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Hoe sien ek God reg?

“There are three images in my mind which I must continually forsake and replace by better ones: the false image of God, the false image of my neighbours, and the false image of myself.”

CS Lewis

Sedert die begin van tyd maak mense hulle eie afbeelding van wie hulle dink God is. Ons maak gode na ons beeld en ons eie verbeelding. Daar is al sedert die skepping ‘n stryd tussen afgodery en ware aanbidding. Die eerste sonde van ongehoorsaamheid was inherent die wegdraai van die ware God na ‘n ander god. In plaas daarvan dat ons deur verhouding met God in ‘n wandeling in die tuin sou kom tot volmaakte kennis om net soos God te wees, kies die mens die kort pad en glo die leuen van satan.  Verhouding spreek van dissipelskap, opvoeding, konfrontasie, beperking, tydsame ontwikkeling en groei. Die diepgaande motief agter hoekom Adam en Eva die vrug geneem het is: Dis die kort pad, meer gerieflike opsie. 

“Dis nie waar nie!” sê die slang toe. “Julle sal nie doodgaan nie. God het maar net so gesê, want Hy weet julle oë sal oopgaan die oomblik as julle daardie vrugte eet, en dan sal julle volmaakte kennis hê en net soos God wees!” Die vrou kyk toe weer na die boom se vrugte en sien hoe pragtig hulle Iyk. Hoe lekker sou hulle nie wees om te eet nie! En hoe wonderlik sou dit nie wees om alles te verstaan nie! (Gen 3:4-6) [1] Sedertdien kies die mens oor en oor eerder die natuurlike, sinlike, self-wysbegeerte bo verhouding met God.  Ons wil eerder ons self help, 

“die heerlikheid van die onverganklike God verander in die gelykvormigheid van die beeld van ’n verganklike mens en van voëls en viervoetige en kruipende diere.” (Rom 1:18-32) 

Geen mens kan neutraal staan nie, ons is gemaak om te aanbid, om te dien, om na te volg. Jy aanbid of die Ware Skepper God, af afgode. Selfs die ateïs wat selfvoldaan verklaar; “Christenskap is vir mense wat ‘n kruk nodig het” wys op hulle eie self-aanbidding, selfbeskikking, en self-redding.  Self-aanbidding is vandag die afgodery van ons tyd. Selfies, self-beheptheid, self-gerigtheid, en selfhelp godsdiens. Daar is selfs rakspasie onder die titel katogorie: Self-help. “Die Here help die mens wat homself help” is die mantra van die hedendaagse kultuur. Die diepgaande probleem en radikale ontnugtering van die aanbidding van valse gode is: Jy het gegee, gedien, gekoop, geslaaf, geoffer, gewerk en nog steeds vind jy jouself leeg en onvervuld. 

Die werklike kwessie is: Hoe sien jy God? Sien jy Hom van aangesig tot aangesig? Of sien jy ‘n afbeelding, refleksie, oorvertelling, tweede-handse weergawe van wie mense sê God is? Jesus het ook hierdie vraag vir Sy dissipels gevra: “Wie dink die mense is Ek, die Seun van die Mens?” [2] en later “En wat van julle, wie sê julle is Ek?”[3]

Sommige sien God as die veelvoudige persoonlikheid steurnis God: Allah, Budah, Chrisna, is almal god.[4]  

Sommige glo in die verkeerskonstabel god, wat daarop uit is om jou te vang oortree, en dan vir jou ‘n boete gaan gee. 

Ander sien God as die kosmiese verkoopshandelmasjien, waar jy net die regte gebede bid, en hy dan gee wat jy nodig het. 

Die wysbegeerte sien God as die onbetrokke horlosie-maker god, wat die aarde soos ‘n horlosie in delekate ratte aan die gang gesit het, maar nie betrokke is in ons persoonlike lewens nie. 

Die meeste mense hou van die drinker-vriend-by-die-kroeg god, hy luister altyd, stem altyd saam, en laat jou altyd beter voel God. 

Dan is daar mense wat God soos ‘n teddie-beer sien, hy is altyd daar vir jou, om jou te troos en te laat beter voel. Hy praat nooit terug nie, en hy is bekende staatmaker wat ek kies om te gebruik wanneer ek hom nodig het. 

Die mense wat god as spaarwiel sien is glad nie op God ingestel of gefokus totdat hulle hom nodig het as daar ‘n pap wiel is nie. 

Daar is natuurlik ook mense wat God sien as die bekende ou familielid, ons respekteer hom as hy kom kuier, bloot omdat hy familie is en omdat ons ouers hom ken.  

Sommige teoloë sien god as die poppespelmeester god, wat glo dat hy alles beheer. Ons verstaan nie hoekom hy die wreedheid van moord, rampe en pyn en leed toelaat nie, maar alles is uiteindelik sy wil.  Dit is moeilik om die God lief te kry.  

Baie mense sien God as die pretbederwer god. Hy wil nie hê ons moet die lewe geniet nie, wanneer dit goed gaan is ons eintlik bang vir wanneer hy dit gaan kom bederf.  [5]

“Gelukkig is jy, Simon seun van Jona, want my hemelse Vader het dit aan jou bekendgemaak. Hierdie wete het jy nie van enige mens ontvang nie. 18Ek verklaar nou vir jou: ‘Jy is Petrus. Op hierdie rots  sal Ek my kerk oprig, en al die magte van die hel sal dit nie oorwin nie.[6]

Die ware kerk is gebou op die openbaring wat God van homself gee!! 

Die afgodery oplossing is eintlik eenvoudig: Is jou siening van God ‘n mens se openbaring van God, of het God Homself aan jou bekend gemaak? 

Paulus verklaar: Want ek het dit ook nie van ’n mens ontvang of geleer nie, maar deur ’n openbaring van Jesus Christus.(Gal 1:12) Hy het ‘n persoonlike ontmoeting met Jesus gehad op die pad na Damaskus. (Hand 9:1-19) 

Paulus leer dat ware gelowiges en kinders van God, leef vanuit ‘n direkte persoonlike openbaring van wie God is. Die voorhangsel is geskeur. Ons het nou vrymoedigheid om in die allerheiligste in te beweeg. En terwyl ons almal met onbedekte gesig soos in ’n spieël die heerlikheid van die Here aanskou, word ons van gedaante verander na dieselfde beeld, van heerlikheid tot heerlikheid, as deur die Here wat die Gees is. (2 Cor 3:18) 

WAT van die begin af was, wat ons gehoor het, wat ons met ons oë gesien het, wat ons aanskou het en ons hande getas het aangaande die Woord van die lewe — en die lewe is geopenbaar, en ons het dit gesien, en ons getuig en verkondig aan julle die ewige lewe… (1 John 1:1-2) 

Baie mense het natuurlik Jesus reg voor hulle gesien, en tog nie gesien nie. Hoeveel mense het Jesus nie genees, en nog steeds het hulle nie geglo nie. (Joh 12:37-43) Sy eie familie het ook eers nie gesien wie Hy werklik is nie. (Mat 12:46-50; Mark 3:21,31-35; LK 8: 19-21) 

Ons sien hier op watter verskillende maniere die mense op Jesus gereageer het. Party mense het Hom “’n goeie man” genoem (Joh 7:12); ander weer ’n misleier (Joh 7:12). Ander het gesê dat Hy van die duiwel besete was (Joh 7:20); party dat Hy die Christus was (Joh 7:26); sommige dat Hy “die Profeet” was (Joh 7:40) en sommige dat Hy gearresteer moes word (Joh 7:44). 

Daar kom egter ‘n dag waar ELKE knie sal buig, en ELKE tong sal bely: dat Jesus die Here is!! (Rom 14:11; Phil 2:10) 

Jesus is God: 

Christus Jesus het alle raaisels en afeidings oor God kom regstel en fisies in Sy persoon die Godheid kom bekend maak. “Hy, wat die afskynsel is van sy heerlikheid en die afdruksel van sy wese en alle dinge dra deur die woord van sy krag”(Heb 1:3) Jesus se eie biografie, of self-verklaring is uiters betekenisvol tot ons geloof. Wat het Hy oor Homself gesê? 

Hy vergewe sonde: (Mark 2:10) 

Hy is alomteenwoordig: “want waar twee of drie in my Naam saam is, daar is Ek by hulle” (Matt. 18:20). 

Hy is ewig: “Ek is by julle al die dae tot die voleinding van die wêreld.” (Matt. 28:20).

Hy is almagtig: “Aan My is alle mag gegee in die hemel en op die aarde.” (Matt. 28:18).

Hy is alwetend: “Niemand weet wie die Seun is nie behalwe die Vader, en wie die Vader is nie behalwe die Seun en elkeen aan wie die Seun dit wil bekend maak.” (Luk. 10:22).

“Christus was óf ’n leuenaar óf ’n waansinnige óf die Here.” 

Uiteindelik was dit die hoofrede hoekom die Jode Jesus wou doodmaak: Die feit dat Hy Homself gelykstel met God. (Joh. 5:17-29). “Ek en die Vader is een.” (Joh. 10:30). “Die Jode antwoord Hom en sê: Dit is nie oor ’n goeie werk dat ons U stenig nie, maar oor godslastering, en omdat U wat ’n mens is, Uself God maak.”  Teenoor die Joodse Raad, die Sanhedrin, maak Jesus dit weer eens duidelik: “Ek stel jou onder ‘n eed by die lewende God dat jy vir ons moet sê: Is jy die Christus, die Seun van God?” Jesus antwoord hom: “Dit is soos u sê. Daarby sê Ek vir julle: “Van nou af sal julle die Seun van die mens sien waar Hy aan die regterhand sit van Hom wat magtig is, en julle sal Hom sien kom op die wolke van die hemel.” (Matt. 26:63-64). Die feit dat Jesus uiteindelik gekruisig is omdat Hy Homself gelykstel met God, is ‘n verdere bewys van wie Hy werklik is: Hy het dit nie net geglo asof dit iets wat moes verwesenlik word nie. HY IS GOD. Daarom het Hy opgestaan, is die Heilige Gees uitgestort, en elke woord wat Hy gepreek het is besig om in vervulling te kom! 

Hoe ons God vandag sien, is bepalend tot hoe ons die lewe gaan hanteer! Is Hy waaragtig vir jou ‘n eerstehandse werklikheid, of glo jy nog op hoorsê? Mag die Heilige Gees Jesus aan ons elkeen openbaar in krag en majesteit! 


[1] Die Lewende Bybel, (Roodepoort: Christelike Uitgewersmaatskappy, 1982), Ge 3:4–6.

[2] Die Bybel, Nuwe Lewende Vertaling, (Vereeniging, Suid Afrika: Christelike Uitgewersmaatskappy, 2006), Mt 16:13.

[3] Die Bybel, Nuwe Lewende Vertaling, (Vereeniging, Suid Afrika: Christelike Uitgewersmaatskappy, 2006), Mt 16:15.

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deities_by_classification

[5] https://www.aggiecatholicblog.org/2014/09/10-defective-images-of-god/

[6] Die Bybel, Nuwe Lewende Vertaling, (Vereeniging, Suid Afrika: Christelike Uitgewersmaatskappy, 2006), Mt 16:17–18.

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Sermons

Moderne Afgodery: Self-aanbidding

Afgodery is ‘n wesenlike struikelblok tot ware aanbidding en belewenis van God.

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:14

Die belaglike absurde vervanging van die heerlikheid van God vir valse afgode.  Is afgodery, sonde, Redding nog relevant vir ‘n Post-Moderne Samelewing?

#Definition of IDOLATRY: image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object.

#Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Romans 1:21-25 : men forsook God, and sank into ignorance and moral corruption ( 1:28 ).

When we shrink God, imagining that it is His job to serve our tribal aspirations rather than our job to serve Him and to strive for the elevation of His world, that is a form of idolatry. Lee Weissman

“It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive that we can carry on even the ordinary matters of the day without His counsel” – Charles Bridges

“Idolatry consists, not only in the worship of false gods, but also in the worship of the true God in false ways.” Alistair Begg

Die gesig van ‘n desperate man of vrou op soek na kos, werk, genesing of bevryding raak mens diep. Die diep soeke na aanvaarding, liefde, erkenning, sin en betekenis maak ons as mens baie broos, en kwesbaar.  Ons het nog nooit so baie redders (saviors) gehad nie. Produkte, programme, diëte, spirituele reistogte, oefeninge, selfs klere, selfone en rekenaars word aan jou verkoop, oor hoe dit jou gaan laat lekker voel! Starbugs verklaar ons verkoop nie koffie nie, ons verkoop die lekker salige gevoel wanneer jy in ons winkels kom en koffie drink. Miljoene gelowe, aanbidding rituele, en geestelike ghoeroes, en selfs die taliban ‘n terroriste groep maak volgelinge omdat jongmense soekend is na meer.

EWIGE STRYD

Daar is al sedert die skepping ‘n stryd tussen afgodery en ware aanbidding. Die eerste sonde van ongehoorsaamheid was inherent die wegdraai van die ware God na ‘n ander god. Paulus het dit verstaan verduidelik dit baie mooi: “die heerlikheid van die onverganklike God verander in die gelykvormigheid van die beeld van ’n verganklike mens en van voëls en viervoetige en kruipende diere.” Rom 1:18-32
Geen mens kan neutraal staan nie, ons is gemaak om te aanbid, om te dien, om na te volg. Jy aanbid of die Ware Skepper God, af afgode.
Selfs die atheis wat selfvoldaan verklaar; “Christenskap is vir mens wat ‘n kruk nodig het” wys op sy self-aanbidding, selfbeskikking, en self-redding. Om ons weerbaarheid, afhanklikheid, kwesbaarheid en broosheid te erken dui nie op ons swakheid nie, maar ons realisme. Selfs in geneeskunde word iemand as nie-behandelbaar beskryf, wat nie toewillig tot die rehabilitasie proses nie.

Die wortel van verslawing is, ondervoeding en die mens se eie pogings om vol te word, op hulle eie manier.

Self-aanbidding is vandag die afgodery van ons tyd. Selfies, self-beheptheid, selfgerigtheid, en selfhelp godsdiens. Self-help is die benaming van die katogorie boeke, dvd’s, en hulpmiddele vir die mens, deesdae in boekwinkels. “Die Here help die mens wat homself help” is die mantra van die hedendaagse kultuur.

This form of idolatry is known as Hedonism – or the worship of self as god (Pro 22:15; Rom 1:21-25). As such it operates by the belief that our highest good, goal, priority and purpose in life is to seek to the glory of oneself – and that through the pursuit of pleasure (or the avoidance of personal pain). Hedonism – or the principle of hedonism, is frequently alluded to in many of the bible’s words/phrases (covetous, folly, flesh, selfish ambition, pleasure, passion, sensuality, lovers of self, lovers of pleasure, appetite, their god is their belly, deceitful desires, glutton, drunkard). Hedonism is a direct attack on the first commandment (Exo 20:3) and (as should be expected) a very serious capital crime (Exo 22:20). Knowing then how to diagnose when a Christian is living for self (pleasure/fun) is key to avoiding/preventing the charge of hedonistic idolatry

Die moderne mens soek hulle heil en verlossing in romantiese verhoudinge, beroep sukses, materiële besittings, aansien, volgelinge op sosiale media, wat meebring dat ons onsself dryf, ons is hard op onsself, ons jaag, ons raak verslaaf, ons is angstig, desperaat, ons kompeteer.

Soos die mensdom die skepping begin aanbid, in plaas van die Skepper, raak ons slawe van die skepping. Ons werk om uit die stof op te kom, om uiteindelik weer in die stof te eindig. Ons lewe vir erkenning en aansien, maar mense se aansien is kortstondig, mense vergeet so gou. Die aanbidding van die tydelike, het ook ‘n tydelike raklewe.

Ons liefde, passie, lojaliteit, aanbidding, diens, en gehoorsaamheid is vir God, ons Skepper alleen bedoel. Alleenlik wanneer Hy ons fokus is, (Heb 12:2), Sy woord ons daaglikse brood (Mat 4:4), gehoorsaamheid aan Sy wil ons voedsel (Joh 4:34) vind ons lewe rus (Rom 14:17) en vergenoegdheid (Phil 4:11)

Ons prioriteite is 1ste, 2de 3rde God, God, God! Nie God, huweliksmaat, dan kinders nie, soos oms eers geleer is nie. Want as ek nie my huweliksmaat deur Christus liefhet nie, gaan ek haar nooit reg en behoorlik liefhê nie. Dieselfde geld vir ons kinders. God is alryd eerste! Bill Johnson

ONS SKEPPINGDOEL IS:

Op grond van die ontdekking van Sy liefde vir ons, is ons lief vir die Here met ons hele hart, ons ganse gemoed, ons hele verstand en al ons krag! (Deut 10:12; 30:6; Mark 12:30; Luk 10:27) Jesus is immers die rede vir ons bestaan want hy het ons eerste liefgehad. (1 Joh 4:19) Sy Liefde genees en herstel ons wese, en werk in ons om saam met alle gelowiges mekaar lief te hê soos Hy ons liefhet. (Lev 19:18; Eph 5:2; 1 Thes 4:9; 1 Pet 1:22; 1 John 2:7) Sy liefde dring ons om te gaan en mense dissipels van God te maak. (Mat 28:19) Die Groot Opdrag van Jesus om te GAAN, en dissipels te maak van al die nasies (Mat 28:19) en gehoorsaam Sy bevel om ons medemens LIEF te hê. (Joh 13: 34-35; Joh 15: 12-14; James 2:8)

BYBELSE VERDUIDELIKING VAN WAT AFGODERY IS:

Gierigheid, begerigheid is soos afgodery – (Eph 5:5)
Hulle maag is hulle God – (Phil 3:19)
onsedelikheid en onbehoorlikheid, maar ook ander verkeerde drange en begeertes. Dan is daar nog die begeerte na rykdom wat nooit genoeg kry nie (Col 3:5)
Want wederstrewigheid is ’n sonde van waarsêery, en eiesinnigheid is afgodery en beeldediens (1 Sam 15:23)

DIEP MISLEIDING EN VERSLAWENDE ONTKENNING

Afgodery is moeilik om te definieer en te diagnoseer, omdat mense se harte versluier en donker is. (Rom 1:21) Die hoofrede is, dat openbaarmaking van afgodery, gaan lei tot ‘n dramatiese radikale keuse, en rigting verandering. Die idee om afstand te doen van die afgode is vir die meeste mense ontstellend en ontnugterend, dus vermy hulle die onvermydelike, en stap blindelings na hulle dood.

Die Nederlandse Calviniste het getoon dat die beste manier om kulture te analiseer is die identifisering van hul korporatiewe afgode. Inderdaad, het elke roeping en studieveld sy regerende afgod, soos politieke partye en hulle ideologieë. Terwyl sekulêre samelewings menslike rede en outonomie gode gemaak het, het meer tradisionele samelewings ‘n afgod van die gesin, kinders of rasse suiwerheid gemaak.

Baie mense staan die goddelike bonatuurlike, en geestelike dimensies van die godheid tee. Maar Hollywood is ‘n goeie indikator van wat mense soek, oor fantaseer, vrees, en uiteindelik aanbid: Gruwelike bloed-dorstigheid, wetteloosheid, relativisme, super-helde, en zombies is die nuwe topverkopers! Sonder dat mense weet is die gode wat hulle aanbid, besig om hulle te lei na self-verwoesting, en self-vernietiging. Hoe dieper jy verslaaf raak aan die aanbidding van die gode, hoe meer raak jy soos ‘n zombie, jy kan nie reguit dink nie, neem swak besluite, en bring verwoesting aan self en almal in trefafstand.

Daarteenoor wanneer jy jou hart en ledemate, tyd en geld na die Here rig, ontwaak jy tot ‘n helderheid, begrip en fyn aanvoeling vir die lewe! Vol van die Heilige Gees, beteken dat die Here nie net die objek wil wees van ons aanbidding nie, Hy wil ons uiteindelik vul met Homself. Dis die leemte wat ons hunker om te vul, op die verkeerde maniere. Maar wanneer die Vader, Seun en Heilige Gees jou vul, jou konnekteer, jou inprop tot die lewe, ontstaan jou lewe eers regtig. Jy vind betekenis en rede vir jou bestaan. Jy vind vervulling in die liggaam en medegelowiges. Jy begin te LEWE, in hoofletters.

Godsdiens kan dit nie doen nie, want dit ook ‘n valse God, waarin self, en self-regverdigmaking, weer sentraal staan. Die ware aanbidders, aanbid Hom in Gees en in Waarheid. (Joh 4:24) Niemand, nee Niemand, mag in die plek van God staan nie, nie die predikant of kerk, of religie kan God se plek vul nie! Wanneer ons enige mens, voor God stel, is daardie mens god in ons lewe, en sal dit tot diep teleurstelling lei. Inteendeel godsdiens is meesterlik om vals beelde van God op te rig, om opregte mense te mislei om programme, metodes, leerstellings, te aanbid.

“Soek allereers” (Mat 6:33) Sy geskenk van geregtigheid is ons wegtrekplek, ons fondasie, ons boom van lewe, ons rivier en bron van lewende water, ons sekerheid. Wanneer ons op enige ander manier steun of vertrou om onsself reg te maak, is ons alreeds besig om te buig voor ‘n ander god. Jesus alleen is die deur, toegang, regmaker wat jou lewe! Ons kan nie onsself beter maak nie, ons rig ons oë in afhanklikheid na Hom, en Hy doen dit deur Sy Woord en Gees. (2 Cor 4:18)

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Bewaar jou Hart

❤Jou hart is kosbaar, bewaar hom ❤
Kom ons wees eerlik, die lewe is nie maklik nie. Elke dag het sy uitdagings en teleurstellings, ook in verhoudings. En dan veral in die huwelik.
Hoe gemaak om my hart rein te hou, gefokus op my huweliksmaat! Daar is soveel verleiding, soveel dinge wat aanspraak maak op ons hart en tyd!
Vir my as gelowige gaan alles oor reg dink. Wat ek in my gedagtes toelaat, of nie. Ons kan verseker nie help dat ‘n sekere gedagte by ons opkom nie, maar ons moenie verkeerde gedagtes ‘entertain’ nie. Ons weet dat dit wat die hart van vol is, sal by ons monde uitkom.
Dikwels is ons verbaas en selfs verras oor iets wat ons sê, want ons eie harte bedrieg ons so maklik.
Die Bybel sê so mooi en duidelik. “Bo alles, wees versigtig met wat in jou hart aangaan. Wat jy dink, bepaal alles wat jy doen. Moenie lelike dinge sê nie. Bly ver weg van lawwe praatjies. Kyk reguit vorentoe; bly gefokus op wat voor jou is.”
SPREUKE 4:23-25 NLV
Iets wat ek weet, en my hart gereeld voor ondersoek is trots. Ons weet die Here sê: “He gives grace to the humble” en ek is afhanklik van die Here, van Sy genade.
Begin sommer vandag deur te erken dat jy afhanklik is van die Here. Dat jy Hom nodig het om wys op te tree, om die regte besluite en keuses te maak. Erken dat jy deur die Heilige Gees gelei wil word en nie op jou eie insigte wil staatmaak nie! Kom ons word gelei deur die woord van God, wat ons harte suiwer.
Kom ons gaan dan die heiligdom binne, ja tot voor God, met ’n opregte hart en absolute vertroue, terwyl ons harte deur besprinkeling gesuiwer is van ’n skuldige gewete en ons liggame gewas is met skoon water. HEB 10:19-20, 22 NLV
Ons is verantwoordelik vir dit wat in ons eie harte aangaan. Ons kan niemand anders blameer vir dit wat ons dink of doen nie. Mediteer dikwels oor die mooi in mense, maar veral ook jou huweliksmaat. Kyk uit vir die Christus wat jy wel in hulle sien. So help dit ons om vry van offence te bly, en kan ons aanhou om vir ons hartsmens, ons huweliksmaat lief te wees!
As gelowiges is ons boodskappers van geloof, hoop en liefde! Maar heel eerste aan ons eie huis, ons huweliksmaat!
So dikwels laat ons mense en situasie toe om ons lewens te dikteer, maar ons het die verantwoordelikheid om ons eie harte te beskerm en te bewaar! Neem die verantwoordelikheid ernstig op.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
—Proverbs 4:23
Wenke om my hart te bewaar in ons huwelik :

