Filed under Lifestyle, Quotations or Citations, Religious affairs, World affairs
Charismatic churches dominate on university campuses,
leaving little room for non-charismatics and promoting a narrow, limited, distorted, disproportionate, and false image of Christianity and of what it actually means to be a Christian, especially what it means to be one at university.
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‘Come, just as you are to worship’Jesus has given his followers the task to go out into the word to preach the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God.
2020 years after the master teacher his birth the Church has gone fare away from his teachings. In many church-groups or denominations we can find that human doctrines have won and that the people in the congregation or church community prefer to keep to human tradition instead of holding to the biblical teachings and Godly holy days.
“I want to preach a sermon. . .” – NARA – 514567 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Disappointed by the many contradicting teachings, ideas and having seen so many pastors, ministers and priests not living according to the Law of God and the law of human decency, lots of people got enough of the hypocrisy of those churches. Today we can only see (nearly) empty churches all over West Europe.
For sure the Body of Christ needs some fresh blood and some good ‘Punch’. Anno 2017 it looks like the church is gone ‘pubering’ again and in need of some acné products, trying to get rid of the puperal pimples or the sickness of the capitalist world where man has increased his position to godly status, so many thinking they are god themselves and play for god.
This world need preachers or speakers who are not afraid to give those immature consumers a tick on their bum. some even can use some figurative slap in the face to wake them up.
Most important to come over as some one sincere and credible is that the one who wants to speak for God he or she, himself or herself beliefs in the Most High and in His only begotten son. In the preacher has to burn the light of faith before he can go to others for trying to convince them to see that light in the darkness.
First there has to be conviction and persuasion in the preacher’s heart, glowing very strongly, to have the fire in the eyes, with such a kind and sweet heart that people would become eager to taste that sweetness and listen to what that person has to tell.With the hate and vile language we can find lots of Christians spreading today on the internet and in common speech on the streets, they shall not be able to attract others to love them or to love what they tell.
Today we also find lots of Christians who preach there has a war started by the Muslims against the Christians. They forget that lots of Christians are setting themselves against the Islam. They do not see they have fallen in the trap of the false Muslims who not only have done a lot of damage to Islam but also want to destabilise the whole world.
It is up to the preachers who call themselves Christian to show the love of Christ and to share that agape love with all people around them, atheists, other believers (be them Muslims or from an other faith).
Without the love of Christ and without the burning fire of faith in the own heart, the preacher his gained ‘technique’ shall be quickly uncovered by the truth, so let him first get to the core of the Bible and teach that biblical Truth instead of human doctrines, and let he or she be unbiased, open to all people and not to just a few of a certain race or group.
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To remember
- preaching = divine task + form of public speaking
- preaching involves spiritual dynamics + oratory skills = technical aspect of preaching < form of public speaking => skills revolving around use + proper utilization + creative use of voice, eye contact, facial expressions, gestures + movements.
- no methodology holy
- Only written words of God in Bible are holy
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Preceding articles
To proclaim the day of vengeance
What makes you following Christ and Facebook Groups
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Additional reading
- The business of this life
- The task given to us to love each other
- Parish, local church community – Parochie, plaatselijke kerkgemeenschap
- People who know how to pray to move God to take hold of our affairs in a mighty way
- Pulpit reserved for the pastor
- Notification and news feed for Facebook users
- Bring praise to the Creator
- The essence of church
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Further reading
- Why are Christians so nosey about other peoples affairs
- What, we agree? Compatible issues in a disagreeable world
- Is a Religious War in Europe Imminent?
- Bias, and Disagreeing with Something
- Can we not be civil and simply disagree?
- “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give”
- Are you ready for this?
- On the Power of Hospitality…
- “When I Could Stand it No Longer….”
- Proclaim
- Politics and Preaching
- Good enough for ministry?
- What builds the Church?
- Back to Baby Steps
- Book Blurb: Biblical Preaching
- 3 Steps to Make the Message Stick
- 5 Lessons from the Mission Field
- Owen on Preaching, Sinclair on Children and Christ
- Jonah — Belief Contradicted by Behavior! (Part 3)
- Calvin: Ministers Ought Not to Steal
- Preparing to Preach
- Preaching and Faithfulness
- The Courage to Preach
- Pastoral Theology
- Reflections
- Charles Spurgeon on Spiritual Gleaning
- The Dispensation of Grace
- Stirring the Pot with Grace…
- Psalm 64:9 Pondering God’s Work
- How to Have a Successful Ministry
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Related articles
True, preaching is a divine task, yet basically it is also a form of public speaking. A true preacher will eventually realise that as much as preaching involves spiritual dynamics, it also certainly includes oratory skills. These oratory skills constitute the technical aspect of preaching.
Before I tell about this technical aspect of preaching, or the oratory skills, which make us realise that preaching is a form of public speaking, let me tell first some important points to consider.
