The Sign of Jonah

On Sunday evening, we spoke about Jesus teaching on the human need for signs in Matthew 12:38-41. This demand for a sign speaks of faith: both the need for it and the lack of it.

Jesus teaching relates to a sign that He is the Messiah as spoken about by the Prophets. Here Jesus holds one of the most remarkable stories in the Old Testament namely Jonah being thrown overboard, swallowed by a big fish, saved and going on to proclaim God's message, against His own death, burial and Resurrection.

One major difference between the two stories:

Jonah's journey is widely accepted as a story whereas Jesus journey was and is very real. He actually lived, died and rose again! And by faith we come to recognise Jesus as the Messiah sent to save us from our sins.


Are you looking for signs or do you recognise Jesus as the Messiah?

Shouldn't His death and Resurrection should be sign enough?

God Provides

It was wonderful to sit in on the Sunday service as a worshipper.

Grant spoke about putting Jesus first in our lives.

It is amazing how, when things go wrong in our relationships, jobs and family and we pause to check our relationship with God, we find that that is where the problem lies.

Setting that right means spending time with God each day in quiet time. Then we may find other things fall into place.

God is our great provider and He knows our needs...so "Seek first His kingdom and righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well" Matthew 6:32

Awesome!!!

Moved By God's Spirit

We had a big week end here at North Rand.

Saturday, Gail, Heather and team arranged a Community Fair.

There was plenty of food stalls, pony rides, line dancing, worship dancing, puppet shows, pottery lessons and much more.

The idea was to 'introduce' NR to the community. The day was a great success but Gail summed it up in her prayer on Sunday morning:


"Lord, if one person comes to know You through the fair then it was all worth it."

On Sunday, we celebrated Pentecost. There was a wonderful movement by the Holy Spirit. At the altar call, there were first time commitments and many re-commitments!

God is Good!!!!

Jesus Confronts Us

On Sunday we spoke about the way in which Jesus confronts our needs (Mark 3:1-6.

The awesome thing about this passage is the way in which Jesus lays the groundwork for the importance and timing of needs being met.

1. Jesus realises the importance of meeting needs as they arise.

2. Once Jesus meets our needs it is impossible for us to ignore the need of others to know Jesus and receive the healing only He can give.

Awesome!

You may have a need right now as you are reading: Jesus wants to deal with your need right this moment. Pray with me:

Lord Jesus thank you for meeting my need. I know you as my Lord and Saviour and in You nothing is impossible. I receive Your healing right now. Please help me further to help others in their need. Amen.

Longevity...

On Sunday I was invited to be part of a colleagues 25th anniversary in the Ministry service in Pietermaritzburg.

Michael was the person who opened the door for me to accept Jesus and was instrumental in helping me with my calling to the ministry.

Above all, we are friends.

As the service took place, I became very aware that when we become Christians and join a church, we always have people who remain life-long friends but also ones we are going to spend eternity with!

Absolutely awesome!!!

If you are not part of God's family or are but don't belong to a church, I want to encourage you do so. God in His wisdom gives us people along our path who are there to uplift, challenge and encourage us.

Opening the Scriptures

On Sunday we spoke about our desire to have the Scriptures opened to us.

It may be fair to say that most of us desire to find revelation from the Word.

In order to do so there are a few important things to take note of:

- We need to understand the place and time of the text we are reading

- If there are references to other parts of the Bible, we need to find them and study them

- We need to allow the Spirit to open our spiritual eyes so we can gain understanding of what we are reading

When we do these things and we make time daily to read the Scriptures, God is revealed to us.

Awesome!

My prayer is that will allow God to reveal Himself to you through the Word.

Love For Enemies

On Sunday we spoke about Jesus'encouragement to walk in The Way:

In terms of Luke 6:27-31 this means loving our enemies, blessing those that curse us and giving of ourselves to others.

Tough, but every much part of a comprehensive way in which we are healed, transformed and fulfilled as human beings.

One way in which we can come to the place where can do these things Jesus asks, is to remind ourselves: (1) we are all made in the image of God, (2) we also hurt others sometimes without knowing it, (3) if we take the time to stand in someones shoes, then we might react differently to their interaction with us.

All of this is summed by Jesus as He says:'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'

My prayer for you is that, right now, you would allow Jesus make you aware of the places in your life where you harbour anger, resentment and unforgiveness and to heal you from these things. In that way, you enter a new Way of living.

Bless you, have a good one!