16 April 2012
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture consigned all things to sin, that what was promised to faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
What God has to say should be more important than what man has to say. Yet so often we tend to want to hear rather from man than from God. The Bible is all about what God has to say, Bible study is all about man trying to find ways to understand what God said. People who spend their lives studying the Bible often understand the texts, the history, the context, yet some how still miss the point. God does not approve of many things yet we try to rationalise our failures by altering our understanding of God’s word.
No matter what the context sin is sin, and all people sin. No person on this earth has ever been able to live a perfect life, except Jesus Christ, so if we believe that we may never make mistakes we are delusional. Yet when we look at the world around us we find so many people who are content to live sinful lives, who delude themselves in their own perfection, yet continue in selfish ways to destroy not only themselves but also those around them.
Thank God for those who admit the error of their ways, turn from them and seek God. Not just the God of the Bible but the Living God who lives and breathes within us all.
Be encouraged today to seek a meaningful relationship with God.
David
Point to ponder: It is the Bible that leads us to God.
Question to consider: Do you rationalise sin?
Our webpage: www.christhealing.co.za
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Superstitions
13 April 2012
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love.
Legend has it that Jesus Christ was crucified on Friday the 13th , now for some we are all superstitious of dates and time and omens, resulting in some behaviour that is influenced from these. So there are ships that so not sail on this day, there are others who live in fear that some terrible thing is going to happen. Yet the greatest blessing that God gave us was His only begotten Son who was, according to legend, given to us to be redeemed from our sins.
It is strange how we allow thoughts and traditions to cloud our common sense, because of what Jesus has done we have no need for silly superstitions or fears. We need to be set free from these by believing this wonderful blessing that God has given us, we are fully reconciled to God and sin no longer separates us from God.
Be encouraged today to be set free from superstitions and fears.
David
Point to ponder: Superstitions are for idol worshippers.
Question to consider: Do you allow superstitions to control you?
Our webpage: www.christhealing.co.za
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love.
Legend has it that Jesus Christ was crucified on Friday the 13th , now for some we are all superstitious of dates and time and omens, resulting in some behaviour that is influenced from these. So there are ships that so not sail on this day, there are others who live in fear that some terrible thing is going to happen. Yet the greatest blessing that God gave us was His only begotten Son who was, according to legend, given to us to be redeemed from our sins.
It is strange how we allow thoughts and traditions to cloud our common sense, because of what Jesus has done we have no need for silly superstitions or fears. We need to be set free from these by believing this wonderful blessing that God has given us, we are fully reconciled to God and sin no longer separates us from God.
Be encouraged today to be set free from superstitions and fears.
David
Point to ponder: Superstitions are for idol worshippers.
Question to consider: Do you allow superstitions to control you?
Our webpage: www.christhealing.co.za
Bad days
12 April 2012
Romans 15:5-6 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Some days are good days, and others seem to carry their own burden that makes one feel down. Each of us are on some kind of cycle, for some a bicycle and others a hamsters spinning wheel, the one you seem to get somewhere the other no matter the effort. When you have had surgery it is strange how one day you feel that you are on the mend and the next moment you feel like bed is the only option.
How we feel and what we do are interrelated and when we loose sight of the purpose, we are more likely to be dominated by how we feel rather than about the facts of our situation. Reflection is an important part of who we are, and we need to take stock every now and again of the facts of our situation rather than how we feel about it.
Be encouraged today to make the best of the day, not because of how you feel, but because today is special.
David
Point to ponder: Every day is a good day, we just allow them to be otherwise.
Question to consider: Do you often feel down?
Our webpage: www.christhealing.co.za
Romans 15:5-6 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Some days are good days, and others seem to carry their own burden that makes one feel down. Each of us are on some kind of cycle, for some a bicycle and others a hamsters spinning wheel, the one you seem to get somewhere the other no matter the effort. When you have had surgery it is strange how one day you feel that you are on the mend and the next moment you feel like bed is the only option.