The first point is that though the technical side of preaching is important, still the spiritual side is more important. Preaching is firstly divine, then secondly it is public speaking. Preaching achieves eternal spiritual fruits, something that ordinary public speaking can never produce.
The second point to consider is that no methodology is holy, no matter how helpful it is in preaching. The techniques of delivering a sermon are never holy…
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I often did not have it easy in my life. Certain choices also made it that I got myself in more trouble than if I would have followed the mainstream.
Career Opportunities (film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
First there was the choice of my profession. Having being brought up in the Old Roman Catholic church, having been an acolyte, wanting to be working for God, becoming a priest was a first option, but then I was not allowed to marry, and I loved to much women. I also loved very much musicals and wanted to be an artist, able to sing and dance. when I asked to study that I got a slap in my face and was told I could better become a garbage man than an artist. In secret I started lessons and worked in my spare time to pay for the study. It was a good thing about that time time Europe had to build itself up again and had to find its way to restore from the horror of wars and the political systems which brought Europe unto the swamp.
Being so much interested in God, having had to learn the Catechism, comparing to what was written in the Scriptures I soon found out that the Catholic Faith (be it the Roman, Charismatic or Orthodox) was not according to Biblical teachings. This made it again difficult for my parents and me, creating a conflict on theological matters now. After some church shopping, having looked at different protestant denominations, I chose for a non-trinitarian church (the Baptist Church at that time and when the Baptists moved more to Trinitarianism I, like thousands of my brethren and sisters chose for an other non-trinitarian group: the Christadelphians)
Concerned about the world I also stood on the barricades in 1968, hoping for a better world. Becoming a dancer I also more than once had to face the difficulties of my body which also more than once was pushed in the corner by accidents or by my autoimmune illness. Continually I had to prove myself and found that I had to restart my life again. Later the children sometimes asked “Why did you do not that?” or asked “Why did you not get that role?” or “Why did he got that position instead of you?”. It looked strange for them that I made certain ethical choices and did not want to do certain things to get a certain position. At the end of the trail, now being retired I do not have to shame myself for everything I did. And looking back on my career I must confess that I have really being blessed, being able my whole life to do what I loved to do and having been able to refuse several jobs because I did not like them or did not find them appropriate for a Christian to do (or did not want to do what they hoped for, for giving me that role or position).
In the end I can see how I was blessed and how there was an Incredible Strong Hand that pushed me in certain directions or got me up again when I was in the trenches. I was very lucky to have done fantastic work and having worked with fantastic people, international stars as well as with incredible people who, like me would only be known by their stage name or be forgotten soon.
Under this (official civil name) name I am writing I often was bullied because I did not hesitate to say my opinion or to speak about my faith which was not according to the main Christian majority. Once more I felt the Strong Hand of God, Who guided me and gave me further insight.
We may encounter lots of moments of darkness in our life, but by the sun-rays which brake the darkness we should come to see the better end of it. I had some horrible experiences in my life, which I would not wish any body would have such ones. But they helped me to help others and they also helped me to become strengthened or to know I was on the right way to show others how they have to behave or not have to behave. (For one incident: Though I never know what happened to a gang of seven that once attacked me with a knife in Chiswick Park, I do know I came out alive of it by keeping calm and trusting God.)
Over the years I also came to see how God uses the different elements/groups or denominations in Christendom to bring people from those different parts of the Body of Christ together in unity with Christ. Though for some it might take many years. But God is patient and we as Christians should also be patient with those we want to bring to Christ, getting them to believe that Jesus is the Way to God and not God himself.
In the meantime God is also helping others of different faith to build up a life, so that they too shall come to see how God helps them in their life.
Today I also want to bring an other case than myself to attention.
On the net you may find a blog which
“is a testimony of God’s goodness, protection and guidance over me and my family.” {Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!}
it’s from a person who is been working with for almost all of her tenure in the financial industry. She writes
Surprisingly, we lost the bid! Another bigger company took over the account, leaving our company with a devastating, disappointing news. {Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!}
She confidently, was not affected by the bad news and is convinced that
God has gone ahead of this scene, He knew it would come. And He knew, that I would be the very first one to feel fearful among all my colleagues. Why? I have all the reasons why, I am not as competitive as they are – being in the sales industry, my achievements were not at par as what my colleagues had produced. I would be in the bottom list, definitely! {Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!}
Like I had certain feelings in my life the author of that blog also has the feeling God assured me of the things that may come to pass. She writes
Last year, the Lord has been very busy preparing me and my husband with so many things, including the planning and executions.