  1. Ons fokus ons harte, ons aandag en liefde na mekaar.
  2. Ons gaan slaap nie kwaad nie.
  3. Ons bly nie kwaad vir mekaar en leef met onvergifnis in ons harte nie!
  4. Ons haal nie die heeltyd mekaar se foute aan nie!
  5. Ons kraak nie ons maats in die publiek af nie.
  6. Ons is nie dislojaal aan mekaar nie (in woord, daad of hart nie).
  7. Ons lieg nie vir mekaar nie!
  8. Ons spandeer nie al ons tyd en geld net aan onsself nie.
  9. Ons gee niemand anders prioriteit in ons lewe nie.
  10. Ons attensies is gerig op net my eie huweliksmaat.
  11. Ons verwag nie die heeltyd dat die ander party die opoffering moet maak nie, ons maak aanpassings.
  12. Wanneer ons oor iets verskil gee ons nie ons posisie van eenheid prys nie.
  13. Ons is NOOIT op enige manier (seksueel ; of in ons harte) ontrou aan mekaar nie! ❤️
  14. Ons bid vir mekaar, en bid gereeld saam vir beskerming in ons huwelik.
  15. Ons is afhanklik van die Heilige Gees om ons te help, en is gewillig om te verander.
  16. As jou hart op enige manier vandag seer is, gebroke is, bring dat na die Here. Hy spesialiseer daarin om gebroke en seer harte weer heel te maak! Hy is ons lieflike verlosser, die een wat alles weet! As iets vir jou onmoontlik lyk, by God is alle dinge moontlik. Amen
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Sermons

The lethal poison we drink when offended at someone

In the same way, an octopus hides (through clever camouflage) you will never know it is there, offense takes root in our heart, capturing us to do the will of satan. (2 Tim 2:26) When you try to remove an octopus, it defuses a dark cloud of ink, to even more obscure your view. It is not easy to see and recognize offense in one’s heart. Not even reading these notes will reveal it. The octopus is highly territorial and will defend its position. You need to ask the Holy Spirit to expose the root and stone of offense in your heart. You will also need to study the characteristics and symptoms to help you discover its position in your consciousness and attitude. But knowing it is there and seeing the signs still does not bring freedom, you uproot the source of offense. You have to act according to the way of Christ, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you out of the trap of satan.

Offended people produce satanic evil fruit, such as hurt, anger, outrage, jealousy, resentment, strife, bitterness, hatred, and envy. Some of the consequences of taking offense are insults, attacks, wounding, division, separation, broken relationships, betrayal, and backsliding.

Offense: “Skandalon” – laying a trap in someone’s way. The Greek word has the meaning of the little stick, used to catch birds. When people hurt us, it is a test, a potential trap. We should become wise and alert to see through the plans of the enemy, and not allow ourselves to be captured.

The ink/smoke screen the enemy uses to disguise is pride. Pride keeps us from dealing with the truth. It distorts our vision. We can never change when we think everything is fine. Pride hardens our hearts and dims the eyes of our understanding. It keeps us from the tranformation of heart—repentance—that will set us free.

No matter what the scenario is, we can divide all offended people into two major categories: (1) those who have been treated unjustly and (2) those who believe they have been treated unjustly.

Psalm 55:12–14 It’s the ones closest to us that hurt us the most. Sometimes it is family! Church family, natural family, and close friends are the ones that hurt us because our defenses are often down towards these insiders. We tend to pretend more towards those outside, but the ones closest to us they see the true-self, when we are tired, lazy, self-indulgent. Intimacy is to be totally transparent without fear of being judged. “naked and not ashamed”

We take offense when:

  1. We have false expectations – of someone, of God, ourselves. God always tells us straight what we are getting ourselves into, not to create a false expectation. (John 16:1) An expectation that does not come to fulfillment leads to disappointment. (Prov 13:12)
  2. Our inner picture clashes with the outward appearance. Friends and family/spouse do not see/understand us. We feel they should know our heart. Jesus spend 3 years with His disciples, and they did not get it, until after His resurrection. They slept, while He was in agony. They did not get the fact that He must suffer and die.
  3. We are opinionated – (Rom 12:16) High-minded, wise in your own opinion. Wisdom of the World (1 Cor 1 & 2). The things of the Kingdom, does not always make sense to the natural mind. (1 Cor 1:18-31) You need to know and study the Word of God, through the revelation of the Spirit, to get to know God, and understand His ways.
  4. We do not like or agree with the demands of the gospel, fear of suffering. (2 Tim 3:12) The word of God will be tested in your life. When you start doing right, believing and obeying the Word, there will be opposition. Expect it!
  5. We Reject Correction because of pride – Not legitimate sons – Hebrews 12. True sons receive and ask for correction. We love to please our father, and corrections bring change and growth.
  6. We listen to rumors based on lies, agreements. (Lev 19:16; 1 Tim 5:13; Prov 17:9; 18:8; 20;19)
  7. We trust our own feelings. (Prov 16:25)
  8. We do not love sincerely – love is not easily offended (1 Cor 13:5).
  9. We are not rooted and grounded in the Word of Truth – Eph 4:15. The more we know the Word, and discover the truth, the more we mature in God, to no longer be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. We look and judge, and proof our lives, and people through the Bible. The Word heals our perspective to look at people without filters of offence, human judgment, preconceived ideas, racism, exclusivity, and pride.
  10. We are too sensitive – have not died to the flesh (Pro 14:17) (Love is not touchy).
  11. We try to hide sin & disobedience. Sin is deception and will always try to self-justify, and be self-righteous, vindicating self.
  12. We have been exposed to false doctrine, false prophecy and false teaching. Many people became disillusioned because of false teachings. (2 Cor 11:13; Gal 2:4; Col 2:16 23; 2 Pet 2:1-18)

How do you deal with offenses:

Study (Luk 17:1-7) to see the steps, of how you should deal with offenses.

We cannot help, and prevent offenses to come: v1 “Temptations (snares, traps set to entice to sin) are sure to come” Scott Peck says in the first line of chapter one, (the road less traveled) “Life is an obstacle course” But surely when we fall from an obstacle, we do not remain on the ground crying and complaining. We do get up again, and we try again, until we succeed! Many people do never get over life’s hurts and offenses and remain in their own self-made prison of resentment, bitterness, and anger. They make vows in their heart, to be never be hurt again, ending up isolated and distant from the very sources of provision and personal growth.

Although God does not give offense, He uses offense to make as emotionally and spiritually mature. The enemy uses offense to stop us from growing and maturing. The obstacle course is not your enemy, it can became your friend and coach that make you stronger, if you learn to embrace the pain.

v3 “Take heed to yourselves” You must take responsibility of your won well-being. Yes your parents are supposed to look after you and help you, but if they for some reason cannot help and support, do not moan and groan. Get up and do something. Neither is your spouse responsible for your happiness. Yes a husband should take care, cherish and love you. But you yourself are responsible, to become complete in His love first. God is love, and it his Love that complete and fulfills us. (Ephesians 3:16-20)

v3b If your brother sins against you, REBUKE HIM; and if he repents, forgive him. The emphasis in this portion of scripture is to correct wrong behavior. Because of our hurt, we focus so much on our own pain, that we do not in the end are able to help the offender to change. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE is an approach to justice that aims to involve the parties to a dispute and others affected by the harm (victims, offenders, families concerned and community members) in collectively identifying harms, needs and obligations through accepting responsibilities, making restitution, and taking measures to prevent a recurrence of the incident and promoting reconciliation. – See more

This is I believe God’s primary reason, why we need to overcome offense, so that we can help the offender on a path of healing. This is how we break the cycle of retaliation, where people continue to hurt another because we ourselves have been hurt.

This is the gift of repentance that Paul speaks about to the Corinthian church. “You have been made sorry” (2 Cor 7:9) “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation” (v10) “you sorrowed in a godly manner:

– What diligence it produced in you, (speúdō – Careful, Diligence, earnest effort)

– what clearing of yourselves, (apología; to give an answer or speech in defense of oneself)

– what indignation, (aganáktēsis – under a great burden which results in indignation what fear, reverance)

– what vehement desire, (epipothéō – to desire earnestly. Earnest desire, strong affection)

– what zeal, (zḗlou – to be hot, fervent. Zeal, used in a good sense

– what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter (v11) (hagnós – Freedom from defilements or impurities)

The healing and complete restoration of the offender is the redemptive purpose of God. Repentance is a gift from God but Esau could not find it. “he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears” (Heb 12:17) When God works repentance, it brings lasting change. When studying the abovementioned list, it names all the ingredients necessary for the sinner to come free. Oh how wonderful to witness the greatest miracle – salvation! A Life changed and transformed! (2 Cor 5:17) The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgment. (Joh 16:8) He works this change in us. Not just bringing conviction of sin, but also convincing us of our right standing before God, having no fear of judgment.

I believe when we arrive at this place regarding sin, we will be willing to: a) humble ourselves b) be 100% truthful and honest c) obey and follow instructions. He works it in us.

5 Steps of true Repentance.

1) UNDERSTANDING – true repentance occurred when the offender deeply understand and see the damage and pain that was caused to the victim. Forgiveness is easy to give, when one recognize that the offender has understanding of the “why” and “cause” of the error and sin. David prayed the following phrase in his repentance of adultery: “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom” (Ps 51:6)

2) REMORSE – Tears of change and enlightenment, not of regret. Some people cry not because they are really sorry about their sin, they only regret being caught. The tears of regret is an awful deception, because the desire of self/sin/death has not yet fully conceive, and we still want to sin. (James 1:14-15)

3) RESTITUTION – Physically repair and fix what has been broken. Do what is necessary for the offended victim to be healed. What do the victim need to be done.

4) TURN – 180 degree turn and walk away. Abandon the sin. You are more than a sinner. It is not who you are. “yet not I, but sin…” (Rom 8:20) You continue to walk away from sin, and transgressing against people by grace through faith.

