My second visit to Uganda 2010

I spent some time with a friend at the airport and weenjoyed the fellowship so much that I didn’t see how the time flew. When wesaid goodbye, I realised that the gates to the plane were already closed! I ranto the far gate until my lungs felt like bursting, but when I got there theglass doors were closed and the staff had already left. The plane was about toleave.

‘I need a miracle here!’ I said.

‘Sorry Sir, you are too late. The plane door is shut.’

‘You don’t understand, I have to be on that plane. I am amissionary and I have to get onto that plane. Do a miracle in Jesus Name!’

‘Sorry Sir, it is closed.’

Then a young lady came forward and opened up the computeragain and went through the tickets. She phoned a superior who came after awhile.

‘Are you passenger Pelser?’

‘Yes! Yes!’

‘Oh, we see there has been confusion regarding your ticket!It is our fault!’ She explained.

I didn’t understand what she was talking about, but agreedwith her anyway!

‘So if it is your problem, are you going to do somethingabout it?’ I eagerly enquired.

‘Give me a moment!’ She got onto her cell phone, phoned thepilot and the air hostess in the plane and they opened the door for me again! Sheled me down the chute through the glass doors to the door of the plane to letme board the plane.

Phew! What a close shave. It is a miracle and a sign to methat I had to go to Uganda.

Jesus is Lord in Uganda

‘Jesus ye mo kama!’ Jesus is Lord in Swahili.

I arrived at Entebbe airport after 7pm and Richard Ssendiand a kombi full of people were there to meet me. They took me to Kayunga,about a two hour drive from there where we would have our first meetings inNazigo, a suburb in the district. It is the area in which Richard and his wifeChristine grew up during the reign of terror of Idi Amin.

In a make-shift, wooden structure, with a mud and dung floorwe met together for a few days to worship, pray and share the Word of God. Thetheme of the conference was ‘Unity and Prayer’. Many pastors and their wivescame from rural areas to attend the meetings. Some drove as far as 300Kilometres.

We sang simple songs to a reggae beat and danced on the dungfloor:

I will sing – in the house of the Lord!

I will dance – in the house of the Lord!

I will clap – in the house of the Lord!

And when the song was over the song leader got us to sitdown by making us sing:

I will sit – in the house of the Lord!

My acting prophecy about Unity

They were preparing lunch outside on the open fire. I askedfor 6 raw sweet potatoes and 6 boiled ones. Then I took each sweet potato anddescribed its characteristics. The one was big, the other small, the one wasimpressive, the other: not at all! So they were all easily recognised. Icompared them to churches and personalities.

Then I took a sharp knife and peeled the sweet potatoes.They were still easily recognisable because they still had the same shape eventhough they were peeled. The next thing I did was to cut them up into pieces.Now it was no longer easy to say which piece belonged to which sweet potato! Itook the 6 boiled potatoes, cut them up into pieces and chucked them into awooden mortar and used a pestle to mash them all together into one big pulp.

‘Now where is the big one?’ I asked them.

‘It is in there!’ they pointed to the mortar.

‘Where is the small one?’

‘It is in there!’

But there was no distinction any longer: they were all one!That is how we are all one in Christ Jesus: there is no competition to see whohas the fastest growing church in the city and who has the most home cells.There is no competition in Christ. There is no Jew or Gentile, no male orfemale: we are all one in Christ. When we are all one in Christ the devil canbring no division in the church.

I fed them mashed sweet potatoes from the mortar and I atesome of it as well.

‘You see, you can only feed people in a church where thereis unity!’ They got the message!

What they never realised is that the pastor of a church isalso a member of the church. Jesus is the Head, not the pastor! If we are allone, we will have the same care for each other.

 

The same care for each other

As I preached I noticed a lady with broken glasses. It hungon one ear and on her nose. The other side had no attachment. I went to her inthe crowd and took her glasses.

‘Would you like to wear such glasses?’ I asked them.

‘No!’ the response came.

I asked her how much a new pair would cost. It would costabout 15 000 Shillings. So I said:

‘Come we are going to take up an offering for her, so thatshe can buy new glasses!’ Slowly but surely people came forward and put moneyin the offering basket. After a while we had the amount. I gave an extra amountand told her that was for her personal needs, not for the glasses.

Then I rebuked the pastors, because none of themspontaneously got up and gave money towards the glasses. I said, you alwaystake up offerings from people, but when it is your time to give, you don’tmove! One of them got up and gave something. They had learned their lesson.

A new school in Uganda

Richard went to show me where he lived and where he hadbuilt a school. He lives in a two roomed home with 9 people – four of which arestudents at his school. They are all orphans who cannot afford to go to school.He loaned the money from the bank to buy land and build a school, for educationis a great need in Uganda. There is a principal and several people teachdifferent subjects. The students who pay their fees help to pay off the loan atthe bank. He wants to construct dormitories so that students can come from therural areas and stay at the school.

Wherever we went little children called me ‘Muzungu’ (whiteman).

Abali – how are you

Muzuli – I’m fine

Weraba – goodbye

Mere – food

We ate Matoke – it is plantain banana pulp. Katogo is minceand Kasava mixed.

From Kayunga we went back to Kampala. I stayed in the oldesthotel in the city: Speke hotel. It was named after one of the famous Britishexplorers: John Banning Speke. He and Burton ‘discovered’ Lake Victoria. Therooms were very, very large, like the old colonial hotels. The hotel is run byIndians from India. One of the young men plays cricket for a club in Kampala.He invited me to come and coach them when he heard I and my oldest son werecricket coaches. Indians love cricket. They spread their love for cricket whereverthey go in other countries.

Exodus church

On Sunday morning I preached in Exodus Christian church.When I finished preaching the rain poured down in bucketfuls!

‘It is a sign of God’s blessings for us!’ the pastorshouted! His name is Nelson Bakuuma and he invited me to come and preach intheir conference in January 2011 because the message I brought is what thepastors from central Africa need to hear. They all want to be rich andimportant like the American TV preachers and they are competing with each otherto show off their prosperity and power. I taught on meekness and humility andthey have never heard that message before.

‘Uganda is not a beautiful country. Very few people come tovisit it. This man, Apostle Andre, came here twice already, at this own expenseto come and teach us. It must be God that put it into his heart to come to us.’Pastor Nelson was the only pastor that took up an offering for me. I gaveRichard half of the offering and I paid for my evening meal with the otherhalf.

