So ‘n paar maande gelede het ek ‘n beroep op ons FaceBook Group van Galilee Ministries gedoen vir enige skenking van ou klere, skoene, komberse en selfs ‘n R50 pm vir die aankoop en verspreiding van Bybels en ander literatuur.
Hiermee wil ek graag ook dankie sê vir diegene wat ‘n donasie(s) van R50 gegee het, maar meer so aan die NG gemeente van Rietfontein-Noord in Pretoria wat ‘n hele bakkievrag ou klere, skoene en selfs ‘n paar komberse aan ons geskenk het.
Galilee Ministries het ten doel om mense se lewens te verryk met die blye boodskap van die evangelie van Jesus Christus en om leierskap en evangelisasie opleiding te verskaf terwyl ons ‘n hand van vriendskap en ondersteuning binne die Koninkryk van Christus na ander bedienings uitreik. Gevolglik bedien ons dan gemeenskappe plaaslik asook op die verste uithoeke van die land met die evangelie en ook om Bybels, klere, komberse en veral skryfbehoeftes aan die kinders te voorsien. Sodanige skenkings maak dit vir ons ook moontlik om guns by die plattelandse gemeenskappe en hul stamhoofde asook skole te vind sodat die evangelie tydig en ontydig aan alle nasies verkondig kan word. Deur sodanige bydraes kan ons saam ‘n verskil in ‘n hele paar mense se lewens maak.
Dit was nogal ook ‘n ondervinding om weer in my ou gemeente te kon staan waar ek as kind groot geword het. Dit is ook hier waar een van die ouderlinge destyds in ‘n katkisasieklas vir my gesê het ek moet eerder ‘n “visser van mense” wees na aanleiding van ‘n visvang naweek waar ek nie die klas die vorige week kon bywoon nie. Moet dus nie die sondagskoolklasse of onderwysers gering ag nie, aangesien hulle ‘n baie belangrike rol en funksie in die Koninkryk van God verrig.
Al die lof en eer en danksegging kom aan die Here Jesus toe vir Sy voorsiening, genade en liefde.
Our latest quarterly Newsletter, the Fishing Vessel is available for those who are interested.
We are experiencing a technical problem to upload it on the website, but we will forward it to each one who register on our website on a quaterly basis. If you register during this month, we will also forward you the previous Newsletter as well.
Please click on the line “ Signup and Newsletters” in the middle column just below the “Verse of the day” block. Complete your info and we will forward the Newsletter as soon as possible directly to the email address provided.
Regards,
Eric Heath
From the Writers Pen: Dave Miles
Most Christians or should I say professing Christians today are superficial in their relationship with God and their peers. This seems to be the curse of this century for these people carry many hats/masks to suite there purpose in life. They are looking for instant spiritual satisfaction & fail to see the need for spiritual discipline. We actually need a deeper spiritual relationship with our God & this stems from discipline in His Word & what is required from us as Christians.
We tend to fall in a category whereby we deem only certain persons to become spiritual giants, believing that anything above what we call normal is in actual fact beyond our reach. Surely it is only those who devote all their time to meditation & prayer who will eventually get the breakthrough of Spiritual satisfaction. This is so far from what the Word says, for we are all afforded His love, understanding & heavenly benefits. We are supposed to be one with Him, in Him & through Him.
God really intended the discipline of the spiritual life to be available for every ordinary human being; people like us who work, look after siblings, gardening, housekeeping, growing up or maturing, etc. These are the quite natural order of things. Therefore, spiritual discipline is best exercised in our daily relationships; husbands & wives, brothers & sisters, neighbours & friends. Where does it all start? Well to begin with it is laughter & joy, thus liberating ourselves from slavery of self- interest & fear of not gaining what it is worth. Think of what freedom comes to mind when you sing, dance & shout your praises & adoration to our God. Spirituality is enhanced without the cares of the world. You need to seek God’s grace & His presence.
The issue at hand is to practice spiritual discipline, by starting at the basic requirement of longing after God. The Psalmist in Psalms 42:1-2, writes, “As a heart longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O’ God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”
In Psalm 42:7, mentions the words, “Deep calls unto deep.” What does this mean for us? Well perhaps you underwent something like the following without really understanding what is happening:
- You felt or heard in a sense a need for a deeper / closer call to a fuller life & living cycle;
- You have become aware of frothy biblical experiences and shallow teachings which merely pass over your head;
- Now & again you suddenly catch glimpses or hints of a far more deeper understanding than you have had before.