5) CONFESSION – You cannot demand forgiveness, you have no rights or privileges. Your have to earn trust and respect. Say: “Would you please forgive me?” The victim has the right to initially refuse, and when ready give forgiveness. You cannot ask forgiveness and use the word “but”. This is not forgiveness. Except full responsibility for your actions. You partner cannot be blamed if you disobey God, you chose to disobey. Adam blamed God: “It is the wife you gave me” Eve blamed the snake. (Gen 3:12-13)

There is no reconciliation between God and man without blood. Through the blood of Christ we have been atoned, reconciled. Rom. 5:10-11, the word ‘reconcile’ used in this passage means to change a person for the purpose of being able to have fellowship together. The verb katallássō is found only in Rom. 5:10; 1 Cor. 7:11; 2 Cor. 5:18- 20, and the subst. katallagḗ (G2643) is found in Rom. 5:11; 11:15; 2 Cor. 5:18, 19. The word implies two people who are at variance with each other and who are brought together because of a change that occurs. When the words are used in reference to the variance that exists between God and man, the change never occurs in God, but always in man who is the sinner. This is the meaning of the verb in Rom. 5:10, “We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled we shall be saved by his life.” Such reconciliation to God necessitates His changing us, through the new birth (John 1:12; 3:3). It is also the meaning of the subst. in Rom. 5:11, “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement [katallagḗ, reconciliation.

1) The Blood – There can thus be no reconciliation unless there is blood. Blood represent repentance and forgiveness. You cannot leave errors and sin without speaking up, and repent. You need to humble yourself! You need to go low! This is the only way to deal with offense! Only blood can remove the stone of offense. In order for you to forgive completely, and actually forget the hurt, you need to repent. Repent of the offense taken: bitterness, hardness, unforgiveness, criticism, alienation, resentment, fear of man, ungodly vows, pride. These negative emotions and actions is the fuel that keeps the memory-fire of the offense going. Once the fire gets no more new fuel/logs to burn, it dies out naturally. The oxygen that feeds the fire of offense burning in our hearts, are these specific sins, and un-Christlike actions and feelings.

2) Confront and verify the truth – Keep on engaging and maintain contact. Most of the time when we offended, we either attack or we flee. Both these attempts have disastrous results. People, who are in covenant relationship with each other, do not have the privilege to disengage! In the covenant ritual, an animal is killed. This is to symbolize that in the same way that after our death we cannot change our will and testament, in the same way we CANNOT break this covenant. We are instructed to break relationship with believers who have sinned (1 Timothy 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; Romans 16:17 But the intention is to bring the brother or sister to repentance. (2 Cor 2:5-8) These disciplinary actions are temporary of nature, seeking repentance and change. God’s Judgment is eternal.

3) Do not symphonize (agree) with a person who is offended. Do not listen nor agree with their accusations. The person discussed is not physically present to explain their side of the story, or able to defend. Beware that a secondary offense is much more vehement than the original. Have compassion! Compassion and love moves you to do something about the problem. Bring the parties together, and be the facilitator, peacemaker that reconcile. (Mat 5:8) Blessed are the peace makers.

4) Take back your boldness, entrance towards God – (Eph 2:11-14) The Enemy wants to rob us of our right standing, so that through shame, guilt we loose our confidence and faith in God. Offense is satanic! It is void of God’s nature and the fruit of the Spirit. It separates! God gave His Son to reconcile us with Himself, He is the way, not your holiness and works. You originally came and made contact not because you were holy, but because He sanctified you and called you close. Reclaim your access to God, the door is still wide open. He has not moved. (Heb 10:19)

5) Know you own boundaries – know yourself. Remain in grace. Often when we stretch our own boundaries of obedience, we enter into a dangerous zone, where the enemy can easily reach us, and trip us. For example, If you are an emotional person, beware of the people you allow into your life. You do not have to be friends with everyone. Do not go unless you are send, and do not help unless you are asked.

6) We can only be offended to the measure that you are insecure. Seek to discover and find the reason for offense in yourself, not the offender. Ask the question. “Why does this offends me so much?” If someone else told me this, it would have meant nothing, but when my husband said it, I was furious! Why is this? What is the root of the insecurity. We deal with insecurities by facing them, stop self-pity and wallowing, get going and do something about it. Improve what you are doing! Learn to get your identity and approval from God. Your life is hidden in Christ. (Col 3:2) Insecurities are areas in our lives where we are not yet mature in Christ. Discover Christ in your insecurities and let Him validate and vindicate you.

7) Keep yourself in the love of God, restore the joy of my salvation. We live by faith. The fruit of faith is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Once we have lost our joy, peace, we will loose our righteousness, and in the end that will lead to doubting God’s Love.

We justify the transgressional sin in our lives. We feel entitled to the anger, because of the wrong. It is in trails of our faith that these impurities of the flesh are revealed. God refines us as Gold through afflictions, trials, and tribulations, the heat of which separates impurities such as unforgiving, strife, bitterness, anger, envy, and so forth from the character of God in our lives. Isa 48:10 and 1 Pet 1:6-7

Characteristics of an offended person

– HARDNESS (Pro 18:19) It is rather hard to win and soften an offended person. When we retain an offense in our hearts, we filter everything through it.

– Love does not seek its own, but hurt people become more and more self-seeking and self-contained. Pr 18:1 ISOLATE THEMSELVES

– So an offended Christian is one who takes in life but, because of FEAR, cannot release life. 1 Joh 4:18 Fear is most of the time the root, fear of man, fear of suffering, fear of being hurt and rejected, fear of commitment and failure, fear of loss, fear of death. This fear blinds you, and filters out the entire positive perspective, and thus causes such a person to not being able to reason logically. The emotion hinders godly perspective, only looking at the rock of offense.

– STONE/Rock of offense. The wrong deed becomes the focus, we cannot see beyond it. When offended with someone, you feel you see a secret truth about that person (usually one aspect), and that everyone else is blinded. (Who sees the whole person, even with their mistakes, but also with their goodness) Offense DEMONIZE an aspect of a person’s life, to justify the total rejection of that person.

– ALIENATION OF THE MIND Col 1:21 (imaginary rejection)

– Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is BECLOUDED.

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– TRIALS AND TESTS locate a person. In other words, they determine where you are spiritually. They reveal the true condition of your heart. How you react under pressure is how the real you reacts. It is in trails of our faith that these impurities of the flesh are revealed. God refines us as Gold through afflictions, trials, and tribulations, the heat of which separates impurities such as unforgiveness, strife, bitterness, anger, envy, and so forth from the character of God in our lives. Isa 48:10 and 1 Pet 1:6-7

Being offended at God

 

There is no legitimate reason for us to take offense. These following examples of people had a valid reason to be offended, but they did not. Mat 5:39-45 These are the true sons of God. We find TEKNON used in Romans 8:15–16. It says that because we have received the spirit of adoption, “the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children [teknon] of God.” When a person receives Jesus Christ as Lord, he is a child of God by fact of the new birth experience. (See John 1:12.) The other Greek word translated sons in the New Testament is HUIOS. Many times it is used in the New Testament to describe “one who can be identified as a son because he displays the character or characteristics of his parents.”

God told Chantál: “Are you angry at Me?” No answer… “If you are angry at me, then you expect Me to apologize?” Oh Lord, what arrogance and blindness we have! God is never wrong! He does not need to explain Himself. (His thought is not our thoughts Isa 55:8-9) Many people say, where is God, where was He when that happened? God is always there, and He didn’t move. But we moved away. We took our eyes of Him, and started looking at the storm.

Biblical accounts of offense: Some of these characters had reason to take offense against God, but they did not, and their faith was counted to them for salvation. God is a good God, and wants our ultimate good, bringing us into rich fulfillment. (Ps 66:12) Yet what He does, doesn’t always make sense at the time, it is only later that we see His hand and protection.

  1. God asks Adam why he disobeyed. Adam blames God for “That woman you gave me,” causing him to sin (Gen. 3).
  2. God doesn’t accept or receive Cain’s sacrifice. Cain is angry with God for not taking his sacrifice. He kills Abel.
  3. Noah is ridiculed for many years after God tells him to build a gigantic boat on dry land. His obedience led to ridicule and slander.
  4. God tells Abraham that he will be the father of nations (That is also what his name means). He must wait until he is 100 and his wife is 90 for the son that he was promised.
  5. Joseph had reason his brothers deliberately wanted to kill him. (Gen 37:20-21) Joseph refuses to sleep with the wife of his boss. Jilted and angry, Potiphar’s wife accuses him of attempted rape and Joseph is sent to prison for years. Joseph was innocent in being put in chains in prison (Ps 105:18)
  6. Moses reluctantly agrees to go back to Egypt and speak to Pharaoh. Pharaoh increases the work on the Israelite slaves so that they are beaten. Their lives now more difficult than before, his own people curse Moses for doing what God told him (Exodus 5).
  7. Job suffers, unknowingly participating in God’s bet with Satan that Job will not curse God if his blessings are removed.
  8. Daniel thrown in lion’s den while in his 80’s.
  9. David anointed to be King, runs from Saul for 10+ years. Rejected, betrayed, sleeps in caves (1 Sam. 19-30). Saul sought to kill David, David looked to Saul as a spiritual father from greatly loving David (1 Sam 16:21) to wanting to kill him, “and Saul ‘eyed’ David from that day forward (1 Sam 18:8-9) Yet David’s heart did not turn into offense (1 Sam 24:11-13) who can stretch out his hand against God’s anointed (1 Sam 26:11)
  10. The angel Gabriel said to Mary, “Greetings favored one!” Joseph wants out of the relationship. They both must receive the stares and shaming from family, friends and relatives.
  11. John the Baptist, Jesus cousin, dies an ignoble death in prison. (Matt. 11:4-6). John was in prison because he spoke out against Herod’s illicit relationship with his brother’s wife. He was not given a Godly command to do this, else he would not have been offended in prison. When God gives you a command, and you suffer as a result there is grace to endure. Like Paul being send to Rome. He knew the danger, but was fearless. In the end Herodias ensure John’s death, because of her own offense being corrected publicly.
  12. Jesus’ states his mission is to “proclaim liberty to captives,” (Luke 4:18). But he leaves this sentence out when answering John (Matt 11:4-6)
  13. Jesus tells us to visit prisoners but we have no record of him visiting John (Matt. 25:39-40).
  14. Knowing our tendency to get offended, he says, “Blessed is he who is not offended by me.” (Matt. 11:6)
  15. Jesus heals on the Sabbath knowing it will offend the religious leaders (Mark 3:1-6).
  16. Jesus calls a foreign woman a dog. She overcomes the offense, comes after him and receives a miracle (Mark. 7:24-30).
  17. Jesus ruins the economics of an area when 2,000 pigs are drowned (Mark 5:1-20). He is asked to leave.
  18. Jesus is often frustrated with people and tells them, i.e. “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me” (Mark 9:19).
  19. Jesus curses fig tree when it was not the season for figs (Mark 11:12-14).
  20. Jesus tells observant Jews they must eat his flesh and drink his blood. “This is a hard saying, who can listen to it?” “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” (John 6:52-66). The truth offends, some departed, but the disciples remained “you have the Words of eternal life” (Joh 6:60, 61, 66)
  21. Because of his trust in His Father, Jesus allowed himself to be offended, betrayed, rejected, humiliated and tortured to death. “Father forgive them for the know not what they do” (Luk 23:34)
  22. Jesus expects that he will make us stumble and be broken. “But he looked directly at them and said, ‘What then is this that is written: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him’” (Luke 20:17-18).

These Biblical accounts show that much can be learned as they and we walk through the struggles of offense. In the midst of offense, we can wallow in self-pity or trust in our Lord God to make it right in His time, however long it takes. Remember, we are not looking for God to prove His love through our circumstances, the Cross of Christ proved God’s love. It may not seem fair, but there is purpose, His purpose in allowing offense. We’ve died to ourselves, our life is now lived with and for God. (Galatians 2:20) We may grieve our loss, but we don’t cry for ourselves, but for those who hurt us who don’t know how to love.

