children, but he could promise me a mud hut in Africa with dirt floors to sweep. I never flinched – that’s when he knew he had made the right choice!” As is so often true, the dreams and visions of youth pale into insignificance before the realities of a life in service of the Kingdom of God, especially a life where there is the continual juggling of time together and time apart, times of shared parenting and times of crisis faced alone. Rebekah navigates these challenges with grace and dignity. And when she asked me what advice I would give a young wife and busy mother, I simply passed on what I had learned from Anni all those years before – “Your children’s attitudes will only be a reflection of your own words and attitudes towards your husband’s absences.” She tells me she never forgets this.
As a family, they have learned to make the precious time with Daniel quality time, and the children love to just “hang out” with Dad when he is home. They already enjoy being at CfaN events and I believe there is a budding preacher or two among them!
There were times I really needed that
God will make a way where there seems to be no way! We have had and still have many couples who serve as part of the team as CfaN travels the world preaching the Good News of the Kingdom. Often it is only our men who are seen because of the nature of what they do. But it is the faithful, strong support of wives who gladly sacrifice their own emotional comfort for the sake of the Gospel that makes every word preached and every mile traveled, a victory for the Kingdom of God. Every woman has been through the fire at one time or another, every woman has proved that “with God, all things are possible.” Without exception, they say that they would choose this life all over again.
cut in the sole of his foot. He had
Speaking for myself I must admit that it has not always been easy – sometimes the burden can seem too hard to bear, the hurdles too high to leap over, the sacrifice too much to ask. Sometimes I have been called on to exhibit courage that I knew I didn’t have, like when the team were in mortal danger somewhere in Africa, and all I wanted to do was weep out my fear or frustration to the heavens but for the sake of the children, kept a calm demeanour! But then would come the words I have learned to love so much, “Be still and KNOW that I am God.” It is in stillness that knowing is born, the stillness of falling on our faces before the One who knows the end from the beginning and who is never caught by surprise. My safe place has always been the place of worship and often, so very often, I have sung in the shower, at the top of my voice, “God will make a way where there seems to be no way!” or sat at my piano and sung myself into “the peace that passes all understanding.”
that the Word of God is true. “So be
peace! I remember one particular day when my sons - then very young boys had gone fishing at a dam nearby. Hearing a commotion outside the kitchen door, I ran out, only to see our youngest son being carried by friends, sobbing with pain from a very deep stepped on broken glass and the white nerve ends waved wildly at me as I investigated, heart pounding in fear that he would lose movement or feeling. “Why is it that the worst accidents always seemed to happen when Pete is away?” I thought. Only later that night I started to tremble as the shock caught up with me, only later that night could I think calmly at all and be grateful that no lasting damage was done! I have many more stories like this and I’m sure every mother on the team has a similar story, or two, or three… “Be strong and courageous!” We as wives and mothers are proof strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT). It’s no wonder that Rebekah (Daniel Kolenda's wife) says this is her favorite scripture. In the life that we have been called to in Christ for all Nations, it is easy to feel isolated in our experience of marriage and motherhood – it’s not quite like everybody else. But over the years I found that at those times when I felt the loneliest, an angel would come along. Not glowing, dressed in white or flapping snowy wings, but someone who spoke words of encouragement and life, and reminded me that “HIS strength is made perfect in our weakness!” “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!” Luke 1:45
Devotions by the anointed Dr André and Jenny Roebert
A Child of God Message taken from from John 1:12 (NLT) John 1:12 (NLT): "But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God."
If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you are a child of God. You are no longer the person you were on the inside; you have become a brand new creation. That means your spiritual DNA has been changed. You are no longer bound to sin and death; you have been made alive in Christ Jesus. The Bible says at the point of surrendering our lives to Him, we are adopted into God's family. We become heirs of God and a coheir with Jesus Christ. This makes us children of the Most High God. Just think about that for a moment... In His Word, God clearly explains that He is an excellent Father, Who takes great personal care of those who belong to Him, live under His authority, and abide in His shadow. Take time to carefully meditate on Psalm 91, understanding it's for God's own children who have chosen to live in and enjoy a close, intimate relationship with Him. Today, let this remind you of who you are and Who you belong to.