We have gone to the most “thriftiest” way we can save money, He gave us a house , He brought the desire of going back home, instead. He gave a new sustainable job for my husband, He increased our commission in ways that we can finish all our goals for 2016. And finally we come up to an answer, that hey, I will finish my job this March 2017. {Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!}
Please do read more about her experiences and her telling about their family’s life circumstances
We all had a fair share of life circumstances. 2014, we lost our dad due to cancer, my husband lost his lolo due to old age, we had 2 series of unemployments and some financial problems. 2015, it’s like the continuation of 2014, consoling our mom during our mourning season, separation and long-distance childcare, 1 unemployment and financial struggle. 2016, was a good year, God restored all that we wanted to pursue, those that we missed, savings goals, dreams, home acquisition, clearer goals and more. 2017, is still uncertain, we have expectations and even before we embark to this year, God already had confirmations of what to expect and we are excited with that.
Through it all, there is one important thing that God wants us to inhabit in our hearts, it is about “gratefulness”. {New Perspective: Gratefulness and Thankfulness}
And find that
we would learn how to cultivate a life of gratefulness and thankfulness. Learning to appreaciate every season in our lives, that we will not give up on ourselves because God never did, and even if there are some struggles and life- circumstances – God is always there so inclined and willing to help and guide us.
In all things, give God praise, not only for the gifts that He gives, but because we understand that He is the source of all things. Our giver and our Father. Learn to be grateful even in the little, so when the big one comes, we will be more grateful. 🙂
Be thankful, always! {New Perspective: Gratefulness and Thankfulness}
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Find the articles
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Preceding
Winter and Spring wonders of nature showing the Master’s Hand
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Filed under Being and Feeling, Lifestyle, Religious affairs
We may find lots of denominations in the world which have churches full of life but also with churches which are like deadly silence and not bringing forth fruitful seeds.
All people should know it is not a group thing but a matter of personal growth and personal relationship with God. Without knowing God ourselves we cannot convince others about Him. We need first to know the person of God, Who He is, what His character is like, before we can go out and convince others of This marvellous Supreme Being.
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Today we have a look at Rebecca Preston her life and experience. From the time she was a young child she had already a sense of God’s presence in her life which was strong.
Even at that early age, I was convinced God was near me and heard me as I spoke to Him.
she writes.
We can imagine that her journey in the faith has been like many others, up and down, and that when she moved places she once again had to find a church where she could find herself at ease. Probably she like many of us had to search for a place where the love of Christ could be felt and where there were enough people willing to give help to another for enabling each person in that community to grow in the faith and to make every person
“to pay attention to God’s personal communication to him or her, to respond to the personally communicating God, to grow in intimacy with this God, and to live out the consequences of the relationship.” (William A. Barry and William J. Connolly) {Spiritual Direction}
For her
After a time of disinterest in Junior High, the way to God again opened up clearly as I became involved in the Youth for Christ movement.”
Wanting to go to a Christian College, but also not wanting to stir up disagreements within the family, she went to school for Nursing and became a nurse for a short time.
I soon discovered that I was not well suited to that role. I left and became a full time mom and housewife, picking up odd jobs along the way. But my desire often turned towards learning, and the craving to know more about how God moves among His people in our day. {About Rebecca Preston}
When God calls some one the voice may be stronger than the voices in this commercial materialistic world. Her desire often turned towards learning, and the craving to know more about how God moves among His people in our day took her and when her youngest was sent off to college, she also returned to school, finishing her BA. Soon after, she entered into Biblical Theological Seminary. She came to earn a certificate from Karios School of Spiritual Formation.
We go back with her about a decade ago, when her husband and she started at a new church, had a meeting with the pastor and during the exchange, the pastor said to them something that was at the heart of that church’s mission.
A-9 oxygen mask with B-6 winter helmet, WW2 vintage (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Recently, she took a trip across the country and got to look up as the oxygen mask portion of the announcement was on and suddenly got struck with the message that she cannot be really useful to anybody until after she puts the mask on myself first.
We too should take notice of that warning which accounts also for the message for life, for our relationship with God.
- not useful to anybody until God = top priority.
- love for God = key to everything
- need to spend time with God
- practising silence with God
- God of the Old Testament = same God that Jesus loved and called Father
- need to make memories with God
- need to respond to his love for us.
- as the oxygen mask helps to remain focused + alert => love of God leads to authentic and lasting usefulness for the Kingdom of Heaven.
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Related articles
About a decade ago, my husband and I started at a new church. As was our custom, we asked for a meeting with the pastor. The pastor came to our house and we had a delightful conversation about this new church, a church like we had never attended before. During the exchange, the pastor said to us something that was at the heart of this church’s mission. He said, “After all, it is not about us.” We nodded in agreement.
But as time has gone on, I’ve begun to chaff a little at this statement. It doesn’t sit as well as it once did.
Recently, I took a trip across the country. I just may have gotten to the place where I don’t pay much attention to the safety demonstrations that occurs on every airplane flight. These days when I am seated, I quickly notice my proximity to the exits…
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Filed under Being and Feeling, Re-Blogs and Great Blogs, Religious affairs
Living in a multicultural environment, in a democratic capitalist world, you may wonder how much freedom of speech and freedom of religion people are willing to give to each other.
