Faith

Albert has faith that this photographer will deliver this picture to him in hard copy


11 October 2011

Hebrews 11:8-10  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

In a world where God does not exist and the concept of God is not found in that world, and you suddenly find yourself alone in that world, how would you tell others of the existence of God? A God who is invisible, a God that only exists in the faith and experience of Him that you have. Most of us do not give thought that, for some people and even nations, that for them God does not exist, and because we have our faith, our places of worship, we are isolated from the reality of the world around us.

The reality is that most people we meet everyday has no belief in God, their concept of God is distorted, in countries like Russia millions of people have not heard that God exists. So when you meet a Russian who has no concept of God, what do you say, how do you say it, and maybe even why do you even want to say that God exists. As a student of theology, as an ordained minister; God’s existence cannot be easily explained without faith in God, so where people have no faith in God it is nearly impossible to convince them otherwise.

It is our primary faith that God exists that is the beginning of all understanding of our relationship with God, without that faith we are lost. This faith in itself is a gift from God and has been given to all people on earth, including those who deny the existence of God. Their faith becomes distorted into believing in themselves, in their governments and the belief that man and his systems can exist without God. So a political party replaces God because they place their faith in that, where we place our faith, becomes the god’s in our lives. And so kings become god’s, presidents demigod’s and nations turn from the true God.

Be encouraged today to rejoice in the faith that you have, it is a God-gift.

David

Point to ponder: Faith is the beginning of understanding.  

Question to consider: Do you rejoice in your faith?

Rain in its season

10 October 2011

Mark 11:13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

Today is the birthday of Paul Kruger and this day used to be a public holiday in South Africa up until 1994. Also in the farming community it was believed that if it rained well before this day it would be a dry summer, and you only ploughed after this day. So dates and seasons are important as markers in the yearly calendar, as these tell us what to expect at what time. One cannot expect to pick oranges in December and trees do not blossom in winter, neither figs in Spring.

In the same way we mark the season we are in regarding where we are in our lives, some of us are in the spring of life, others in autumn, some even in winter. The fruits of these seasons should be seen in us and through us, and so we do things and say things appropriate to them. We need to have things happen at the right time and in the right way, so we find we become part of the season we are in. This also applies to  our spirituality and so we find that our spiritual journey is often related to the season of our life. Sometimes we have a great Spring then a dry summer, a wet autumn and warm winter, so the same may apply to our spiritual need and the fruits we produce. If Jesus came to find our fruit, would we have any?

Be encouraged today to be in the right season in your life.

David

Point to ponder: We all bear fruit.  

  

Question to consider: What fruit are you bearing?

Biblical Corporate Worship - part 2

9 October 2011

Shalom dear readers,

This week we will examine the Brazen Altar and the Brazen Laver.

     

In the outer court of the tabernacle, stood two furnishings: the bronze altar and the bronze laver and this is where the priests served the people by assisting them in their sacrificial offerings. This speaks of action and service.  How often do we get so caught up in our ministries and service to God that we forget the most important thing - communion and fellowship with Him?  The priests had to go into the inner court to “minister to the Lord” just as we need to move from activity to being still before the Lord.  Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

In our worship, we can also get so caught up in praise that we never move on into worship.  There is a growing tendency today to cater to the likes and dislikes of the people rather than on what pleases God. Today the question is “What will draw the people in?”  What ever happened to the Holy Spirit drawing the people?  John 6:44 No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me draws him:…..

Notice that when David introduced music and musical instruments into the worship, he never inquired of the people as to what their favorite songs and styles of music were.

In order to begin moving into the Holy place and the Holy of Holies we need to follow a process.  Once having moved into the outer court through the gate, we approach the bronze altar of sacrifice.

THE BRAZEN ALTAR  (SACRIFICE)

The difference between Old Testament and New Testament Worship is that we no longer sacrifice animals as Jesus Christ was our once and for all sacrifice.

The brazen altar points to Jesus our sacrificial Lamb.