FEATURE
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DIE? ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST? by: John Piper If you can make the leap of faith in the full-blown creed of evolution that grips the minds of many modern people, then you will believe that what happens to you when you die is no more significant than what happens to a tree when it dies. It’s over. You go out of existence. You feel nothing, know nothing, have no consciousness. Your opinion would be that this series is irrelevant. It has nothing to do with reality — what is really going to happen. But if you find written on the tablet of your heart the truth that there is a Creator God, and that you are made to have a relationship with him, and that what separates you from whales and dolphins and chimpanzees is not mutations and chemicals, but personhood in the image of God, then you probably will lie awake at night and think about eternity — because, as Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “God has put eternity in man’s heart.” And if, like millions of others, you have met Jesus Christ in the pages of the Bible and have been persuaded that he is worthy of your trust, then you do not have to be unsure about what is coming when you die. He has told us many things, to encourage us and free us from the emptiness of evolutionary creeds and from the fear of death. What We Have Seen So Far What we have seen so far is that believers in Jesus go to be with him when we die. Verse 8: “We prefer to be absent from the body and at home with the Lord.” For those of us who trust Jesus as Savior and Lord “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21); “to depart and be with Christ is very much better” (Philippians 1:23). “Grace gives salvation as a free gift to be received by faith, not earned by works.”
The second thing we have seen is that there is more than leaving our body behind and going to be with Christ. There is also a resurrection of the body. That’s what we saw last week “we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52). Christ will come and change our body of lowliness into one like his glorious body (Philippians 3:21). He does not mean for us to be disembodied souls forever. There will be a resurrection of the dead. Four Simple Observations About the Judgment Today we focus on a third truth about what happens when believers die. The verse we are focusing on this morning is verse 10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” Let me make four simple and obvious observations about this judgment and then tackle the problem of why Christians will be judged if in fact Christ has already been judged for us (Romans 5:8–9), and if there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). 1. All Christians will stand before Christ as judge. “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” Not just unbelievers, but “we.” And not some of us, but “all of us.” 2. Our judge will be Christ. It is God’s judgment too (Romans 14:10–12: “We must all stand before the judgment seat of God”), but God “has given him authority to execute judgment” (John 5:27). So God the Son and God the Father are one in their judgment, but the Son is the one who stands forth as the immediate Judge, to deal with us.
3. Our judgment will be after we die. That’s implied in the text, but Hebrews 9:27 makes it explicit. “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” We don’t need to be more specific than that this morning. We need only say that before we enter the final state of glory with our resurrection bodies on the new earth, we will stand before Christ as Judge. 4. When we stand before Christ as Judge, we will be judged according to our deeds in this life. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” This is not an isolated teaching in the New Testament. Jesus said in Matthew 16:27, “The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and will then recompense every person according to his deeds.” And in the very last chapter of the Bible Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to render to every person according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12). In other words, the way you live is not unimportant. What Is the Aim of This Judgment? Now the more difficult question: Why is it important? Why are the deeds done in the body the evidence in this courtroom? Is the aim of this judgment to declare who is lost and who is saved, according to the works done in the body? Or is the aim of this judgment to declare the measure of your reward in the age to come according to the works done in the body? I think the answer of the New Testament is both. Our deeds will reveal who enters the age to come, and our deeds will reveal the measure of our reward in the age to come. I will show you in just a moment why I think this, but let me mention the biggest problem for many Christians in saying this. It sounds to many like a contradiction of salvation by grace through faith.
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Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “By grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God — not of works lest anyone should boast.” Salvation is not “of works.” That is, works do not earn salvation. Works do not put God in our debt so that he must pay wages. That would contradict grace. “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ.(Romans 6:23). Grace gives salvation as a free gift to be received by faith, not earned by works.
“Our deeds are not the basis of our salvation, they are the evidence of our salvation.” How then can I say that the judgment of believers will not only be the public declaration of the measure of our reward in the kingdom of God according to our deeds, but will also be the public declaration of our salvation — our entering the kingdom — according to our deeds? The answer in a couple of sentences is that our deeds will be the public evidence brought forth in Christ’s courtroom to demonstrate that our faith is real. And our deeds will be the public evidence brought forth to demonstrate the varying measures of our obedience of faith (see Romans 12:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:11). In other words, salvation is by faith, and rewards are by faith, but the evidence of invisible faith in the judgment hall of Christ will be a transformed life. Our deeds are not the basis of our salvation, they are the evidence of our salvation. They are not foundation, they are demonstration. Now let me show you why I think this. Reward in Accord with Deeds There is teaching both in Paul’s writings and in the words of Jesus that believers will receive differing rewards in accord with the degree that their faith expresses itself in acts of service and love and righteousness. In Paul’s Writings For example, in 1 Corinthians 3:8 Paul says, “He who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.” And in Ephesians 6:8 Paul says, “Whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord.” TO BE CONTINUED....
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