U.S Postage Stamp, 1957 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In our world which says it is a free democratic world you would expect religious freedom to be a fundamental right. It might well be recognised by international human rights documents, and one which is integral to our human dignity, but that does not mean yet that people are so open minded they accept other’s people way of thinking and certainly not their sort of faith. In our surroundings the countries may enable its citizens to live in accordance with deeply held values and beliefs about what it means to be human, but by the different population groups we encounter often those who only are prepared to have their way of thinking, their faith, to be the one to be the main value and to which everybody has to adapt to. For sure that can not be called an open mind.
The exclusion of other Christians can be felt mostly by evangelicals, especially pentecostal new-born Christians. They shall in many cases fiercely react against non-trinitarian Christians, even would deny their right to call themselves Christians. Strangely enough by those evangelicals who call for unity under Christians and say we should come to religious freedom, we find many who oppose Muslims or people belonging to an other religion than their Christendom. Are those who are calling for religious freedom accepting the theists (those who accept a or the godhead exist) and atheists who belief that he doesn’t
(glossing over wrinkles in which god we may be talking about…). {Does not believing result in belief?}
Often we do find they close the doors for such other believing people, instead of trying to go into conversation talking about the differences in belief. Often they complain that their faith is threatened by all the immigrants and by the many converts to Islam. They also often complain that the other groups seemingly have little understanding of, or respect for, the rights of their religious communities to maintain the religious identity of their organisations, but often it are they themselves who oppose the religious laws like halal and kosher food or religious killing of animals without sedatives. In Belgium we can clearly see this with the opposition against the slaughter of sheep for the Jews and Muslims.
In Australia some may call to withdraw all government funds from organisations that ‘discriminate’, but often they do not see in own bosom, often bringing wrong and discriminating messages over other believers.
As Babamboga from Nairobi,Kenya, writes:
Christians at time are so side blinded they believe that the only way is Jesus Christ and anything else is going to hell including Muslims and the Buddhists and if go further on some a bit open minded Christians will say that Allah is the same God but does that mean anyone worshipping Buddha or Seth are already sinners but really is that their problem. It is like judging people who grew up knowing Santa Claus exists, is it really their problem that they believe such old folk tales are real? And oftenly in most of those movies it is faith that ensures these fairy tale super heroes are still alive. {Oh, My brother testify.}
This person is right to remind people what is written in the Bible were God is letting the world know that
there will be prophets who will spread his word
and that it doesn’t necessarily have to be pastors who give wrong renditions of the Bible based on their useless understanding of the word. Too many people still give too much preference to those theologian writings instead of clinging to the Bible Words, of which we are told that they are the Words of God.
In Belgium, the last thirty years, church attendance became minimal whilst the attendance at mosques grew intensively. We do agree that in our juridical system only the recognised religions agreeing with the council shall have their priests, pastors, rabbi‘s or imams paid by the government, but that did not withdraw many who believe in only One God to go out and preach and to attract those Christians who got muddled up by the many human doctrines.
By those monotheist believers we do find the non-trinitarian Christians who are outnumbered by the many different non-recognised or non-official or not Islam council associated Muslims, who often get together in packed garage mosques.
At the same time we do find several fanatic fundamentalist Christians who bring in hell for everything they can. They come up with saying that the Bible actually condemns some behaviour and wonder how the church will outright give justice to drunkards and prostitutes.
… yet in the bible itself, mind you in the new testament, weren’t prostitutes part of His plans, weren’t thieves there too…. {Oh, My brother testify.}
Those who call themselves Christian should come to see the difference between Christendom and Christianity and should distance themselves from human doctrines, looking for Biblical truth there where it is to find, in the Bible itself.
Some Christians are so into their religion and they fail to see when pastors apply simple mind games of the interpretation and soon a whole congregation enjoys in the feasting of snakes and you wonder has it really got to the point that if I do a couple of acted miracles and tell people the Lord wants us to eat sinners you will all follow. {Oh, My brother testify.}
In our surroundings where, this way, we do find many who fled from the Catholic and other Christian denominations to find a stronghold by Muslims, it is important that followers of Christ take up the Bible and perhaps also the Quran to show others where it went wrong in Christendom and what is really written in the Holy Books and how our society should come to the Abrahamic faith.
When there is an open mind and freedom of religion, each faith-group, monotheist, unitarian or trinitarian, or having a whole bunch of gods to worship, should have the same rights to be there and to speak out.
That outspokenness we not often enough do find by Christians. Many of them just keep their beliefs for their own and do not dare to speak about it with others.