Nothing demonstrates that we’re not dead to ourselves like offenses. Wrestle with offense, placing it at the feet of God. Ask Him for wisdom. He may require you to wait. In the meantime, practice praising and thanking God for what you do have and not focusing on the loss. But let Him vindicate you, waiting for His miracle, His work as you press forward in faith, trusting. For God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

The way of the Kingdom is our escape Button

Love is never selfish, never quick to take offense. 1 Cor 13:5

Proverbs 19:11 “A man`s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”

When Jesus dies on the cross he exclaimed: “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do” (Luk 23:34) Why did he not say: “I forgive you” He made intersession for the people, asking God to not hold His death against them. Jesus is love! Jesus is forgiveness. This is the essense of the life He taught: Love your enemies, Pray for those who spitefully use you, Bless those who curse you! (Mat 5:43-44)

When we intercede for someone in prayer, God restores His love in our hearts. This is how He heals us from taking offense. He gives us compassion for the offender. We do not live anymore; we have been crucified with Christ. (Gal 2:20) We do not accuse someone before God. When intercede, we put our self in their shoes. This is when we will begin to see what God sees, a broken heart, and a heart needing a Savior!

Offense in essense is a lack of love our hearts have turned. But by praying and interceding we gain God’s heart, we see as He sees.

When His love floods our heart, we forgive and surrender everything to God. Faith is restored in Love. (Rom 5:4)

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Sermons

Exposing the spirit of Entitlement

There is a culture of entitlement in South Africa contributing to the country’s rise in violent crime. This is according to national police commissioner Riah Phiyega’s analysis of the country’s crime statistics released in parliament on Tuesday. Phiyega believed the situation was further exacerbated by the lack of balance between citizens’ rights and responsibilities. “A culture of entitlement has risen in the country that apparently justifies almost any action taken to address grievances and promote own interests. Communities have to take ownership of their own best interests including the creation of an environment free of crime and fear.”

Pride – It is an iceberg. The danger of an iceberg is not its great strength, but that its strength is hidden. Likewise, pride exists in the unseen realm of the heart. Though glimpses of it are seen in the realm of the actions, the staggering and destructive power of pride lies hidden in the shadows of the heart. (kellyneedham.com)

“I’m at the front of the line, you can’t cut me. I deserve to be here because I got there first.”

“I deserve some pleasure and me-time”

“I should have received that reward”

“I will take what I want”

“I deserve this, because…”

ENTITLEMENT IS THE BELIEF THAT YOU DESERVE TO BE GIVEN SOMETHING

compensation; claim; repayment; retaliation; retribution; revenge; rights; vengeance; what is coming to one

: the right to guaranteed benefits under a government program, as Social Security or unemployment compensation.

Luke 18:28-30 Lord, we have also given up everything

Isa 14:14-15 Lucifer

Mat 16:24-27 He who tries to save his live will loose it.

James 3:16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. (NLT)

David: 1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22 a man after my own heart

Entitlement explained in Nathan’s Story to King David: 2 Sam 12:1-9 Later in David’s repentance he know God’s heart, and came to truth: For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Ps 51:3 God looks at: The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

The offspring of David’s entitlement attitude produced that same spirit in his children.

Ammon and Tamar – Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon, her half brother, fell desperately in love with her. 2 Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. 2 Sam 13:1-22

Absolom –  As they were on the way back to Jerusalem, this report reached David: “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons; not one is left alive!” The king got up, tore his robe, and threw himself on the ground. His advisers also tore their clothes in horror and sorrow. 2 Samuel 13:30-31 (NLT)

Even David’s son Solomon, who would succeed David as king, repeated the sins of his father many times over—Deuteronomy 17:16-17, 1 Kings 11)

HOW DO WE BECOME ENTITLED??

1) UNMET EXPECTATIONS are our first glimpse of entitlement: a sense that we deserve marriage, kids, more money, or a better job. A feeling that God owes it to you.

2) COMPARISON fuels the fire of pride and brings entitlement into the light. The sense of entitlement is particularly strong when that person seems less worthy than you in some way: If so-and-so (who is way less spiritual/good/Christian than I am) is getting that much, then I certainly deserve that!” A comparative heart will always be an entitled heart.

3) The subtlest variety of entitlement shows up in SUFFERING. Of course, all suffering is an occasion for grief and sorrow. But in the midst of the loss and pain, we all too often give pride a free pass to grow. Your teenage child is rejecting the faith, “but I’m entitled to have saved children.”

4) ME-DOM

At the core of our obsession with self is a belief of entitlement. I want something, then perceive that I need the thing that I want, then proceed to do what I have to do to get it… and continue to do what I have to do to keep it, and to do what I have to do to get more of it. If I want to feel something (i.e., pleasure, happy) I will do what I have to do. It is the same for eliminating the thing from my life that I do not want. I will do what I have to do. If I don’t want to feel something (i.e., pain, sad) I will do what I have to do. It’s what we do. We can’t help ourselves.

THE ANTIDOTE

Luckily for us, there is a solution to this sin of entitlement. It’s called generosity. Rather than wallowing in our bitterness for not “getting what we deserve”, we should pour our time into giving to others.

You cannot be generous and at the same time feel entitled!

Jesus was entitled to call on the help of 12 legions of angels, Matthew 26:53 yet He surrendered to the will of the Father and gave His life for the sin of the World.

The 24 elders fell down and cast their crowns before him. Rev 4:10 Leadership in the NT is a constant casting down of crowns, not holding onto honor, position, and praise of men.

BY giving to others, helping and serving others, not seeking any selfish gain we align ourselves with the life and will of Jesus, and thus will also be eternally rewarded with Him. Our reward is in heaven. Mat 5:12; 46; 6:1-6 

“Man is not, by nature, deserving of all that he wants. When we think that we are automatically entitled to something, that is when we start walking all over others to get it.” Criss Jami,

“You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.” Abraham Lincoln

“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” Brené Brown

“When we replace a sense of service and gratitude with a sense of entitlement and expectation, we quickly see the demise of our relationships, society, and economy.” Steve Maraboli

“Everybody deserves love, but nobody is entitled to it.” Katerina Stoykova Klemer

“Society nowadays tells people that their happiness is all that matters but happiness is never found if it costs someone else’s theirs. That is not what happiness is, nor would such a person deserve it, because happiness is forged by the setting aside of self and in doing for others to make them happy first and foremost, so if you have to hurt another human being to “find your happiness,” then you have no clue what the word actually means or what it’s willing to do, and in being so self-centered and entitled, it’s veritably tragic that the only care and concern you have is for yourself.” Donna Lynn Hope

“Rewards are not an entitlement, they have to be deserved, they have to be earned.” Murad S. Shah

“You don’t build a family by tearing down another one.” Donna Lynn Hope

Categories
Preke

Waarheidsoomblik met minderwaardigheid

superior-inferior

Die groot vrae en soeke in die lewe:

  • Sosiale erkenning en waarde
  • Aanvaarding en liefde.
  • Sin en betekenis van die lewe.

Indien ‘n persoon nie wesenlike antwoorde op hierdie vrae kry nie lei dit tot

  • Jaloesie of selfbejammering.
  • Verwaandheid, ydelheid en leegheid.
  • Liggeraaktheid en onsekerheid.  “Easily offended” – gou op sy perdjie.
  • Twyfelagtige en onvastige bestaan.
  • Onvergenoegdheid en leegheid.
  • Minderwaardigheid  So ‘n persoon loop rond met ‘n reuse vakuum en lugleegte in hulle binnekant wat hulle dan op allerhande maniere probeer vul.

Ons lewe in ʼn wêreld van intimidasie.  Verskillende vorme van intimidasie:

  • Vergelyk jouself met ander in terme van geld, besittings, kennis, vermoëns, skoonheid, geestelikheid, en persoonlikheid.
  • Intimidasie gebaseer op ras, geslag, ouderdom, of ʼn sekere portuurgroep.
  • Kultuur en groepsintimidasie.
  • Tradisies en religieuse sisteme kan intimiderend wees.
  • Elke ware kind van God wat vir waarheid staan en nie meer saam met die stroom loop nie beleef vorme van intimidasie.
  • ʼn Kerk soos Harvester en sy manier van aanbidding en prediking kan intimiderend wees.
  • Die duiwel intimideer ons deur op ons sondes te fokus.  Deur sonde verloor ons, ons vrymoedigheid voor God en sy mense.
  • Elkeen van ons het verskillende swakhede en defekte, waaroor ons skaam en selfbewus is.  Ons kan derhalwe gou geïntimideer word, omdat ons nie graag van onsself ʼn gek wil maak nie.
  • Intimidasie in die werksplek is ʼn werklikheid.
  • Intimidasie wat daartoe lei dat jy nie met vrymoedigheid kan praat en jou saak stel nie, is nie van die Here nie.  Jy kan niks daaraan doen dat iemand probeer om jou te intimideer nie, maar jy kan besluit om nie in te gee nie!

DAAROM: steek ons, ons swakhede weg. Ons plak vyeblare, en soek verskonings. Ons kruip weg en verdoesel die waarheid.  We hide our shame! Ons kompenseer vir ons gebreke, deur ‘n valse lewe te leef.

  • Grootsheidwaan
  • Fantasie lewe
  • Valse mikpunte
  • Valse spesialis
  • Vereenselwig wet Wenners

So sien ons dat Saul ook gesukkel het met minderwaardigheid, toe hy hoor hoe juig die vroue oor Dawid se suksesse. (1 Samuel 18:1-7) Daarom wou hy ook vir Dawid doodmaak.  Die man wat bo al die ander uitgestaan het! Die eerste Koning van Israel was onseker oor homself, daarom raadpleeg hy Samuel en soek sy aanvaarding, uiteindelik raadpleeg hy die waarsêer.  As gevolg van die leegheid in sy binneste voel hy gou bedreig, hy is suspisieus, besluitloos en rigtingloos.  Niks kan hierdie leegheid vul nie, nie eers rykdom of mag.

Sommige mense verlang dat ‘n persoon hierdie leegheid vul.  Maar die skrif sê dat dit beter is om op die Here te vertrou as op mense (Psalm 118:8-9) want in hierdie lewe gaan ons verseker herhaaldelik te na gekom word en teleurgestel word deur mense. (Lukas 17:1) Moenie eers jou vertroue in jou familie en naasbestaandes plaas nie. (Miga 7:5-7)

Op watse fondament is jou huis gebou?  (Matteus 7:26) Geld, besittings, mag, posisie, vermoëns: Dit kan alles in ‘n oomblik van jou weggeneem word en dan?