How we feel and what we do are interrelated and when we loose sight of the purpose, we are more likely to be dominated by how we feel rather than about the facts of our situation. Reflection is an important part of who we are, and we need to take stock every now and again of the facts of our situation rather than how we feel about it.
Be encouraged today to make the best of the day, not because of how you feel, but because today is special.
David
Point to ponder: Every day is a good day, we just allow them to be otherwise.
Question to consider: Do you often feel down?
Our webpage: www.christhealing.co.za
Substitution
11 April 2012
Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you.
Last night I watched a recorded sermon about the doctrine of substitution and what it implies with the reasons why Jesus Christ had to die on the Cross. Jesus was without sin and we are born in sin, each offering to God in the Old Testament required a blood offering of clean animals which we acceptable to God. We are all unclean because of our sin, so no matter how sacrificial our lives may be, no matter what we do our lives are never acceptable to God. We cannot earn our acceptability through knowledge of works.
The only acceptable offering for our sins was Jesus Christ, and He died in our place, taking upon Himself our sins, our wickedness, our pride, God substituted His Son for you. Jesus died in your place, that you may live in His place. Now you either accept this or reject this, when you accept this you live accordingly, and you are only able to accept this in and through faith.
Be encouraged today to accept that Jesus died in your place, for you.
David
Point to ponder: You died in Christ in order to live with Christ.
Question to consider: Have you accepted what Jesus did for you?
Our webpage: www.christhealing.co.za
Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you.
Last night I watched a recorded sermon about the doctrine of substitution and what it implies with the reasons why Jesus Christ had to die on the Cross. Jesus was without sin and we are born in sin, each offering to God in the Old Testament required a blood offering of clean animals which we acceptable to God. We are all unclean because of our sin, so no matter how sacrificial our lives may be, no matter what we do our lives are never acceptable to God. We cannot earn our acceptability through knowledge of works.
The only acceptable offering for our sins was Jesus Christ, and He died in our place, taking upon Himself our sins, our wickedness, our pride, God substituted His Son for you. Jesus died in your place, that you may live in His place. Now you either accept this or reject this, when you accept this you live accordingly, and you are only able to accept this in and through faith.
Be encouraged today to accept that Jesus died in your place, for you.
David
Point to ponder: You died in Christ in order to live with Christ.
Question to consider: Have you accepted what Jesus did for you?
Our webpage: www.christhealing.co.za
Make a difference
5 April 2012
2 Corinthians 10:7 Look at what is before your eyes. If any one is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that as he is Christ's, so are we.
If you could make a profound difference to the world today because of what you know, what would you do? Most of us do not think in terms of world domination or international impact that we have because who we are. Yet when we read biographies of people that have changed the world, most of them did not believe the influence that they actually had.
So when we look at Jesus Christ and during His week of passion, did He see the cross or the impact that the cross would have on the world today. If He saw only the cross then His vision would have been limited to Himself, yet He saw beyond the cross and the power of God revealed for eternity.
So when you realise that no matter how insignificant you may feel you are, you have the ability to change the world, by believing not only in yourself, but Jesus Christ who believe and trusts in you.
Be encouraged today to make a profound difference in the world today.
David
Point to ponder: Believe in yourself, because Jesus believes in you.
Question to consider: Do you let your insecurities control your thinking?
Our webpage: www.christhealing.co.za
2 Corinthians 10:7 Look at what is before your eyes. If any one is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that as he is Christ's, so are we.
If you could make a profound difference to the world today because of what you know, what would you do? Most of us do not think in terms of world domination or international impact that we have because who we are. Yet when we read biographies of people that have changed the world, most of them did not believe the influence that they actually had.
So when we look at Jesus Christ and during His week of passion, did He see the cross or the impact that the cross would have on the world today. If He saw only the cross then His vision would have been limited to Himself, yet He saw beyond the cross and the power of God revealed for eternity.
So when you realise that no matter how insignificant you may feel you are, you have the ability to change the world, by believing not only in yourself, but Jesus Christ who believe and trusts in you.
Be encouraged today to make a profound difference in the world today.
David
Point to ponder: Believe in yourself, because Jesus believes in you.