John 1:29 Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Just as Jesus came to do the will of the Father and laid down his life as a sacrifice so that we could have eternal life, so we are to die to our own desires and submit to the will of God.  We were created to do the will of God.

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.

In terms of worship we are exhorted to bring a sacrifice of praise.  Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name. The psalmist declares in Psalm 116:17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.

Our praise is not governed by our emotions and feelings or by our circumstances and situations therefore we praise him simply because he is God and worthy of our praise and adoration.

Next we approach the brazen laver.

THE BRAZEN LAVER   (REFLECTION)

T
he brazen laver was made from the copper mirrors of the women.  The purpose of a mirror is to reflect back 
an image.

We too during our time of worship need to take time for reflection and confession.

The ministry of the Laver points us to the Word of God which gives us a true and clear image of ourselves as we are, as God sees us. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to convict us of sin.

Psalm 139:23 – 24

23 Search me, O God and know my heart: test me and know my anxious thoughts. 

24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

We need to remember that worship is not just about singing but also about reading and studying the Word of God.

It is in the outer court stage of our worship that we need to deal with our sin and the issues that are in our lives. The focus in our worship at this stage is on Jesus who takes away our sin. We can’t continue in worship with unconfessed sin in our lives.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness.

The next level of worship is the Holy Place, which we will look at next week.

As we continue our spiritual journey, may we be encouraged to spend more time in His Word and more time developing an intimate relationship with Him.

Blessings,

Charmaine

Clim Jews for Jesus

Where do you sit?

8 October 2011

Matthew 20:23-24 He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.

Some people only can survive if they are filled with their own self importance, they must believe that they are in control and will do and say anything to maintain it. The shocking reality is that they are replaceable and when they leave an organisation a month later people will hardly remember them. The lesson is that what we do is not important and even who we are is of little consequence to others, we need to remember that true humility is a reflection of true obedience to the higher calling on our life.

The worse belittling experience is when you are at a function and you sit close to the main table, only to be told that you are in the incorrect seat and you get moved to the table closest to the kitchen door and directly opposite the speakers of the sound system. Where you sit is not a right but the choice of the person who is your host or the person that is responsible for operating the business you work for.

The only person that truly considers you important is Jesus Christ and even He cannot guarantee where you will sit in heaven! We just need to be thankful that we still have a chair there.

Be encouraged today to be humble and obedient to your higher calling.

  

David

Point to ponder: Rights are related to pride.  

Question to consider: Is where you sit important to you?

Linga-Longa

The power of prayer goes with the power of faith, when we pray and ask for something in the name of Jesus Christ, these prayers are answered and what we have asked for we will receive. We give thanks to God for answered prayer!!

Firstly we received a donation for the sole purpose of purchasing a ride-on grass cutting machine, this is amazing and we are able to cut grass and lawn with this machine. Secondly we were able to repair the swimming pool and the leaks have been fixed and the pool is fully operational. Thirdly a generous person had a low pressure solar geyser delivered to us for installation, which will be installed for use in the kitchen. This is the one place where we need hot water all the time and using the sun to do it is fantastic.

We have also re-thatched room 18 and completely re-vamped the bathroom, the room opposite which was used as a bookshop has been converted into a counselling/prayer room for the use of the ministers or facilitators. We have also had a spate of burst galvanised pipes and all the water supply pipes to rooms 6 to 18 have been replaced with the new cobra PVC pipe. The old galvanised pipes were extremely corroded.

The gardens are looking beautiful with the spring colours and the avocado and mango’s are in blossom as well as all the citrus trees. In the vegetable garden butternut, beetroot, Hubbard squash, watermelon, sweet melon (spanspek), cucumber, tomatoes, beans have all been sowed and we are all praying for a bumper crop.

We have been very busy with groups especially August and September; we are looking forward to groups booking for next year. Please consider coming to us for your church camps or even for a mid-week break. If you do not support us who will?

We are also involved directly in providing help and a home to Shane and Stephen both of whom have no source of income at this stage. In return for board and lodging they assist us in the many tasks that needs to be done.