Net die liefde van die Here kan hierdie leegheid vul. Hoor hoe praat die bruid van Salomo oor haar geliefde.  “Ek is bruin gebrand maar ek is mooi, vroue van Jerusalem. Ek is so bruin soos die tente van Kedar, soos die tentdoeke van Salomo. Moet my nie so aankyk omdat ek donker is nie, omdat die son my gebrand het nie: my broers het my so bruin laat brand, hulle het my die wingerde laat oppas; ek kon my eie wingerd, myself, nie versorg nie. (Hooglied 1:5-6) Sy moes verseker geïntimideer gevoel het tussen al die mooi meisies van die koningshof, tog styg sy bo dit uit. Hoekom? Want sy het geweet sy het die Koning se hart gewen!  Hy het haar gekies! Die man wat ek liefhet, is myne, en ek syne. (Hooglied 2:16) Salomo is ook nie skaam om sy bruid vir almal te wys, en ook hoe lief hy haar het nie.  Hy is nie skaam vir ons nie en is nie bang om in die openbaar saam met ons gesien te word nie. Hy wil met ons geassosieer word.  Hy vat my na ’n feesplek toe; hy straal van liefde vir my. (Hooglied 2:4)

So het God ons ook lief, en is Sy liefde ons sekuriteit en teenmiddel teen intimidasie.  Die evangelie is die goeie en blye nuus, dat Hy ons liefhet en Sy lewe vir ons afgelê het.  (Joh 3:16) Baie mense vra egter; “hoe weet ek dat hy MY regtig liefhet?” Paulus gee vir ons ʼn barometer van liefde in 1 Korintiërs 13:4-8  Die eerste bewyse van iemand se liefde is geduld.  Is God geduldig met jou?  Is God sagmoedig met jou? Wel daar is jou bewys! Lees gerus deur die hele gedeelte en toets God aan Sy liefde vir jou.

Die Here jou God is by jou, Hy, die krygsman wat red. Hy is vol vreugde oor jou, Hy is stil-tevrede in sy liefde. Hy jubel en juig oor jou: (Zephania 3:17)

Van ver af het die Here Hom aan Israel bekend gemaak: Ek het jou nog altyd liefgehad, daarom het Ek jou met geduld verdra. (Jeremiah 31:3)

Omdat jy vir My kosbaar is, omdat Ek jou hoog ag en jou liefhet, gee Ek mense in jou plek, volke in ruil vir jou lewe. (Isaiah 43:4)

Hy self was die engel wat hulle gered het. Hy het hulle verlos deur sy liefde en ontferming; Hy het hulle opgetel en hulle altyd gedra. (Isaiah 63:9)

Ek dank God dat ons nie die enigste mense is wat gesukkel het met intimidasie nie.  Dawid het maar ook gesukkel.  “Maar ek is ’n wurm en geen man nie, ’n smaad van die mense en verag deur die volk.” (Psalms 22:7) Later verander sy perspektief en hy verklaar: Ek loof U, omdat ek so vreeslik wonderbaar is; wonderbaar is u werke! En my siel weet dit alte goed. 15My gebeente was vir U nie verborge toe ek in die geheim gemaak is nie, kunstig geweef in die dieptes van die aarde. 16U oë het my ongevormde klomp gesien; en in u boek is hulle almal opgeskrywe: dae dat alles bepaal was, toe nog geeneen van hulle daar was nie. (Psalms 139:14-16)

Uiteindelik bou ek my selfvertroue (confidence) nie op wat ek doen en is nie. Ek kyk en fokus op die perfekte werk wat Jesus gedoen het. My legitimacy, rightness, confidence is based on/in Him. Hierdie geloof in Hom, bemagtig my om die onmoontlike te doen.  Die para-olimpiese spele toonbeeld mense wat ten spyte van ‘n fisiese gebrek, oefen en meeding op internasionale vlak!  ‘EK IS TOT ALLES INSTAAT DEUR CHRISTUS WAT MY DIE KRAG GEE’ Ek kon nooit skool toe gaan nie, met Sy hulp gaan ek terug skool toe, en kry my matriek sertifikaat.  God gaan dit nie vir jou doen nie, Hy wil dit deur jou doen.  Ons oorwin minderwaardigheid in die waarheidsoomblik met Jesus. Die vrou by die put se lewe is ontbloot voor Hom, en tog is sy nie daardeur geintimideer nie. Sy kry egter haar skeppingsdoel, en gaan vertel die mense wie sy ontmoet het. Sy word die instrument wat redding bring aan haar hele gemeenskap.  Wanneer ons voor Hom staan, staan ons naak en onbeskaamd.  Soos ons gehoorsaamheid leer in ons swaarkry, ontdek ons wie ons is, om die outeur te word van ons storie, sodat ander daardeur ook lewe kan ontdek. Heb 5:8

Categories
Sermons

Thriving in Babylon – Hope

Babylon reeks 3Daar word gesê dat ‘n mens tot 40 dae sonder kos, 7 dae sonder water, 4 minute sonder suurstof kan leef, maar nie een sekonde sonder hoop nie.  As ons hoop verloor, word ons soos robotte wat net take verrig dag in en dag uit, sonder ʼn toekoms.  Die realiteit is dat ons hoop die afgelope tyd onder aanslag is.  Die ekonomiese krisis, stygende kostes van elektrisiteit, brandstof en voedsel maak ons depressief, en laat ons met min hoop oor ʼn beter toekoms.  As ’n mens lank uitsien na iets en dit gebeur nie, maak dit jou moedeloos, maar as ’n mens se begeerte vervul word, gee dit jou nuwe moed. (Prov 13:12 LB) Verskeie kwessies in ons dorpe maak ons nog verder moedeloos en baie mense is besig om hoop te verloor.  Deur die lewe en mense se oortredinge teenoor ons, word ons verwond. Sonder hoop word die wond septies en trek allerhande bakteria, vlieë en siektes. Hoop is ’n geestelike teengif en buffer teen demoniese infestasie.

Ons is mense van hoop: handdoek ingooi is nie ʼn opsie nie! Toe een van ons boere in ons gemeenskap ʼn paar jaar gelede geweldige brandskade op sy plaas gehad het, moes ek gaan om hom te bemoedig.  Ek het eerlikwaar nie geweet wat om te sê nie. Toe sê die Here vir my: “There is a difference between giving up and letting go.”  Om op te gee is nie ʼn opsie nie, maar soms moet ons dinge oorgee af afgee, om staande te kan bly.  Dit het vir die boer en sy vrou hoop gegee, dat alles nie tot niet is nie.

Ons kan nie toelaat dat afbrekende woorde en ʼn negatiewe ingesteltheid ons siel en gees besmet nie.  Jesus self in ons is ons hoop. (Col 1:27) As kinders van die Here het ons, ons hoop gevind in dit wat nie geskud en vernietig kan word nie, naamlik ons verhouding met Jesus Christus.  (Ps 39:7) HOOP het in ons hart kom woon, en ons beleef nou Sy vrede en vreugde in die Heilige Gees, ten spyte van ons omstandighede.  (Rom 14:17)

Moeilike omstandighede en krisisse ontbloot die waarheid van ons hart, waarin is ons hoop gevestig?  Is ons sekuriteit in ons besittings, posisies, kontantvloei, en voorspoed?  Of is ons sekuriteit Jesus en Jesus alleen?  Jesus Christus is ons ewige onwankelbare HOOP!

Hoop is ‘n persoon, sy naam is Jesus.  Daniel was ‘n man van hoop, omdat hy die Here persoonlik op Sy woord gevat het.  (Dan 1:8) Hy moes self sy geloof in God toets. Jy kan nie op iemand anders se hoop lewe nie. Alhoewel Daniel heelwaarskynlik nie in ‘n Godsdienstige tyd groot geword het agv Israel se afvalligheid nie. Tog het Daniel die dieet van sy voorvaders onthou, en homself voorgeneem om homself nie te besoedel met die lekkernye van die Koning se tafel nie. Hy moes uit ervaring geleer het, dat die Bybelse Dieet beter resultate lewer.  Uit Sy voorneme neem hy ‘n geloofaksie en die Here beloon sy geloof deurdat hulle guns kry by sy leermeesters. Elke keer as die koning hulle raad gevra het oor ’n saak waarvoor daar insig en begrip nodig was, het hy gevind dat hulle tien maal meer weet as al die towenaars en fortuinvertellers in sy ryk. (Dan 1:20)

Bybelse hoop lê in ‘n verhouding, ‘n pad saam stap, ervarings en verlossingsdade wat deel raak van ons Storie met God.  Dit gee vir ons wat na God toe gevlug het om gered te word die moed om vas te hou aan wat Hy beloof het. 19Om so op God te vertrou, is vir ons lewens ’n anker wat vas en seker is, want dit verbind ons aan God self (Heb 6:18-19)

Vanuit hierdie verhouding met God, het Daniel met God ’n daaglikse pad gestap, Dan 6:10. Hy het altyd eers na die Here toe gegaan. (Dan 2:14–23) en gesien hoe die Here wonderdade verrig soos om die bekke van die leeus te sluit. (Dan 6:21). Hierdie pelgrims reis met die Here het sy geloof en hoop in God verder en verder versterk.

Sy hoop was egter nie net in ervarings met God nie, hy het die Skrifte gereeld ondersoek en op die woord van die profeet Jeremia afgekom dat die Ballingskap net 70 jr gaan duur. (2 Chr. 36:21; Ezra 1:1; Jer. 25:11, 12; 29:10; Zech. 7:5)

Toe het hy homself voorgeneem om die Woord te bid. (Dan 9:2-3) Op hierdie tydstip was die Koninkryk van Babel in geen gevaar nie en die stad ondeurdringbaar.  In die fisiese omstandighede blyk dit eers dat niks verander nie, maar God het hom ontmoet, en die engel Gabriël het aan hom verskyn en hom versterk.  (Dan 9:20) Uiteindelik vervul die Here Sy woord aan Kores, die Persiese heerser en bring Babilon tot ‘n val in een dag! (Isa 45:1-7)

The great test was Babylon with its massive walls and its prestige of centuries of rule. It was
particularly impregnable because of the vast area within the walls where food could be stored and even produced, because of its great wealth, and because of the Euphrates River which flowed through the city. Cyrus is said to have stationed a portion of his army at the place where the river entered the city and another where it left. The rest of the army deepened the canals in the Euphrates Valley and diverted the river temporarily. In October, 539 b.c., the army marched in by way of the river bed under the leadership of Gobryas (Akkad. Ugbaru), who died a week later (ANET, p. 306).[1]

Die Here verlos uiteindelik sy kinders uit die hand van die Babiloniërs, en word hulle onder die regering van die Perse, toegelaat om hulle tempel (Esra) en die stadsmure (Nehemia) te herbou.  Daniel is dus vir ons ‘n voorbeeld deurdat hy enduit, (60jr) of langer sy Hoop en geloof uitgeleef het.  Regerings kom en gaan, bose heersers staan op en kom tot ‘n val, die geskiedenis van tyd leer ons dat God Ewig is, en ’n waarmaker is van Sy Woord.

[1] Dayton, W. T. (1975). Cyrus. In C. F. Pfeiffer, H. F. Vos, & J. Rea (Eds.), The Wycliffe Bible
Encyclopedia
. Moody Press.

Categories
Sermons

Thriving in Babylon – Humility

Babylon reeksNederigheid is ‘n goddelike eienskap, want God self is die beste voorbeeld van nederigheid. (Phil 2:6-8) Hy wat in die gestalte van God was, het sy bestaan op Godgelyke wyse nie beskou as iets waaraan Hy Hom moes vasklem nie, maar Hy het Homself verneder deur die gestalte van ‘n slaaf aan te neem en aan mense gelyk te word. En toe Hy as mens verskyn het, het Hy Homself verder verneder. Hy was gehoorsaam tot in die dood, ja, die dood aan die kruis.

