Radio Pulpit

“Die wapens van ons stryd is nie mensgemaak nie, maar die kragtige gevegstoerusting van God wat vestings kan vernietig…” 2 Korintiërs 10:4 NLV

Jy kan jou probleme oorkom

Vandag se probleem is nie noodwendig môre se probleem nie. Weerstaan die versoeking om jouself te etiketteer: ‘Ek is nou maar net ‘n kommerkous.’ ‘My swakheid is nou maar een maal om te skinder.’ ‘My pa was ‘n drinker; ek sit maar net die tradisie voort.’ Hou op daarmee! Hierdie woorde skep bondgenootskappe met die duiwel. Dit gee hom toegang tot jou gees. Dit is nie God se wil dat jy ‘n verslane, ongelukkige lewe moet lei nie. Draai ‘n dowe oor vir die ou stemme en maak nuwe keuses. ‘’n Pragtige plek is vir my afgemeet. Wat ek geërf het, is vir my mooi!’ (Psalm 16:6 NLV). Leef uit jou erfenis, nie uit jou omstandighede nie. God het jou reeds oorwinning belowe en jou van wapens vir die stryd voorsien. ‘Ons leef wel in ‘n menslike liggaam, maar ons voer die stryd nie met menslike middele nie. Die wapens van ons stryd is nie mensgemaak nie, maar die kragtige gevegstoerusting van God wat vestings kan vernietig… (2 Korintiërs 10:3-4 NLV). Hoe het Josua Jerigo verower? Deur God se strategie te gebruik: ‘…Dra die ark van die verbond. Laat sewe priesters elkeen met ‘n ramshoring voor die ark van die Here loop’ (Josua 6:6 NLV). Die verbondsark was die simbool van God se teenwoordigheid. Josua het dit in die middel van die optog geplaas. Elke aktiwiteit het om God gewentel. Die geheim van oorwinning is om God sentraal in jou lewe te hou deur die wapens van aanbidding - die Skrif en gebed - te gebruik. Gebruik elke instrument wat God bied: Memoriseer die Skrif en pleit by God. Skakel die TV af en maak die Bybel meer gereeld oop. Bekommer jou minder en bid meer. Jy kan jou probleme oorkom deur daagliks op die teenwoordigheid van God staat te maak.

“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed.” Jeremiah 17:14 NKJV

Pray and believe God for healing

Dr. A. B. Simpson, founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, was plagued with poor health. Two nervous breakdowns and a heart condition led to a physician telling him—at age thirty-eight—he wouldn’t live to be forty. The diagnosis was no surprise to Simpson. Preaching was agonizing for him; even climbing a slight elevation left him breathless. In desperation, he went to his Bible to find out what Jesus had to say about disease, and he became convinced that Jesus wanted to heal him. Shortly after, he went for a walk in the country. Coming to a pine woods, he sat down on a log to rest and pray. He asked Christ to become his physical life until his life’s work was accomplished. He later said, “Every fiber in me was tingling with the sense of God’s presence.” Days later, he climbed a 3,000-foot mountain. “When I reached the top,” he said, “the world of weakness and fear was lying at my feet. From that time on, I literally had a new heart.” He went on to preach 3,000 sermons in the next three years, sometimes holding twenty meetings a week. He became a prolific author whose books are still blessing the world. And he died—at the age of seventy-six. In the Bible, Jeremiah prayed: “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed.” David said, “O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me…You brought my soul up from the grave” (Psalm 30:2-3 NKJV). Isaiah said, “You will restore me and make me live” (Isaiah 38:16 NKJV). So pray and believe God for healing.

