Harvester Cederberg Preke

The Bible is a book about broken people, causing broken relationships, and hence breaking the environment being redeemed to their creational purpose. Once our connection with God is restored, we learn to begin to love ourselves in an appropriate way, spilling over in love towards others, bring healing and restoration to the world we live in.

So essentially the Bible and it’s message is about CHANGE. Constant change to mature and grow in our love towards God, others and changing the world.

He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Rev 22:11

Since the beginning we were called to subdue the Earth. (Gen 1:28) but also importantly rule over sin. (Gen 4:7) We sinned when we abandoned our divine purpose, giving in to carnal fleshly, animal instincts. Hence satan appearing in the figure of a snake… an animal. Our lower, state. The greatest gift the Bible, and Christianity ever gave the world is the concept, and belief that we are made in God’s Image. We are more than mere animals.

(Gen 1:26; Gen 1:27; Gen 9:6; James 3:9)

Voorbeelde:

Gewoontes, werk, studie, reg eet, oefening, produksie, kliente sien, op tyd wees, humeur, emosies, depressie, rehabilitasie.

So Gideon had to select only 300 men, making a distinction “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself” Judg 7:5-7 God was looking for distinct, distinguished, high morale type of people, to win the battle.

Temptation always wants to lead us lower, downward, towards our animal nature. Judah went down from his brethren Gen 38:1 And Samson went down to Timnath Judges 14:1 Whereas God wants to lead us upward. Taking the high moral road. Doing what is right. (Rom 8:5-9; Col 3:1-2; Phil 4:8)

We are different than animals: the are not lazy, disloyal, overweight, get addicted no instinctively they merely survive the life-cycle. We have the ability to make choices. Society has adopted the mistaken belief that knowledge can solve all problems.

The reality of our modern world is that knowledge and information are now more readily accessible than ever before. Just look at the Internet—knowledge has never been so cheap and readily available. And yet, have we seen improvements in our moral behavior? Do we make better choices for ourselves? No. On the whole, we do not. The problem is that knowledge alone does not alter our behavior. The only thing that will change our behavior is making the right decisions, and the only way to ensure we do that consistently is to build up the strength of our characters.

We all hope for the Magic ferry, who will change our poor existence into that of a queen in a moment. This is not going to happen!! It takes a daily effort to continue to make the right choices, and do what is right! The hard part is not knowing what to do but actually doing it, day in and day out for the rest of your life.

The dangers of smoking, overeating, and lack of exercise are well documented and understood by most. These are not failures of knowledge; they are failures of behavior. They are moral failures.

You cannot pit real pain against imagined gain. Real pain wins every time. You are setting yourself up for failure by ignoring the way the human mind works. We have to find other motivators—imagined gain isn’t going to deter us when we face immediate pain.

A summery of all the steps one needs to take to overcome temptation, and indulgences is found in

2 P et 1:3-8

1. FAITH πίστις pístis; gen. písteōs, fem. noun from peíthō (G3982), to win over, persuade. Faith. Subjectively meaning firm persuasion, conviction, belief in the truth, veracity, reality or faithfulness (though rare). Objectively meaning that which is believed, doctrine, the received articles of faith.

2. VIRTUE (Deug) ἀρετή aretḗ̄; gen. aretḗs, fem. noun. Superiority or being pleasin

Wanneer 'n top atleet in een dissipline uitstyg en hy/sy besluit om 'n ander sportsoort te probeer, verander so 'n atleet se lewe radikaal, van die nuwe dieet to 'n splinternuwe oefen program en leefstyl as te ware. Die vraag is hoekom dink ons om Jesus te volg so eenvoudig is soos die druk van 'n knoppie wat ons gereeld doen wanneer ons mense op Instagram en Twitter volg.

'n Belangerike verhaal oor die belangerikheid om nader in verhoudings te leef!

There is a peace that comes from ignorance, and there is a peace that comes from a knowing.

Peace has been called a pearl and rightly, for it is precious and smiles with soft, mild radiance bedecking the heart that wears it. It is, indeed, a pearl of great price—he that has it has more than riches. If his peace is, in very deed, the true pearl, he who wears it in his breast is one of the favored sons of God. (spurgeon)