Uganda statistics

Uganda has a population of 34 million and is between 620 and540 meters above sea level. It has a wonderful climate between 13 and 30degrees Celsius. They have up to 2000 mm rainfall per year. They export coffee,tea and tobacco. Other products include plantain, bananas, finger millet,maize, sorghum, field peas, cow peas, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, beans,nuts, soya beans and simsim (root plant).

The soil is rich: it is full of gold, cobalt, tin, clay,tungsten, gypsum.

They catch more than 227 000 tons of fish per year fromthe lake and the rivers.

The country covers 241 038 square meters.

Pray for Uganda. Their greatest need is to educate thisgeneration. The churches can help with that because the government is notcoping with the need. The previous generation had to flee and live in forestsand mountains to escape being butchered by the soldiers from Idi Amin. So theyhad no education. Some of them, like Christine, Richard’s wife, had to live inforests for 18 years…she is now ready to attend night school to learn English.

We take so much for granted. We enjoy such blessings. We aresometimes not thankful enough. Let us show our appreciation by doing somethingfor someone else for a change!

For $300 pm we could sponsor a pastor and rent a littlespace to hold church meetings!

Sudan beckoning

Richard asked me if I would be prepared to go to Rwanda andto the Sudan the next time I come to Uganda. He has connections there thatwould love to have me over there.

So the Trek through Africa is continuing…by the grace of Godand with a little help from my friends (as the Beatles sang!) I am able to dowhat I am doing. Thank God for our family and our church that stands with me aswe reach out to the nations of the world.

It is lonely sometimes, both for me and for Nola and myfamily when I am away, but we are never lonely, for the Lord is with us. HisSpirit leads and guides us and shows us things to come.

Words of knowledge

I sometimes knew things and spoke things before theyhappened. Richard would be surprised and asked me: ‘How did you know that?’ Forinstance: after driving more than two hours, through many villages, I said,‘Here we are!’ when we arrived in Kayunga. There is no name plate to welcomeyou so there was no way I could have known where we were. It was a word ofknowledge.

Through words of knowledge I ministered to people in themeetings as well. It is the gifts of the Holy Spirit that make it possible.

Here is a word for you:

‘I hold you close to Me, so that you will not go away. I amyour Shepherd and your Guide; I will not lead you astray. I am here when youcall on Me; I will answer you when you pray. I know your heart’s desire; beforeyou call I answer you. I have plans that are astounding, you will be amazed atwhat I intend to do for you. So, learn to listen to my voice and I will speakto you, gently and firmly, like a trusted friend; for I will never leave orforsake you ever, I am with you to the end.’

 

 

A rainy day in Ekpoma

There is no summer, winter, autumn and spring in Nigeria:only a dry season and a rainy season. The climate is more or less constantthroughout the year.  August was part ofthe rainy season. It rained so much that some roads turned into rivers. Thereis no drainage and sewage pipes in Benin City so the water just gathersmomentum until it becomes impassable. In order to get to a destination you haveto take other routes through back roads.

On Sunday morning, very early, Bishop Mon Igbinosa fetchedme with his 4X4 to take me to Ekpoma. That is where he lives and pastors thechurch he founded 12 years ago. He was a drug dealer before he was saved. Afterhis conversion he lived in Bishop Benson Idahosa’s home for a year. BensonIdahosa was probable the most influential Pentecostal preacher of his time.African pastors believe in taking people into their homes to train them firsthand.

They have a large acreage of land on which they built a3000-seater auditorium and a home with 11 bedrooms in order to accommodateseveral people.

I preached about John chapter 9, one of the first chaptersin the bible that opened up to me as far as third dimensional living isconcerned. I spoke about 6 results that confirmed Jesus as the Light of theWorld.

1. The problem of a dualistic mindset in the disciples was exposed
2. The divine potential in the problem was revealed
3. The power of God was released due to obedience
4. The proof of signs and wonders was given
5. The persecution that opposes the truth was experienced
6. The life style of faith was introduced to the one who received the miracle

Psalm 146:8 says, The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

In his office Bishop Mon has picture of Benson Idahosa withan old man who presented him to S. J. Elton, a missionary from England, who inturn introduced him to Gordon Lindsay from Christ for the Nations institute inDallas, Texas. Lindsay opened the doors for Idahosa to all the InternationalMinisters who began to support his work in Nigeria financially and helped himreach 120 nations in his short life time. He died in his 50’s after buildingmany churches, a university and a whole township around the church. He was thefirst Nigerian preacher to do such things. Today it is common that there arepreachers in Nigeria with churches of over 100 000 members each.

I spoke to Benson Idahosa on the phone when we were still inAustralia in 1985 but never had the privilege to meet him before he passedaway.

When I finished preaching, Bishop Mon addressed thecongregation, ‘I have never seen these things in John 9 before! Have you? Ithink we must get Apostle Andre to come and teach us for a whole week. He mustcome and go, come and go to Nigeria!’ They agreed.

A few years ago Bishop Mon chaired one of Reinhard Bonnke’sevangelistic crusades in their region. He told what the budget was and how oneman paid for it all. It sounds unbelievable!

The great crowd at an evangelistic crusade makes it veryimpressive; whereas apostolic work often goes unnoticed because of itsfoundational nature. I often find myself preaching in the rural areas torelatively small crowds, but the reformation is happening in the mind-sets ofthose who hear the message. We need both evangelistic and apostolic work tocontinue in order to perfect the saints, to equip them for the work of theministry and to bring them to unity of the faith in order to reveal the fullmeasure of the stature of Christ.

What I am, Paul wrote, I am by the grace of God – none of usreally deserve to ‘be’ anything!

 

Insights that will help us to improve our character as God's workers.

By Teacher Neil Lombard

Preached Sunday morning 8am, 22 August 2010, Harvester reformation al Church, Cape Town

I took chapter 1 out of the MBC manual 'Character of God's Workmen' as the message material.

When everybody does their share it causes the growth of the body, Eph4:16. What is the function of a worker? It is to work. We are only required to do what we can and to constantly improve on what we are doing. I have a watch that you can hear is working and ticking but the arm that shows the seconds has stopped working and therefore does not tell the time anymore. The watch is working, but a part thereof has stopped working and thereby isn't fulfilling the function of the watch. So how do we know that something is broken? It has stopped working. When we want a job done, do we take the cheapest quotation and get what we paid for with sloppy workmanship or are we interested in the quality of workmanship?

