God's Future Plan for Israel

The Jews, in spite of everything, remain God's chosen people.

What does it mean that God has two peoples, the Jews and the Christians?
What does Jesus say?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16–18 NIV84

Jesus died on the cross to forgive all people and give them eternal life. But this gift is not unconditional. Each person must believe in Jesus and be willing to embrace a new life with God.

It is not enough to agree with the Bible's teachings. Nor is it enough to strive to live a virtuous life.

You and I are invited to experience a supernatural personal relationship with the eternal Son of God.

We are invited to be inwardly transformed by his Holy Spirit in communion with God himself.

It makes no difference whether you are Jewish or not. It is only a matter of trusting God through his Son, who is also the promised Messiah of the Jews.

Some then ask if the Jews as a people still have a role in God's plan.
Most Jews in Israel today do not believe in Jesus as the Messiah. According to Jesus, they should not expect a heavenly home without faith in God's Son.

Are we still to recognise the modern Jewish nation as God's work and God's nation?
Has God Himself restored the Jewish nation in Israel in our time? And why?
Does this Jewish nation have a role in Bible prophecy?

In Revelation we find a mysterious prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled.

Revelation 7:3–8 NIV84
(A mighty angel said) “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

What do we learn from this text regarding God's future plans? It is puzzling. Many Bible teachers like to explain a simple theological system. Bible passages that do not fit into this system are ignored or superficially explained away.

We will not understand many prophetic Bible passages accurately in this life until they are fulfilled, but we must not therefore lightly throw them overboard.

Paul taught that the time will come when a whole Jewish nation will be visibly visited by Jesus and all the Jews who then see Jesus will repent, believe and be saved.

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. Romans 11:26 NIV84

Here it is not only Israel that is being spoken of, but the descendants of Jacob, that is, the Jews. Is Paul speaking here of all the Jews who converted to Jesus in all generations?

No.

Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day, or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labour than she gives birth to her children. Isaiah 66:8 NIV84

In Isaiah and in other prophetic writings in the Old Testament, we see many Bible passages that tell of a future Jewish nation in Israel where the Messiah will rule Israel and the whole world.

There are theologians who understand these passages as symbolic, who teach that God is speaking of the Church.

I see no reason not to understand these prophecies literally. That is, clear prophecies of a future Jewish nation after the return of the Messiah.

In this matter, Luther and Calvin misled the Christian world.

Christian Activism and Abuse Victims

 As a little girl, she firmly believed in Jesus and prayed with childlike trust in God. But then she was sexually abused. As a teenager, she was confused and sought comfort with marijuana and boys. 

I am thinking of stories of not just one or two women who ended up in a brothel, a psychiatric institution or on the street.

I think of a young man who was begging on the street in a German city in winter. He lived off donations, and he told me he sometimes spent the night with a client.

I know women in Germany who visited brothels to help prostitutes with friendship and kindness.  In one year, they uncovered four victims of trafficking and helped them return home.

In one Australian state, the government reported that 15-20% of all mentally ill patients committed suicide within 24 hours of being discharged. After that, no more statistics were published. The scandal was simply hushed up.

Yesterday, a Christian political activist phoned me. He told me to contact the government and demand that we should have religious freedom.

I was not impressed, and I gave him a piece of my mind.

Why do these activists protest about abortion, gender mainstreaming, etc., but ignore domestic violence, homelessness and the neglect of the mentally ill and victims of abuse?

The young activist protested that he had himself been homeless before he found Jesus in his life. He insisted that this was not a political issue, but personal evangelism was the correct response.

Sorry, but my experience tells me that there are many homeless and mentally ill people who believe in Jesus or have believed once, but are human wrecks because of hypocrisy and abuse in Christian families or churches.

I have talked to Christians who struggle with suicidal thoughts. I know Christians in this situation who sometimes needed government funded psychiatric care to repair the damage done to them by professing Christians, Christian families or churches.

Inadequate government funding of services for homeless victims and mental patients is an urgent political issue and also a Christian issue.

Jesus sharply rebuked the Pharisees for imposing a narrow religious way of thinking on others, but they did not care about poor, sick and suffering people.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 NKJV

There is a very important word in biblical Hebrew and also in Greek. It means both righteousness and justice. In French, Spanish, Italian, German and Dutch bibles, the same wonderful word is very prominent.

Sadly, the English language has no word to translate this word. Many Christians read the word “righteousness” and do not realise that it also includes justice and mercy.

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Luke 11:42 NKJV

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. Psalm 89:14 NKJV

End Time Chaos and God's Plan

 Everywhere around us, we see intensified conflict. In the USA, we see aggressive white supremacy pitted against raging cancel culture and Black Lives Matter.

In the UK, we see aggressive English nationalism in England and angry Scottish nationalism in Scotland. We see friendships and families broken on political lines.

The immigrant community in Germany is divided between those who want to become patriotic Germans and those who want to conquer Europe in the name of their religion.

In the Middle East, there are some Muslims who hate Christians and Jews and want to destroy Israel.
There are others who want to live in peace and friendship with their neighbours and respect diversity.

In historically Christian countries, we have seen the long smouldering problem of sexual child abuse explode into public scandals. The Roman Catholic Church has been devastated and has lost its firm grip on power in the Irish Republic.

In the last two decades, we have seen a dramatic acceleration and hotting up of all of these conflicts.

Now we are in the middle of a terrible pandemic. Some are terrified of the Covid virus, are eager to be vaccinated, and want to cooperate with government control policies. Others are full of fear and rage against governments and vaccination programs.

The instability around us makes us afraid. People react with panic and anger.

If we read bible prophecies of the last days, it all fits in.

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Mt 24:3 NIV84

You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Matthew 24:6 NIV84

The wars since 1900 have been terrible. Jesus warns us not to be alarmed. The violent shaking of everything around us must not lead to panic if we trust God.

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”

The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, Hebrews 12:26–28 NIV84

What is the purpose of this shaking? God loves the world. It is like mining for gold. Extracting gold from sand or rocks involves shaking, crushing and often exposure to violent chemical reactions.
God is searching for loving human souls who will come to Him and trust him.

Jesus likened God’s violent love to a woman in labour before childbirth.

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

All these are the beginning of birth pains. Matthew 24:7–8 NIV84

Does this mean God is inciting people to hate, abuse and kill each other? Of course not.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 NKJV

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. James 1:17–18 NLT

The violent conflict all around us is a sure sign that Jesus is coming again soon. The trouble is accelerating like a woman in labour. Her contractions become stronger and more frequent until the baby is born.

At the same time, as the pain and trouble increases, the baby begins to be pushed out into a new life.