- Normal church gatherings don’t necessarily feed your spirit; there is a lack of some spiritual ingredient;
- You find that you need a more deeper understanding to settle your spirit. Somewhere deep within you there is a longing for a more deeper serious relationship with God, but you seem out of reach.
There are somewhat difficulties to enter this spiritual discipline; the first being the philosophic phase & the second is the practical phase. Let’s unfold the first difficulty;
- Being in a materialistic world we are lead to believe what we don’t see is actually beyond our ability to reach or achieve. We are prejudiced into thinking materialistically & believing that non- seeing means it doesn’t really exist.
- Contrary to popular belief, meditation actually brings one to a closer encounter with God, but worldly people see it as manipulation by other spirits. We should be exploring the spiritual life with all rigour & determination, as the Word says.
- Moving on to the second difficulty:
- We simply do not know how to go about exploring the inward life or spiritually disciplined lifestyle. In the Biblical days it was general custom in the understanding & knowledge of what to do in the event of disciples like prayer, fasting, worship & celebrations. For example how to prepare for a fast, how to break a fast or how to cater for or avoid dizziness while fasting, everybody knew what to do.
- One must however remember the outset practical disciplines need to match the inward spiritual disciplines, meaning that you need to change the inward attitude of your hearts to achieve spiritual discipline.
- In James 1:17, we get an understanding of what’s required. We have one thing to do, namely, to experience a life of relationship & intimacy with God, ‘the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change’
Hold onto the next episode where we will discuss the slavery of habits ingrained into us as people who attempt to seek spiritual discipline.
The Writer travels with you seeking and exploring this spiritual discipline.
Tags: relationship, Spiritual discipline
Paul wrote: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23 KJV)
The only future we had forthcoming due to our sins, was eternal death. But God offered us His grace instead of punishment, eternal life rather than death, His unconditional love to replace His all consuming wrath through the atoning offer of Jesus Christ and His precious blood. Peter wrote that we have not been redeemed (rescued; saved; released; freed; restored) with corruptible things like silver and gold or through our vain traditions received from our fathers, but from the precious blood of Christ. (1 Pe 1:18)
He continues with this in verse 22 and proclaim the following: “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:”
You can only purify your soul by obeying the truth through the Spirit. Look at another scripture that are so often quoted: “So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are really my disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Joh 8:31 -32 KJV).
If you continue in His word and in Truth through the Spirit of God, you will know the truth, it will purify your soul from all sin and lies from satan and set you free. And through this new found freedom and unfeigned love of Jesus Christ you will be able to love one another with a pure heart.
But Peter wrote something even more profoundly important to know. When we allow the truth and the spirit of God to purify our hearts and mind, we are actually being born again, not from corruptible seed of man (as in our first birth), but from the incorruptible seed of God – His Word which liveth and abideth in us for ever. (1Pe1:23 KJV) Yes, we have to allow Him to do it. God created us with a free will and God will not interfere with it. You have to invite Him in and allow Him to transform/ re-create you again through this process and His Word of truth. In verse 25 he wrote “the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
When you look at a fruit bearing tree, you will also find the seed of the tree in the fruit. The tree has its own DNA and the fruit is a result of it. It is in actual fact written/designed into the DNA that a specific tree will bear a specific type of fruit. The fruit is only temporarily, but the seed of the fruit is long lasting. There are more qualities in the seed than in the fruit. The seed captures the complete DNA of the original tree and when planted will produce the original tree again. If the tree does not produce the fruit as it is supposed to do, then the tree will not produce any seed to reproduce itself.
God uses these examples of nature and other stories (narratives) to describe the essence of His Word and the clear meaning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Word is like seed being sown into our hearts and this seed is incorruptible. But this seed of the Word, also then contains the very DNA of the original tree. Paul wrote that we as the heathen nations are like the (naturally) wild olive branch, who have been grafted (contrary to nature) into the place of the broken off branches (Israel), to share the rich root of the olive tree (being Jesus Christ) (Rom 11:17 & 24). And God expects us to bear the right fruit. Jesus clearly explained this principle: “For every tree is known by its own fruit. People don’t gather figs from thorny plants or pick grapes from a thorn bush. (Luk 6:44)
Once again Jesus gave us a sound principle as He said: “Abide in me, and I will abide in you. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Joh 15:4- 5
In other words, if you have received the incorruptible seed of the Word, you will only be able to produce the correct “tree and fruit” in your life as per the original design from God. We are the wild olive branches being crafted into the true olive tree to produce olives as fruit and not any other thorny type of fruit.