Here are some insights that will help us to improve our character as God's workers:

Learning obedience by the things we suffer, Hebrews 5:8-9. How did Jesus learn obedience? By the things He suffered. Why did He have to learn obedience? So that He could be perfected. Why did He need to be perfected? In order to fulfil His life's commission of obtaining eternal salvation for us. Why? In order that those who obey Him will not need to suffer the same things but receive eternal salvation. Some benefits of suffering are that (1 Pt 5:10) we would be perfected,strengthened, settled and established. 2 Cor 5:4 - 10, Gal 6:17, we bear the marks of the ministry for the sake of others.

God is perfecting us through our sufferings so that we can fulfill our life's commission, then we can become authors to others, teaching them. If they would listen and obey they would be saved the things we suffered.

Some more insights that will help us to improve our character as God's workers are:

We yield to God like instruments to its master. We are only sustained in ministering by our relationship with God.

The mission is greater than the person. Jonah's greatest mistake became God's greatest message. If you never need to trust God you will never trust Him.

Love the Word of God. God's Word is higher than our opinions. By spending time with the Word and through studying It, the Word gives us substance to impart into other people's lives.

My food is to do the will of the Father. God requires our instant and complete obedience.

You exist to serve others. My God supplies your needs. Our burden is not the problems of people but it is to see Christ formed in each one that God has entrusted us with.

We will be attached by the devil. We will be tempted, falsely accused and mocked. God does it to glorify us and to keep us humble.

You have to understand righteousness, not performance and dead works, but moving continually from out of a relationship with God. Righteousness is  gift that is imputed to us when we believe in Christ. We do not need to perform to obtain the Lord's favour, we already have it. Because we are right with God we can boldly declare His Word and minister to others.

Full of Grace and Truth

Andre Pelser (Based on notes taken from Charles Swindoll's book, ‘Grace Awakening', Word Inc, Dallas, Texas, 1990)

Introduction

Thomas Jefferson was leading his men across a flooded river when a stranger appeared and asked the president if he would ferry him across on his horse.  When they got to the other side one of the soldiers asked the stranger why he asked the president to give him a ride.  ‘I didn't know it was the president!  When I looked at everyone he had a ‘Yes' face and the others had ‘No' faces!' the stranger replied.  Grace is God's ‘Yes' face shining towards us because of His Son Jesus Christ. Man made religion gives God a ‘No' face. Outward religion concentrates on outward performance instead of inward authenticity.

How grace affected the disciples

We beheld His glory...we received of his fullness...full of grace and truth!' (John 1:14-17) The grace of God rubbed off onto the disciples simply by being with Jesus. His style became their style. His tolerance, acceptance, love, warmth and compassion transformed their lives.The law came through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Religion versus grace

Religious demands include rules, requirements, duties, regulations and galling expectations intensifying guilt and shame. An obsession with duty always focuses on right and wrong, cause and effect (especially in other people's lives.) Legalist systems become so stifling there is no room for joy.Legalism leads to harsh, judgmental prejudice. All that matters to a legalist is the external performance and the outward show.  Galatians 6:12 tells us those who want to make a show in the flesh compel others to do things.When I pastored a church for the AFM in Pretoria, the President of the Denomination would phone me on a Monday morning to hear how many people were there and how big the offering was. He never asked me how I was.When I asked a pastor who was into the G12 church growth system how he was, he answered: ‘we now have 170 home cells.' ‘That's not what I asked you!' I said, but he did not hear me.‘In our church we eat, drink and sleep home cells!' It is almost like talking to a brainwashed person. Ambition can blind you to reality.Obedience to a system becomes grim compulsion. It is a form of oppression. When people become slaves to a church growth system or to a denomination there is no room for error. Punishment is dished out if the system is not obeyed. The system has become god - with a small letter ‘g'.

Free the captives

Jesus came to set the captives free. He was anointed to do that. We tend to think of captives as slaves to sin, but there are slaves to religious systems that need to be set free as well. People are suffering under religious orders and systems that exasperate them and make them hate God and despise the church.I had a dream about a prison in which the people all wore the same clothes and ate the same food and did the same exercises in the quad. I noticed that the gates had no locks on them and the cell doors were not barred. I also saw that the guards had no bullets in their rifles.‘You are free to go!' I shouted at the inmates.‘Don't you see? The gates are not locked - you can leave any time you want to!'But they looked at me like somnambulists and simply carried on with their routines.When I woke up I realised I had seen the hypnotic effect that religion can have on people. They do what everyone else does. It is safer to be in a religious prison than to enjoy the liberty of a son of God! They fear freedom.Jesus never came to give us a long list of requirements. He simply said, ‘believe!' even if faith was just the size of a mustard seed.

Truth and grace revealed

‘You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free!' (John 8:32) Oh, the liberation grace brings! Jesus' disciples loved him for the grace that he brought into their lives. But the Pharisees hated him for it. They are grace killers because they cannot bind people with their religious laws.Jesus never used the word ‘grace'. He simply lived it. His life was full of grace and truth. Sometimes people's lives are only full of truth - but there is no grace. That makes them harsh. They cut other people - because truth is a sharp two-edged sword. Unless it is sheathed in love there is no grace. It hurts people around them.Jesus was THE TRUTH but he was full of GRACE. That is the difference.The Hebrew word for grace means to ‘stoop, bend down or to condescend.' It includes the idea of favour from above. Picture a father picking up his little boy into his arms and carrying him. That is a picture of grace.Hilton was born with a cricket bat in his cradle. He used to walk around with the milk bottle in one hand and the cricket bat in the other. He had many balls everywhere that he would hit around. One day he hit a priceless vase that we brought all the way from Australia and it broke. I was about to react when Aje stepped in between us and reminded me: ‘Hilton is worth more than that vase!' That is a picture of how Jesus has stepped in between us and God and allowed God to reconsider that we are more important to him than inanimate objects and more important than laws and regulations.

Moments of grace

The woman caught in adultery - Jesus said, ‘I hold nothing against you - go and sin no more!'Jesus raising Lazarus. The prodigal son. The thief on the crossChrist forgiving the Roman soldiers for crucifying him because they did not know what they were doing. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!