If you are a believer, expect God Himself to dramatically accelerate his intervention as he delivers you from evil and sickness and answers your prayers with wonderful miracles.

Misunderstood and Alone

Jesus paused at a well and spoke to a woman. This was considered very unseemly.

Firstly, Jesus was a Jew, and she was a Samaritan woman. As a holy Jewish preacher, it was also expected of him to distance himself from women.

The woman was surprised because normally Jews wanted nothing to do with Samaritans.

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) John 4:9 NIV84

It turned out that she was a genuinely despised woman because she was in an illegitimate relationship, but Jesus did not care about outward appearances when the Father was leading Him to a person who might be open to God.

Many preachers call this woman extremely sinful because she was married five times and divorced who knows how many times. We fall into the temptation to judge her as a slut, but Jesus understood humanity better than most Christians.

In those days, and in many cultures today, no woman was allowed to just kick her husband out.
The man was in charge. She was either rejected several times or widowed over and over again.

In many cultures today, and most likely in Samaria back then, single women are considered fair game. A woman married five times may have been innocent, but simply barren.

There are also cultures and countries today where such a woman has to make an unsavoury choice. 

No man wanted to be the sixth husband, but alone and without a family, she would have to prostitute herself or simply be exposed as a victim for repeated rapes. 

So she lived with a man, even though it was obviously not ideal.

Shame and guilt often go together, but shame is not guilt. Jesus bore the most extreme shame when he hung stark naked on the cross, although he was totally blameless.

A devout Christian woman who is persecuted, enslaved and raped by communists or Muslims for her faith experiences terrible shame, but in God's eyes she is completely innocent.

Perhaps you are misunderstood. This can be a very cruel and lonely experience, and it can last a long time.

A German poet describes these experiences with deep insight.

Strange, walking in the fog!
Lonely every bush and stone,
No tree sees another,
Each one is alone.

Strange, walking in the fog!
Life is loneliness.
No one knows another,
Each one is alone.

Hermann Hesse was perhaps rather depressed and the poem is very pessimistic, but he has uncovered a grain of truth.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer explains how we must all stand alone before Jesus.

Only Jesus understands you totally, and despite all your faults He loves you too, just as He loved that woman at the well.

We can have times when we find real togetherness with someone, but these good times come and go. Jesus gave this woman new hope.

She was very misunderstood and lonely, but Jesus gave her a new life in which she could safely find real community and also human relationships. By believing in Jesus, she became a signpost for her village.

This loneliness, this life of misunderstanding, was never God's intention for you.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 NIV84

When we try to live our lives without God, we move away from the only source of love and understanding.
God wants to help you find your way back to His heart.

Are your in no man's land?

 Are you in no man's land?

Do you need healing? You have prayed and believed. You are making progress, but you are not well yet.

Hold on to God's promises!

Before the last world war, penicillin had not been invented. An English preacher had tuberculosis and prayed for healing.

He didn't get an instant cure, but he asked God for guidance. God gave him to understand that he should pray two hours every day, and he would recover.
 
He was obedient and he made a complete recovery.

Many sick Christians pray for healing, but they are disappointed. When Jesus healed before the cross, he never failed. He healed everyone who prayed for healing without exception.

What can we learn from Jesus? He had different methods. For example, he often healed by laying his hand on someone.

Jesus also gave instructions to his disciples.

These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.

They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” Mark 16:17–18 NLT

It is curious that Jesus first emphasises deliverance from demons. When Jesus healed the sick before the cross, he often cast out demons, because sickness is often associated with demonic activity.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 NLT

Jesus was the Anointed One par excellence. He was always full of the Holy Spirit and ministered with unlimited power, but we need more help from the Holy Spirit.

One important and very powerful resource is the gift of tongues.

Some think this gift was only for the first Christians, but in Mark 16:17-18 Jesus speaks of the signs that are to follow those who believe. There is no indication in the text, that this promise is only for a limited time. 

To release God's miraculous power, we need to cultivate a deep relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26 NLT 

How can we enter into this deep realm? Paul gives us an important clue as to how he cultivated his close relationship with God.

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. 1 Corinthians 14:18 NLT

Paul explained that he did not want to speak in languages in meetings because he rather wanted to help people through prophecy or Bible teaching.

So when did Paul speak so much in languages? In his personal prayers.

As we cultivate our relationship with God through the Holy Spirit, we learn to perceive the leading of the Holy Spirit.

We can learn to follow God's specific instructions, like this English preacher who was to pray two hours every day to receive God's healing.

God’s leading is different for each person. Please don’t think you have to pray for two hours a day. That was God’s will for that pastor. You need to ask God to show you what to do yourself.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:14 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5 ESV

Endtime Revival. Small beginnings.

What works did Jesus do before the cross?

• He worked miracles.

• He healed all kinds of diseases.

• He healed the blind and the deaf.

• He brought corpses back to life.

• He fed great crowds with a little bread.

• He walked on water.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. John 14:12–13 NLT

You read the Bible and you believe Jesus did all that. But where do you find greater works?

Moses struck a rock with his staff. Fresh water flowed from the rock, and two million Hebrews and their cattle had enough fresh water.

As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.

Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed. Acts 5:15–16 NLT

Jesus said whoever believes in Him should continue his ministry in this way, and the apostles did, but not only the apostles. I am 72 and in my lifetime there are faithful Christians who have brought corpses back to life.

About 55 years ago, there was a great revival in West Timor in Indonesia. Local missionaries without theological training were raising dead bodies.

One day, two of these itinerant preachers were standing by a river that was in flood due to tropical rainstorms. They had to cross the river to preach in the village opposite, but they saw no way to get to the other side.

God gave them the spiritual gifts of faith so that they could perform a miracle that surpassed their own faith.

They put their feet in the river and walked on the water.

Like many other Christians, I am expecting the end-time revival where such miracles will happen all over the world, but I don't want to be just a spectator.

If Jesus has called us to follow in his footsteps, how can we start, right here and now?

First, we must recognise that Jesus did not use his own divine omnipotence to perform miracles.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 

but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:5–7 NIV84

Jesus renounced his divine omnipotence and omniscience so that he could be our example as a human being.

Moses and Elijah were also human. Moses released God's great power through his faith, and so did Elijah.

Jesus acted in the same way as the great prophets who were ordinary human beings who, with the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, released God's miraculous power through faith.

So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. John 5:19 NLT

So how can we begin to function in this supernatural realm?

If you want to climb a huge mountain, you should start with a hill.

If you have a headache, you can put your hand on your forehead and release God's peace and healing.