A poor woman was the loving mother of an only son. He was very dear to her. He fell sick, indeed, he was sick unto death but the mother could not bear to think so. She scraped together the necessary fee for a physician and, oh, the peace of heart she had when the trusted man came downstairs and said to her, “Your son will recover. There is no grave cause to fear. Nurse him carefully and very soon he will be at his post again.” The mother was restful of heart, for she believed the doctor. Within a single day her son died and those hours of false peace were the wormwood and the gall of her affliction. It was a sad, sad pity to have raised her hopes for she cried, “Oh, if I had known that he was going to die, I should not then so bitterly have felt his loss! But I am grievously disappointed. How could the doctor tell me he would live?” The physician was either greatly mistaken, or else wished to soothe the mother’s manifest anguish. If the latter was the case, his untruthfulness was not wise. I cannot follow the same course. It is a pity to create a peace which is baseless. It is lamentable to me that anyone of you should be slumbering in peace when a great danger is near which will cause that peace to vanish as a dream when one awakes. Avoid that peace which will prove deceptive in the present and ruinous in the future—

Col 3 :15 Let the peace of God rule in your hearts

Phil 4:7 Peace that surpasses understanding

Ps. 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them"

Rom. 5:1, 2 Peace with God

Ps 29:11 The Lord will give strength unto His people, the Lord will bless His people with peace

John 14: 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

The photo to the right shows the monstrous eye of hurricane Isabel. If you've ever been inside the eye of a hurricane (or typhoon), then you know that the center of the storm is very calm. It is so calm, that people not familiar with such tropical storms often assume that the storm has passed. Many people have died because of this FALSE PEACE, or false serenity.

Sources of false peace:

1) lies - The man who finds fault with himself accepts all things cheerfully—misfortune, loss, disgrace, and any other kind of adversity. He believes that he is deserving of all these things and nothing can disturb him. No one could be more at peace than this man. There is also a false peace that deceives some (1 Thes. 5: 3)

Call what is sin good - Isa 5:20

2) ignorance - thoughtlessness

3) denial -AVOIDING CONFLICT AND CONTROVERSY TO HAVE FALSE PEACE WITHOUT TRUTH?? Jesus came to bring division Matthew 10:34-37 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Galatians 4:16

4) sin - Our own sensuality and the world can give us peace. Eph 4:22 The riches we have can be a source of great peace, and our downfall. For to be carnally minded is death," Paul wrote, "but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom. 8: 6)

5) n psychology, cognitive dissonance is the excessive mental stress and discomfort[1] experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time. This stress and discomfort may also arise within an individual who holds a belief and performs a contradictory action or reaction.[2]A classic illustration of cognitive dissonance is expressed in the fable "The Fox and the Grapes" by Aesop (ca. 620–564 BCE). In

Matthew 22:29 (Die Bybel 1933/1953) 29 Toe antwoord Jesus en sê vir hulle: Julle dwaal, omdat julle die Skrifte nie ken nie en ook nie die krag van God nie.

Afgodery, Sonde, Redding en Post-Modernisme

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

#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

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.

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

Lord you want to partner with us, our prayers, Your answers. Our works Your grace. Our possessions your blessing. Our obedience your call. Our weakness, Your strength. This is a great mystery. I pray help us to make this sacred partnership more seamless and flowing, reciprocal, intimate, and natural.

In the same way, Jesus could do nothing without the Father; we can do nothing without the Holy Spirit. Jesus could do nothing without Him seeing the Father do it (John 5:19-20, 30), only doing His will (John 6:38), do only what the Father taught (Joh 8:28), according to what the Father commands (John 12:49). In order for us to live and move by the way of the Spirit, or as ap Paul put it: “walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:16) we must learn to be holy devoted and depended on the Holy Spirit. We literally can do nothing without Him!

In the OT, people lived by the Law, in the NT believers live by the Holy Spirit.

It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. (Zech 4:6)

ALL LIFE IN THE New Testament IS BY THE SPIRIT

Know God by the Spirit: No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:11)

Walk according to the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh. It is the power of the Spirit life, that free you from the gravitational downward pull of the flesh and sin. (Rom 8:2-4; Gal 5:16) A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.The Message: (Ro 8:2).

Set your mind on the things of the Spirit (Rom 8:5-8).

Put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit (Rom 8:13).

The main characteristic of being a child of God is being led by the Spirit. (Rom 8:14)

Know the Fatherhood of God and subsequent sonship by the Spirit (Rom 8:15-17).

Hope in the Spirit (Rom 8:23-25).

Pray in the Spirit (Rom 8:26-27). In other passages Paul mentions — (Jude 20)

Be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18).

Serve in the Spirit (Rom 7:6; 15:16).

Love by the Spirit (Rom 15:30; Gal 5:22-23; Col 1:8).

