Radio Pulpit

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace.” Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

Pray boldly (1)

When Martin Luther’s coworker became ill, the reformer prayed boldly for healing. “I besought the Almighty with great vigor…quoting from Scripture all the promises I could remember…and said that He must grant my prayer, if I was henceforth to put faith in His promises.” As John Wesley was crossing the Atlantic Ocean, his ship encountered a great storm. He was reading in his cabin when he learned that the winds were knocking the ship off course, so he responded in prayer. Adam Clark, a colleague, heard the prayer and recorded it: “Almighty God, thou hast sway everywhere, and all things serve the purpose of thy will…Command these winds and waves that they should obey thee, and take us speedily and safely to the haven whither we would go.” Wesley stood up from his knees, took up his book, and continued to read. Adam Clark went on deck where he found calm winds and the ship on course. But Wesley made no remark about the answered prayer. Clark wrote, “So fully did he expect to be heard that he took it for granted that he was heard.” Boldness in prayer is an uncomfortable thought for many. Pounding on the door of the Most High? Wrestling with God? Is such prayer irreverent? Presumptuous? It would be, had God not invited us to pray as such: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Are you in a “time of need”? “Come boldly to the throne of grace,” believing God to answer your prayer and move on your behalf.

“Kom ons gaan dan met volle vrymoedigheid na die troon van ons genadige God…” Hebreërs 4:16 NLV

Bid met vrymoedigheid (1)

Toe Martin Luther se kollega siek geword het, het die hervormer vrymoedig vir genesing gebid. ‘Ek het die Almagtige met groot ywer gesmeek en al die beloftes wat ek uit die Skrif kon onthou, aangehaal. Ek het gesê dat Hy asseblief my gebed moet verhoor sodat ek voortaan geloof in sy beloftes moet hê.’ Terwyl John Wesley die Atlantiese Oseaan oorgesteek het, het sy skip ‘n groot storm binnegevaar. Hy het dadelik in sy kajuit gaan bid. Adam Clark, ‘n kollega, het die gebed gehoor en dit opgeteken: ‘Almagtige God, U heers oral en alle dinge dien die doel van u wil. Beveel hierdie winde en golwe dat hulle U moet gehoorsaam, en neem ons vinnig en veilig na die hawe waarheen ons wil gaan.’ Adam Clark het op die dek gaan staan, waar hy kalm winde en die skip op koers gevind het. Wesley het egter geen opmerking oor die verhoorde gebed gemaak nie. Clark het geskryf: ‘Hy het so volkome verwag om gehoor te word dat hy dit as vanselfsprekend aanvaar het dat sy gebed verhoor sou word.’ Vrymoedigheid in gebed is vir baie ‘n ongemaklike gedagte. Om aan die deur van die Allerhoogste te klop? Om met God te worstel? Is sulke gebed oneerbiedig? Vermetel? Dit sou wees as God ons nie genooi het om so te bid nie: ‘Kom ons gaan dan met volle vrymoedigheid na die troon van ons genadige God. Hy sal aan ons sy deernis en onverdiende goedheid bewys sodat ons op die regte tyd gehelp sal word.’ Bevind jy jouself tans in ‘n noodsituasie? ‘…gaan dan met volle vrymoedigheid na die troon van ons genadige God,’ in die geloof dat God jou gebed sal verhoor en namens jou sal optree.

“The tongue has the power of life and death.” Proverbs 18:21 NIV

Vocalize the Scriptures

Something powerful happens when we vocalize God’s Word. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Sometimes you have to say it like you believe it! Jesus literally spoke to the wind and the waves, right? He rebuked storms. He rebuked demons. He rebuked fevers. He even told us to tell mountains to move! (See Mark 11:23.) When you verbalize faith, you give it power. There are some things you should not say. When Jeremiah used his age as an excuse to say no to God’s call, the Lord rebuked him: “Say not, I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:7 KJV). In other words, don’t disqualify yourself if God has called you! Instead, speak life-giving, faith-filled, grace-laced words. Mark Batterson says: “There are some things I refuse to say because it gives them power. I call it my ‘Say Not’ list. What words need to go on your ‘Say Not’ list? I’m not just talking about four-letter words. Jesus said we’d give account for every idle word. The word idle means unemployed. An idle word is a useless, worthless word—a word that doesn’t accomplish anything.” Jesus also said in Matthew 12:34 (TLV), “For from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks,” so our words are x-rays of what’s on the inside. That’s where the battle is won or lost. If we want our words to reflect His Word, that’s where we’ve got to drop anchor. And when we do, the mind of Christ becomes our mindset too.”

