Radio Pulpit

“…beplan alles wat waar, eerbaar, skoon, suiwer, lieflik en lofwaardig is.” Filippense 4:8 NLV

Dink goeie gedagtes

Kenners skat dat ons 50 000 tot 70 000 gedagtes per dag het. Ons moet die volgende vier dinge oor ons gedagtes waarneem: 1) Sielkundiges sê dat 98 tot 99 persent van ons gedagtes gewoonte is. Met ander woorde, dit is basies dieselfde gedagtes wat ons gister, eergister en die dag daarvoor gehad het. Jou gedagtes moet egter elke dag vernuwe word (sien Romeine 12:2). Jy kan nie aanhou om dieselfde dinge te dink en dan ‘n ander uitkoms of uitkyk verwag nie. Wat is dan die antwoord? Neem ‘n leeringesteldheid aan! ‘Stel wysheid voorop, dan sal dit vir jou aansien gee. Stel dit hoog op prys en dit sal aan jou eer gee. Dit sal jou kroon met voorspoed…’ (Spreuke 4:8-9 NLV). 2) Slegs 12 persent van ons gedagtes is op die toekoms gefokus. Geloof is egter per definisie toekomsgerig. ‘…geloof… is ‘n vaste versekering dat die dinge waarna ons uitsien, inderdaad sal gebeur’ (Hebreërs 11:1 NLV). 3) Navorsing het bevind dat die gemiddelde persoon 46,9 persent van hul wakker ure bestee om aan iets anders as waarmee hulle tans besig is, te dink. Dwalende gedagtes is dikwels ongelukkige gedagtes. Natuurlik is die mees voor die hand liggende rede daarvoor die digitale toestelle wat ons konstant gebruik. Niks verdof ons vermoë om te droom meer as ons sogenaamde slimfone nie! 4) Die Cleveland Clinic skat dat 80 persent van ons gedagtes negatief is. Dis 48 000 negatiewe gedagtes per dag! Wanneer ons dan daardie gedagtes verbaliseer, vererger dit die probleem. Wat is dan die antwoord? ‘…julle moet altyd dink aan die dinge wat waar is, wat mooi is, wat reg is, wat rein is, wat pragtig en goed is. Ja, julle moet dink aan alles wat mooi is, alles waarop ‘n mens trots kan wees’ (ABA).

“Bringing every thought into captivity.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV

“Grab it, and throw it in the trash”

Author Max Lucado wrote: “Some time back, a mother asked me to pray for her eight- year-old son. He was troubled by a constant barrage of images and scary visions that left him withdrawn and timid. They even took his sleep at night. On the day we met, his eyes filled with tears, and he clung to his mother. She had taken him to doctors, but nothing had helped. I told him that the devil had no authority over his life. That the real battles are fought in the mind. That God will help us take every thought captive. I urged him to memorize a Bible verse and quote it each time the fearful thoughts came to his mind. ‘Reach up with your hand,’ I urged, ‘and grab the thought and throw it in the trash. And as quickly as you do that, replace it with a verse of Scripture.’ We then anointed him with oil and prayed for him. Five days later, his mother reported great progress. ‘Since last week, the images are gone; he is no longer seeing them. He recites this Scripture from Psalm 25:5 NKJV nightly: ‘Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation.’ I believe this has brought him closer to Christ. He uses the strategy of throwing the fearful thoughts away in the trash can. He said when he tried to throw them away, his head would hurt. I asked, ‘What made them go away?’ He smiled and said, ‘I know God made them go away.’” So, the word for you today is—“Grab it, and throw it in the trash.”