Jesus himself taught that we can start small.

Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.

It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:31–32 NLT

 

Jesus loves me, this I know ...

 A child lay on his deathbed in hospital. His mother was holding his hand, trying to hold back her tears.

The little boy believed in Jesus. He knew that he would soon be in heaven and that his pain would be over, but he also felt insecure.

He felt compassion for his mother, who was already grieving deeply. He could not imagine life without his beloved mother, but he knew that after his death his mother would suffer grief that would be hard to bear.

"Mummy, please don't cry too much. I'm going to heaven, aren't I? And then you will go there too when my sister grows up."

"I know, dear child, but I will miss you."

"Mummy, I know I will be in heaven soon, but what will it be like there?"

"Dear child, I have never died myself, but I am sure you will be quite safe and at home there."

"Imagine going to sleep and waking up in the morning in your own bed at home. I won't be there, but I will come to you later. When you wake up, Grandma and Grandpa will be standing there with Jesus. They love you so much."

This is a story, but we must never despise childlike faith.

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them
and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2–3 ESV

But the Jewish scribes had no time for such simple ideas. Jesus was humble, but they were too arrogant to understand Jesus.

Unfortunately, even today there are not only Jewish rabbis, but also humanistically oriented theologians and pastors who are so busy with academic theories that they do not understand Jesus.

When Jesus spoke of faith, he meant that we should have childlike trust in God. When Jesus or Father God speaks plainly, we simply have to believe.

Shortly before his death on the cross, Jesus spoke to his disciples at the Last Supper.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. am, there ye may be also. John 14:1–3 NKJV 

Many educated people think this is too childish, too simple, or too good to be true, but Jesus explained the truth.

Someone asked Karl Barth, the famous Swiss theologian how he could sum up his theology.

He answered briefly with a line from a children's song.

"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

God can transform your Past.

 Not only Jesus himself, but also John the Baptist lived holy lives from infancy.

When Zechariah the priest was serving in the temple, he was visited by an angel who announced the birth of John the Baptist.

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. Luke 1:15–16 NKJV

If you have lived close to God from an early age, you can praise and thank God for that, but that is not my story.

But God planned my life. He has also woven the aberrations and missteps of my childhood and youth into his plan for my Christian life. That is what God does. That is his way of doing things.

Milly Bennitt's parents were deeply devoted Christians, but she was a rebellious party girl.

When she was about twenty years old, her father was dying. She came home to say goodbye. Then God miraculously answered her parents' prayers.

As her father was passing over to the next life, he raised his arms and his face shone with the glory of God. Milly was deeply touched and became a believer.

She fell in love with Jesus, but Milly still had no time for rigid religious conformism.

She often sat in the garden smoking a cigarette and having loving conversations with Jesus. One day Jesus said to her, "You don't need those cigarettes any more," and she was able to give up smoking without great difficulty.

She loved Jesus with all her heart, but she was not a conventional young Christian woman. She drove her sports car with a passion, but she was much more excited for heavenly visitations and miracles.

God had a plan for this party girl. He sent her as a missionary to a tourist island in Thailand, where there was no church and no mission.

She didn't start a church. She was simply friendly. As a former party girl, it was not difficult for her to make friends with all kinds of people, whether Muslims, Buddhists or secular tourists.

Her mission was so successful that Muslims became Christians. Then she was savagely persecuted by fundamentalist Muslims, who wanted to kill her. One day, she was caught in an ambush. She stared  death in the face, but she became invisible on the spot.

Is that biblical? Yes, it is.

When Jesus preached in his hometown, he was cruelly rejected.

When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious.

Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff,

but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way. Luke 4:28–30 NLT

Was Jesus invisible? We don’t know, but with God all things are possible.

God's Transforming Love

What did Jesus say when he began to preach?

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14–15 ESV

This is how Jesus began his ministry as a preacher. What does repentance mean? We immediately think of sin, repentance, confession, turning away from sins.

Jesus came to suffer the punishment for our sins on the cross. Jesus took our guilt on the cross. Without taking this understanding to heart, you can not be a Christian. 

"Jesus died in my place." This is the confession of a true Christian.

Repentance is a translation of the Greek word METANOIA. It means, "to change your way of thinking." We need to invite God's Spirit to transform our whole way of thinking.

Be having a change of mind regarding your former life, and be putting your faith in the good news. Wuest Expanded NT

Of course, it's not just about your thoughts. God wants to transform your whole life, and we have to be willing to go along with it from the heart.

METANOIA means repentance and transformation, but we can never do it ourselves without God's power and love. We must entrust our lives to the loving care and transforming power of God.

It is not about improving yourself and living virtuously. God's loving purpose for you goes much deeper.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 NLT

Those who allow themselves to be transformed by God are transferred from the natural realm to the heavenly realm by God's Spirit. This is like a new birth.

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, Colossians 1:13 NLT

In a natural birth, the fetus does not become a better fetus, but a baby that needs to breathe. That is a transformation. So it is with the new birth. A new Christian must live in the realm of the Holy Spirit.
 
The new birth is the beginning of a whole new life.

The goal of a natural baby is not to become a stronger and better baby. The baby is on a journey.

A baby becomes a toddler, a toddler becomes a child. Then comes the transformation of puberty. The child is in a process of transformation. The goal is to become a man or a woman.

What does METANOIA mean? Not just turning away from sin, but an attitude of opening your whole life to God's transforming love.

Jesus had no sin from the womb, and he never sinned. He never needed to repent, but his way of thinking developed and changed at every stage of his life, just like ours.

Jesus did not live with the omniscience that belonged to his eternal being. He depended on God's wisdom at every stage of his life.

So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. John 5:19 NLT

The wisdom he needed as a preacher was different from the wisdom he needed as a carpenter. The wisdom he needed as a teenager was different from the wisdom he needed as a child.

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him. Luke 2:40 NRSV

Jesus never spoke of Christians. He talked about disciples. A disciple is one who is always learning something new. The learning process that God wants to give you includes study, but much more a process of transformation.

My way of thinking today is different from my way of thinking a year ago.
My way of thinking today is significantly different from understanding six months ago.

I don’t think I was necessarily wrong two months ago, but I am constantly receiving fresh insights from the Holy Spirit.

Your Time is Coming!

Have you been a believer for a long time? Do you read the wonderful promises of fruitfulness in the Bible? Are you fulfilled and satisfied, or is your Christian life just a religious routine?

Maybe you have already broken out of the religious routine, but you cannot see any fruit. You love God and you have a close friendship with Jesus.