Expectations from grace

1.     Learn to appreciate God's gifts in your life and in the lives of others

2.     Become less critical of yourself and others

3.     Become more tolerant of yourself and others

4.     Be more mature and Christ-likeWithout grace life is stern and harsh.

You become cold-hearted without grace. You live life full of judgmental attitudes. No one is right in your eyes. You forget about your own short-comings and only see the mistakes other people make. This breeds pride and prejudice.I once sent and SMS to Yve from Africa: the room I am in is terrible. The air con is not working, the cupboards fall apart, the toilet is not working, and there is no water in the shower. The base of the bed is broken. It is dirty and hot and I have to wait here for 5 hours before they come to fetch me for church. Everything is in a state of disrepair.  She replied: perhaps it reminds us of the state of disrepair in our own lives, dad.I had to repent of my attitude.

The risks that grace takes

Grace takes risks. You have to trust God to do the work in you and in other people. You cannot change yourself or others. Self-effort won't do it. But grace is far more efficient than self effort or legalism.

Humanistic heresy

Humanism has been around from the Garden of Eden. It is in all the self-help books and self-made men boast about it. It is in political speeches and flourishes among intellectuals, sportsmen rely heavily on it and business people feed their ego and pride on self-achievement. It pleases the flesh.  William Ernest Henley, born in Gloucester, England in 1849, crippled from boyhood wrote the poem, INVICTUS:

Those words sound so inspiring, but it makes self ‘god'.  Dr. Moller the president of the AFM for 22 years liked to tell everyone how he had to reach down and pull himself up by his own bootstraps in order to carry on in the ministry - this is one of the famous humanistic slogans based on self-effort and self-motivation. Men admire that in one another.It seems right but is humanistic heresy.  People quote humanistic sayings as if they are in the Bible, but they are not.‘  God helps those who help themselves.'‘God works in strange ways His wonders to perform.'In Genesis 11:1-4 the people said, ‘Let's build ourselves a tower that will reach into heaven and let us make a name for ourselves.'The Lord came down and confused their language so that they could not understand one another's speech anymore. The Lord scattered them from Shinar all over the face of the earth. Therefore the name of the city was called Babel.  Lucifer lifted himself up with pride and said he would set his throne above the throne of God. He was cast out of heaven with all the rebelling angels.The man who invented Hitler taught him how to use the force of his own will-power to dominate other people. Eventually Hitler persuaded a whole nation to commit atrocities and he tried to rule the world.  When self-will becomes god it is heresy!  But in many churches sermons have become humanistic: you are a winner! You are the best! You are number one! They have forgotten the message of the cross: if you want to follow Me, Jesus said, you have to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.If you want to find your (higher) life you must lose your(lower) life.  No one wants to admit their need for God, for a Saviour, for a church, for salvation, for healing, for deliverance, for holiness and for righteousness by faith - they want to do it by themselves.Frank Sinatra sang the national hymn of humanism when he sang: ‘I did it my way!' By exalting ‘my way' above God's way we cause insult to the grace of God.

Abraham's example

Abraham was not justified by works but by faith (Romans 4:12.)  God by an act of grace stooped down and blotted out every transgression that is against us for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ. He called us ‘perfect' even while we are yet sinning and being sanctified. That is true justification by faith.Abraham was raised by an idolater. He married and idolater. In Ur of the Chaldees, people sacrificed their first-born sons to their pagan gods. So when Abraham was tested to see if he would sacrifice his son, he had no hesitation to do so. But God stopped him and he obeyed. He believed that God would provide the offering for the sacrifice. He confessed it with his own mouth. And God provided a ram with its horns caught in the thickets.When Abraham believed God, it was accounted to him as righteousness.In the same way God declares a sinner righteous, even while he is still sinning, if he believes in Jesus Christ. Even though the sinner might still be ungodly and sin from time to time, God calls them righteous. It is by faith not by works. The sinner has to progress in holiness, day by day, and yet God accredits righteousness to his or her account simply because they believe in His Son Jesus Christ.

Amazing Grace!

Never again do they have to worry about where they stand with God! They are declared righteous once and for all. They did not deserve it, but because they put their faith in Jesus Christ, God has pre-ordained it that they would be righteous before Him - by faith!By believing in the one who justifies the ungodly our faith is reckoned as righteousness. (Romans 4:4, 5)You cannot earn righteousness by good works. It is a gift of God. (Romans 5:17)  Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (Romans 5:1)Sin requires death or a blood sacrifice to be forgiven. Jesus became our substitute. He shed his blood for the remission of our sins and His death brought us eternal life. As a result of His sacrifice God gives us the free gift of salvation if we simply believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.

One man did it for us all

Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. (Romans 5:12)  No one is immune to sin. We are eternally separated from God as a result of one man's sin.So as through one transgression condemnation came to all men even so through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all men. For as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18, 19)

Benefits of believing

1.     Eternal life through Jesus Christ

2.     Sins forgiven for Christ's sake

3.     Eternal destiny secured in heaven

The law came to tell us that we need a Saviour. It identified sin and intensified guilt.

Results of sin

1.     We are dead in sins if we walk according to the course of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air.

2.     We are sons of disobedience

3.     We live in the lusts of the flesh indulging in desires of flesh and mind

4.     We are children of wrath

5.     We are dead in our transgressions(Ephesians 2:1-9)

Results of grace and mercy

1.     God made us alive through Jesus Christ

2.     God raised us up with Him and seated us with Christ in heavenly places.

3.     By grace we are saved through faith - it is the gift of God

Invictus rewritten

Dorothea Day rewrote Henley's poem Invictus 

Two extremes

A risk that we have to take when we preach grace as a reality is that there may be two extreme reactions to our message: there will be grace killers as well as grace abusers. The religious spirits will try to kill grace because it destroys their hold on people through guilt and condemnation. The licentious people will say that because of grace they can now do whatever they want to.

Justification by faith

Justification really means even though I still sin periodically and have found myself unable to stop sinning permanently, God declares me righteous when I believe in His Son Jesus Christ. That is why grace is my only hope of survival.  Day by day I am making progress and learning to please Christ, not myself.We are not justifying sin, but the Lord justifies the sinner who turns to Him in faith. This is the work of grace!

(To be continued...)      

By Apostle Aje Pelser

Here are some revelations about kindness that will reveal God’s love through our lives.

 

People Desire Kindness

“What is desired in a man is kindness”

²²     What is desired in a man is ⁶kindness,

     And a poor man is better than a liar.

Proverbs 19:22

 

I prayed about this and asked God to help me be kind even to people who constantly treat me disrespectfully.