“Pray for one another, that you may be healed.” James 5:16 NKJV

Prayer makes all the difference

Christian cardiologist Dr. Randolph Byrd had a great interest in knowing if prayer had a “scientifically measurable” impact on healing. He has said, “After much prayer, the idea of what to do came to me.” Over a ten-month period, a computer assigned 393 patients in the coronary care unit at San Francisco General Hospital to one of two groups. The first group was prayed for by home prayer groups. The second group was not remembered in prayer. The home prayer groups were from various Christian denominations. They were given only the first names of the patients and brief descriptions of their diagnoses and conditions. They were prayed for each day. The prayed-for patients differed from those not prayed for in these ways: (1) They were five times less likely to need antibiotics. (2) They were three times less likely to develop fluid in the lungs. (3) None required an artificial airway attached to a ventilator. (4) Fewer died. If the technique being studied had been a new drug or procedure, it would have been heralded as a breakthrough. Even Dr. William Nolan, the author of a book denouncing faith healing, said, “It sounds like this study will stand up to scrutiny…Maybe we doctors ought to be writing on our order sheets, ‘Pray three times a day.’” In the Old Testament, we read: “‘For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah 30:17 NKJV). In the New Testament, James wrote: “The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up…Pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:15-16 NKJV).

“...Ons neem ook elke gedagte gevange…” 2 Korintiërs 10:5 NLV

‘Gryp die gedagte en gooi dit in die asblik’

Max Lucado het geskryf: ‘’n Ruk terug het ‘n ma my gevra om vir haar agtjarige seun te bid. Hy is gedurig deur beelde en skrikwekkende visioene geteister wat hom teruggetrokke en skugter gelaat het. Dit het selfs sy slaap beïnvloed. Die dag wat ons ontmoet het, het sy oë vol trane geskiet en hy het aan sy ma vasgeklou. Sy het hom na dokters toe geneem, maar niks het gehelp nie. Ek het vir hom gesê dat die duiwel geen gesag oor sy lewe het nie. Dat die ware geveg in sy gedagtes gevoer moet word. Dat God ons sal help om elke gedagte gevange te neem. Ek het hom aangespoor om ‘n Bybelvers te memoriseer en dit elke keer wanneer die vreesaanjaende gedagtes by hom opkom, aan te haal. ‘Steek jou hand uit,’ het ek hom aangemoedig, ‘en gryp die gedagte en gooi dit in die asblik. Vervang dit dan dadelik met ‘n vers uit die Skrif.’ Ons het hom toe met olie gesalf en vir hom gebid. Vyf dae later het sy ma laat weet dat hy groot vordering gemaak het. ‘Sedert verlede week is die beelde weg; hy sien hulle nie meer nie. Hy sê elke aand hierdie Skrifgedeelte uit Psalm 25:5 (NLV) op: ‘Lei my deur u waarheid en leer my, want U, o God, is my redder…’ Ek glo dit het hom nader aan Christus gebring. Hy gebruik die strategie om die vreesaanjaende gedagtes in die asblik weg te gooi. Hy sê toe hy eers probeer het om die gedagtes weg te gooi, het dit sy kop seergemaak. Ek het gevra: ‘Hoe het hulle dan weggegaan?’ Hy het geglimlag en gesê: ‘God het hulle laat weggaan.’’ Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: ‘Gryp dit en gooi dit in die asblik.’

“Daarom moet julle… vir mekaar bid sodat julle gesond kan word…” Jakobus 5:16 NLV

Gebed maak die wêreld se verskil

Die kardioloog dr Randolph Byrd, wat ‘n christen was, het baie daarin belang gestel om te weet of gebed ‘n ‘wetenskaplik meetbare’ impak op genesing het. Hy het gesê: ‘Na baie gebed het die idee van hoe om dit te meet by my opgekom.’ Oor ‘n tydperk van tien maande het ‘n rekenaar 393 pasiënte in die kardiologiese sorgeenheid by die San Francisco Algemene Hospitaal aan een van twee groepe toegewys. Gebedsgroepe het vir die eerste groep gebid. Die tweede groep is nie voor gebid nie. Die gebedsgroepe het uit verskeie Christelike denominasies bestaan. Hulle het slegs die voorname van die pasiënte en kort beskrywings van hul diagnose en toestand gekry. Daar is elke dag vir hulle gebid. Die pasiënte waarvoor gebid is, het op die volgende maniere van dié waarvoor nie gebid is nie, verskil: 1) Hulle was vyf keer minder geneig om antibiotika nodig te kry. 2) Hulle was drie keer minder geneig om vloeistof in die longe te ontwikkel. 3) Nie een van hulle moes aan ‘n ventilator gekoppel word nie. 4) Minder van hulle het gesterf. As dit ‘n nuwe middel of prosedure was wat bestudeer is, sou hierdie as ‘n deurbraak beskou geword het. Selfs dr William Nolan, die skrywer van ‘n boek wat geloofsgenesing veroordeel, het gesê: ‘Dit klink asof hierdie studie ondersoek moet word. Miskien behoort ons dokters op ons voorskrifte te skryf: ‘Bid drie keer per dag.’’ Ons lees in die Ou Testament: ‘’Ek sal jou gesond maak en jou wonde genees,’ sê die Here…’ (Jeremia 30:17 NLV). Jakobus skryf in die Nuwe Testament: ‘En ‘n gelowige gebed sal die siek mens gesond laat word; die Here sal hom laat opstaan… Daarom moet julle… vir mekaar bid sodat julle gesond kan word’ (Jakobus 5:15-16 NLV).

“Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” Amos 3:3 NKJV

Set financial boundaries

It’s no secret that today, the majority of marriages fail because of financial issues. Other relationships can also be threatened when we fail to repay a personal loan or meet our financial expectations. The following three strategies will go a long way in mitigating these pitfalls: (1) Discuss with your spouse the maximum amount each of you may spend without getting the other’s permission. Any amount above this limit will be considered “major” and will require complete agreement. Every couple defines a “major” purchase differently, depending on their household income, so stick to what has been agreed on. This is important. If you do not agree on a transaction, when the deal goes bad, the tendency is to point fingers. (2) Advise your family that personal loans are against your “house policy.” Should you decide to make an exception to the policy, make sure your spouse is in complete agreement. If you are wise, you will put the terms and the due dates in writing. (3) Don’t enable your child, spouse, or anyone else to remain irresponsible by bailing him or her out or always being their safety net. Just say no. By not saying no, you interrupt one of God’s most effective principles—sowing and reaping the consequences of individual behaviour. Real maturity occurs when this lesson is learned. Love must be tough! If you are an enabler, ask God right now to give you the strength to stop being so. For example, insist on that rent check from your still stay-at-home adult child. This demonstrates character-building love, which is genuine love. If you need to set financial boundaries, do it!

“Sal twee mense saam op reis gaan sonder om eers af te spreek om dit te doen?” Amos 3:3 NLV

Stel finansiële grense

Dit is geen geheim dat die meerderheid huwelike deesdae weens finansiële probleme misluk nie. Ander verhoudings kan ook bedreig word wanneer ons nie ‘n lening terug betaal of ons finansiële verantwoordelikhede nakom nie. Die volgende drie strategieë sal help om hierdie slaggate te vermy: 1) Besluit saam met jou eggenoot die maksimum bedrag wat elkeen van julle sonder die ander se toestemming mag spandeer. Enige bedrag bo hierdie limiet sal volledige instemming vereis. Elke paartjie definieer ‘n ‘groot’ aankoop anders, afhangende van hul huishoudelike inkomste - hou dus by julle besluit. Dit is belangrik. As julle nie oor ‘n transaksie saamstem nie, sal julle geneig wees om vinger te wys indien die transaksie skeefloop. 2) Lig julle familie in dat persoonlike lenings teen julle beleid is. Indien jy besluit om ‘n uitsondering te maak, maak seker dat jou eggenoot ten volle saamstem. As jy wys is, sal jy die voorwaardes en spertye van die lening op skrif stel. 3) Moenie jou kind, eggenoot of enigiemand anders in staat stel om onverantwoordelik te lewe deur hom of haar finansieel by te staan of altyd hul veiligheidsnet te wees nie. Sê net nee. Wanneer jy nie nee sê nie, word een van God se effektiefste beginsels ondermyn – deur die gevolge van hulle onverantwoordelike finansiële gedrag te ontduik. Ware volwassenheid vind plaas wanneer hierdie les geleer word. Liefde moet soms streng wees! Dring byvoorbeeld aan dat jou volwasse kind wat steeds in die huis bly, sy of haar huurgeld moet betaal. Dit demonstreer karakterbouende liefde, wat ware liefde is. As jy finansiële grense moet stel, doen dit!