“Die tong het mag oor dood en oor lewe...” Spreuke 18:21 NLV

Spreek die Skrif

Iets kragtigs gebeur wanneer ons God se Woord spreek. ‘Die tong het mag oor dood en oor lewe. Hulle wat lief is om te praat, moet saamleef met die gevolge van hulle woorde.’ Jesus het letterlik met die wind en die golwe gepraat, nie waar nie? Hy het storms bestraf. Hy het demone bestraf. Hy het siektes bestraf. Hy het selfs vir ons gesê om berge aan te sê om te versit! (Sien Markus 11:23.) Wanneer jy jou geloof verbaliseer, gee jy dit krag. Daar is ‘n paar dinge wat jy egter nie moet sê nie. Toe Jeremia sy ouderdom as ‘n verskoning gebruik het om nee vir God se roeping te sê, het die Here hom bestraf: ‘…Moenie sê jy is te jonk nie…’ (Jeremia 1:7). Met ander woorde, moenie jouself diskwalifiseer wanneer God jou roep nie! Spreek eerder lewe-gewende, geloofsgevulde, genade-deurdrenkte woorde. Mark Batterson sê: ‘Daar is sommige dinge wat ek weier om te sê, want dit gee hulle krag. Ek noem dit my ‘Sê Nie’-lys. Watter woorde moet op jou ‘Sê Nie’-lys gaan? Ek praat nie net van woorde wat nie in ordentlike geselskap gesê moet word nie. Jesus het gesê ons sal van elke ydele woord rekenskap gee. ‘n Ydele woord is ‘n nuttelose, waardelose woord – ‘n woord wat niks bereik nie.’ Jesus het ook in Matteus 12:34 gesê: ‘…Waar die hart van vol is, loop die mond van oor’ (NLV), dus is ons woorde x-strale van wat binne-in ons aangaan. Dit is waar die stryd gewen of verloor word. As ons wil hê dat ons woorde sy Woord moet weerspieël, is dit waar ons geanker moet wees. Wanneer ons dit doen, word die gesindheid van Christus ook ons denkwyse.

Bahle Nhlapho is joined in the studio by Pastor Charlotte Van Staden, Pastor Refiloe Maseko, and Minister Nana Komape for a candid conversation on "Pastors' Kids" and the unique challenges they face — the weight of expectations, pressure, identity struggles, and the responsibility that comes with growing up in ministry. Together they unpack the hidden struggles that often go unseen, offering a raw and honest look into a side of ministry life rarely spoken about. A revealing and compassionate discussion for pastors, families, and the Church at large.

#PastorsKids #BahleNhlapho #CharlotteVanStaden #RefiloeMaseko #NanaKomape #GrowingUpInMinistry #IdentityAndPressure #RadioPulpit #BiblicalTruth Jula Ezwini

“Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!” Joshua 6:16 NKJV

Keep marching and believing

Jericho represented the greatest stronghold in Canaan, and it had to be conquered before Israel could move in and possess the land. So God told them to march around its walls once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day. On the seventh day, “Joshua said to the people: ‘Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!’” Is there a stronghold in your life? Are you discouraged, thinking you’ve been battling for a long time with no sign of victory? It may have seemed that way to the Hebrews too. Notice that God told Joshua the walls would fall down on the seventh day, but Joshua didn’t tell the people. They just had to keep walking. And the Lord doesn’t tell us everything either! Through the pen of Paul, He urges us to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV). So keep walking, keep praying, and keep believing. For all you know, this may be the day when the walls of your Jericho come down. You may be only steps away from a moment like this: “And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then…they took the city” (Joshua 6:20 NKJV). The very walls that kept them out became stepping stones to victory. So keep marching and believing. Defeat your strongholds with the spiritual weapons of worship: Scripture and prayer. It’s just a matter of time before your Jericho comes down.

“…Gee die kreet! Die Here gee die stad vir julle!” Josua 6:16 NLV

Hou aan marsjeer en glo

Jerigo was die grootste vesting in Kanaän en moes verower word voordat Israel die land kon intrek en besit. Daarom het God vir hulle gesê om ses dae lank een keer per dag om die mure te marsjeer, en op die sewende dag sewe keer. Op die sewende dag het Josua vir die volk gesê: ‘…Gee die kreet! Die Here gee die stad vir julle!’ Is daar ‘n vesting in jou lewe? Is jy mismoedig en voel dat jy al lank sonder enige teken van oorwinning veg? Dit het dalk ook so vir die Israeliete gelyk. Let op dat God vir Josua gesê het dat die mure op die sewende dag sou ineenstort, maar Josua het dit nie vir die mense gesê nie. Hulle moes net aanhou marsjeer. Die Here vertel ons ook nie alles nie! Deur die pen van Paulus spoor Hy ons aan: ‘…staan baie vas, onbeweeglik. Gee altyd julle allerbeste vir die Here se werk, want julle weet voor die Here is alles wat julle doen die moeite werd’ (1 Korintiërs 15:58 NLV). Hou dus aan marsjeer, hou aan bid en hou aan glo. Vandag mag dalk die dag wees wanneer die mure van jou Jerigo ineenstort. Jy is dalk net ‘n paar treë weg van ‘n oomblik soos hierdie: ‘Toe die volk hoor dat die ramshorings die teken gee, het hulle die aanvalskreet uitgeskreeu. Die mure het inmekaar gestort. Almal het oorgeklouter, reguit die stad in. Hulle het die stad ingeneem’ (Josua 6:20 NLV). Die einste mure wat hulle uitgehou het, het die trappe na oorwinning geword. Hou dus aan marsjeer en glo. Verslaan jou vestings met die geestelike wapens van aanbidding, Skrif en gebed. Dis net ‘n kwessie van tyd voordat jou Jerigo val.