Question to consider: Do you let your insecurities control your thinking?
Our webpage: www.christhealing.co.za
Thinker
4 April 2012
Mathew 22:42 What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He? They say to Him, David's.
One can feel the chill in the air as winter announces itself to us here in Bela Bela. It is time to protect the plants from frost and to move the pot plants indoors to protect them from the cold. As the seasons turn so there are things that need to be done in the season. The more we understand this, the wiser people think we are, yet it is just common sense, which when on thinks about it is not so common.
The greatest gift that we have is the ability to think, I think therefore I am; the less one thinks the less one becomes. So when you see someone plaster filling around a rusted electric cover plate, one must ask what the thought process was to presume that this is the right option. When we just exercise an option without thought, then we are just going through the motions and as the result we allow the option to control us. In today’s banking, credit control in just about all we are exposed to we see little thought being applied, and when we do it should be applauded and not criticised.
Be encouraged today to protect your greatest gift, the gift of thought by using it often.
David
Point to ponder: Not everyone thinks.
Question to consider: Are your recognised for your ability to think?
Mathew 22:42 What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He? They say to Him, David's.
One can feel the chill in the air as winter announces itself to us here in Bela Bela. It is time to protect the plants from frost and to move the pot plants indoors to protect them from the cold. As the seasons turn so there are things that need to be done in the season. The more we understand this, the wiser people think we are, yet it is just common sense, which when on thinks about it is not so common.
The greatest gift that we have is the ability to think, I think therefore I am; the less one thinks the less one becomes. So when you see someone plaster filling around a rusted electric cover plate, one must ask what the thought process was to presume that this is the right option. When we just exercise an option without thought, then we are just going through the motions and as the result we allow the option to control us. In today’s banking, credit control in just about all we are exposed to we see little thought being applied, and when we do it should be applauded and not criticised.
Be encouraged today to protect your greatest gift, the gift of thought by using it often.
David
Point to ponder: Not everyone thinks.
Question to consider: Are your recognised for your ability to think?
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Hang in there
3 April 2012
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as elect ones of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassions, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another and forgiving yourselves, if anyone has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also you should forgive.
As most of you know I have been arranging a mid-week retreat for you to attend, now this time out will be especially dedicated for you to find your space with Jesus again. When we do this on weekends this clashes with family time, but in the midweek it is like going on a conference with Jesus as the Keynote Speaker and the Holy Spirit the Facilitator. Now the question is as always do you make it possible?
As I lay in bed writing this I wonder how easy it be to just close the laptop and focus on self. Yet this is not the Lord’s way; His way is to persevere, just one more, persevere. Last week on Monday evening while in Johannesburg my male bulldog was bitten in the face by an Egyptian Cobra, thank God R2000.oo later he is well and home. We are both battered and bruised, but we do what we need to.
This time with the retreat I hope and pray that you will respond and come, I need you to do this to encourage me and that at the end of the day you have made it worth it.
Be encouraged today to persevere even when the odds are against it.
David
Point to ponder: Long suffering also needs encouragement.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as elect ones of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassions, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another and forgiving yourselves, if anyone has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also you should forgive.
As most of you know I have been arranging a mid-week retreat for you to attend, now this time out will be especially dedicated for you to find your space with Jesus again. When we do this on weekends this clashes with family time, but in the midweek it is like going on a conference with Jesus as the Keynote Speaker and the Holy Spirit the Facilitator. Now the question is as always do you make it possible?
As I lay in bed writing this I wonder how easy it be to just close the laptop and focus on self. Yet this is not the Lord’s way; His way is to persevere, just one more, persevere. Last week on Monday evening while in Johannesburg my male bulldog was bitten in the face by an Egyptian Cobra, thank God R2000.oo later he is well and home. We are both battered and bruised, but we do what we need to.
This time with the retreat I hope and pray that you will respond and come, I need you to do this to encourage me and that at the end of the day you have made it worth it.
Be encouraged today to persevere even when the odds are against it.
David
Point to ponder: Long suffering also needs encouragement.
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