Goals, Callings and Priorities

 It is so important to have goals for your life. Without clear goals in life, we go round in circles without achieving anything significant.

If you have ten priorities, you have no priorities.

But it can also be dangerous to have too few priorities. There are very successful doctors, preachers and business people who have neglected their spouses or children.

I love classical music. When I think of the greatest composers, I always see amazing achievements but abject failures in their family lives.

But one composer shone with heavenly glory.

Johann Sebastian Bach was so devoted to music that he damaged his eyesight studying sheet music by candlelight. He was extremely focused, but his first priority was the love of God.

He was also a faithful husband and a very good father.

He had many children and some of them also became excellent composers.

There are fanatics who only have one goal in life, but there are also duty-bound people who only want to be good Christians without a clear idea of a particular goal or personal calling from God.

What would it be like if Paul only wanted to be a good Christian and nothing more?
What if Johann Sebastian Bach only wanted to be a good father and church organist and nothing more?

Do you only have one goal in life? Perhaps you should ask yourself whether you are perhaps too self-centred or whether you are neglecting some important duties.

Do you have a clear idea of your identity and calling or do you only have a vague idea that you should be a good Christian?

Ask God to show you what he has created you for.

Every person is unique. God has created you for important tasks. Not only famous people are important in God's eyes. God has a plan for your life.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;

if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Rom 12:6–8 NIV

You may think you are not a prophet or teacher, but you can study the Bible and teach your children.

You pray for someone and an encouraging word comes to you for that person. Maybe you should share that thought with the person.

Maybe you are a practical person. You are a good gardener. Your neighbour is sick and his garden is unkempt. If you work in his garden, you might be able to win your neighbour for Jesus.

If you like to play the piano or guitar, maybe you can visit a retirement home and encourage the elderly with music.

We all have talents and abilities that we can use for Jesus.

What is your thing? Who needs your help? When you pray about it, what comes to mind?

Set Free from Childish Dependance

 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Mk 9:35 NRSV

and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.
For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mk 10:44–45 NRSV

The senior pastor in the church is supposed to be there to serve everyone, right? There are faithful pastors who are expected to do everything. They are supposed to be available 24 hours a day. Many give up after a few years due to burnout.

For some Christians, the pastor is the all-knowing saviour and also the slave who is not allowed to have a life for himself and his family.

Our pastor once told us about a phone call in the middle of the night. A Christian in the congregation had called him.

‘Pastor. It's 2 o'clock and I can't sleep. Can you pray for me?’

The pastor replied: ‘Now I can't sleep either.’

The pastor is there to help everyone, but not like a young mother with helpless babies who don't sleep, so the mother doesn't sleep either.

The flip side of this absurd situation is that some mothers demand that their children remain dependent and submissive for years and never become independent adults. The mother always remains the mother who is always there to help, and the children must always submit.

Unfortunately, this is also the case with some pastors. The pastor works like a slave and expects permanent dependence and unconditional obedience from the members.

Most are not so extreme and there are also very good pastors.

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, Eph 4:11 NRSV

Jesus has given us gifted leaders, but not so that we should remain permanently dependent babies, nor so that we should remain like unconditionally obedient servants who are not allowed to do anything without the pastor's permission.

What is the task of ordained preachers and leaders?

Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. Eph 4:12 NLT

Jesus also wants to give you spiritual gifts so that you not only help the pastor in the church, but also so that you can be a lighthouse in the world.

Ordained preachers are commissioned by God to release our gifts of grace, not so that we can remain permanently dependent and submissive in the church, but so that we can be missionaries in the world with God's supernatural power.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Mt 28:19 NIV

And who is allowed to baptise? Only ordained preachers? Where is that written?

Once my wife and I brought a family to church. They were asylum seekers from the Middle East. They wanted to be baptised immediately, but our pastor couldn't do it just before Christmas.

The pastor asked me a radical question.

‘Why shouldn't you baptise them yourself?’ That's what we did in the ocean. The pastor came unexpectedly as a spectator and God blessed us wonderfully.

Disciples of Jesus not People Pleasers

 In the ancient world of the Bible, prosperity was an experience for the few. Many were poor day labourers and many were simply slaves. When we read the teachings of Jesus, he often speaks of poor day labourers, servants and slaves.