The agnostic is saying that they don’t think there is a way to transform a belief about god’s existence into knowledge. But they could still hold a belief on the matter. You could be an agnostic atheist, or, for that matter, an agnostic theist. {Does not believing result in belief?}
For many the issue of a god has become so complicated by theologians and philosophers
that we think it is some totally different concept that we can treat differently. Maybe people just don’t want to take a stand, they’re too unsure or don’t want to offend. {Does not believing result in belief?}
The one who really believes in the One True God, need not to be afraid to express his opinion. He has good reason to let others know what he believes.
Many would say
Of course there is no chance of “proving” God by strict logical syllogisms (but can we prove anything outside of mathematics this way?) Every logician knows that there’s nothing in the conclusion that is not already latent in the premises. But neither is this inability any proof that such a being as God does not or cannot exist. You may as well say that since I cannot prove to you whether life exists on other planets by sheer argument it therefore cannot exist. An unprovable proposition is not any more false (or true) simply because it cannot be proven. {Pascal’s Possibility}
We have the Book of books to give us an idea of the nature of the Most High Divine Being. For some it seems manifestly impossible to prove an image of God,
formed by a haphazard, subconscious blending of our moral intuitions and deepest wishes, it is not simply a figment of our imagination {Pascal’s Possibility}
The real believer knows exactly it is not just some imagination and wants others to know it. It is like you found something incredible or you ‘invented’ something extraordinary. You cannot be quiet about it.
Some might think the fact that the ideal is too good to be really possible.
But
It is a trick of the mind to think that the goodness of a thing counts as positive proof against its existence. You may as well be lying on the beach and say the sun feels too good to exist. {Pascal’s Possibility}
Encountering so many people today who laugh at the saying that there would be a god Who created everything and Who is so good that He has a Plan that will bring eternal life and peace for many, there is reason enough to tell them that the question about such a God existing has nothing to do with if logic proves it
… logic either does, or does not, make such a God’s existence possible. {Pascal’s Possibility}
But we should listen to our inner being and look around ourselves. We also should not be afraid not to claim absolute demonstrable knowledge, but “reasonable belief”. And that “reasonable belief” should be founded deep in our heart and fed by a thorough knowledge of the Bible.
From somewhere we received the Good News and came into the faith. Now it’s up to us to share it wherever we are. We now should come to the conclusion that it is marvellous that we came into the faith to become children of God. Knowing and accepting the Divine Creator as our heavenly Father to Whom we own everything, we also do know that it is a privilege and a responsibility that God gives to us to go and speak others about His wonderworks.
When we came into the faith we wanted to become part of the Body of Christ, the church, and one of the highest things that you can do in the church, is to be an active member willing to share the truth. For sharing that truth we do not have to give a theological or biblical lecture and we do not have to have a theological education (though it might help, but could also distract, because most theological colleges are formed from one or the other denomination and focussing more on the worldly writings than on the Bible itself.)
What the community of faith demands of their members is an openness to others and words that can make the community grow. Though it is also not bad to have words which will remind those in community of how the world really is now. Therefore we too are looking for writers who are willing to share how the world is evolving. What happens around us may not let us be untouched. We have to notice it and should react accordingly how that God would like us to behave in such surroundings.
When looking at this reality of the world we are living in we can show the difference of this world with the different world in God’s Plan. Writing about it or preaching we can become preachers exposing the lies that are driving people’s lives,
ripping them to shreds, sapping them of strength and energy. {10 Years of Preaching, 10 Lessons: Lesson 1}
A ‘Lead Pastor’ from Bloom in Denver believes preaching is
standing up in a tradition that reaches back to Moses and Isaiah and finds its consummation and climax in Jesus of Nazareth and saying, “The reign of God is here. Change your mind, and believe yourself into this shocking good news.” {10 Years of Preaching, 10 Lessons: Lesson 1}
It is following up the task Jesus has give to his disciples, to go out into the world to tell about that Good News. We have to come to understand that we are messengers called to this –
to employing all of the resources our speech to construct alternative modes of understanding for the people of God so that they can leave every dehumanizing Egypt and Babylon they find themselves in. Week after week, we summon them saying, It is time to go home! {10 Years of Preaching, 10 Lessons: Lesson 1}
It is not by praying often out loud, while driving down the road, for all to see, listening to a lot of Christian music with sometimes cheesy, weird beats and no cuss words, letting yourself be seen at the church-building and certainly not by going to church and
worship a man named Jesus who you may believe has saved the world by dying and coming back to life. {Why Being A Christian Isn’t Cool}
that you will find the way back home and would bring others to home-base. But when you keep to the words as they are written in the Bible and to a honest form of worship, without all the cirque and circumstance, concentrating on the truth instead of letting yourself and others be diverted by entertainment, you shall be able to go together with other devoted people on the right path. And, yes, that way you perhaps have lesser people in your congregation and would not be able to build a mega church, but better to have a good quality church than a quantity church.