You want to make disciples for Jesus. You want to lay hands on the sick and see miraculous healings. Maybe you love Jesus, but you haven't received a miracle healing yet, even though you desperately need healing.

You love God and your trust in God is real and strong, but your hoped-for miracles haven't appeared. And you need these miracles because you are afflicted with illness, because your loved ones are not yet believers, because you are struggling with financial problems.

In the Gospel of Luke we find an elderly woman who served God for decades with a faithful heart. She had been praying for children since her marriage, but she did not have a single baby. Yet she never became bitter.

Had God abandoned her? Not at all. God had a wonderful plan. She was to experience a miracle, but without the long years of disappointment, the answer to her prayer would not have been the earth-shattering miracle that it was.

Her husband Zechariah was a priest serving in the temple when an angel of the Lord appeared, sharing an amazing message.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. Luke 1:13 NRSV

Elizabeth was to be the mother of John the Baptist, the great prophet who would announce the coming of God's Son.

All over this chaotic world, there are faithful disciples of the Lord who await the second coming of Jesus. Some are well-known prophets, good pastors, or well-known evangelists, but there are also many unknown saints who are frustrated because their prayers seem not to have been answered yet.

Are you one of these? Take courage. God has not forgotten you. God has prepared a spiritual army that He will release in the great end-time revival. Hold on to your hope. Your time is coming.

I prayed for years and God healed my depression.
I prayed for years and God saved my parents on their deathbed.
I prayed for years and .... I am not disappointed.

Sing, O barren one who did not bear; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labour! For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her that is married, says the LORD. Isaiah 54:1 NRSV

God's Way out for our Ruined Planet

God loves music. He invented music. God loves you too. He planned you before the creation of the world.

God wants everything in creation to shine like beautiful art and sound like exquisite music.

We see this glorious beauty in nature. The poets and artists of the Romantic period celebrated this beauty.

We can still see this beauty, but we also see how we humans are spoiling nature. There is a huge pile of rubbish in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Dolphins eat plastic bags and choke on them.

God has given us beautiful poppies and we have made effective painkillers from them. The best painkiller for dying cancer patients is heroin, but tragically this very good medicine is horribly abused.

God created us as sexual beings, not just to produce children, but so that we should have love, companionship, pleasure and joy, but what do we see in the world? Pornography addiction, human trafficking, rape and forced prostitution.

God has made us different. Who can run or dance like the black Africans? But we have so misunderstood our differences that cruel hatred and racism is ruining humanity.

God created us as spiritual beings to live eternally with Him as His own image, but we have corrupted our spirituality. We see cruel religion and witchcraft everywhere. 

God's is watching all this and He is suffering.

Creation itself is in agony because we humans have failed as stewards of nature.

So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” Genesis 1:27–28 NRSV

This was in the beginning, but many years later the apostle Paul wrote.

for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope

that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; Romans 8:20–22 NRSV

Many today see how our planet is corrupted. Our very existence is threatened. They want to save our planet through political action. Without God, that would be the only way.

They understand that the fate of the planet is inseparable from humanity, but they do not understand that without God our humanity and our existence has no future.

Nature is corrupt because we humans are corrupt. God did not make us this way. We have corrupted God's creation. Only with God can we find the way out.

Don't Limit God!

 A woman had lost her sight. Her eyes were badly injured, and no doctor could help her. She went to a church service where the preacher prayed for healing.

She began to see again and was thrilled, but when she shared her miraculous news with her family, they would not believe, even though they clearly observed how she could see.

Then she began to doubt herself and after a short time she was blind again.

God wants to bless us incredibly, but often we don't want to believe it. A negative thought is firmly rooted in our mindset.

"It's too good to be true." With this thought, we often block the wonderful gifts God wants to give us.

After Jesus died on the cross, the disciples were traumatised. They had believed that Jesus as Messiah would free Israel from Roman occupation, and then he had died.

It was apparently too good to be true. The time for Israel had not yet come, but God had even better plans for his disciples.

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. 

And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:6–8 NLT

Thank God the disciples believed. We read in Acts how the disciples ministered with the same miracle-working power as Jesus himself before his death on the cross.

Then we see in Mark's Gospel how Jesus empowered his disciples to continue his miracle-working ministry. Was this only for the apostles? No. It was for all who believed.

These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.

They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” Mk 16:17–18 NLT

But some Christians do not want to believe that this promise still applies to our time.

Some doubt whether this passage really belongs to the Gospel of Mark, because it may not have been written by Mark himself.

It is possible that Mark did not write this last passage. So what!
The first five books of the Bible are attributed to the authorship of Moses himself, but the last chapter of Deuteronomy was obviously not written by Moses.

So Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, just as the LORD had said. Deuteronomy 34:5 NLT

When I read this verse, I burst into tears. This is not normal for me. The Holy Spirit communicated to me in this way how God Himself felt when Moses had to die. He wanted to bless Moses much more.

Then I heard the voice of God as a clear but inaudible thought.

"Please don't limit God."

Please open your heart to many more blessings and miracles from God.

Difficulties Receiving Love

God wants to comfort you, and he also wants you to be a comforter.
Unfortunately, we often fail.

There are people who comfort others for years, but they never learn to receive comfort.
There are many pastors who suffer burnout or lose their own faith.

There are some therapists who save people from despair, but they commit suicide.

My father was a very good psychiatrist. I met Christians who were very grateful for his help, but at home my father was moody and often tense. He could help Christians even though he was not a Christian himself, and he had his own problems. Thank God, my father made peace with God not long before he died.

There are Christians who want nothing to do with psychiatry or psychology, but as a young man I was bullied in a narrow-minded church, and I am very grateful for the psychiatric care I needed afterwards. I know I am not an isolated case.

Unfortunately, there are also many Christians who help others but neglect their own emotional needs.

There is a prophetic preacher in Germany who, like many other Christians, is praying for a great revival. Many Christians are encouraged because we have been waiting so long for this great revival.

This preacher asked God why this revival has not come yet. God's answer was amazing.

The long-awaited revival has not yet come because so many Christians have never learned to love themselves.

We pray for God's abundant comfort, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but we have never learned to receive God's comfort.

There are so many Christians who are serious about the duty to love God and to love their fellow human beings. They worship God and serve their fellow human beings, but they remain dry inside.
 
What is your starting point, your duty to love God and serve others, or to receive God's grace and love for yourself?

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:10 NLT

So often Christians are converted, and they understand that their salvation is the free gift of God. We cannot earn our salvation, but only receive God's grace.

The basis of our relationship with God is to receive God's love, not only in our conversion, but for as long as we are on this earth and then for all eternity.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 NLT

Finding Your Direction with God

What is your goal in life?
Do you have long-term goals, or a calling that is clear and distinct in your mind?