Healing Ministry

Jesus made it clear to His followers that it was required of them to heal the sick, all those that believed in Him believed that healing the sick was the normality of the Christian life. Within the history of the Church the movement was to focus on the knowledge and structure of the church organisation, who did what became more important than fulfilling the purpose of the Church, which was to heal the sick and bring succour to the broken-hearted.

The reality is that many people today are still in need of the same ministry that Jesus Christ came to earth to provide and the question asked is where will such healing be offered to those people in need? The problem encountered more often than not is that of unbelief, poor faith response and preaching that proclaims the gospel but denies the power thereof. Jesus Christ is the same today as He was yesterday and will be the same tomorrow, His Word is the truth and it is upon the truth of that Word that the healing ministry either stands or falls. If His word is true then it must follow that when it is preached in truth, the signs and wonders will follow.

The sick need to visit the church, just as much as the church needs to visit the sick. Not just the sick on the membership roll but also those who need to be healed who are not. The call to do so is not structured in an institution but based on the calling of those who follow Jesus Christ and are obedient to His calling on their life, ‘Go and heal the sick”.

When someone is sick in our family we need to pray for them, when we see a need within others we should pray for them. When we turn to God in prayer God turns to us, and He will hear our prayer and heal.

Missions and outreach

When one does a mission it is a compliment to be invited to return and to continue the ministry in the congregation. As a result a number of congregations has built up a relationship with the Christ Healing Ministry. The problem with this is that this requires a personal touch and not all those in need are helped. With the help of Theo Schmidt this was addressed to a certain extent with the book published by the Christ Healing Fellowship, ‘Yes, you are healed’. We have realised that this has been limited in its achievement as it will only reach those though the written media. A decision was taken by the Board of the Christ Healing Fellowship to expand this through the use of the electronic media; so a website is under construction to be used by all who have access through the internet. The first domain is christianhealing.co.za and the second linga-longa.co.za these will be interrelated domains. All the talks and support required will be found on the sites and hopefully will be linked into the denominational sites as well. We hope to have this up and running shortly. This will also include suggestions for healing services, liturgical aspects of healing, as well as relevant issues such as healing and depression, healing and Christian marriage and so on. This will be available to any person with access to the internet, any where in the world. All you need to know about Christian healing hopefully in due course will be published on this site.

During October we are also having a retreat, the topic being the ‘Refreshing of the Holy Spirit’. In from 19 to 24 November I will be in Kokstad doing mission work at St Columba Presbyterian Church, with regard to the healing of family relationships, on the weekend 25 to 27 November a Woman’s Retreat will be held at Linga-Longa organised by Polokwane Methodist at which I will be facilitating the retreat: ‘Being a woman for Christ”. This is open to any woman who would like to attend.

We have also been blessed with a visit of a young lady Yuyan He from main land China who is undertaking a two month internship with us here at Linga-Longa. She will be helping us to develop a marketing profile which hopefully will help us to position the work we do and offer what we do to a wider audience in the community we serve.

Support needs

We always need support but we often feel that we should not always be telling people what we need. However, we need to be bringing our prayer requests to your attention, because we know that God is our only Provider and when we are united in prayer these prayers will be answered. We are praying for many who are sick on our prayer list, many of whom have been healed in answer to that prayer. For us to continue, we need you to be praying for us that the work we are doing here for Jesus Christ will continue.

We are still praying for God to raise up the right couple with a love for Jesus to come and help us to manage Linga-Longa. We are also praying that our finances will be blessed through the support of those coming and using the Retreat Centre. For it is out of this support that we are reinvesting in Linga-Longa by upgrading and refurbishing the facilities.