 

Kindness is the next level of Love

I heard the Holy Spirit within:

“You have learnt patience, now you can learn kindness.”

This is perfectly true, because love is patient and love is kind…

The Holy Spirit brings things to our remembrance.

 

Jesus was Kind to Sinners

The Word admonishes us further:

³⁵ But ^slove your enemies, ^tdo good, and ^ulend, ⁸hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and ^vyou will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.^[1]

Luke 6:35

 

It’s About respect:

When people receive the desired kindness from you the level we all seek to attain to is that of respect from our fellow man.

 

But a meditation on that reveals:

“God’s grace over many years has helped us to gain the level of respect we now enjoy.”

Respect breeds respect, but add this: “over time!”

 

Virtuous Women are Kind

The World has taught women to be self assertive and harsh, in order to be competitive in the work place.

Men know that women are tough, they give birth to children, something a man will never do!

So ladies don’t actually have to prove their toughness and can operate in a higher law, a law of kindness.

Proverbs 31

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

     And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

Love never fails, so kindness will win the day as well.

In the Church – if we compare the Church to a virtuous wife, after all the Church is the Bride of Christ- then we can learn more kindness. This is easier said than done especially when undergoing trials and persecution. But allow the Holy Spirit to develop His fruit of kindness in your life. There will be times when you consciously sow kindness, and then don’t expect it in return, be kind anyway.

If you want a harvest of fruit, seeds need to be sown:

Examples of seeds of kindness could include:

Reacting in the opposite spirit on the Road, at work, in your family!

In our speech: “A soft answer turns away wrath”. This is how we disarm principalities and powers, with the force of God’s love manifested in kindness.

 

When people treat you badly and you remain kind to them, they don’t know what to do. Sometimes people get angry and persecute you, but in time the power of the Holy Spirit will either convict them or repel them so strongly that they will never hurt you again.

 

God’s Kindness Appeared when Jesus Came

Titus 3:3

³ For ^cwe ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. ⁴ But when ^dthe kindness and the love of ^eGod our Savior toward man appeared, ^{5 f}not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through ^gthe washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, ^{6 h}whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ that having been justified by His grace ⁱwe should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

^{8 j}This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

^[2]

 

The Process through which kindness Appears:

Jesus Came - God’s Kindness Appeared in Christ

Not by works – Pharisees hated Jesus because he stimulated faith which made men righteous. Legalism is harsh, God’s spirit is kind.

According to His MERCY He saved us – mercy triumphs over judgement

James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Washing & regeneration of the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 5:25

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^lgave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might ⁷sanctify and cleanse her ^mwith the washing of water ⁿby the word, ^{27 o}that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, ^pnot having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish^[3]

Holy spirit poured out by Jesus in our lives –

Romans speaks about the Love of God being poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit

^{5 i}Now hope does not disappoint, ^jbecause the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

^[4]

Justified by His grace

We are heirs according to the hope of eternal life

The reason we preach on kindness is…?

GODLY Family Principles

By Apostle Aje Pelser

Preached Sunday Evening, 23 May 2010, at Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town

Principles that help us serve God as Families.

 

Preserve the Unity of the Spirit

Ephesians4:1

¹ I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

² With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering,forbearing one another in love; ³ Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Apostle Andre often preaches on the unity of the Spirit and the unity of faith, because, although many speak about creating unity, it can only be preserved. There was unity with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit from the beginning, and we have entered into that unity by faith in Jesus name. From there it needs to be preserved.

Similarly, in marriage, there is a union between man and wife from the start, and as children are added, family friends, son in laws, daughter in laws, that unity needs to be preserved through Christ.  Let's teach our children to value the unity of spirit in our families and in our churches, and those whom God adds will value it too and preserve the unity as well!

Observe Boundaries

Deut 19:14“You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which the men of old have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

Deut 27:17 ‘Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s landmark.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

Job 24:2“Some remove landmarks; They seize flocks violently and feed on them;

Prov 23:10Do not remove the ancient landmark, Nor enter the fields of the fatherless;

Hos 5:10 “The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark; I will pour out my wrath on them like water.

Itis fine to set boundaries, daughters become mothers, sons become fathers with their own households. Gen 2:24  Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Prophet Nola Prophesied about a word God gave her for the overcomers conference: "SHIFT".

There is a shift in boundaries during the growth of a family, church and business, and regular family meetings can help to redefine boundaries that will ensure each member is valued and appreciated. If this is done prayerfully and the Priest of the home, or the patriarch of a family recognizes members by the Spirit, it ensures that the kingdom values of righteousness, peace and joy of the Holy Spirit are established in relationships. Solid families mean solid communities and churches, and this will lift nations to fulfill their redemptive purposes for God. 

 

Measure of Faithequals Area of Authority

Rom 12:3  For I say,through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

 You discover your measure through trial and error and it is revealed through a body of believers. Everyone will know what your gift is because your gift makes room for you. What value do I add to this church? This move of God? My family? This household?

Responsibility givesauthority

You can only speak into someone’s life if you love them and take spiritual care ofthem.

 

Understand Functions

Romans 12, I Corinthians 1. See Household leaders training manual, Gifts and Functions Manual, Five Fold Ministry Manaul available from MBC.

 

Enjoy Serving God asa Family

Joshua said:

Jos 24:15  And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the otherside of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

  Gen 18:17  And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,

  Gen 18:18  since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Gen 18:19  For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."

 

Focus your Energy

Focus on outreach and winning new souls – energy needs to be directed to evangelism, away from family issues. There is a time to deal with family issues and a right way to do it, aligning with the Word of God. But the Bible warns us not to bite and devour one another to the point that a person runs down the stairs out the door never to return, unfortunately, this is where most familes find themselves - ready to give it all up! What a lie of the devil! Let's have a balance of inward and ouward focus. He who leads many souls to righteousness is wise! With joy draw water from the wells of salvation. An easy way to reach out is to include those who do not have their immediate families with them, in some family meals on Sundays on holidays, now and again, and let them feel part of the family of God that way, their conversion will follow shortly in Jesus' name! 

Ify ou lose your life you will find it! Be a combine harvester! 

Commendations for an OvercomingChurch

Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser at HARVESTER Reformational Church, Cape Town.

 

The Lord spoke to me by His Spirit and said: “Commend them” regarding the Overcomer’s Conference.

He Lords commendations for a church will propel us into new conquests for His kingdom!

