Eric

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ! Was it on a Friday or not?

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 (more…)

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By Eric, ago

When I say I am a Christian

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 Read more

By Eric, ago

A new day!

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 Read more

By Eric, ago

The Monster Energy drink: Is it a revelation of 666 or not?

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 (more…)

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By Eric, ago

A taxi to work

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 (more…)

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By Eric, ago

Intercessory prayer for the lost

This a prayer that I read in a book from Dutch Sheets about Intercessory Prayer. Buy the book it is very good material.  Six things to pray for/ask when we intercede for the lost: 1. Pray that their spiritual eyes will be opened to truly see and understand the Gospel; Read more

By Eric, ago

My God and my King!

Today I stand in awe and have to confess that I DO serve a righteous-prayer answering God!!

So many times in life we pray and then walk away from the circumstances that forced you to pray that specific prayer at the time – not always seeing the actual fulfillment of the prayer. Other times we come into situations where we need to reprimand other Christians who are not walking according to the Word and who are outright rebellious but do not want to turn from their ways. Sad to say but these Christians walk away from you not having dealt with the issue at hand which God is obviously wanting them to deal with.

So, we walk away from a prayer that was left in God’s hands and they walk away from an issue God wants them to deal with – and probably vice versa. Have we ever stopped and taken a glance back to see what has happened – did the circumstances which were prayed for even change? Did these people (and ourselves) get to dealing with the issue God wanted to change in their life?

Today I can say I have had the opportunity to glance back to these people and circumstances and have seen that God is (more…)

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By Eric, ago

I love you Lord!

This morning I decided to start off with a song which my wife and me overheard in a show room of a tile company in Hammanskraal about two years ago. We were walking in this showroom with our eldest daughter and her husband while they were looking for tiles for Read more

By Eric, ago

Speaking from the Mercy Seat

From which point do you hear the voice of God? 

 The teachings about the Tabernacle of Moses has always been a favorite topic to study and to teach from as it provides so much valuable information to the shadow types of Jesus Christ and how it eventually came to existence in the New Testament and in the life of Jesus Christ.

The Tabernacle of Moses speaks first of all about the Law. Everything concerning the construction of the Tabernacle had to be done completely according to the directives that Moses received from God.  It also deals with the specific procedures and duties of the priests and they could not waive one bit from it.  But the Tabernacle also speaks of Grace and redemption and forgiveness, but most of all about the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  It clearly describes the atoning and redemptive work of Jesus Christ.  But this is a teaching on its own.

(more…)

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By Eric, ago