“Here, U alleen kan my gesond maak…” Jeremia 17:14 NLV

Bid en glo God vir genesing

Dr A. B. Simpson, stigter van die Christian and Missionary Alliance, is deur swak gesondheid geteister. Twee senuwee-ineenstortings en ‘n hartkwaal het daartoe gelei dat ‘n dokter hom - op agt-en-dertigjarige ouderdom - meegedeel het dat hy nie veertig sou word nie. Die diagnose was nie vir Simpson ‘n verrassing nie. Dit was vir hom ‘n foltering om te preek; selfs die klim van ‘n effense hoogte het hom asemloos gelaat. In desperaatheid het hy hom na sy Bybel gewend om uit te vind wat Jesus oor siekte sê en hy het oortuig geraak dat Jesus hom wou genees. Kort daarna het hy ‘n entjie in die platteland gaan stap. Toe hy by ‘n dennebos kom, het hy op ‘n stomp gaan sit om te rus en te bid. Hy het Christus gevra om sy fisiese lewe te seën sodat hy sy lewenstaak kon voltooi. Hy het later gesê: ‘Elke vesel in my het getintel van die bewustheid van God se teenwoordigheid. Van daardie oomblik af het ek letterlik ‘n nuwe hart gehad.’ Hy het in die volgende drie jaar 3 000 preke gelewer en soms twintig vergaderings per week bygewoon. Hy het ‘n produktiewe skrywer geword wie se boeke steeds die wêreld seën. Hy is uiteindelik oorlede - op die ouderdom van ses-en-sewentig. In die Bybel het Jeremia gebid: ‘Here, U alleen kan my gesond maak…’ Dawid het gesê: ‘Here my God, ek het na U geroep om hulp en U het my gesond gemaak. Here, U het my gered van die doderyk…’ (Psalm 30:3-4 NLV). Jesaja het gesê: ‘…U het my gesondheid teruggegee en my toegelaat om te lewe!’ (Jesaja 38:16 NLV). Bid dus en glo God vir genesing.

“We are God’s workers, working together.” 1 Corinthians 3:9 NCV

Have a cooperative spirit

A cooperative spirit will become your norm once you embrace the fact that you plant seeds for your own success when you support others. Take the case of Paul and Apollos. Some of the Christians at Corinth felt they had to choose sides as to which one to follow—despite the fact that they preached the same gospel. Paul took them to task for their carnal attitudes. “One of you says, ‘I belong to Paul,’ and another says, ‘I belong to Apollos.’ When you say things like this, you are acting like people of the world. Is Apollos important? No! Is Paul important? No! We are only servants of God who helped you believe. Each one of us did the work God gave us to do. I planted the seed, and Apollos watered it. But God is the One who made it grow. So the one who plants is not important, and the one who waters is not important. Only God, who makes things grow, is important…We are God’s workers, working together” (1 Corinthians 3:4-9 NCV). In an attempt to blow out another’s light so that their own lights can shine, some ministers make disparaging remarks about other ministries. And it’s such a turnoff to both believers and non-believers. Paul’s primary objective was to spread the gospel, and he wanted to make sure that no minister was hindered from doing so. In his letter to Titus, he encouraged believers to give Apollos their full support: “Do everything you can to help…Apollos” (Titus 3:13 NLT). Such a request could emanate only from a secure heart. So, the word for you today is—have a cooperative spirit.

“Ons is medewerkers in diens van God…” 1 Korintiërs 3:9 AFR83

‘n Gees van samewerking

Sodra jy die feit aanvaar dat jy vir jou eie sukses saad saai wanneer jy ander mense ondersteun, sal ‘n gees van samewerking jou norm word. Neem die geval van Paulus en Apollos. Sommige van die Christene in Korinte het gevoel dat hulle kant moes kies oor watter een om te volg - ten spyte van die feit dat hulle dieselfde evangelie verkondig het. Paulus het hulle aangespreek oor hul vleeslike gesindhede. ‘As een van julle sê: ‘Ek is vir Paulus,’ en ‘n ander: ‘Ek is vir Apollos,’ is julle dan nie nog wêrelds nie? Wat is Apollos dan? Wat is Paulus? Hulle is maar net dienaars deur wie julle tot geloof gekom het, en elkeen doen die werk soos die Here dit vir hom gegee het. Ek het geplant, Apollos het natgegooi, maar dit is God wat laat groei het. Dit gaan dus nie om die een wat plant of die een wat natgooi nie, maar om God wat laat groei… Ons is medewerkers in diens van God… (1 Korintiërs 3:4-9 AFR83). Sommige predikante maak neerhalende opmerkings oor ander bedieninge in ‘n poging om iemand anders se lig te verdoof sodat hul eie lig helderder kan skyn. Dit skrik beide gelowiges en ongelowiges af. Paulus se primêre doelwit was om die evangelie te versprei en hy wou seker maak dat geen predikant verhinder word om dit te doen nie. In sy brief aan Titus het hy gelowiges aangemoedig om Apollos hul volle ondersteuning te gee: ‘Doen jou uiterste bes om… Apollos met hulle reis te help…’ (Titus 3:13 NLV). So ‘n versoek kan slegs uit ‘n geruste hart kom. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: jy moet ‘n gees van samewerking hê.