The Meaning of Commendation: 

Act of commending: “praise of somebody's abilities”

Recognition of Accomplishment: “an award or citationgiven to somebody in recognition of an outstanding achievement”

Encarta Dictionary.

 

Well done good andfaithful servants! Enter into the joy of the Lord!

Luk 19:16  Thencame the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.'

Luk 19:17 And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you werefaithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'

Mina G3414 - Thayer Definition:

1)in the OT, a weight of 300 shekels was one pound

2)In the NT, a weight and sum of money equal to 100 drachmae, one talent was 100pounds, a pound equalled 10 1/3 oz. (300 gm)

Partof Speech:noun feminine

ARelated Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: of Latin origin

 

Drachma; Dram

drak´ma,(δραχμή, drachmḗ): The word is used in the Septuagint as therendering of בּקע, beḳa‛,“half-shekel,” which must refer to the light standard for the shekel, as itsweight was about 62 grains. In the New Testament the word occurs only in Luk_15:8,Luk_15:9, where it is rendered “a piece of silver” (m “drachma”). It wascommonly taken as equivalent to the Roman denarius, though not strictly so.

Denarius

dē̇-nā´ri-us (δηνάριον, dēnárion): A Roman silver coin, 25 of which went to the aureus,the standard gold coin of the empire in the time of Augustus,

this was the ordinary wage of a soldier and a day laborer.

 

Youexecuted God’s Will through a Body!

Heb 10:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "SACRIFICE ANDOFFERING YOU DID NOT DESIRE, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME.

Heb 10:6  IN BURNTOFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES FOR SIN YOU HAD NO PLEASURE.

Heb 10:7  THEN ISAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME— IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME— TODO YOUR WILL, O GOD.' "

 

Well done foroperating in His rest!

Mat 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Mat 11:29  Take Myyoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mat 11:30  For Myyoke is easy and My burden is light."

Demons are restless! They are looking for the rest that belongs to us, they can’t have it in Jesus’ name.

 

The Lord commends youfor esteeming others higher than self.

Php 2:3  Letnothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness ofmind let each esteem others better than himself.

Php 2:4  Let eachof you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests ofothers.

 

Your servanthoodis commendable, you took on the form of Christ!

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

Php 2:6  who, beingin the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

Php 2:7  but madeHimself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and comingin the likeness of men.

Php 2:8  And beingfound in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to thepoint of death, even the death of the cross.

 

 

Your strength wasunder His control – meekness

Col 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tendermercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

Col 3:13  bearingwith one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint againstanother; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Jas 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

 

You showedtremendous hospitality

Rom 12:10  Bekindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Rom 12:11  notlagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Rom 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly inprayer;

Rom 12:13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

 

The truth has setyou free – you were honest with God about your problems!

Joh 8:25  Then theysaid to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just what Ihave been saying to you from the beginning.

Joh 8:26  I havemany things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; andI speak to the world those things which I heard from Him."

Joh 8:27  They didnot understand that He spoke to them of the Father.

Joh 8:28  ThenJesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will knowthat I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Fathertaught Me, I speak these things.

Joh 8:29  And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

Joh 8:30  As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

Joh 8:31  Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, youare My disciples indeed.

Joh 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

 

You arecontinually Overcoming through Christ!

Rom 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,

Rom 8:39  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

06/03/2005;  revised: 02/05/10

Apostle Andre Pelser

 

I want to discuss several aspects about the name Ebenezer to revive your spirit and strengthen your faith to believe that the Lord is ready to help you as well! He will help you in a marvellous way!

 

The Audible Voice

 

On 19.02.92  I heard the voice of the Lord audibly speak to me when he woke me up and said: ‘I am Ebenezer!’  This happened in the double storey house we rented in 14 Quest Road, Milnerton.

 

At that time I sweated in prayer for provision for my family. The income in the church was no more than R4 000 per month. The hall in Milpark Centre we rented cost R4 000 per month. Our house cost R2 000 per month and the schools R2 000 per month as well. We had no idea how we would survive in this new venture having started a church and a bible school in the Cape.

 

We called it Milnerton Christian Centre at that time. Later on that year the children suggested that we change it to Harvester, a chain restaurant in England where we liked eating whenever we went to minister with John Waller, an Elim pastor who pioneered a work in Slough, East of London. The children said, ‘why don’t we change the name of the church to Harvester? It is a good place to eat!’ Because we provide spiritual food for people we decided to change the name.

 

The Mustard Seed

I immediately knew that he had revealed himself to me in a way he has never done before. I made a vow to accept him as Ebenezer and to serve him accordingly: ‘Lord I will plant my mustard seed size faith to believe that you who helped me thus far will remain Ebenezer to us for the rest of our lives. I will not be slack in any business matters for I put my trust in you to provide, to lead and to guide me and to give me wisdom to obtain wealth and to do your work in the earth

 

Mark 4:30-32

30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: 32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

The King James Version

 

I will be your son – be a father to me. Give me wisdom to speak to people as much as they can understand.

 

Sometimes we speak to people on a level that interests us but goes over their heads. That is not wise; sometimes we under-estimate the understanding of people. I saw in the bible how Jesus and Paul gauged their audiences and I desired this gift as well. So I included it in my vow to God.

 

The Meaning of Ebenezer

 

68 Õeben { eh’-ben}

 

from the root of 1129 meaning to build; TWOT - 9; n f

 

AV - stone(s) 247, weight(s) 7, divers weights + 68 3, hailstones 3, stony 2, carbuncle + 688 1, hailstones + 1259 1, hailstones + 417 1, headstone 1, masons + 7023 1, plummet 1, slingstones 1; 272

 

1) stone (large or small)

1a) common stone (in natural state)

1b) stone, as material

1b1) of tablets

1b2) marble, hewn stones

1c) precious stones, stones of fire

1d) stones containing metal (ore), tool for work or weapon

1e) weight

1f) plummet (stones of destruction) also made of metal

1g) stonelike objects, eg hailstones, stony heart, ice

1h) sacred object, as memorial Samuel set up to mark where God helped Israel to defeat the Philistines

1i) (simile)

1i1) sinking in water, motionlessness

1i2) strength, firmness, solidity

1i3) commonness

1j) (metaph)

1j1) petrified with terror

1j2)   perverse, hard heart[1]

 

1129 banah { baw-naw’}

 

a primitive root; TWOT - 255; v

 

