Seek Christ

30 July 2012         

Luke 19:38-40 "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out."

So often I preach to a congregation of three, on occasion two, the pews are empty, in some churches I have preached to hundreds, whether I preach to one or thousands the ‘Good News’ remains the same. No matter who sits in the pew they are all sinners and often are dead in Christ without knowing it. They hear the Good News but never repent and change their sinful behaviour, they claim to know Christ yet they never speak about Him to others. Thankfully I am called to preach the Good News, only the Holy Spirit is able to do the rest. I often think that the pews praise God more than those sitting on them.

The sad part about today is that so few sermons are the ‘sword of truth’ that cuts deep into the hearts of men and woman bringing them to that point where they recognise their sin and their desperate need of  a Saviour. People like to hear what tickles their ears and when they have to hear the truth of who they are, sinners, sick, broken, hurting, shattered, trapped in the strongholds of sinful lives and behaviour controlled by lust, greed, hatred, unforgiveness, regrets, bitterness. Then they close their ears and believe this message is for someone else and not them. This deception is the way the deceiver operates so that people do not turn to Christ to be saved.

Be encouraged today to urgently seek Christ and His forgiveness.

 

David

 

Point to ponder: Without Christ we are eternally lost.

Question to consider: Have you sought Christ and His forgiveness?

Prayer Retreat

Linga Longa Christian Retreat Centre

Eersbewoon: Bela Bela

14 to 16 August 2012

Starts Tuesday at 14:00

Psalms: Ministry and meditation.

ALL WELCOME

RETREAT DIRECTOR:

Rev Lihai Bercovich

Join Gavin as he leads us in praying the Lord’s prayer in a Judaic way

Cost: R500.00 including accommodation, food, and seminar per person sharing.

Booking essential:

Tel. 014 736 3339 or 014 736 4300, or

Fax 086 689 3019

Question

27 July 2012  

       

Luke 2:46-47 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

In life sometimes we have more questions than answers and sometimes the answers are not what we want to hear. For most of us we have an expectation of what the answer should be even before we ask the question and when the answer does not match the question we get upset. So sometimes we need to think the question through before asking it, and then actually thinking through what those answers are, so that we are clear on our expectations.

Most often when we are out of our comfort zone and when are situations have changed that the questions will be asked with less thought of the answer. This also applies to our understanding of the Word of God, for often we are seeking answers but we have not considered the question. What is the answer that we want from God depends largely on the question asked and the attitude of the person asking the question. If some one came to you trying to ask a stupid question how would you answer, likewise if the question is to prove some point or to show up the person being questioned how would you respond?

When we really think through the question very often that question may never be asked. The more we think, the more we come to understand, the less we think, the less we understand. Just as we think so we act, and speak.

Be encouraged today to think your questions through before asking them.

 

David

 

Point to ponder: God expects us to think.

Question to consider: Do you often ask the wrong question?

Patience

25 July 2012        


James 1:3-4 For you know that the testing of your faith produces patience. And let patience have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.


To make marmalade requires a oranges, lemons, sugar, effort in squeezing and slicing the fruit, and then the patience in boiling until it is ready to set, which may take 4 hours, before you then bottle. This time of the year is the time we make marmalade and it takes time. One cannot hurry the process, it just takes patience if you do you burn the pot. And at the beginning of this you need faith that you can make marmalade.


Just like many things in life one needs certain ingredients and then patience to see it through. Many people want to have the success yet expect this without the requirements and then expect the result immediately. Life is like fishing, often you have to sit and wait for the fish to bite the hook, it takes patience. The secret of success is patience, bosses come, bosses go, crisis comes, crisis goes, it is the attitude of patience that leads to perseverance and perseverance to success. And at the beginning of this you need faith that you can make a success. If I can make you believe you cannot do it, then I take away the faith that you need to be able to.


Be encouraged today to be patient, it is a wonderful blessing.


David


Point to ponder: Patience is a virtue.


Question to consider: Are you patient?

Patience

25 July 2012       

 

James 1:3-4 For you know that the testing of your faith produces patience. And let patience have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

To make marmalade requires a oranges, lemons, sugar, effort in squeezing and slicing the fruit, and then the patience in boiling until it is ready to set, which may take 4 hours, before you then bottle. This time of the year is the time we make marmalade and it takes time. One cannot hurry the process, it just takes patience if you do you burn the pot. And at the beginning of this you need faith that you can make marmalade.

Just like many things in life one needs certain ingredients and then patience to see it through. Many people want to have the success yet expect this without the requirements and then expect the result immediately. Life is like fishing, often you have to sit and wait for the fish to bite the hook, it takes patience. The secret of success is patience, bosses come, bosses go, crisis comes, crisis goes, it is the attitude of patience that leads to perseverance and perseverance to success. And at the beginning of this you need faith that you can make a success. If I can make you believe you cannot do it, then I take away the faith that you need to be able to.

Be encouraged today to be patient, it is a wonderful blessing.

 

David

 

Point to ponder: Patience is a virtue.

Question to consider: Are you patient?

Blue lights

24 July 2012      

  

Psalms 1:1-2 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

I do not know about you, but it seems that we receive so many emails and telephone calls that are just ways to gain access to our information to do evil against us. Policing of these just like policing anywhere is very difficult and sometimes the police are more guilty of breaking the law than upholding it. Justice often is not always dependant upon the State or of the law, but rather the attitude of those who uphold the law, usually you and I.

Upholding the law is a state of righteousness, not legalism which uses the law to control what others do. Justice is compliance with the law, every time a person flashing blue lights travels beyond the speed limit becomes a statement of disregard for the law and the legislative procedure, in the same way when we disregard the law when break the road rules. Every Christian irrespective of our station in life needs to seek that righteousness that upholds justice, mercy and grace including keeping the laws of the land. If being late was a crime in South Africa there would be more people in jail than on the streets, so being late is no crime at all, but being a law breaker is, even though hidden behind a blue light, or political position.

Be encouraged today to be righteous by upholding the law.

David

Point to ponder: God is watching.

Question to consider: Do you disregard the rules of the road?

A test of faith

20 July 2012       

 

James 2:22-23 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God.

Everyday is a test in our faith in whether we trust God in our situation or not, we may not even be conscious of such a test, in the routine and mundane. Yet when we need to rely not on our own strength but that of God in His provision, His protection, His compassion, faith becomes something that you cling to. For without it how do we respond, how do we trust when what we expect does not happen, it is in this continuing hope that God will be God in our lives that faith grows and strengthens.

Faith only grows when it is tested and strengthens through waiting in prayer on the Lord. When we say that we love and trust Jesus, it needs to be more than words, it must reflect in our daily lifestyle. When we begin planning a retreat, we plan in faith, when we plan to visit congregations we plan in faith. Without faith our works are meaningless and it is only through faith that we believe and trust in God whom we have never seen. Even though we may see no change, change has happened but its affects may not yet visible.

Be encouraged not to loose faith because it appears nothing has happened.

 

David

 

Point to ponder: Trust and have faith.

Question to consider: Do you see your faith tested?