Or is your daily life dominated by duties often imposed on you by others? Without God's wisdom, you will not get far.

Are you at the helm of your life, or is it more like someone who is struggling to row your boat?

But some devout Christians might object that you should never be the helmsman. Jesus is your captain, and you just have to row obediently.

But we are not called to submit like robots or driven slaves.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV84

But this freedom does not mean that you should be self-centred. Such a life is meaningless. You have a high calling to take part in God's wonderful plan.

But how can you know God's plan and God's guidance for your life? We all have the same Bible. It is God's instruction manual.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 NIV84

But what is my part to play in this mission? What is your role in God's plan?

I was a language teacher and am now retired, but I am still active in God's mission. I read, study, pray and write blogs.

John Wesley and Charles Spurgeon were wonderful preachers. They had the same Bible, but they did mission very differently. John Wesley was an itinerant preacher and Charles Spurgeon was the pastor of a large Baptist church in London.

In a football team, not all are goalkeepers and not all are strikers. Some are also physiotherapists, coaches, bus drivers or managers. A sports club also needs accountants, groundsmen and security staff.

As Christians, we are on God's team. Your coach is not first and foremost your pastor, but Jesus Himself.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:10–11 NIV84

To follow Jesus, we need wisdom from God himself, hour by hour.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 NIV84

We all have questions that we can only answer with God's wisdom. These questions are often vital.

• "How do I see my situation now? Dear God. How do you see my situation now?"

• "I see on the screen of my mind a scene from my past, a rather clear memory. It suddenly comes to mind, unrelated to my present situation. What does it mean? Do I see a person? How should I pray for that person?"

• "My brother has been mentally ill for years. How should I pray for him?"

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26 NIV84

God has given us his Holy Spirit to help us as a comforter and guide. If we do not have this help, the Bible is only a dry religious textbook for us.

God's Family of Believers

Whoever loves Jesus and entrusts him with the direction of his life is a son or daughter of God.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NLT

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT

How can you know that you are a child of God?

• Your sins are forgiven. You can no longer enjoy your sin.

• You have a new outlook in life, marked by hope, kindness and love for others.

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.

But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:7–8 NLT

I am a Pentecostal. I do not belong to God's Pentecostal party, but to God's family.

And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. 1 John 4:21 NLT

If you trust Jesus from the heart, you belong to God's heavenly family.

There are different denominations and thousands of churches here on earth, but God has only one family. It is not about who is right, but whether someone accepts Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

Do you love Jesus? Then your co-worker is your brother if he loves Jesus, no matter what denomination he belongs to.

Unfortunately, it is often not easy to enjoy fellowship with other Christians, but if your coworker or neighbour is judgemental or legalistic, you can pray for him.

Many Christians do not understand that we do not belong to God because we are right, but if we live in God's grace.

Are you still not sure if God has forgiven your sins?

Ask Jesus to help you. He sees your need. He loves you.

You can speak freely and openly with Him. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and to free you from your faults.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 NLT

Is your Christian life characterised by bossiness or contentiousness? That is sin. Ask God to show you a better way.

The gut wrenching compassion of Jesus

 Why did Jesus heal every person who asked to be healed? Jesus healed out of deep compassion.

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14 NKJV

How are we to understand Jesus' deep compassion? In the original Greek text the word is ``splagchnisthḗsomai''. 

What does it mean? In a word, gut-wrenching.

The suffering of the sick aroused such compassion in Jesus that his stomach turned.

When I was young I studied German literature at university. In my final year I had to study a drama based on the tortures of victims in the Auschwitz concentration camp. I was so distressed, that for some time after I finished my degree I didn’t want to read German any more.

God is deeply distressed when he sees human suffering, and he wants to do something about it.

Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him. Matthew 20:34 NASB95

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”
Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Mark 1:40–42 NLT

God is love. Jesus came as the Son of God to reveal God's character.

God never changes.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 NLT

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NLT

If you or someone you love is seriously ill and suffering, Jesus is moved with deep compassion.

Don't be misled by cold theological theories.

Jesus wants to heal you.

God's Way Out for Traumatised Victims

 In the decades after the war, there were Jews who could not bear to hear the German language.

Some people were so traumatised as children that they never want to marry. Some become homosexuals; others live in de-facto relationships. Others run away as teenagers and become homeless.

There are also many Christians who are so manipulated and disrespected in churches that they often feel threatened in church services.

God has given us homeland, family, marriage and church, but when these gifts of God are corrupted by lust for power, there are  countless victims who find life unbearable.

My wife and I were in a wonderful church for about ten years. Many loved God with a good heart. Many reached out to people on the streets.

Everyone was welcome: homeless, witches, prostitutes, it didn't matter. 

Some New Age people came to seek God, others came to practice witchcraft against us, but the Christians prayed with power and authority so that the devil could not gain the upper hand.

Such a situation can become chaotic. There are some communities where the leaders are harsh rulers, perhaps out of greed for power, or perhaps out of fear of chaos.

Our pastor often said it was easer for him to control people than   to lead free people, but he was determined to respect everybody's freedom.

Paul also believed in freedom. He was extremely critical of preachers who wanted to rule harshly. He told the Christians in Corinth not to submit to such leadership.

You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. 2 Corinthians 11:20 NLT

Paul not only criticised the arrogant preachers for their cruelty, but also submissive Christians, for their obedience.

Cruel abuse of authority wreaks havoc. Many women and men want nothing more to do with God or the church because of severe Christian parents, teachers or preachers.

A good preacher told how she was out on the streets proselytising among prostitutes. Quite a few young women on the street came from devout Christian families.

How can we win the traumatised victims for Jesus?

Our role model is Jesus. He preached very hard against the sins of the arrogant religious leaders, but he was gentle and kind with the despised sinners.

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ Luke 7:34 NIV84

Are you yourself badly hurt, rejected and traumatised? Do you need to submit again to escape God's judgement? Many wrestle with such terrifying thoughts.

God's ways for you are quite different. He wants to welcome you kindly and help you with gentleness.

God Wants to Protect You

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection. Psalm 91:4 NLT

As a farmer walked through his yard, he found a dead chicken. It was badly injured, obviously killed by a bird of prey. When he picked up the chicken, four chicks were still alive. The mother died saving her chicks.

When you look around, you see a world coming apart at the seams. Who tore this world apart? God didn't do it.