“Go…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV

History is His story

The words Jesus spoke changed the world forever. These were the last instructions to His disciples: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (vv. 18-20 NKJV). Jesus’ followers took this seriously: “Daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42 NKJV). They remembered that they followed a man who taught everyone, and who commanded them to teach all peoples. So they did. They began to teach both men and women, both slaves and free. Some of the world’s greatest teaching institutions were founded by followers of Christ. Oxford and Cambridge Universities began in the thirteenth century. (The motto of Oxford University is from Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light.”) George Marsden noted: “One of the remarkable facts about American history is that within six years of landing in Massachusetts wilderness, Puritans established what would soon become a reputable college.” These words are from a student handbook: “Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life (John 17:3), and therefore to lay Christ…as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning.” That was Harvard University! And 92 percent of the first 138 colleges and universities founded in America were begun by followers of Christ. His words not only inform us; they also transform us.

“Gaan dan… Leer hulle om alles te gehoorsaam wat Ek aan julle opgedra het…” Matteus 28:19-20 NLV

‘History is His story’

Die woorde wat Jesus gespreek het, het die wêreld vir altyd verander. Sy laaste instruksie aan sy dissipels was die volgende: ‘…God het die volle mag oor hemel en aarde aan My toevertrou. Gaan dan, maak al die nasies my dissipels… Leer hulle om alles te gehoorsaam wat Ek aan julle opgedra het…’ (verse 18-20 NLV). Jesus se volgelinge het dit ernstig opgeneem: ‘En elke dag het hulle aangehou om mense in die tempel en van huis tot huis te onderrig en die Goeie Nuus te preek dat Jesus die Messias is’ (Handelinge 5:42 NLV). Hulle het onthou dat hulle ‘n man gevolg het wat almal geleer het en wat hulle beveel het om al die volke te leer. Hulle het begin om beide mans en vroue en beide slawe en vrymense, te leer. Van die wêreld se grootste onderwysinstellings is deur volgelinge van Christus gestig. Oxford en Cambridge Universiteite is in die dertiende eeu gestig. (Die leuse van Oxford Universiteit kom uit Psalm 27:1: ‘Die Here is my lig.’) George Marsden het opgemerk: ‘Dis merkwaardig dat die Puriteine binne ses jaar nadat hul in die wildernis van Massachusett geland het, ‘n leerskool begin het wat kort daarna ‘n gerespekteerde kollege sou word.’ Hierdie woorde kom uit ‘n studentehandboek van daardie kollege: ‘Laat elke student duidelik onderrig en ernstig aangespoor word dat die hoofdoel van sy lewe en studies sal wees om God en Jesus Christus te ken, wat die ewige lewe is (sien Johannes 17:3), en om Christus as die enigste fondament van alle gesonde kennis en leer te beskou.’ Dit was Harvard Universiteit! 92 persent van die eerste 138 kolleges en universiteite wat in Amerika gestig is, is deur volgelinge van Christus begin. Sy woorde gee nie net kennis nie; dit transformeer ons ook.

“Only the Lord gives wisdom.” Proverbs 2:6 NCV

Pray for wisdom

Here’s Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church: “That…God…may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Ephesians 1:17 NKJV). For the Colossian church, he asked that God would fill them with “the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9 NKJV). James wrote: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God…and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting” (James 1:5-6 NKJV). Godly wisdom also comes to us by Bible reading. This is why Paul, in his last letter before being beheaded for the gospel, wrote to his successor Timothy and said, “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15 NKJV). How would you know that the wisdom you’re walking in comes from God? “God’s wisdom begins with a holy life…characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced” (James 3:17 MSG). As young Solomon took the throne of Israel God asked him, “What shall I give you?” (1 Kings 3:5 NKJV). Solomon answered: “‘Give to Your servant an understanding heart.’…The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing” (1 Kings 3:9-10 NKJV). As a result, Solomon became known as one of the wisest men who ever lived, and he wrote three of the books of the Bible. And the God who gave him wisdom will give it to you too. All you have to do is pray for it and open your heart and mind to His Word.