Know one-another by the spirit. The way of the spirit is more accurate and also quicker! Jesus knew the heart of Nathaniel even before he had met him. (John 1:47) Similarly, the Lord revealed to Ananias not only the change in Saul (Paul) but also his destiny before he met him. (Acts 9:10) Phillip was divinely led to meet the servant of the court of Ethiopia. (Acts 8:26) Jesus knew what was in the Pharisees’ hearts. He knew the woman at the well in the spirit. (John 4) Imagine a church where people know each other in the spirit, where everyone knows their place and function, and naturally work together without complaining and strife because they do not feel threatened by one another.

We are taught by that what the Holy Spirit teaches. (1 John 2:27; 1 Cor 1:13)

People err, in interpreting the Bible without the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:6)

We can only know God, by the Spirit, because He is Spirit. 1 Cor 2:10-12)

We cannot be regenerated and born again without the work of the Spirit. (Tit 3:5)

The Eternal spirit through the Blood of Christ, cleanse you from an evil conscience. Heb 9:14

Help me to walk, live and have my being in the spirit alone.

Let me be able to say like Jesus, I do nothing unless the Spirit, I say nothing unless the spirit.

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT

It is only in the spirit that we are safe. It is only in the Spirit, that we cannot be deceived and misled. (1 John 4:1; John 16:13) Words and deeds done in the spirit, (1 Cor 2:13) He will defend. In the Spirit we are accurate. In the Spirit we are holy and perfect. (John 17:17) In the Spirit we are righteous. In the Spirit we will know the way in the Holy of holies. (Heb 9:8) In the Spirit there is liberty. (2 Cor 3:17) In the Spirit we are whole, and able to s

Moses, die dienaar van die Here, is dood. Daarna het die Here met Josua, seun van Nun, begin gepraat. Hy was vroeër die assistent van Moses. Die Here het vir hom gesê: 2“Noudat my dienaar Moses dood is, moet jy gereedmaak om my volk deur die Jordaanrivier te lei na die land toe wat Ek vir die Israeliete gee. 3Soos Ek vir Moses belowe het, sal Ek elke plek waar julle kom vir julle gee. 4Alles sal julle grond wees, van die Negevwoestyn af tot by die Libanonberge, die hele gebied van die Hetiete, van die Eufraatrivier af tot by die Middellandse See in die weste. 5“Niemand sal teen jou bestand wees solank jy leef nie. Soos Ek by Moses was, so sal Ek ook saam met jou wees. Ek sal jou nooit in die steek laat nie. Ek sal jou nooit los nie. 6“WEES STERK EN DAPPER. Jy is die een wat hierdie volk moet lei om die land in besit te neem. Ek het dit met ’n eed aan hulle voorouers beloof. 7“WEES STERK EN BAIE DAPPER! Voer al die opdragte uit wat Ek vir my dienaar Moses gegee het. Moenie links of regs daarvan afwyk nie. Jy sal dan suksesvol wees in alles wat jy doen. 8Hou hierdie wetboek altyd by jou. Dink dag en nag daaroor na sodat jy alles kan doen wat daarin geskryf is. Jy sal dan sukses behaal op jou pad. Jy sal voorspoedig wees. 9MY OPDRAG AAN JOU IS DAT JY STERK EN DAPPER MOET WEES. Moenie bang of huiwerig wees nie. Die Here jou God is saam met jou oral waar jy gaan.” Joshua 1:1-9

Wees sterk en vasberade!

Wees sterk en dapper!

Tree doelgerig en sonder huiwering op.

“Deliberate, focussed”

“Courageous, Chivalry, Bravery, Heroism.”

WORD WEALTH

1:9 be strong, chazaq (kah-zahk); Strong’s #2388: Be strong, courageous, valiant, manly, strengthened, established, firm, fortified, obstinate, mighty. Generally the words “strong” or “strengthened” define chazaq, but there is a wide range of meaning for this word, which occurs nearly 300 times in the OT; for example, “to encourage,” as when David encouraged himself (literally, “made himself strong”) in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6). Chazaq is the root of several Hebrew names, including “Hezekiah,” meaning “Strengthened by Yahweh.”

DIS ’n KWESSIE VAN GODDELIKE GRONDGEBIED VEROWER (’n ou opdrag)

Hierdie opdaag om Grondgebied vir God in besit te neem, is deel van die Bybel narratief van Genesis tot Openbaring.

God se opdrag, seën, en roeping van Abraham: (Gen. 12:6, 7; 13:14–17; 15:18–21; cf. Deut. 29:1–30:10).

David to Solomon (1 Kin. 2:2, 3; 1 Chr. 22:13; 28:20)

Dis is ’n groot werk, daarom het ons dapperheid, vasberadenheid, doelgerigtheid en mannemoed nodig. Ps. 27:14; 31:24.

Ons roeping en skeppingsdoel is in hierdie grondbeginsel vervat.