We can blame the devil, but that is only half-truth. We all need to confess that we have gone wrong in some way. We need God's forgiveness so that we do not suffer eternally separated from God and His goodness after we die.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NLT

There are many Christians who believe this. They hope to go to heaven after they die, but their life on earth is only a shadow of the supernatural adventure with God that we see in the Bible.

God wants us to go deeper into his love.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Revelation 3:20 NLT

You can experience God's personal love in this way. But how?

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7–8 NLT

When you learn to experience God's kind and gentle love, you must expect attacks from the enemy of your soul, but if you live in close friendship with Jesus you can have His supernatural protection.

We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods.

This I declare, that he alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him. Psalm 91:1–2 The Living Bible

I know a woman who is familiar with God's tender love. As she was driving one day, God saved her from certain death.

It was too late to stop. She could not avoid a collision. Then she felt a terrible heat. The vehicle drove through her car without making any noise, without causing any damage. It was like something out of a Science Fiction movie.

I know this woman well. It is a true story.

You Can't Please Everyone

In the ancient world of the Bible, prosperity was the privilege of the few. Many were poor day labourers or slaves. When we read the teachings of Jesus, he often speaks of poor labourers, servants and slaves.

He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” Mark 9:35 NLT

When the Jewish disciples began to evangelise among the non-Jews, a whole new movement of God arose. The time came when the majority of the disciples were no longer Jewish.

In the Roman Empire the economic system was based on slavery. A great many of the first Christians were slaves. They had no rights. They had to obey every command and fulfil every wish of their masters.

Paul wrote that Christian slaves should obey their masters. Otherwise, the master was allowed to beat or kill his slave.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Ephesians 6:5 NLT

How are we to understand this teaching of Jesus today?

and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:44–45 NLT

There are Christians who feel obliged to fulfil every wish of their family, every request of their boss, every instruction of their pastor, as if they were serfs and everyone around them their master.

This is exactly how they understand Jesus' teaching that they are to be the slave of all. But is that actually true?

Jesus was obedient as a child, but as a preacher he was different. He was always helpful. He wanted to do good to everyone, but he was not there to follow the instructions of the religious leaders.

If everyone is your master, you cannot follow Jesus.

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Matthew 6:24 NLT

God promises to provide for our natural needs. I do not find a glorification of poverty in the Bible. But there are Christians who spread an extreme prosperity doctrine. In those ministries I sometimes see greed taking over.

Greed for money can be your master, but not only the love of money can distract us from true discipleship.

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:26 NKJV

So should you hate your family? God forbid! The Bible teaches us to honour our parents.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, Eph 5:25 NKJV

So what did Jesus mean?

“Anyone who wants to be my follower must love me far more than he does his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters—yes, more than his own life—otherwise he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26 The Living Bible

Christians who always feel obliged to fulfil the expectations of others may be in heaven after they die, but here on earth they cannot follow Jesus.

Those who say yes to Jesus must often also be able to say no to others.

Healing. A Faith Journey.

You probably like some movies or novels a lot. When you see or read the happy ending, it makes you happy.

But imagine if you only saw the last fifteen minutes of your favourite movie, would you still love the movie?

If you only read the last chapter of your favourite book, how would you like it?
We love humour, uncertainty and adventure.

But in your own life, you'd often like just the happy ending.

In September 2018, I had a blood test. The GP said my prostate might not be in order. I had to see a urologist. I had an MRI scan and it showed two tumours. I prayed intensely for healing. Please no cancer!

On the way to the hospital for a biopsy, I prayed for healing and believed God answered.

You can well understand that the biopsy finding was a shock. Cancer!

"Dear God, I don't understand you anymore. I believed you would heal me and now you let this happen? How can this be?"

I was totally baffled. I didn't want to have radiation therapy. The side effects can be very distasteful.

Then I went for a walk. The presence of God came upon me like a comforting cloud full of peace.

I heard the voice of God in my thoughts. "I have allowed this to happen to give you a testimony."

I kept having blood tests. I was ready to have radiation therapy if the blood tests were alarming, but after a few months the blood tests findings got better and better.

Excitement and adventure are all well and good in a book or film, but your own body is no fun.

I attended several church services where they prayed for the sick. I always felt strong encouragement from the Holy Spirit.

I expected the malignant tumours to disappear. My blood tests were still good.

More than a year passed and I visited the urologist again. I asked for a second biopsy and I expected healing.

I believed God, but I was partly disappointed. The most dangerous tumour was gone, but there were still two small and not so dangerous tumours.

I waited a few more months until I was allowed to have a second MRI scan. Then finally came the result I was expecting. The tumours had completely disappeared.

If the happy ending doesn't come right away, please don't give up.

Your story is his glory. Your story glorifies the Lord.
A quick happy ending may not be the best outcome.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NRSV

And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 

and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5:3–5 NRSV

God keeps His Promises

When I woke up this morning, I heard an old song in my mind. It came from the Holy Spirit.

Every promise in the book is mine
Every chapter, every verse and every line
All are blessings of His love divine
Every promise in the book is mine

When I turned on my computer, I opened a document where I had collected promises from God.

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 NKJV

who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:5 NIV84

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, Psalm 103:2–3 NIV84

When I was diagnosed with cancer in October 2018, I was devastated. I prayed and asked God if I should have radiotherapy as the specialist advised.

As I went for a walk with God, the presence of God came tangibly over me like an invisible cloud. I felt an overwhelming peace. I knew God wanted to heal me Himself.

I didn't want to be a pious fanatic. I was careful and had regular blood tests. Fourteen months later I was allowed to have a second biopsy. The most dangerous tumour was no longer to be found.

In September 2020, I had a second MRI scan. The tumour had completely disappeared.

If we only trust in spiritual experiences and feelings, we can be wrong, but when God's Spirit speaks clearly to you and confirms the promises of God, you can trust God for a miracle.

But it can also be dangerous if you try to believe all by yourself.

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. James 5:14–15 NIV84

One Sunday I was in church. The pastor was preaching about Divine healing. He called all the sick to come forward and anointed us with oil. God confirmed his promise.

Don’t stay alone in your sickness. Seek first the loving presence of God. Hold fast to his promises. Seek out Christians who believe with you.

There are many Christians who think only humanly.

God promises in the Bible, but they say like the serpent in the garden, "Did God say that?"

If your church leaders think like this, you should seek help elsewhere.

God Feels your Grief

Who should expect comfort from God? Can we expect God's comfort only when we grieve over sin? When your beloved pet dies, do you think God is not interested in your grief? Jesus just loves you.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted! Matthew 5:4

Who can expect comfort from God?

According to some commentaries, this only applies to people who grieve over their sins and want to do repent, or to Christians who grieve in a close relationship with Jesus because of sins in the world.