“The kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21 NKJV

Understanding the kingdom of God

In one sense, the kingdom of God is future, eternal, and heavenly. When Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth, the prophecy will be fulfilled: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15 NKJV). What a glorious day that will be for all of God’s redeemed children. But until then, Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is within you.” That means as a born-again believer living in this world, you’re called to demonstrate what it means to live under the rule of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Winston Churchill famously quipped: “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried.” All human government is flawed and ultimately destined to fail because it’s made up of flawed human beings. So as citizens of the kingdom of God, we are called to be “light” that illuminates darkness and dispels ignorance, and “salt” that flavours, cleanses, heals, and enriches the lives of those we come in contact with (see Matthew 5:13-14). We are called to practice the principles of God’s kingdom in the marketplace of life. Whether you work in education, transportation, medicine, politics, agriculture, IT, sales, manufacturing, etc., you are called to demonstrate the benefits of living under the rule of Christ and by the guidance of His indwelling Holy Spirit. “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord.” When Christ returns, that promise will be totally fulfilled. Until then, Jesus said, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13 KJV).

“…die koningsheerskappy van God is hier by julle.” Lukas 17:21 NLV

Verstaan God se koningsheerskappy

God se koningsheerskappy is toekomstig, ewig en hemels. Wanneer Christus terugkeer om sy koninkryk op aarde te vestig, sal die volgende profesie vervul word: ‘...Die koninklike heerskappy oor die wêreld behoort nou aan ons Here en sy Christus, en Hy sal as koning heers vir altyd’ (Openbaring 11:15 NLV). Wat ‘n glorieryke dag sal dit nie vir al God se verloste kinders wees nie. Tot dit egter plaasvind, sê Jesus: ‘...die koningsheerskappy van God is hier by julle.’ Dit beteken dat jy as ‘n wedergebore gelowige wat in hierdie wêreld leef, geroep is om te demonstreer wat dit beteken om onder die heerskappy van die Koning van konings en die Here van heersers te leef. Winston Churchill het geskerts: ‘Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried.’ Alle menslike regerings is gebrekkig en uiteindelik bestem om te misluk, omdat dit uit gebrekkige mense bestaan. Dus, as burgers van die koninkryk van God, word ons geroep om die ‘lig’ te wees wat die duisternis verlig en onkunde verdryf, en die ‘sout’ te wees wat die lewens van diegene met wie ons in aanraking kom, geurig maak, reinig, genees en verryk (sien Matteus 5:13-14). Ons word geroep om die beginsels van God se koninkryk op die markplein van die lewe uit te oefen. Of jy nou in die onderwys, vervoer, medisyne, politiek, landbou, verkope, of vervaardiging werk, jy word geroep om die voordele van ‘n lewe onder die heerskappy van Christus en deur die leiding van sy inwonende Heilige Gees, te demonstreer. ‘....Die koninklike heerskappy oor die wêreld behoort nou aan ons Here en sy Christus...’ Wanneer Christus terugkeer, sal hierdie belofte ten volle vervul word. Tot dan, het Jesus gesê: ‘...Gaan doen besigheid daarmee totdat ek terugkom’ (Lukas 19:13 NLV).