Mat 6:10 laat u koninkryk kom; laat u wil geskied, soos in die hemel net so ook op die aarde;

Dis ’n reuse werk!!!

Daarom moet ons seker maak, dat die volgende Generasie hierdie opdrag verder uitvoer.

DIESELFDE OPDRAG OM DIE LAND IN BESIT TE NEEM, IS DEUR CHRISTUS AAN DIE KERK GEGEE:

Jesus kom toe nader en sê vir sy dissipels: “God het die volle mag oor hemel en aarde aan My toevertrou. Gaan dan, maak al die nasies my dissipels, en doop hulle in die Naam van die Vader en die Seun en die Heilige Gees. Leer hulle om alles te gehoorsaam wat Ek aan julle opgedra het. En weet vir seker: Ek is vir altyd by julle, tot aan die einde van die wêreldgeskiedenis.” (Mt 28:17–20).

Toe hulle Hom sien, het hulle Hom aanbid, alhoewel party van hulle nog getwyfel het.

Die probleem is nie die afwesigheid van geloof nie, maar die teenwoordigheid van TWYFEL.

VOORWAARDE EN FOKUS

Wees veral sterk en baie vasberade in die uitvoering van die wet wat my dienaar Moses jou beveel het. Moet daarvan nie links of regs afwyk nie. Dan sal jy voorspoedig wees, waar jy ook al gaan. Josh 1:7

Ons kan nie die grondgebied van die bose verower, die kultuur verander as daar kompromie in ons is nie. Ons verset teen boosheid is ’n goddelike Bybelse Jesus gesentreerde lewenstyl.

Jy kan nie die vesting van ongehoorsaamheid en wetteloosheid vervan

“PRAYER is nothing else but the application of the heart to God, and the interior exercise of love. Paul commands us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).”

Excerpt From

A Short Method Of Prayer

Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon

Ons het soms so baie om te vertel, so ingestel op ons behoeftes, dat ons nie luister nie. God wil hê ons moet luister, en dan met Hom praat oor wat Hy oor wil praat. Wat is op God se hart?

The Lord Jesus calls you to it. He says "...men ought always to pray."( Luke 18:1) He encourages us to enter a life of prayer.

Elijah was a "man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit" (James 5:17,18).

Elijah told Ahab: "As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word" (I Kings 17:1).

In I Kings 18, we are told how the heathen prophets on Mount Carmel desperately called on their god, Baal, but he answered them not. On the other hand, we read that when Elijah prayed to his God, fire came down from heaven. This great victory on Mount Carmel defeated idolatry and brought the nation back to God.

Acts 4:24-31 Church praying -

Acts 12:5 Church for Peter while he is prison

Heb 13:18 Pray for us

2 Thes 3:1 pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored

1 Thes 5:25 Brothers, pray for us

2 Cor 1:11 Help us in prayer

Phil 1:19 through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance

Col 4:12 - Epaphras… always struggling on your behalf in his prayers

Intersession is one of the most important spiritual excercises and duties of being a Believer. Prayer that focusses only on my needs and wants, are the prayers of spiritual infants, but those who choose to grow in the Lord, must learn the art of intersession. Intersession is where we intercede, go between, speak on someone's behalf before God. Instead of acusing someone befor God, we intercede. This is ultimately what the Son is doing before the throne continually. (Ro 8:34 See also Isa 53:12; Heb 7:25; 1Jn 2:1) The Holy Spirit is also interceding for us. (Rom 8:26)

God wants us to pray for another.

terwyl julle met alle gebed en smeking by elke geleentheid bid in die Gees, en juis daartoe waak met alle volharding en smeking vir al die heiliges Eph 6:18

See also Broeders, bid vir ons. 1Th 5:25;

EN berei tegelykertyd ook herberg vir my, want ek hoop dat ek op julle gebede aan julle sal geskenk word. Phm 22;

Bid vir ons, want ons is oortuig dat ons ’n goeie gewete het, omdat ons in alles goed wil wandel. Heb 13:18-19) even for our enemies.

(Mat 5:44) This is ultimately and primarily what intercession is all about. Is to pray for those who deserves no mercy. (Isa 53:12)

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV)(Isa 59:16)

God is calling His whole church, His body to the ministry of intercession. It is not only the spesial ministry of some, we are all called to pray!

if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV)

How do we intercede? We must be careful that we do not pray the problem or become taletellers. The first way of intersession is: identificational repentance. Look at these spesific examples. It is important that we understand that we're not repenting on their behalf, each man will stand judgement for his or her own sin. But the intersessor is asking God not to impute their sin, by identifying with the s