It is undoubtedly true that God forgives and comforts us when we hate our sins and want to repent.

It is also true that Jesus weeps over the sins in the world. When we weep in close communion with him, we experience the consolation of his tender love.

But should we only expect God's consolation when we mourn over sin?

When your child or sister dies, are you happy? No. You are devastated. It has nothing to do with sin, but God is love. He loves you deeply and He wants to comfort you.

When your beloved dog dies, do you think your grief is not important to God?

I appreciate good Bible commentaries. I have been an avid student of the Bible for years.

But beware of pious teaching that focuses on sin from a narrow religious point of view.

This religious mindset too often leads to a critical attitude towards neighbours and colleagues.

With a narrow focus on virtue and sin, you can become unwittingly judgmental, like the Pharisees in the Bible.

This way of thinking also often leads to loveless religiosity in congregations and painful guilt complexes in Christians who are afraid of offending God.

Meanwhile, a crowd of thousands had gathered so that they were treading on each other's feet. Then he began, saying first to his disciples, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Lk 12:1

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147,3

Whatever your reason for suffering, Jesus wants to comfort you. If you choose to believe in His love and trust Him, you will experience His comforting love.

Am I saying that your sin is not an issue for Jesus?

God forbid! Jesus died to take the punishment for our sin. Jesus feels your pain; He loves you unconditionally just as you are, but He not only wants to forgive your sins completely, He wants to set you free from them.

He wants to help you live a whole new life and enjoy His loving friendship.

Your New Life

I feel so imperfect, so flawed, so incomplete, but God approves of me as His son. Only because of what Jesus did on the cross, paying for all my sins. My record is wiped clean.

I am a work in progress, but God sees the finished product.

I am a building site, and God is the architect and builder. He loves to see his beautiful house taking shape.

God enjoys the work He is doing in my life.

As I wrote these thoughts on my computer, I felt touched by the love of God. Then I felt that I had God's approval to modify these words a little so that God Himself would speak directly to me.

You feel so imperfect, so flawed, so incomplete, but I approve of you as My son. Only because of what Jesus did on the cross, paying for all your sins. Your record is wiped clean.

You are a work in progress, but I see the finished product.

You are my building site, and I am the architect and builder. I love to see My beautiful house taking shape.

I enjoy the work I am doing in your life.

When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 The Living Bible

Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new creation. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new.

And God has made all things new, and reconciled us to himself, and given us the ministry of reconciling others to God. 2. Cor 5:17-18 The Passion Translation
 

You are Allowed to Make Mistakes

You are allowed to make mistakes.

When I was a young newly converted Christian, I joined a church where complete surrender was required.

I had dabbled with humanistic religion for a few years. Was that my search for truth or my flight from truth? A good question.

In the Bible, truth, holiness and obedience are strongly emphasised, no question, but you also find in the Bible the God of grace and kindness.

In this church, the presence of the Holy Spirit could be felt and I felt the love of God in a wonderful way. Where people genuinely seek God's presence, God allows his presence to be tangibly experienced.

In the New Testament I see both, the holiness of God and the grace of God. We need both, because there are not two Gods, but only one God. The God of holiness is also the loving God of grace who cares for weak Christians with gentleness.

In this church, preachers demanded extreme obedience. They threatened and intimidated the members. This is not from God.

I was under the impression that the preachers and leaders were holy and faultless, and I was not allowed to make any mistakes either.

Striving for total obedience became torture. I simply could not stand the stress. I was excommunicated, but God did not agree with the preachers' judgement.
I am still alive God blesses me more than ever.

What have I learnt from all this?

• Obedience is important, but God understands my weaknesses and loves me indispensably.

• I am allowed to make mistakes.

• It is dangerous to think of preachers and church leaders as super saints.

• All Christians make mistakes and all pastors and preachers make mistakes.

• When I am misunderstood or condemned by preachers, I have a God who understands me completely and does not condemn me.

• There are many preachers who claim to have a message from God. Sometimes it is true and sometimes it is not.

• I can learn to hear God's voice, but it is a learning process. I am also allowed to make mistakes.

• God loves me in spite of everything.

• He has a good plan for my life, even if other Christians often don't understand that plan. Pastors can also misunderstand God's plans for me.

I have since found good churches and good pastors. God knows how to guide and comfort his children.

"Comfort, comfort my people!" says your God.
“Comfort, yes, comfort my people,” says your God.

“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and tell her that her sad days are gone. Her sins are pardoned, and I have punished her in full for all her sins.” Isaiah 40:1–2 The Living Bible

Finding God in the Darkness

Church was a blessing. I drove home with my wife, encouraged. On the way we did some shopping. In the supermarket I felt foggy and empty. It was a bit like the depression of my youth.

Why is that? We can often sense the depressed moods of people around us. God often allows this so that we can learn to resist the devil and pray for the suffering people around us.

When you feel depressed or sad, you can pray quietly straight away. Where does this depression come from dear God? How should I respond? How can I overcome this darkness? Not only the darkness in me, but also the darkness around me and in others around me?

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 ESV

Every time you feel darkness, whether it is in your soul, or from the feelings of your fellow man, or from the presence of demons, or from the situation in the world, no matter where the darkness comes from, you may seek God's truth and God's presence.

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3 ESV

When you belong to Jesus, there is an invisible mobile phone in your spirit. You are always connected to Jesus. God is always waiting for your call.

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 NKJV

The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 NKJV

God's Protection in War and Crisis

 1944 was a terrible time in Germany. The war was all but lost, but the Nazis were still in power. British and American air raids became increasingly fierce. Day and night, many thousands of civilians were killed.

During this traumatic time, a German preacher, Hermann Zaiss, lived in Ohligs, a suburb of Wuppertal. He had suffered much in his life.

During the First World War he was a prisoner of war for 4 years.  Then he served as an evangelist in Germany, but he was persecuted by Christians because he was a Pentecostal. Then his wife became mentally ill, and chronically psychotic.

His heart was broken. He could not bear it any more. He decided to turn away from God. He still believed in God, but he told God he wanted nothing more to do with Him.

I did just that, and I told God, "If you are alive and have an interest in me and your love for me is so great, come and call me again after 20 years!"

Schneider, Peter. Lahme tanzen unter der Kanzel: Zeichen und Wunder in den Gottesdiensten von Hermann Zaiss (German Edition) . Asaph Verlag. Kindle Edition.
(Lame men dancing under the pulpit: signs and wonders in the services of Hermann Zaiss)

He divorced his mentally ill wife, became very successful as an entrepreneur and remarried.