“All things come from You, and of Your own [hand] we have given You.” 1 Chronicles 29:14 NKJV

Money: how you get it, and give it

Many of the heroes in the Bible were wealthy individuals. “Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold” (Genesis 13:2 NKJV). King David “died in a good old age, full of days and riches and honour” (1 Chronicles 29:28 NKJV). Barnabas, a wealthy landowner, made possible the expansion of the early church when he sold a piece of real estate and gave the money to the apostles (see Acts 4:36-37). There is nothing wrong with wealth in and of itself. The things that matter are: (1) How you get it. “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord” (James 5:1, 4 NKJV). The God who records and rewards also observes how you do business. (2) How you give it. David said, “All things come from You, and of Your own [hand] we have given You.” So, when God speaks to you to give, try to remember these two things: (a) He is asking for a portion of what already belongs to Him. You don’t own it; you manage it for Him. (b) You always reap what you sow. “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7 NKJV). And in God’s economy, you reap more than you sow. If you plant a single grain of corn, you reap a cornstalk with hundreds of grains like itself. So give and God will give back to you.

“…Alles wat ons het, kom van U af, en ons gee vir U net dit wat U reeds vir ons gegee het!” 1 Kronieke 29:14 NLV

Geld: Hoe mens dit kry en uitgee

Baie van die helde in die Bybel was welgestelde individue. ‘Abram was baie ryk aan lewende hawe, silwer en goud’ (Genesis 13:2 NLV). Koning Dawid ‘…is op ‘n ryp ouderdom dood nadat hy ‘n lang lewe, rykdom en eer geniet het…’ (1 Kronieke 29:28 NLV). Barnabas, ‘n welgestelde grondeienaar, het die uitbreiding van die vroeë kerk moontlik gemaak toe hy ‘n stuk grond verkoop en die geld aan die apostels gegee het (sien Handelinge 4:36-37). Daar is niks met rykdom op sigself verkeerd nie. Die dinge wat egter saak maak, is: 1) Hoe jy dit kry. ‘Kom nou, julle ryk mense, huil en treur oor al die swaar wat vir julle voorlê… Die betaling wat julle teruggehou het van die mense wat oes, is baie duidelike getuienis teen julle…’ (Jakobus 5:1, 4 NLV). Die God wat aanteken en beloon, let ook op hoe jy sake doen. 2) Hoe jy dit gee. Dawid het gesê: ‘…Alles wat ons het, kom van U af, en ons gee vir U net dit wat U reeds vir ons gegee het!’ Wanneer God dus vir jou sê om te gee, probeer om hierdie twee dinge te onthou: a) Hy vra vir ‘n gedeelte van dit wat reeds aan Hom behoort. Jy besit dit nie; jy bestuur dit net vir Hom. b) Jy oes altyd wat jy saai. ‘…Wat mense saai sal hulle ook maai!’ (Galasiërs 6:7 NLV). In God se ekonomie maai jy meer as wat jy saai. Wanneer jy ‘n enkele mieliepit plant, oes jy ‘n mielierank met honderde mieliepitte. Gee dus en God sal aan jou teruggee.

“Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’” Isaiah 6:8 NKJV

Let’s tell the whole world about Jesus

One of the greatest disasters of history took place in 1271. That year, Niccolo and Matteo Polo, the father and uncle of Marco Polo, visited Kublai Khan, who was considered the world ruler—with authority over all China, India, and the entire East. Kublai Khan was attracted to the story of Christianity as Niccolo and Matteo told it to him. He said to them, “You shall go to your high priest and tell him on my behalf to send me a hundred men skilled in your religion and I shall be baptized. And when I am baptized, all my barons and great men will be baptized and their subjects will receive baptism, too. And so there will be more Christians here than there are in your parts of the world.” But amazingly, nothing was done in response to what Kublai Khan requested. Only after thirty years was a handful of missionaries sent. Too few, too late! Christian leaders in the West apparently didn’t have the vision to see the East won to Christ. The mind boggles at the possible ways the world might be different today if thirteenth-century China, India, and the other areas of Asia had become Christian. Now it’s up to us! You say, “What can I do? I’m only one person.” You can do three things: (1) “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38 NKJV). (2) Give, so that the unsaved can be reached with the gospel (see 2 Corinthians 9:7). (3) If God calls you, go! “Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’”