Sy voorbeeld wys ook wat Nederigheid is: Dis nie om mense se vloerlap te wees nie. Dit beteken nie om leeg en swak te wees nie. Inteendeel God het Homself arm gemaak om ons te kom dien. Ware goddelike nederigheid se oorsprong is die volheid van God in jou.  Nadat jy die geskenk van Sy geregtigheid ontvang het, die pêrel van groot waarde, (Mat 13:46) die goddelike vermoë om Sy kind te wees (Joh 1:12) dien jy die mense om jou vanuit Sy volheid. Verniet het ons ontvang verniet gee ons dit weer uit. (Mat 10:8)

Iemand wat God regtig ontmoet het en ken, kan nie anders as om nederig te wees nie.  Niemand kan voor God staan nie.  Arrogansie, trots, self-waan verdwyn soos mis voor die Son, wanneer ons voor Hom staan en Sy heerlikheid aanskou.  Daarom is gebed die eerste eienskap wat Daniel laat floreer het in Babilon, vanuit Sy intieme gebedslewe het nederigheid natuurlik gekom.

“Humility is having a true and sane estimation of yourself”

“Pride/arrogance is on overestimation of self and an underestimation of others.”

“Inferiority is an underestimation of self and an overestimation of others.”

Soos God, is dit ook belangrik dat jy uit jou eie uit jouself sal verneder. “Humble thyself” (James 4:10) Anders sal God jou verneder maar dit gaan nie mooi wees nie.
“God weerstaan die hoogmoediges, maar aan die nederiges gee Hy genade” (1Pet 5:6) Jesus wys ons ook dan om dienskneg te wees, en soms die werk te doen van die geringste soos voete was, ons nederig hou en ons voete stewig op die grond. John 13: 1–17 Deesdae is daar ‘n program op TV undercover Millionaire, waar die eienaars van besighede tot nuwe insigte kom wanneer hulle meng met die mense op grondvlak. “Associate with the humble” Rom  12:16 Hoeveel mense wat arm is, is vriende op jou selfoon, Facebook, en kuier jy gereeld met hulle? Dis waar Jesus sou gewees het, tussen die armes!

Daar is ook ‘n belofte is: As jy jouself verneder, sal God jou op die regte tydstip verhoog.  Dis
nie hoekom ons dit doen nie.  Ons is bereid om soos Paulus uitgegiet te word vir Sy heerlikheid, (Phil 2:17) ons beloning is die Here. “I am your shield, your exceedingly great
reward.” (Gen 15:1) Ons sien die belofte ‘n paar keer in vervulling kom in Daniel se lewe, maar die verhoging was ook tot God se eer.  Drie heidense Konings erken dat Daniel se God, die Ware God is.  (Daniel 2:47; 6:20; 10:12)

LEER VAN DANIEL HOE HY FLOREER IN BABILON DEUR NEDERIGHEID.

Daniel se nederigheid was nie ‘n onkenning en vervalsing van sy goeie hoedanighede nie. Hy was nie skaam oor wie hy wel was nie. Kyk hoe mooi beskryf Daniel homself en sy vriende:  Jong seuns aan wie geen enkele liggaamsgebrek was nie, maar wat mooi van aansien was
en vernuftig in allerhande wysheid en in besit van kennis en insig in wetenskap, en wat bekwaam was om in die paleis van die koning te dien; en om hulle die skrif en die taal van die Chaldeërs te leer
Daniel 1:4 Nederigheid is die nugter en ware siening van wie ek is. Ons spog nie oor ons goeie hoedanighede nie. Self nie ons geestelike ervaringe nie. Paulus kies om
eerder in sy swakhede te roem, as om te roem in die verruklike geestelike ervaring wat hy gehad het. (2 Cor 12:2-6) Mense soek aansien: Of deur studies en Grade, Posisies en aanstellings, hoeveel mense hulle ken, en wié hulle ken.  Jesus het self nie die eer en aansien van mense gesoek nie. (Joh 5:40) Nederigheid is nie ‘n swak selfbeeld en miskenning
van wie ek is nie.  Nederigheid is ’n ware, juiste en goddelike estimasie en siening van self. Ons dink nie meer van onsself as wat ons behoort nie. (Rom 12:3) Hy wat sê hy iets is maar dit nie is
nie mislei homself.  (Gal 6:3–4) Maar deur die genade van God is ek wat ek is (1 Cor
15:10)

Reg in die begin van Daniel se lewe in Babilon sien ons, hy was mooi opgevoed. Daniel 1: 8–16 “Daniel vra vergunning.” Dis ‘n duidelike bewys van sy hartgesindheid en toon sy nederigheid.  Hoe mooi is die eienskap nie? Kinders vra hulle ouers eers vergunning voor hulle iets gaan doen.  Dit wys respek en eerbied. Nederigheid is dus ‘n gesindheid van die hart.  Ondergeskiktes in die werksplek kan soveel verder kom, om hulle griewe in ‘n mooi gesindheid te kom bespreek met hulle werknemers. Gesindheid Wen! Wanneer jy dit verloor en
‘n vloermoer gooi, wys dit nie vinger na die persoon wat jou kwaad gemaak het nie, dit wys op jóú karakter.

Selfs toe die vriende die koning teengaan om nie te buig nie, is daar geen sprake van arrogansie, rebellie, of ongeskiktheid in hulle spraak nie.  “dan sal Hy
ons uit die brandende vuuroond en uit u hand, o koning, verlos” Dan 3:16–18 Nederigheid is absoluut en altyd ons gesindheid selfs wanneer ons iemand teengaan.  Gehoorsaamheid is
voorwaardelik. Toe die dissipels deur die Sanhedrin gevange geneem word, bly hulle gesindheid nederig, maar hulle gehoorsaam nie die bevel om nie Jesus verder te verkondig nie.  Acts 4:19-20

Daniel 2:48–49 Daniel vergeet nie Sy vriende toe hy ’n promosie kry nie, hy sorg dat hulle ook beter posisies beklee.  Dis weer ‘n mooi voorbeeld van sy nederigheid om reg te doen, en nie sy eie belang bo die van sy vriende te stel nie. Dis dieselfde gesindheid wat Jesus gehad het, en wat Paulus pleit ons ook moet hê.  In nederigheid die ander hoër ag as homself Philippians 2: 3–5 Ons sien nog ’n mooi voorbeeld in Abraham se lewe. Abraham laat Lot die beste deel kies, en uiteindelik verhoog die Here hom. Genesis 13: 1–18 Die 2 seuntjies stry oor ‘n roomys.
Mamma kom tussen by en leer hulle dat Jesus die roomys vir sy broer sou gegee het. Die eerste seuntjie trek weg en sê: “Ok wees jy eerste Jesus!”

Toe Daniel die oordeel van God ontvang teenoor Nebukadnésar verlekker hy hom nie in die wrede goddelose koning se lot nie. Daniel 4: 19 Hy spreek nog steeds die woord van die Here, maar bly respekvol.  Daniel het die Koning gedien, nieteenstaande die koning se boosheid. Dis ‘n merkwaardige eienskap wat Jesus ons ook kom leer het in Sy bergpredikasie:
Wees gou goedgesind teenoor jou teëparty Mat 5:25
dat julle ’n slegte mens nie moet weerstaan nie Mat 5:39
Julle moet jul vyande liefhê; seën die wat vir julle vervloek, doen goed aan die wat vir julle haat, en bid vir die wat julle beledig en julle vervolg Mat 5:44

Uiteindelik bely die trotse arrogante koning. “Nou prys ek, Nebukadnésar, en ek roem en eer die Koning van die hemel: al sy werke is waarheid en sy paaie is reg, en Hy kan verneder die wat in hulle trotsheid wandel” Daniel 4: 34–37

Dan  6:25–28 Toe Daniel in die leeukuil gegooi word, murmureer en stribbel hy nie tee nie, hy is
vreesloos in God se verlossing. Sy vriende het dieselfde geloof gehad Daniel 3:16-18, Mat 16:24-25 Hy wat sy lewe wil wen sal dit verloor.  Nederigheid is ‘n goddelike sterkte.

GOD GEE GENADE VIR DIE NEDERIGES
Prov 3:34
James 4:6
1 Pet 5:5
Hierin is ‘n wonderlike geheimenis in opgesluit. Wanneer ek my afhanklikheid van God erken, en bely dat ek hom nodig het, want ek ken my beperkinge, en ek ken Sy almag, ontsluit ek die genade/krag/vermoë van God in my lewe.  Sien in Daniel se lewe die vele
wonderwerke waar God vir Daniel gehelp het. Hoekom? Want hy was nederig!  Nederigheid is een van die mooiste eienskappe wat ‘n mens kan hê, veral as jy ryk is, baie slim is, iets merkwaardig bereik het.  “Geseënd is dié wat weet hoe afhanklik hulle van God is, want aan hulle behoort die koninkryk van die hemel.” Mat 5:3

Nederige mense praat nie die heeltyd oor hulleself nie.
Soek nie hulle eie belang nie.
Soek nie die roem en eer van mense nie.
Vererg nie hulleself as hulle nie erkenning kry nie.
Nederige mense is gehoorsaam en pligsgetrou.
“Willing to yield”
Hulle is kalm, rustige, vriendelike en vreedsame mense.
Vergeld nie die kwaad met kwaad nie.
Is gemaklik in baie invloedryke sowel as die mees geringstes se geselskap
Is nie ambisieus om aandag op hulle-self te trek nie.
They are the unsung Heroes of our time!