We, who label ourselves as “Christians” need to re-focus. We need to speak the truth, even when it hurts. We need to replace the luke warm water in our mouths with hot sauce baby, confidently sharing God’s peace, grace and power. {Why Being A Christian Isn’t Cool}
We should not have fear, like the apostles, when Jesus was caught, where very much afraid to let others know they were with Jesus. After he died and raised from the dead they even did hide in houses. We should not hide ourselves in our house, but go out, like the apostles did after they received the Holy Spirit.
We as Christians should be baptised with water but also with Holy Spirit and be encouraged to speak. Opening our heart to God we can let God’s Spirit enlighten us and guide us on our way. Trusting Him using His Word as our backbone we shall be able to enter many sorts of gates of this world, which is in the hands of ‘Satan,’ the adversary of God who more than once shall try to question you about the existence of that One God.
When questioned about God, what we belief and be tested, let us never compromise the truth ourselves for anything or anyone. We always do have to be carefully how we treat the Word of God. It is sacrilegious. That Holy Word we should sincerely seriously investigate and reflect on ourselves and those around us. When we want to tell others about that word we sincerely honestly should show the facts of it, showing that it presents good but also bad in all people, even in men of God. Bring the gospel-message we should dare to show good and bad of all and that we dare to let others see the brutal forces or battles which took place in the past. We may not present it as if everything is moonshine but also never may be guilty of turning the sweet gospel into something sour by our own surliness.
If we do, we might cause the hearer to turn away from God wincing instead of turning to him rejoicing. {Lessons Learned from 25 Years of Preaching (3)}
We also should remember that we
Don’t Have to Be Vicious with Truth to Be Strong for Truth {Lessons Learned from 25 Years of Preaching (3)}
We may not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths. Our ordinary speech should be always with grace and as a sacrifice.
Col 4:6 RNKJV Let your speech be always with favour, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Col 3:8 RNKJV But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Eph 4:24 RNKJV And that ye put on the new man, which after Elohim is created in righteousness and true holiness.
It is a vain effort to try to exorcise the evil only. Character is not a negation. Having put on the new self by our baptism we should be proud to show to others that renewed body which is created in God’s likeness and let it reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.
By saying
You have learned the Christ
the apostle Paul puts the members of the ecclesia their faith upon a high level; it is the faith of approved disciples in Christ’s school. For such men the “philosophy and vain deceit” of Colossae and the plausibilities of the new “scheme of error” will have no charm.
Also for us who want to go out in the world to bring the Word of God to as many as we can, we should be so pleased that we have found the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are hidden in Christ, that we want to share that treasure with as many as we can, because we do want to have the love of Christ also in our heart and bring the fire unto those around us.
Therefore also in trying to reach others we do not want to use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what we say will do good to those who hear us.
Eph 4:29-32 RNKJV Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister favour unto the hearers. (30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of YHWH, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as YHWH for the Messiah’s sake hath forgiven you.
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Preceding articles:
Your position about materialistic desires having conquered the world
Looking for a shepherd for the sheep and goats
When believing in God’s existence and His son, possessing a divine legislation
Not making yourselves abominable
Perishable non theologians daring to go out to preach
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Relating to God
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In de Europese universiteiten vindt me de theologie als wetenschapsgebied in directe verbinding met concrete godsdienstige praktijken. Niet alleen in die zin dat die praktijken voorwerp van onderzoek kunnen zijn, maar zo dat de afgestudeerde theoloog bekwaam en geschikt zou zijn om in die praktijken een professionele leidinggevende rol te vervullen. Als die praktijken uit […]
Every generation has to undergo some turnovers on one or the other factor. What is to considered to be normal at one time in another generation can be “not done”. The last few years it seems like we are living in a society which wants to overcorrect itself. It wants to break with previous passages […]
Jeff Carreira notes that the world reveals itself to us in a stream of sensation. Man has to face a lot of things in his life; Growing up we always go from one (unexpected) situation onto another, always bringing new and other facts and facets. All the time we are confronted with lots of imprints, made […]
Gelooft u het getuigenis van God, zijn Zoon en zijn dienaren? God beloofde de Verlosser te zijn van wie geloven. In Genesis maakte Hij al duidelijk dat de mens betrokken is bij de tot standkoming van zijn verlossing: “En Ik zal vijandschap zetten tussen u en de vrouw, en tussen uw zaad en haar zaad; […]
Heeft de wetenschap al ooit kunnnen bewijzen dat God niet bestaat? In welke mate wil men alle moderne wetenschappelijke inzichten in de strijd gooien en/of zijn gezond verstand gebruiken en getuigenissen in de omgeving opnemen en deze met de Woorden uit de Heilige Schrift vergelijken?