Then came the terrible bombing raids in Germany. Everyone was gripped by panic and despair.

Already in 1939, his wife Clara had found her way to God through prayer for their seriously ill daughter. God had healed her daughter and she pleaded with her husband again and again to take up his ministry again and help the suffering people.

On 22 July 1944, on the very day when his twenty years away from God were over, Hermann and Clara knelt down in the bombed Protestant church of Ohligs and prayed: "Lord, if you want us again, here we are." He received a clear commission from God to proclaim the gospel radically, without any compromise.

Schneider, Peter. Lahme tanzen unter der Kanzel: Zeichen und Wunder in den Gottesdiensten von Hermann Zaiss (German Edition) . Asaph Verlag. Kindle Edition.
(Lame men dancing under the pulpit: signs and wonders in the services of Hermann Zaiss)

Hermann started a home group and God blessed this small beginning. A great many desperate neighbours sought God's help.

The meetings grew larger. They prayed together and trusted God to protect them from the bombs.

In November 1944, nearby Solingen was bombed and thousands were killed. Then Hermann Zaiss heard on the radio that the bombers were on their way to his neighbourhood in Ohligs. He went into the garden and prayed for protection and peace.

Shortly afterwards he heard again on the radio that the bombers had turned away for unknown reasons.

On the British side there were also faithful Christians praying for protection.

Colonel Whittlesey was the commander of a British regiment in the Second World War. He was a Christian. He ordered his soldiers to recite Psalm 91 every day. The regiment was in fierce fighting for five years and not a single man was killed.

Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Psalm 91:7 NLT

Now we are again in a life-threatening crisis. Many are dying in India, in Brazil but also in North America and Europe. Many are terrified of the virus and others dread the vaccine.

If God protected many German civilians from bombing during the war and also saved British soldiers, you can be sure that he can also help you at this time and wants to save you.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. Ps 91:1–3 NKJV

For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. Psalm 91:3 NLT

Don't just feel bad. Do something!

Don't just feel bad. Do something.

There are people who always try to do the right thing. Their house and study are clean and everything is in order.

They pay their bills on time and always contact all their relatives on their birthday.

They are good workers and they save money.

They go to church every Sunday and read the Bible every day.

But sometimes they feel restless. They can't get rid of the question.

“Who am I actually? What am I on this earth for?”

Then there are other people who dream of something. They want to achieve something and be someone.

They develop their talents, read good books and pray for wisdom.

They play beautiful music or write a blog. Maybe they write a book, or go on mission trips.

But they may neglect their family, or their daily duties and chores.

If you are a hardworking perfectionist,  but you feel empty inside, you don't need to stay as you are.

Go for a walk. Look at the trees and clouds. Ask God to show you what He created you to be. 

If you are a dreamer, but you feel bad because you are disorganised, you can also do something different today.

You can tidy a drawer in your desk. You can throw away some papers.

Are you a workaholic husband? Go for a walk with your wife in the park.

Are you a hardworking housewife whose house must always be spotless and sparkling clean? Take some time out and play with your kids.

Maybe you are lonely and stuck by yourself. Is there someone you can pray for? Someone you can help? Someone you can talk to on the phone?

No matter what type you are, you don't have to stay that way.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Change your hearts and lives, because the kingdom of heaven is near.” Mt 4:17 NCV

Don't just feel bad. Do something! Jesus loves you as you are, but he wants to help you to change and grow.

He Cares for You

 You may feel wounded and torn. Sometimes you don't know clearly why you feel down, but there is someone who sees and knows, and he is for you, not against you.

One of the best loved passages in the Bible is the Shepherd Psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Ps 23:1–3 NIV84

How often are your feelings torn and confused, and you don’t clearly understand why. But God understands, and he wants to heal the wounds in your heart.

He wants to guide you in the way that is best for you, but if you feel confused, and you are wandering in a fog of discouragement, you can’t see clearly which way to go.

When you go through dark places, you can’t see the light. How can you know which way to go when you can’t see clearly?

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 NIV84

The Middle Eastern shepherds had a rod, or a club, to ward off wild animals, and a staff to lift up sheep which were stuck and couldn’t get up by themselves.

When you can’t see the way forward, trust the Good Shepherd of your soul.

God sent His eternal Son to be the Good Shepherd for your soul.

Before he became a king and a prophet, David was a shepherd himself. He was a humble farmworker, but he knew God as his Shepherd.

“The LORD is my Shepherd.”

When Jesus preached to the Jews, He said boldly, that He was the Good Shepherd, the Lord and God of David.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14–15 NIV84

When you are wounded and upset, and you can’t see clearly, ask Jesus to pour out His healing Holy Spirit in your wounds.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5 NIV84

When the sheep had cuts and scratches, the shepherd would rub soothing oil into the wounds. 

Rest in the presence of God and ask Him to anoint your head with the healing and calming presence of His loving Spirit. Invite Him to pour His oil into your cuts and wounds.

If you trust Jesus with your life, you can be sure His loving care and mercy will never be taken away.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Psalm 23:6 NKJV

Roller Coaster Ride

A few years ago I was a guest preacher in a small fellowship in Germany. I was in my guest room when this old pop song floated through my mind.

Everyday, it's a gettin' closer
Goin' faster than a roller coaster
Love like yours will surely come my way
A-hey a-hey hey … (Buddy Holly)

I felt this was a message from the Holy Spirit, and I shared this in the Sunday morning meeting. The pastor responded very positively. He said a visiting preacher five years before had shared a prophecy about a roller coaster experience which we should be expecting.

I was praying this morning at home in Perth. We are in the middle of a three-day lock down because of an unexpected Coronavirus case.

When I asked God for inspiration, this message about the roller coaster came back.

The message I believe God wanted to share is, “Hold on tight!”

As the return of Jesus Christ draws nearer, things will not stabilise or slow down.

Habakkuk chapter two presents a grim picture of a world in chaos and corruption, but in the middle of this horrible chapter, there is a verse which is often quoted out of context.

For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 NKJV

It is usually quoted out of context because the context is the opposite of glory.

I believe that God is telling us, that in the middle of the horror of terrorism, human trafficking, pandemics and moral chaos, precisely at this time, we should expect God to manifest His glory on this planet in a way that has never been seen before.

So the message from God is, “Hold on tight!”

We are on a wild ride, and it will not settle down. We must not expect normality, but we can hold on tightly to the loving presence of God.

Seek His presence and expect miracles every day. God is still God, and He has not stopped being good and kind.

When I read my bible I see the greatest miracles in the times of the greatest stress. We are in just such a time today.

God has not changed.