Categories
Social Relevance

Exposing the Spirit of individualism in the Church

Understand how the Spirit of Individualism is weakening the Body of Christ
When people want to start a new ministry, I often hear the following statement: “It should not be linked to a certain church or in the name of an existing local church, so as not to cause offense”
To me the basis of this statement is fundamentally flawed.  It is like someone is saying to their spouse: “let’s have children, but not name them, nor let them carry our surname, not to offend someone who may not like our family.” All churches are flawed, and has offended someone. Not even Jesus’ could please everyone, nor did all his disciples remain faithful.  There is no local church or denomination that is getting everything right, yet we all need to be part of this family. God has one family of which He is the father. (Eph 4:2-6) So much focus has been given in the Charismatic era on the ministry of the individual, the gifts and authority of the believer, our identity in Christ.  This emphasis is essential to get people to wake up to the fullness of their calling, inheritance and power in Christ. (Eph 1:17-21) Equally important is the truth that no man is an island, our growth is always connected with OUR growth in the body of Christ. (Eph 4:16) Essentially becoming a follower of Christ entails denying self and the taking up of our cross. (Mat 16:24) This refers to our obedience to Christ, even to the point of death.
Orange 3 parts For a person to grow spiritually, they have to eventually be part of a local intimate family. The pattern we find in Acts was either small group meetings from house to house the household of faith, or big gatherings or meetings drawing a crowd.  We need to find the balance between these two activities, and see how they actually compliment the other.  Why do we wait so long to initiate house churches? Should the outflow of big gathering not be to get the seekers into a local church, family, house church immediately? This solves the demand for follow-up activities after the meeting?
The DNA of church, God’s sanctuary is made up of three entities: The individual 1 Cor 6:19; the church in the Locality 2 Cor 6:16; the universal church 1 Cor 3:16 based on the context of these scriptures declaring that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. In the case for the individual Paul warns that man cannot have intercourse with a prostitute and not become one with her. (1 Cor 6:15-18) In the second instance Paul addresses the Corinthian Church not to be defiled with the witchcraft in the city. (2 Cor 6:11-16) Then he warns all believers in general to remain holy and sanctified, set apart for God.  In is thus very clear that like an orange, a cell, within a cell, within a cell makes the orange the church is made op three parts. You cannot remove a part; A church where individuals are not born again that church becomes a lifeless institution like a social club. Individuals that do not partner and become part of the church in a location became rogue agents that do not submit to any authority. Local churches that separates them from the greater community of faith becomes Sects.  We are all three at the same time, to become the habitation of the Holy Spirit in the Earth.
Traveling ministry is biblical and in essence apostolic. It was one of the primary roles of the apostles to visit the local church in a certain location and to align them to the truth.   The goal was apostolic alignment to Christ, not to get a nice big offering.  Surely we should not muzzle the ox where he has trotted, a minister is worthy of our honor and support.  The premise and foundation is always family and relationship.  When traveling ministries operate on their own, with out a given family, they tend to build and gather people around themselves.  They inevitably build a family, yet without the nurturing and closeness that a true local family provides.  Being a traveling minister can be glorified. You can preach your best 10 sermons from meeting to meeting, people treat you like some kind of celebrity and give you their best treatment.  This is proper and right, but again not outside the context of family.
Kingdom & family is synonymous.  Our King is our Father! The godhead is in essence a family. The purpose of traveling ministers is thus, to strengthen and build the local family.  To come alongside the local leadership and assist, correct, admonish, rebuke and chasten the family to mature in Christ.
The mass gathering is a wonderful tool to strengthen the small group, making them feel they are part of a greater cause.  Being faithful to the few is not easy.  People begin to know another, nothing is hidden, accountability and correction can cause offense.  The Large gathering does not produce this kind of inward growth.  We need both the small group, household setting and the big large crusade setting.
At his point of time many people have become disillusioned with structured church, mostly because that Church has become alienated from the head which is Christ.  But being a structured church is not wrong or intrinsically evil. It is when the structure migrate away from their original position in Christ.  When this happens we need to question our loyalty to this church. Like most of the NT believers had to do the same, regarding their Jewish Faith upbringing. They had to decide to leave, and face persecution to become part of the new Jesus family.  Today people are leaving church, but not connecting again with church.  God has no plan B. Christ gave His life for His church.  Some seek a new expression of church but they are not willing to pay the price of obedience to Christ to become and be that accurate Christ-like expression. It is easier to only criticize, point finger but not doing anything to help or better it.
God’s heart is always family. God is in essence family, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Starting a ministry on your own, not linked to any family, not being send or under supervision of any existing family is dangerous and arrogant.  You will start this family without you knowing it, and soon there will be children, and without you wanting to be a family become a family – a church.  You are going to have to deal with the mess of raising and disciplining children, or you going to abandon them like many ministers do.
We as people find it hard to follow someone else.   It is in our human individualistic nature to always seek a new path, find our own way, do our own thing.  This pioneering spirit is wonderful and God has used it to start wonderful ministries to reform another human trait, the ability to get stuck in the familiar.  Both these traits need to come under the supervision and control of the Holy Spirit.  When we submit and obey the Spirit, we will never get stuck in tradition for our tradition is obedience to the Spirit.  Obedience to pioneer comes under His control for it to be properly mandated, else it can become mere ambition.  This brings us back to family.  A Family where God is the Father, and the fathers in the house submits and point everyone to the One and only True Father there will be no ambition, selfish interests, striving, competition, suppression and bondage.
This family has matured in Christ, and will cover the world with His Glory.  The current exodus out of formal religion is understandable in context of the church loosing its life and soul – Jesus Christ.  Yet the power of an Christlike family over generations cannot be underestimated! The God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob! There is a generational power in a large family that helps the next generation, making it easier for them to move forward.  The enemy knows this and has released the spirit of divorce, betrayal, division and strive in the church trying to stop this Godly momentum.  You cannot build or plant a new church/family based on division.  You have to live and remain in honor, to also receive honor.
There is wisdom and much benefit being linked to a greater extended family. There are more resources, help and support, and a greater doctrinal accuracy.  It is evident that smaller separate groupings tend to enter into error more quickly. We need to learn to think WE and not ME. Jesus did not function on His own, he gathered friends (Disciples) around Him, he later called His family. (Mark 3:31-35) Paul always took an companion, and greets his Co-workers.  (Acts 19:29; Phil 4:3; Philemon 1:24; Gal 2:9)

We do not have it all together, but together we have it all. (Michael Wood)

Even more so, having more than one apostolic father and the input of all the five Ascension gifts gives balance and depth. (Eph 4:11-16) Some ministers speak out against the local church, then they should also not expect support from the local church.

May God continue to reform the church, so that the church can reform the Land. (Andre Pelser)

We need to come out of old obsolete structures and systems who are keeping His body in bondage, but not at the cost of the true Church.  I believe God has already preserved a remnant of true believers all over the World, that has kept true to His Word and the Spirit of Christ.  Churches who seek to continue to obey and reform into His likeness in everything they do.  The true church is build on a divine revelation of Christ. (Mat 16:18) This revelation installs an inward operating system that continually reforms and updates us to His present revealed truth.
 
Grace & Peace
 
Apostle Jan Oosthuizen
 
 
 
 

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Exposing the Spirit of individualism in the Church

Understand how the Spirit of Individualism is weakening the Body of Christ
When people want to start a new ministry, I often hear the following statement: “It should not be linked to a certain church or in the name of an existing local church, so as not to cause offense”
To me the basis of this statement is fundamentally flawed. It is like someone is saying to their spouse: “let’s have children, but not name them, nor let them carry our surname, not to offend someone who may not like our family.” All churches are flawed, and has offended someone. Not even Jesus’ could please everyone, nor did all his disciples remain faithful. There is no local church or denomination that is getting everything right, yet we all need to be part of this family. God has one family of which He is the father. (Eph 4:2-6) So much focus has been given in the Charismatic era on the ministry of the individual, the gifts and authority of the believer, our identity in Christ. This emphasis is essential to get people to wake up to the fullness of their calling, inheritance and power in Christ. (Eph 1:17-21) Equally important is the truth that no man is an island, our growth is always connected with OUR growth in the body of Christ. (Eph 4:16) Essentially becoming a follower of Christ entails denying self and the taking up of our cross. (Mat 16:24) This refers to our obedience to Christ, even to the point of death.
Orange 3 parts For a person to grow spiritually, they have to eventually be part of a local intimate family. The pattern we find in Acts was either small group meetings from house to house the household of faith, or big gatherings or meetings drawing a crowd. We need to find the balance between these two activities, and see how they actually compliment the other. Why do we wait so long to initiate house churches? Should the outflow of big gathering not be to get the seekers into a local church, family, house church immediately? This solves the demand for follow-up activities after the meeting?
The DNA of church, God’s sanctuary is made up of three entities: The individual 1 Cor 6:19; the church in the Locality 2 Cor 6:16; the universal church 1 Cor 3:16 based on the context of these scriptures declaring that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. In the case for the individual Paul warns that man cannot have intercourse with a prostitute and not become one with her. (1 Cor 6:15-18) In the second instance Paul addresses the Corinthian Church not to be defiled with the witchcraft in the city. (2 Cor 6:11-16) Then he warns all believers in general to remain holy and sanctified, set apart for God. In is thus very clear that like an orange, a cell, within a cell, within a cell makes the orange the church is made op three parts. You cannot remove a part; A church where individuals are not born again that church becomes a lifeless institution like a social club. Individuals that do not partner and become part of the church in a location became rogue agents that do not submit to any authority. Local churches that separates them from the greater community of faith becomes Sects. We are all three at the same time, to become the habitation of the Holy Spirit in the Earth.
Traveling ministry is biblical and in essence apostolic. It was one of the primary roles of the apostles to visit the local church in a certain location and to align them to the truth. The goal was apostolic alignment to Christ, not to get a nice big offering. Surely we should not muzzle the ox where he has trotted, a minister is worthy of our honor and support. The premise and foundation is always family and relationship. When traveling ministries operate on their own, with out a given family, they tend to build and gather people around themselves. They inevitably build a family, yet without the nurturing and closeness that a true local family provides. Being a traveling minister can be glorified. You can preach your best 10 sermons from meeting to meeting, people treat you like some kind of celebrity and give you their best treatment. This is proper and right, but again not outside the context of family.
Kingdom & family is synonymous. Our King is our Father! The godhead is in essence a family. The purpose of traveling ministers is thus, to strengthen and build the local family. To come alongside the local leadership and assist, correct, admonish, rebuke and chasten the family to mature in Christ.
The mass gathering is a wonderful tool to strengthen the small group, making them feel they are part of a greater cause. Being faithful to the few is not easy. People begin to know another, nothing is hidden, accountability and correction can cause offense. The Large gathering does not produce this kind of inward growth. We need both the small group, household setting and the big large crusade setting.
At his point of time many people have become disillusioned with structured church, mostly because that Church has become alienated from the head which is Christ. But being a structured church is not wrong or intrinsically evil. It is when the structure migrate away from their original position in Christ. When this happens we need to question our loyalty to this church. Like most of the NT believers had to do the same, regarding their Jewish Faith upbringing. They had to decide to leave, and face persecution to become part of the new Jesus family. Today people are leaving church, but not connecting again with church. God has no plan B. Christ gave His life for His church. Some seek a new expression of church but they are not willing to pay the price of obedience to Christ to become and be that accurate Christ-like expression. It is easier to only criticize, point finger but not doing anything to help or better it.
God’s heart is always family. God is in essence family, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Starting a ministry on your own, not linked to any family, not being send or under supervision of any existing family is dangerous and arrogant. You will start this family without you knowing it, and soon there will be children, and without you wanting to be a family become a family – a church. You are going to have to deal with the mess of raising and disciplining children, or you going to abandon them like many ministers do.
We as people find it hard to follow someone else. It is in our human individualistic nature to always seek a new path, find our own way, do our own thing. This pioneering spirit is wonderful and God has used it to start wonderful ministries to reform another human trait, the ability to get stuck in the familiar. Both these traits need to come under the supervision and control of the Holy Spirit. When we submit and obey the Spirit, we will never get stuck in tradition for our tradition is obedience to the Spirit. Obedience to pioneer comes under His control for it to be properly mandated, else it can become mere ambition. This brings us back to family. A Family where God is the Father, and the fathers in the house submits and point everyone to the One and only True Father there will be no ambition, selfish interests, striving, competition, suppression and bondage.
This family has matured in Christ, and will cover the world with His Glory. The current exodus out of formal religion is understandable in context of the church loosing its life and soul – Jesus Christ. Yet the power of an Christlike family over generations cannot be underestimated! The God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob! There is a generational power in a large family that helps the next generation, making it easier for them to move forward. The enemy knows this and has released the spirit of divorce, betrayal, division and strive in the church trying to stop this Godly momentum. You cannot build or plant a new church/family based on division. You have to live and remain in honor, to also receive honor.
There is wisdom and much benefit being linked to a greater extended family. There are more resources, help and support, and a greater doctrinal accuracy. It is evident that smaller separate groupings tend to enter into error more quickly. We need to learn to think WE and not ME. Jesus did not function on His own, he gathered friends (Disciples) around Him, he later called His family. (Mark 3:31-35) Paul always took an companion, and greets his Co-workers. (Acts 19:29; Phil 4:3; Philemon 1:24; Gal 2:9)
We do not have it all together, but together we have it all. (Michael Wood)
Even more so, having more than one apostolic father and the input of all the five Ascension gifts gives balance and depth. (Eph 4:11-16) Some ministers speak out against the local church, then they should also not expect support from the local church.
 
May God continue to reform the church, so that the church can reform the Land. (Andre Pelser)
We need to come out of old obsolete structures and systems who are keeping His body in bondage, but not at the cost of the true Church. I believe God has already preserved a remnant of true believers all over the World, that has kept true to His Word and the Spirit of Christ. Churches who seek to continue to obey and reform into His likeness in everything they do. The true church is build on a divine revelation of Christ. (Mat 16:18) This revelation installs an inward operating system that continually reforms and updates us to His present revealed truth.
 
Grace & Peace
 
Apostle Jan Oosthuizen