The Pastor Says

Paul in 1Timothy 6:13 tells us about when Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate and made his good confession. Have you ever asked yourself what would be your good confession if you were to be in a position to give it?
We today live in a world where much is demanded about how and what we believe in, whether it is about politics, sports, socialism or religion. What would you say about Christ as every other topic seems to roll of our tongue? There is something about telling others about Christ, of course at first there is that feeling of uncertainty, what if someone were to ask me about a difficult theological question? What if in my sharing I offend and drive my friend, my neighbour or even a family member away? Is our confession these days conditional? Unfortunately I tend to believe that it is, and it is because we too often are relying on our own abilities or our credentials to get our confession out. Secondly, why we are reluctant to speak about Christ lies in our ignorance; we in Christ have received a spirit of power, of love and of self-control (2Timothy 1:7). Now don’t feel alone in this! for it seems that the disciples of the first century suffered that same form of fate except of course for those who were bold enough. Why do we prayer? Now I could be wrong, but generally speaking when you ask God for something for your life it is because there is that feeling of lack or a need and in Acts 4:29 the disciples when facing challenges to speak about their belief asked God to anoint them with boldness so that they could speak about Christ and share their good confession. Have you asked? Have you believed if you have asked? Jesus tells us that where ever we go that He would be there with us “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt28:20). Could I leave with you something to think about? Have you ever desired to see God manifesting His power and glory through you? I know that I have and it is a wonderful and remarkable feeling, when suddenly you see the person you are speaking too receiving healing, deliverance, hope and above all salvation. Words are just words, but words with evidence of signs and wonders are words of life, they are powerful. They create, they shape and God ensures that your confession about Christ will be accompanied with signs and wonders (Mark 16:15-18). Our good confession is based on what we believe without the need to impress, without the need to believe that you are expected to convince, Leave that to God.
Can I simply encourage you to know that God has made each of us carriers of His Eternal Word? Having Jesus in our life, you and I have become the home of the Word that has created the infinities from out of nothing. For when there was nothing God is, but when He spoke His Word into existence, life began to appear. Feel important? Feel privileged today? God has considered you so important that He chose you to be the habitation of His all powerful, creative, sustaining Word.
Be blessed as you make your good confession.

Eric

In Thoughts

Aaaah! It’s Easter again. We could look at it from a religious point of view or we could look at it from what Christ has successfully achieved for fallen man. We daily find ourselves living in world where true love, secured hope and confident faith these days can be considered a commodity. How could we therefore define love, hope and faith? Something we could wish for or is it perhaps something we already have in a promise and is now available for us to appropriate in faith through grace. For me that is, true love is the knowledge that before I could ever find myself loving God, He loved me and His love was unconditional. Have you ever experienced unconditional love? The hope that exists within my heart is all about knowing how deep and how wide and how high God cares for me, how He values me and accepts me. Have you ever had this kind of hope? The message of Easter is all about Christ laying down His life for a sinner that is unworthy, undeserving of Him, yet God chose to lay aside all indifference to rescue us and to bring us back to Himself through Jesus-God’s plan for salvation.  Easter echoes the eternal words of Jesus upon a rugged cross where His body was beaten, torn, and pierced, “it is FINISHED”. The faith of Easter is that while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of Christ His Son, how much more, having being reconciled, shall we be saved through His life.

Why don’t you make Easter an Easter worthy of its value? God doesn’t want you to be perfect before you come to Him-just come as you are!! God loves the “Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. He takes our old broken lives and gives us a new one made in the likeness of Christ; full of grace and truth, full of love and hope, full of faith and mercy, full of strength and confidence, full of power and peace. What God offers, you and I cannot buy, yet God chose to give it anyway and it’s free-FORGIVENESS and RECONCILIATION. I want you to know today, as you read this message, God loves you and He doesn’t care where you have been, what you have done or what and where you are right now. God loves us all, He isn’t religious, He is relational—He loves the prostitutes, the homo-sexuals, the thieves, the liars, etc, He may not love what you do, but you He loves and desires to give you a better tomorrow. Could I simply encourage you to stretch out your hand to Him this Easter for His hand is already stretched!

Eric

If you are using a computer often, you will have no doubt visited various sites, most require to register and have a password. That’s where my problems start. I tried to follow advice and not use the same password. Now I have sticky message slips all over the place. Each time I want to go onto a site, it is a constant battle to find the right one.

I thought of that as I opened up this blog site.

What we believe as Christians is the free access we have through Jesus to our Heavenly Father. God sent Jesus, and that is the rurth of Christmas, so that we could have unfettered access to the Father. When St. Paul wrote to the Galatians, he said, (Galatians 4:4) when the time was right, Jesus came to this world. Through Jesus, we are no longer slaves to the old law, but become children of God. No password, no exam to see if we are good enough, just Jesus the Saviour!

That’s the glory of Christmas, that God came down so that we might be lifted up!

I wonder how many have uttered those words, “Not again” when they have switched on the television. The favourite programme, even the news having been replaced by the Olympics. Seemingly not everyone is interested, yet without doubt, it is the most prominent event right now.

Life can be like that. Our priorities are certainly not the things that might stop the people next door in their tracks. Yet there are times when we just cannot imagine that those around us wouldn’t be interested in our little world. But it’s true, even Jesus himself said that he wasn’t accepted in some places.

Our world right now needs Jesus, the problem is that folk have that void in their life but look anywhere rather than ‘traditional religion.’ My suggestion is, rather than look to religion, you look to Jesus Christ, who changes people. “Oh no, Not Again” Is not an option, our needs are great, only Jesus can meet them.

The weekend’s not over yet and yet there’s a few of us who are really tired. Andre’ Kempen has been with us again and we have had a great time. Funny thing is, it has made us understand that no matter how ‘religious’ a community, how little time there is to spare for God.

Someone commented how  many people made sure they walked onto the other side of the street, rather than come close to where Andre’ was playing. Another person said they were amazed how many people simply refused to accept a leaflet/invite.

The message of the gospel is not complicated and there are time when for some people it is too simple. It is the message of the creator God loving His creation so much, He sent His only Son Jesus He made a way for sinful mankind, to come back to God, by paying the penalty of sin on our behalf.

Our world seems to be a place where so many have no time for God, yet the Bible is clear that we need God. Cross the road, ignore or even shout down the messenger, yet the time will come when we stand before God. There can be no crossing the road then!

Just a brief note tonight, I seem to have been typing for hours already.

Life seems to be blighted with what we so often call RED TAPE. Massive of documents and reports for just about everything, much of course is vital in the world we live in today.

One of these time consuming forms I have been working on this week related to the Child Protection measures, which have to be in place for any church children’s or youth group to function. One issue involves identity, being certain that people are actually who they claim to be.

It doesn’t matter how well we know people, it is a criminal offence if we do not see the actual documents. A couple in the church, good friends, people we know well, produced their birth certificates. “Sorry”, I had to say, “Not good enough, these are copies.” (Provided by the registry office but still copies.) The only acceptable birth certificates in this case are originals issued not more than 12 months after the birth.

RED TAPE might frustrate us and even cause us problems but when it comes to the Christian’s identity in Jesus, just take a look at what the Apostle Peter wrote.

1 Peter 2:10 (New Living Translation)                                                                                                       ”Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.”

I like that, no RED TAPE, no forms to fill in, just real acceptance by God through faith in Jesus Christ!