AV - build 340, build up 14, builder 10, made 3, built again + 8735 2, repair 2, set up 2, have children + 8735 1, obtain children + 8735 1, surely

1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue

 

5828 `ezer { ay’-zer}

 

from 5826; TWOT - 1598a; n m

 

AV - help 19, help meet 2; 21

 

GK - 6469

1) help, succour

1a) help, succour

1b)    one who helps[2]

 

5826 `azar { aw-zar’}

 

a primitive root; TWOT - 1598; v

 

AV - help 64, helper 11, holpen 3, succour 3, variant 1; 82

 

GK - 6468

1) to help, succour, support

1a) (Qal) to help

1b) (Niphal) to be helped

1c)    (Hiphil) to help[3]

 

A brief account of the Ark

 

1. Philistines go to Aphek to attack Israel. The Israelites suffer a heavy defeat in battle.

2. Israelite messengers bring the ark to Ebenezer (the Israelite camp) believing this will save them.

3. In a second battle, the Israelites are again defeated. The ark is captured.

4. Philistines take the ark to Ashdod and keep it in the temple of Dagon. The statue of Dagon is discovered broken and a plague breaks out in the area. (Possibly bubonic plague spread by the mice of 1 Samuel 6:4–5.)

5. They send the ark to Gath . . .

6. . . . and then to Ekron. In both places, plague spreads.

7. The ark is sent back to Israel, with gifts, on a new wagon without a driver. It arrives in Beth Shemesh.

8. The Israelites are overjoyed at the return of the ark. It had been missing for 7 months.

9. The ark is moved to Kiriath Jearim, where it stays for 20 years until David moves it to Jerusalem.

 

The Blessed Presence of the Lord

 It stayed in the house of Obed Edom and his household prospered tremendously because of the help of the Lord. The Ark represented the presence of the Lord in those days. Today we do not have to build physical arks to obtain the presence of the Lord. Jeremiah prophesied and said we do not have to build one because there is an eternal ark in heaven that was the original ark and the Holy Spirit provides the presence of the Lord in our gatherings and in our lives. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

EBENEZER [ebb un EE zur] (stone of help) — the name of a place and a monument in Israel:

1. A place where Israel was defeated by the Philistines and the Ark of the Covenant was captured (1 Sam. 5:1). Its location was perhaps at modern Izbet Sarteh near Aphek.

2. A stone erected by Samuel to commemorate Israel’s victory over the Philistines. It may have been named after Ebenezer No. 1 to show that Israel’s defeat there 20 years before had been reversed (1 Sam. 7:12).

 

The previous name of Ebenezer

1033 Beyth Kar { bayth kar}

 

from 1004 and 3733;; n pr loc

 

AV - Bethcar 1; 1

 

GK - 1105

 } & 4122

 

Beth-car = “house of the ram” or “place of the lamb”

1)                a place apparently belonging to the Philistines[4]

 

3769 karar { kaw-rar’}

 

a primitive root; TWOT - 1046; v

 

AV - dance 2; 2

 

GK - 4159

1) (Pilpel) to whirl, dance

1a)    whirling, dancing (participle)[5]

 

The interpretation of the meaning

The Philistines obviously danced and whirled around because they captured the ark that represented the presence of the God of Israel. Now they knew that Israel could no longer defeat them.

 

Could this have been the reason why David danced and whirled before the ark? He ‘kararred’ before the ark, because ‘karar ‘ is a root word of ‘Bethcar’. The Name was changed to Ebenezer after the ark was taken back.

 

⁹And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.  ¹⁰And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. ¹¹And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar. ¹²Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, [6] saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.  [7]

 

The application of the message

Maybe you have faced difficult situations for twenty years and you have wondered when it would end. Today the Good News is this: if you can believe that this word is for you, if you can hear it echo in your heart, if you are willing to confess it with your mouth, it will become a reality to you as from this very moment! Faith comes by hearing the word of the Lord. When faith comes, faith produces substance for what you are hoping for. Faith brings evidence that what you are hoping for is not in vain.

 

It is time for you to take back what the enemy has stolen from you. It is time for you to enjoy the refreshing presence of the Lord again. It is time for you to know God as Ebenezer again.

 

The Word that is sure

 

As I heard that audible voice, hear it today: I am Ebenezer! Hear the voice of God in your spirit! Hear it in your mind!

 

Peter said we have a ‘Word made sure’, namely the written Word of God that is more sure than the audible voice of God, that rises in our hearts like the morning star till the day dawns and the light breaks forth. He says we should hold on to that Word until everything becomes clear!

 

I have brought the Word of the Lord to you today: Today the Lord says to you: I am Ebenezer! Believe it! Act on it!

 

The time is here for you to dance

It is time for you to rejoice and to Karar before the Lord like David did when the ark finally returned! It is your time to dance and sing, because the presence of the Lord is with you. He said I will never leave you nor forsake you. He said I will be with you till the end. He said My Spirit will be in you and He will lead and guide you like a good shepherd. He said He will show you things to come. He is your Comforter, Your Paraclete. He is your friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is your strength, your provider, your healer, your saviour and your deliverer from all kinds of evil.

 

Ebenezer is with you today!

Let us rejoice!

 

Elohim

In the book of Genesis the name Elohim is used of the Creator.

El=Strong One

Daniel (God is my judge), Samuel (heard from God), Immanuel (God is with us)

Psalm 19:2: The heavens declare His wonders.

By faith we understand that the worlds were created by God. We were not there when it happened. We need faith to believe the word of God. (Hebrews 11:3)

El Elyon

Genesis 18:18 High and Lofty One

The God of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1) who had no ancestry. Jesus is the new High Priest of the New Testament according to the order of Melchizedek. Jesus was not from the tribe of Levi or from the line of Aaron who ministered in the Old Tabernacle. Jesus is the First Born from the dead and He is the Head of the Church of the Firstborn. All born again believers become part of that heavenly Church (mentioned in Hebrews 12:22) and therefore all believers now become royal priests that can enter into the holy presence of God like the Old High Priest under the Old Covenant could only do once a year. What a new way of living! Jesus opened up a new way into the holiest of all – for all who will follow in His wake! He lifted us up into a new dimension of living and ministry!

Daniel 3:26

It

El Shaddai

The Mighty One

Genesis 17:1

God appeared to Abraham as the Mighty One who could create and maintain what He created

 The Mighty One can break all barriers and help us to overcome Satan, Sin and Self in our lives. There is nothing impossible to Him. All things are possible if we can believe.