But the whole design of it all still lies in the “seed” received as well as in the seed being produced. When you receive the original and incorruptible seed, you receive the original as per the design from God and therefore it empowers you to produce the right tree and correct fruit in your life – which once again reproduces the original seed of truth.
Now look at the further principle of it all: “But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word, understands it, and produces a crop that yields a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.” Mat 13:23 This is how my Father is glorified, when you produce a lot of fruit and prove to be my disciples. Joh 15:8
When you receive the incorruptible seed of the Word in truth, you are changed against your own nature and empowerd to be a fruit bearing and seed producing vessel of truth unto the Glory of God and for the salvation of other people.
In a couple of days, the Christian world will celebrate the Passover or Easter weekend. I am fully aware of the ongoing fights about whether it is a celebration of the Passover or Easter or anything else and about the specific regulations of various churchgroups in this regard. But the purpose of this discussion is not about these disputes, but on another matter.
The point I want to raise is one that also has been ongoing for centuries and the Moslems utilize this fact to create disputes and to create doubt in the hearts of many Christians about the truth of the Word of God and the doctrines that the Church is proclaiming. And it is all about the day when Jesus Christ was crucified and whether He was in the grave for 3 days and 3 nights, or not.
Over centuries the Church has proclaimed that Jesus Christ was crucified and buried on the Friday before the Sabbath, but if this is then true, how is it possible that He was in the grave for 3 days and 3 nights according to scripture. Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and said:
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Mat 12:40
So, if this is true according to the words of Jesus Christ, somewhere, something is wrong because the math’s don’t add up for Him to have been in the grave for such a period if it was from the Friday – and then being raised from the dead on the first day of the week (which was early Sunday morning according to the doctrines of the Church). This fact was Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 3days and 3 nights, Crucified on Friday, Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Feast of Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Passover Feast, Sabbath
A Poem by Carol S. Wimmer – posted by Tracey Miles.
When I say …”I am a Christian,”
I’m not shouting “I am saved”
I’m whispering “I was lost!”
That is why I chose this way.”
When I say…”I am a Christian,”
I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble and need someone to be my guide.
When I say…”I am a Christian,”
I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak and pray for strength to carry on.
When I say…”I am a Christian,”
I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed and cannot ever pay the debt.
When I say…”I am a Christian,”
I’m not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are too visible but God believes I’m worth it.
When I say…”I am a Christian,”
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches which is why I seek His name.
When I say…”I am a Christian,”
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority I only know I’m loved.
© 1988 Carol S. Wimmer
E-mail Address: CCCWimmer@aol.com
This morning I got up a little bit earlier than usual and was quite aware of our neighbor’s rooster that sounded the start of a new day – already since 3:30 every morning and every hour until the sun is up. My wife and daughter has already given a stern warning that we will be eating “chicken – a la -neighbor” one of these days.
In some sense it reminds me of the tranquility of farm life and the farmers of old who never used alarm clocks to wake them up – because they had the privilege of the natural alarm clocks that God has built into nature and into His creation. Just think about it? Who instructed the rooster to crow early in the morning (and sometimes also in the middle of the night as well)? And through all these generations of roosters they all still do the same thing – even though they do not learn it from older roosters. It is natural and it is built into their DNA and character by the Creator of all and not by a big bang or through evolution. If it was evolution, then the roosters would have a more techno sound (with volume & serious timing control) by now and also being able to start the coffee machine?
But what stirred in my heart was that God has created/given us another brand new day to enjoy and to prosper as children of the most high God. The scientists proclaim the earth and creation is millions and billions of years old, while some theologians claim it only exists for approximately 6000 years. Any which way, it still remains a mystery and a miracle that the sun is still shining everyday (24/7 – when we sleep, it shines on another continent), the seasons are still in place, even though it might feel warmer/colder at times and the seasonal plants are still growing at its predestined times. The fruit trees are still flowering in the spring and producing the fruit that we need.
When God created the heavens and the earth and every other thing, He said it was good. Therefore, each new day that we receive in this life is GOOD. Even Mondays are GOOD and maybe Fridays are even better (such as today), but there should not be any day that is bad. It is only man that can corrupt the goodness that the Lord has given to us as a gift.