OUR BANK DETAILS ARE: The Christ Healing Fellowship

ABSA BANK, BELA BELA AC.no 4048900830    Code 632 005

For any membership fees or donations

Daily Encouragement

Who does not need encouragement? This is an on-going ministry that is slowly growing in it’s outreach with over 240 people receiving the daily encouragement via email. Many who do receive this are not necessary attending church or even a member of a congregation and in this simple way many people are receiving the Gospel which they would otherwise not have received. Over the last 6 years or so nearly 1500 of these has been sent out, with not one being repeated. This also results in providing on-line counselling for those who request advice and help.

Financial aspects

As most of you are aware many aspects in terms of the budget has come under pressure due to price increases beyond our control. The Electricity bill of Escom has increased by 40% and fuel costs, tollgates has increased in real terms by 13%. With careful management and strict controls we have been able to show a small increase in net income of about 10%, this does not allow for any unexpected costs. The cash reserves are low and we need to have at least two groups a month of 35 people to be able to meet our costs. We thank God that we have been able to do this, this year. As stewards of God’s property we need to ensure that we are obtaining the correct income in relation to expenditure which requires us to increase the tariff for 2012 by 16,66%. We still need to have 840 beds filled over weekends in 2012!

Below see our tariffs for 2012 which we still consider to very competitive

Tariffs 2012:

A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm the bookings.

Double Room Daily Rate per person sharing:

Group weekend R550.00 Friday Supper to Sunday lunch.

 Bed/breakfast: R250.00 .

Dinner/ Bed/breakfast: R300.00 .

Full board: R350.00 .

Self catering cottages tariff on request

David

God our Stronghold

7 October 2011

Isaiah 25:4 For thou hast been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the blast of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall.

When you suddenly do not have enough, enough money, enough food, enough love and you are so distressed, the storms of life are a turmoil around you and pressure and heat are unbearable where do you turn to? Some people turn to alcohol, drugs, others lend money and get deeper in debt, others turn on those that they love and their support base becomes even more eroded. In life we all experience poverty of some kind or another, we all have times of deep distress, when the emotions of life storm about us and panic strikes most of us have been there. What do you do, how do you cope?

What a God we have, we know that His word to us is true and when these times strike us, do we remember His words to us, or do we turn to the ways of the world and advice of people who do not know Him? We need to remind ourselves that God, our Jesus Christ is with us and He will find away, when we seem to have lost our way. So when the world gets to be to much we run into His stronghold of prayer, and we spend time in His presence knowing that He will find the way we need to go.

Be encouraged today to be reminded that God is your stronghold at all times.

David

Point to ponder: God is your stronghold.  

  

Question to consider: Do you turn to God in prayer?

Sin or iniquity.

3 October 2011

Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to thee, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. [Selah]

Sin is something we do that involves our own personal choice, iniquity is the sinful situation that we find ourselves in, either through birth or through the lifestyle that we grow up in. Iniquity deals with social behaviour learnt and taught to us, sin  is knowing what is wrong and then simply choosing to do it. These two aspects are closely related but are not the same, so when we grow up in a home where morality and values are taught and lived, this becomes our norm, when we do not and our parents and family allow sin to flourish then the situation becomes iniquitous.

Many people find themselves in these situations and never realise that this is the cause of the deep seated problems of living that they have to encounter. This also causes repetitive sin to flourish in families. So a child conceived out of wedlock is exposed to the iniquity of its parents, a person doing well out of selling stolen goods brings iniquity into the family and so on. Because the behaviour is acceptable it becomes tolerated so the morality and values are undermined. Most of us have found ourselves in iniquitous situations at some time or another, we either repent of it or we suffer the consequences of it. Sometimes we even invite this into our homes through watching iniquitous programmes on TV or the literature we read.

We all need to examine our situations and bring them into the loving arms of our Saviour Jesus Christ who will bring His grace and mercy to heal the pain and hurt caused by the iniquity that we have to deal with. Knowing His redemptive, restoring, reconciling power, we need to call upon Him to deal and change these situations that we are totally cleansed of them.

Be encouraged today to ask God to heal you of all iniquity that you have been exposed to.

David

Point to ponder: Sin is your choice, iniquity is allowing it to flourish in your life.  

Question to consider: Are you free of iniquity?