El Shaddai mentioned 31 times in Job

El Olam

Genesis 21:33

Ephesians 1:9, 10

The Eternal One who knows all secrets. He reveals mysteries to us. It is an apostolic gift to open up the mysteries of God to the church so that they can understand the ways and the mind of God so that His will can be done on earth as it is in heaven.

David says, when I worship on the harp, the Lord reveals dark secrets to me.

Adonai

Lord

Genesis 15:2

This redemptive name expresses the relationship between God and man. When Abraham prayed for Sodom and Gomorrah he used the name Adonai. He knew who He was speaking to and what he wanted from Him. He wanted Him to remember that they were human beings.

Jahweh

Used 6 000 times in the Bible

The God of the Ten Commandments: JWH no vowels written out of reverend fear for the great God whom they served.

Moriah – the face of Jaweh

Josiah – help from Jaweh

Hallelujah – glorify Jaweh

He has given us a New Commandment: to love God with all our heart, soul and being and to love our neighbour as ourselves. In this all the other Old Testament Commandments are fulfilled! He is a covenant keeping God. There are more than 7 000 Promises of God for believers in the Bible. Every need is covered with a divine promise. He has already provided for you.

Those who participate in sponsoring apostolic missions to other nations have this promise from apostle Paul: My God shall supply all your needs (Philippians 4:10-19).

Jehovah Jireh

Genesis 22:14

God is our Great Provider. The cattle on a thousand hills belong to Him. All the silver and the gold is His. He is our Heavenly Father. He knows what we need. He answers even before we call on Him. He desires that we prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper (3 John 2)

He is the ‘many breasted one’ that can feed all of us at the same time!

Rapha

Exodus 15:26

The Lord God is our Great Physician and our Healer if we walk according to His Word. Keep the word before your eyes, in your heart, in your mouth and it will be health to your bones! It will do you good like good medicine! The Lord sent His Word and healed them – Psalm 107. By His stripes we were healed ( I Peter 2:23, 24).

Deuteronomy 7:15

Nissi

Our Banner

Exodus 17:15

Deuteronomy 28:7

Lord of War. Israel marched under four Banners under through the wilderness. The sign of a Lion represent the tribe of Judah, an Eagle, the tribe of Dan, a Calf, the tribe of Ephraim and a Man represent the tribe of Rueben. These also symbolize the four faces of Christ’s nature. The Lion is the King, the Calf the strength of an ox to labour; the man speaks of the Word being made flesh and the Son of God coming in the form of a man; and the eagle speaks of the soaring one, the spiritual being, the one who can scale the cliffs and pierce the heavens.

Solomon wrote: My beloved is mine and I am His and His banner over me is Love!

The Lord has stretched His banner over you already! In the Spiritual realm the angels and demons can see under whose banner you are marching! If God is for us who can be against us?

Shalom

Peace

Judges 6:23, 24

He reconciled sinful man with Holy God – made peace. Peace comes after war. The battle for your soul has been won on Calvary. Jesus defeated Satan and wiped out the handwriting that is against us and nailed it to the cross. Then he disarmed Satan of all the weapons in which he trusted and displayed him openly as a defeated foe. He gives you peace. He is the Prince of Peace. The world cannot know peace because they reject the Prince of Peace.

He forgives sins and gives us peace within

Sabaoth

I  Samuel 1:3

Lord of Hosts

The Lord of War and Majesty

Psalm 24:10

God wants to give us comfort in great anxiety. Only God can do that. No one else can give yo peace that passes understanding. In the midst of trials and tribulation he can give you a Sabbath’s rest! The battle is the Lord’s. He will fight your battles and give you the victory! Put your trust in Him. His armies will fight on your behalf. Those who are for you are more than those who are against you!

Ra-ah

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want (another shepherd!) He makes me lie down in green pastures (he does not drive me like a cattle driver to exhaust me – he is not a slave driver or a dictator like Hitler!) and leads me beside still waters (He does not build a bridge for me over troubled waters!) Sheep are afraid of rough waters because if they fall in their wool will get too heavy and they will drown. They only drink when the water is still. That is where the Shepherd restores our soul so that He can lead us paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.  

Psalm 23:1

Tsidkenu

Righteousness

Jeremiah 23:16

Isaiah 54:17

Your righteousness is of Me says the Lord; the Lord has become our righteousness according to I Corinthians 1:30. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. He made Him who knew no sin to become sin so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:210

Shammah

The Lord is there: before you get there, the Lord is there! He prepares the way for you to get there! He is always there. He never fails to show up – wherever you go, He’ll be there!

Ezekiel 48:35

Revelation 21;22, 23

I’ll be there for you for a thousand years

Yakaddish Kem

Holiness

 Exodus 31:3

I Corinthians 1:30 – The Lord is our holiness. Holiness has become a person, not just an attitude or moral behaviour. As Christ gains ascendency in our lives, as He increases and we decrease, our holiness augments.

 

I would like to give some facts concerning angels to establish belief in the actual existence of angels. The Sadducees in Jesus' time did not want to believe in angels or any supernatural actions. The Pharisees believed in angels. The Modernists don't believe in angels. They say the theory concerning angels developed when the Jews in exile were influenced by the theories of the Babylonians.

Facts about their existence
1. Mentioned 180 times in Old Testament and 160 times in New Testament
2. History proves their existence
3. Jesus confirms their existence (John 1:52/ Luke 15:10/ Matthew 26;53)

Facts about their nature
1. They are created beings (Good/evil)
2. They were created before human beings
3. We are not to worship them (Col 2:18/ Rev 19:10)

Facts about numbers of angels
1. Innumerable company (Hebrews 12:22/ Daniel 7:10)
2. They are part of the church of the First Born
3. Their lord is the Lord of hosts

Facts about their ranks
1. They are ministering spirits (Heb 1:14/ Rev 19:10)
2. Authorities and powers (I Pet 3;22)

Facts about the Angel of the Lord
1. He can forgive trespasses (Ex 23;20-230
2. He can go before you (Ex 32:34/ 33:14)
3. He is called the Angel of His Presence/ Face ( Is 63:9)
4. We can see God reflected in Him
5. The Name of Jehovah is in Him
6. Jacob encountered Him (Gen 32:30)
7. He is the Son of God, the Messiah