In certain religious groups there are people who say one may not read philosophers their work. Many philosophers their thought have influenced lots of people. We always should remember that their thoughts are best read in context. In the context of the lives that they lived, the times that they lived in, and the history […]
All human beings are created in the image of God. This makes that we are or should be, all accepting the other as being allowed to be here by God and to be co-images of God and ourselves. The Divine Creator, Jehovah, the God above all gods, did not create more than one race. Of […]
De Verlosser uit de dood God heeft in Adam alle mensen onderworpen aan de dood. Want allen hebben zich door hun zonde met Adam verbonden, en delen in het vonnis dat God over hem uitsprak. Sindsdien worden wij allen door de dood gevangen gehouden. Niemand kan aan de dood ontkomen, en niemand kan zichzelf, een […]
Vele dingen kunnen niet zo dadelijk makkelijk bewezen worden, zoals het al of niet zijn van zwarte gaten of God, maar dat betekent niet dat deze niet zouden bestaan.
For ages, man has been confronted with loads of questions. Millions of people tried to find answers but never got to the point where they could say they were satisfied. There are things that we think we do know. But often when we grow up we come to see we did not know it really. […]
In the Kafkajan country Belgium after more than one year (nearly1,5 year) after elections there is still no government formed according to the votes given by the people. In that tiny country it is clearly shown how without a sense of community and belongingness, democracy becomes hollow. Clearly, the Belgian politicians have no idea any […]
All are looking for what shall happen when this corona infection period shall come to an end. At the moment we do have no idea yet when we’ll find the end of the CoVid-19 intrusion on our life. The many countries who had a lockdown are finding ways to ease those limitations on their citizens. […]
For decades, globalisation has been narrowing the scope of national sovereignty. CoViD-19 threatens to become one of the most difficult tests faced by humanity in modern history. Perhaps there shall be not so many deaths as at the time of the Spanish flu, but this time the economic impact is going to be much greater […]
The past weekend it became too busy in many places where people came to look for cooler temperatures and for some water to swim in. With lockdown many people were restricted to their small flat or little house, feeling like imprisoned in their own house. We can imagine for some this made their frustration grow. […]
To be honest, I never thought Donald Trump would ever reach the possibility to become president of the United Nation of America, the “greatest nation of the world”. Though, he promised the voters to make it “Great Again”! I wonder what American themselves think about their 45th president and if they sincerely think he made […]
In many countries where there was a lockdown sadly enough, we could notate an increase in domestic violence. Once more South-Africa may dare to crown the crown here. It looks like those men over there want to blame women for all the difficulties and to be the source of infections. For many, this corona pandemic […]
Originally posted on Eddie Playfair:
In the midst of a global coronavirus pandemic which threatens many lives, we need to remember that this is just one of several global crises we face which will change our world in profound ways. All these challenges require us to alter the way we think and the way we…
Today’s thought “Disaster after disaster: behold it comes” (September 11) Ezekiel 7 is initially about the disaster coming on the people still living in Jerusalem. Ezekiel was a priest and is among those taken into captivity (1:1) some years before Jerusalem is destroyed. Those taken away are earnestly hoping to return to the land of […]
Lamentations Chapter 5 + 2 Our inheritance [nachalah] is turned to strangers [zarim], our houses to aliens [batim to foreigners] The promises of God in the past were real and literal in the eyes of the nation. But they had presumed upon them. They felt that they were unconditional. Yet, whether we look at the […]
Stuur mislukking de deur uit… en laat succes binnen! ‘…Als God voor ons is, wie zal tegen ons zijn?’ Romeinen 8:31 + Engelse versie / English version: Thought of the day: Farewell to failure
Say:’Farewell to failure’ and ‘Hello to success!’ ‘…If God is for us, who can be against us ?’ Romans 8:3 + Dutch version / Nederlandse versie: Overdenking voor vandaag: Afscheid van mislukking
Shape your dreams by your hopes not by your hurts. ‘And now, oh Jehovah God, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.’ Psalm 39:7 + Dutch version / Nederlandse versie: Overdenking voor vandaag: Dromen vormgeven door hoop
De weinigen die behouden worden (slot) “U hebt uw schatkamers gevuld, hoewel de tijd ten einde loopt” (Jac.5:3) Strijdt om in te gaan door de enge poort, want velen, zeg Ik u, zullen trachten in te gaan, doch het niet kunnen.” (Lukas 13:24, NBG’51) Redding – poorten en wegen In Lukas 13:23 lezen we hoe […]
Een kijk op bezigheden die de mens vermoeid kunnen maken, maar ook op een vermoeidheid die niet tevergeefs is.