Paul reminds us that we run a race like an athlete and he says we should run the race to make sure we complete it.
- 1Co 9:24 You know that in a race all the runners run but only one wins the prize, don’t you? You must run in such a way that you may be victorious.
It is only our perspective and attitudes that determines the start, progress and finish of each day. When our attitudes are set right at the start (even if you don’t want to go to work), the progress through the day will be different and the finish even better. In the book of Hebrews (Hebr 12:1), the writer makes a sound statement that we have such a cloud of witnesses surrounding us of the grace and abundance of God in our lives, and we should get rid of all hindrances that entangles us – but most of all to keep on running, stay in the race, have the right mindset and attitude, an attitude of a winner and a conqueror, because that’s what and who you are in Christ!
Start a new day with praise to the one and only living God and then be ready to be amazed by His awesome power and love. Continue by giving a smile to a stranger and you will receive one back as well. Greet someone new and tell them this is a good day – and if they ask you why? (probably with a big question mark and frown across their face) – tell them because it was created and given by God to you as a gift. Maybe they will call the ambulance on you, but stick to the right attitude of love and joy and soon it will also envelope them like a cloud.
Enjoy your brand new day!
Our latest and new format of our official Newsletter has been finalized and also boast with a complete new name: The Fishing Vessel.
Due to unforeseen circumstances and lack of knowledge in regard to website management, the new Newsletter is only available per email. We are still sorting out the technicalities to post the Newsletter as a template on the website and until then the newsletter will be available by email.
Please forward me your email address by completing the box below and I will forward the Newsletter as well as the addendum to you as soon as possible. Your contact details will remain confidential at all times.
We are also busy revamping all of the pages on the website to bring it up to date and also to upgrade some of the information. So please bear with us in this regard and hopefully it will all be finished by the end of February this year.
Regards,
Eric Heath
Tags: fishing vessel;, newsletter
I know the Church and especially the Pentecostal groups sometimes go overboard with their discernment of situations and trends in so much that they have been labelled in the past as “people looking for a devil in all things”.
On the other hand, can we continue with such a casual attitude and accept everything the world has to offer to you and me, or should we stop for a while and check deep down in our spirit and discern through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, what is good and what is bad? How easy has it become for people (and I would say a large percentage of them to be born-again believers even) to accept and spend money to watch the latest trends in movies that depicts the evil side of men – who are capable of transforming into blood sucking werewolves? Just because it is portrayed as a love story?
The Apostle Peter gives us a stern warning to be wise and steadfast in the Word of God because of the times we live in:
- “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” (2Pe 3:13-14)
- And he continues in verse 15: “And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures”. (2Pe 3:15-16)
- “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2Pe 3:17-18)
With all this being said and done, we as children of the living God will have to be cautious – VERY cautious – in what we allow, what we accept as the norm/trend, what we wear, etc. because of all the symbols and demonic associations attached to this. Am I now “one of those lunatics that see a devil in all new trends”? No not at all. But I do have a Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: beast, curses, demonic symbols, demons, hebrew alphabet, infertility, Monster Energy drink, Monster Energy drink; 666; mark of the beast; rebellion; sickness; symbols; infertility; discernment; hebrew alphabet; numerical value 6; dragon; trade marks, numerical value 6, rebellion in children, sickness, spiritual warfare
Posted by Venetia.
My family and I live in Suiderberg a suburb of Pretoria in the Gauteng province of South Africa. I work in Braamfontein, Johannesburg which is about 60km from my house. Travelling used to be very stressful because there are so many cars on the roads and it could take up to 1 – 2 hours to travel the mere 60km. In the meantime the South African government has built the Gautrain, a very upmarket train system that travels @160km per hour and gets you from Hatfield (a suburb of Pretoria) to Rosebank (a suburb of Johannesburg) in just 34 minutes! This is a huge stress reliever and it is great to sit in the comfort of the train looking at all the cars on the jam packed highways. When we get to Rosebank station we still need to travel for about 15 minutes by bus because the last station, Park station, is not yet finished.
However, living in South Africa has far many other challenges than just driving to work either by car or train. The people of South Africa have a passion to strike, or lay down tools, if they feel their co-workers have been dealt with wrongly or if they are negotiating wages and it is taking too long or it is not going as they have anticipated. And so it just happened that in the week of 9 to 13 January 2012, the Gautrain bus drivers decided it is time to down tools! You are Read the rest of this entry »