“If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:42 NLT

One life at a time

Les Goldberg’s friends thought he was crazy when he cashed in his personal investments to buy a home to lease for the homeless. A retired engineer, Les felt it was the only decision he could make. He spends a minimum of one hour each day with his homeless friends and has helped renovate several properties on their behalf. In all his efforts, Goldberg never regarded the homeless as irresponsible or unreliable; he only saw them as people. Hurting people! He figured the house he purchased could be used as both a temporary shelter and a drop-in center—a place where homeless people might pick up mail, make phone calls, follow up job leads, and receive donated commodities. Four homeless men live at the house, paying minimal rent to offset expenses. House rules are strict: no alcohol, no drugs, no loitering. Goldberg has never been rich. For twenty years he ran his own business, making about $25,000 a year designing and installing fire sprinklers. He simply was a man who saw an unmet need and found a way to help meet it. Mother Teresa said: “We cannot all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.” Jesus put it this way: “If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” As you go through this day, keep your heart open and ask God to make you a solution to someone else’s problem. When you do, “You will surely be rewarded.”

“Selfs as jy ‘n beker koue water aan een van my geringste dissipels sou gee… verseker Ek jou dat jy jou beloning nie sal misloop nie.” Matteus 10:42 NLV

Een lewe op ‘n slag

Les Goldberg se vriende het gedink hy was mal toe hy ‘n huis koop om aan haweloses te verhuur. As ‘n afgetrede ingenieur het Les gevoel dat dit die enigste besluit is wat hy kon neem. Hy het elke dag minstens een uur saam met sy hawelose vriende bestee en gehelp om verskeie eiendomme namens hulle op te knap. Goldberg het nooit die haweloses as onverantwoordelik of onbetroubaar beskou nie; hy het hulle slegs as mense gesien. Mense wat seer het! Hy het beplan dat die huis wat hy gekoop het, as beide ‘n tydelike skuiling en ‘n inloopsentrum gebruik kon word – ‘n plek waar haweloses hulle pos kon ontvang, telefoonoproepe kon maak, werksaanbiedinge kon opvolg en donasies kon ontvang. Vier hawelose mans het in die huis gewoon en minimale huur betaal om uitgawes te dek. Huisreëls was streng: geen alkohol, geen dwelms, geen rondlê nie. Goldberg was nooit ryk nie. Vir twintig jaar het hy sy eie besigheid bedryf en ongeveer $25 000 per jaar verdien deur brandsproeiers te ontwerp en te installeer. Hy was eenvoudig ‘n man wat ‘n onvervulde behoefte gesien het en ‘n manier gevind het om dit te help vervul. Moeder Teresa het gesê: ‘Ons kan nie almal groot dinge doen nie, maar ons kan almal klein dingetjies met groot liefde doen.’ Jesus het dit so gestel: ‘Selfs as jy ‘n beker koue water aan een van my geringste dissipels sou gee bloot omdat hy ‘n dissipel is, verseker Ek jou dat jy jou beloning nie sal misloop nie.’ Terwyl jy deur hierdie dag gaan, hou jou hart oop en vra God om jou ‘n oplossing vir iemand anders se probleem te gee. Wanneer jy dit doen, sal jy jou beloning vir seker nie misloop nie.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you…plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Pursue God’s purpose for your life

Nothing is more gratifying than knowing one’s purpose—even when opposition seems unbearable and other distractions threaten to overshadow it. Often when people say they don’t have a passion for anything, they mean they don’t have faith to believe they could actually do what they really desire in their hearts. Jesus refused to let anyone pull Him away from His purpose. “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ Jesus replied, ‘Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?’” (Luke 12:13-14 NIV). In essence, Jesus was saying, “I’m not about to get distracted by conducting an arbitration hearing between you two. That’s not part of My purpose for being here on earth.” Even up to the day that Jesus gave His life on the cross, there were many sick people needing healing and a myriad of other impossible situations that needed His attention. He knew that through the power of His death and resurrection, all could be addressed. So, despite unresolved problems, He confidently gave His heavenly Father this report on His ministry: “I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4 NLT). Jesus refused to let His disciples, Satan, well-meaning family members, needy people, or anyone else distract Him from His purpose. And you must learn to do that too. This raises the question: Can you state your God-given purpose in a single sentence? Are you pursuing it?