Kennismaking met bijzondere vrouwen en mannen in de Bijbel De Syro-Fenicische Nadat de profeet en meester verteller Jezus vijfduizend mensen had gevoed, volgde er een gesprek over rein en onrein. Vermoeid door al het onbegrip vertrok de grote leermeester naar de omgeving van Tyrus en Sidon (Mark. 7:24), een gebied net over de grens. Hier […]
Koning David is een van de grote mannen uit het Oude Testament. Hij was echt een man naar Gods hart. Wat we bovenal zien is een combinatie van een man van volledig geloof in God, en een man die leeft naar Gods geboden. Daarom zien we dat er niet alleen aan Abraham, de vader van […]
In Jezus’ tijd was alles wat mensen offerden dood, zoals een geit of een schaap. Maar toen Jezus zichzelf als levend offer gaf voor onze zonden, was het resultaat dat Zijn volgelingen Christus . De Bijbel leert dat elke gelovige, toen en nu, zijn leven moet inrichten als antwoord op Zijn liefde. Aanbid door alles […]
In de Schrift wordt ons gevraagd ons in te spannen voor onze redding, en dit te doen in diep ontzag voor God. Hierbij wordt duidelijk gemaakt dat wij ons moeten inzetten of werken moeten doen om behouden de smalle weg op te kunnen gaan om zo als wedergeborenen door de nauwe poort het Koninkrijk van God binnen te kunnen gaan.
Repentance for forgiveness of sins has to be preached to all the non-Jews in Christ Jesus his name, who gave to us the ministry of reconciliation.
Not every covenant that God made with His People is to be viewed as having no limit in time, but that which was bought at a heavy price is sealed with blood forever. The prime necessity of human race, salvation from sin and death, has been provided in the divine purpose and solved by the sent one from God, who was willing to put his own will aside to do the Will of his heavenly Father, and gave himself as a ransom for all people.
U kan hier even een samenvatting vinden wat wij overlopen hebben rond de wisseling van een Oud naar een Nieuw Verbond, dat nu verzegeld is voor goed bij het bloedvergieten van Christus.
Niet elke verbond dat God met Zijn Volk afsloot moet aanzien worden als onbegrensd in tijd, maar datgene dat met een zware prijs werd gekocht is een verzegeling met bloed voor goed.
Looking at the blessed time of the Elohim which comes every seventh day, completing the week. The Shabbat representing completion. Delighting in the Shabbat has evolved over time, but it is for believers still a day of blessings and delight by bringing mercy and love, blessing and joy to others, and refreshing our souls.
Our sages regarded the 15th of Av to be one of the two most auspicious days on the Jewish calendar (the other being Yom Kippur — Talmud, Taanit 26b).
People would be surprised when they would come to be assured that it is possible to come to live in a truly healthy universe. That is possible when all human beings will realise that we all need one another.
Thanks to the Spanish Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman a synagogue was build in the Old City of Jerusalem which is still in use today
Originally posted on Cantor Matt Axelrod:
Over the last few months, we’ve all experienced a number of sweeping changes to our lives–some financial, some logisitical, some medical–but the one overarching difference in our now normal routines is the blurring of any boundaries that we once took for granted. We used to make a separation between…
Hoe staat het gesteld voor de betrouwbaarheid van de Nieuw Testament teksten? Wie stond er achter die Messiaanse geschriften en kunnen zij wel als een betrouwbare bron beschouwd worden? Wij zien ook hoe er in Nederlandse vertalingen toch ernstige of verontrustende verschillen opduiken.
De mens moet beseffen dat God de zorgvuldigheid van de Joodse schrijvers en hun eerbied voor de tekst heeft gebruikt om Zijn Woord betrouwbaar te bewaren tot in onze dagen.
In vele kerken wordt regelmatig nog teruggegrepen naar verouderde taal, die afstamt uit de tijd van vroegere Bijbelvertalingen. Vandaag kijken wij naar “verderven” ook zulk een typisch Oudnederlands Statenvertaling-woord, waarbij de woorden abad, bijna 200 keer voor gebruikt is en shachath bijna 150 maal.
Een kijk op de woordkeuze voor datgene wat van lange adem kan zijn of war men voor een langer tijdje kan tegen aan kan gaan of zien. Het lankmoedige of geduldige kan spreken over een genadige gemoedszin of barmhartigheid.
Wij kijken verder naar de manier waarop God Zijn volk een doortocht door de Rietzee verschafte en hen met ‘muren van water’ voor altijd van hun Egyptische overheersers redde.
it is now that life is mine i’ve been given a moment here on earth and my longing has brought me here what i missed and what i got it is still the road i’ve chosen my trust far beyond words that have showed me a little bit of the Heaven i’ve never reached i […]
ek skryf hierdie blog vir jou… hierdie was my boodskap aan jou… As ek my oë toemaak dan voel dit vir my of ek alleen iewers in die veld loop met honderde gedagtes in my kop maar daar is nog steeds ‘n kortsluiting tussen my ‘weet’ en die woorde wat by my mond moet uitkom. […]
I feel sad when I see people giving up after working so hard especially when I see the winning point just a few meters away. Unfortunately, this happens so often. Can you believe that many woeful failures are often just a stone’s throw away from emerging champion? I always advise people struggling to make their … Continue reading Always I advise: “keep going!”