He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Mk 9:35 NRSV

When the Jewish disciples were doing missionary work among the non-Jews, a whole new movement of God came into being. The time came when the majority of the disciples were no longer Jewish.

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

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

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ;
How are we to understand this teaching from Jesus today? Eph 6:5 NRSV

…  whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.
For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mk 10:44–45 NRSV

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 slaves and everyone around them their master.

This is exactly how they understand Jesus' teaching that they should 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 willing to help. He wanted to do good to everyone, but he was not there to do the bidding of the religious leaders.

If everyone is your master, you cannot follow Jesus.

“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Mt 6:24 NRSV

God promises to provide for our natural needs. I do not find any glorification of poverty in the Bible. But there are Christians who spread an extreme doctrine of prosperity. That's where I sometimes see greed showing up.

Greed can be your master, but it is not only greed that can distract us from true discipleship.

“Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Lk 14:26 NRSV

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

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, Eph 5:25 NRSV

So what did Jesus mean?

If you are a follower of Jesus, your love and loyalty to Jesus must be greater than your obligation to please your family, your friends, your church, or your church leaders.

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

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

Theology without Love is Nothing

 The fact is, many of us have become too theologically wise to love our enemies, care for the poor, stand up for the disadvantaged and alongside the sick, and help people pick up the pieces of their broken lives.
We perfect the creeds and reject the needs. Beth Moore.

It's good to understand God better, but if our knowledge of God is mostly theoretical, we can only be religious without following Jesus.

When did Jesus send his disciples out to heal the sick? After they had completed their theological training? Not at all.

For Jesus, compassion and practical faith were more important than flawless theology.

God has raised up many heroes of faith in church history, men and women who have passed on God's saving grace in many countries. But were they all theologically flawless?

Martin Luther, John Wesley and Dietrich Bonhoeffer baptised babies. The Baptists only baptise believers.
Luther, John Knox and Charles Spurgeon believed that salvation can never be reversed.

John Wesley believed that a truly converted Christian still has the free choice to turn away from God and end up in hell.

God used disciples with different beliefs, They could not all be right, but God used them anyway.

Unfortunately, there are so many Christians who strive intensely to understand everything and always be right that they become arrogant and ineffectual religious experts.

When you learn about God, you must put this new insight into practice in order to pray better and help other people better. Otherwise you will remain stuck in a dead religion.

Jesus criticised the scribes because they were full of biblical knowledge but would not acknowledge Jesus.

You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,
yet you refuse to come to me to have life. Jn 5:39–40 NIV

But what is that to us? We believe in Jesus, don't we?

But our faith is useless if we think it's enough to think right and preach right.

Jesus didn't say learn to think without error. He said: ‘Follow me!’

What are you doing to help suffering people? Do you look at prostitutes, drug addicts or homosexuals with a critical attitude or with deep compassion?

Do you love Christians of other denominations as your brothers and sisters? Do you really love them?

We are saved by faith in action, not by theology.

A Hearing Heart, Listening to God

 King Solomon was humble in the beginning and wanted to please God. He asked God for wisdom so that he could rule justly.

But we need to look at the text more closely. What is the nature of this wisdom that Solomon received from God?

So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge and rule this Your great people? 1 Kings 3:9 AMP

What is a hearing heart?

First of all, we need to listen to our own hearts when we have a conflict of conscience. We all have these conflicts. Sadly, Adam and Eve ignored their conscience.

But it is not enough to obey our conscience. Our conscience can be shaped by our upbringing, our culture and our religion.

Our conscience can be too liberal or too strict.

There are Christians who think sex before marriage is normal. I can't understand why they don't feel painful remorse.

On the other hand, there are women who have had a very strict religious upbringing. They have been taught to regard sexual feelings as sinful. When they are engaged and kiss their boyfriend, they feel strong remorse. Even after marriage, they do not enjoy sex.
 
If you have a listening heart, your heart will be open to God's Word. You will learn from the Bible that sex before marriage is forbidden.

You will also learn that sex with your spouse should be delightfully pleasant.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine, Song of Songs 1:2 NRSV

My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. Jn 10:27 NRSV

There are laws in the Bible that are meant to sensitise our consciences. But there are also teachings designed to free us from a guilty or legalistic conscience.

Only through divine wisdom will your conscience be cleansed and sanctified, but also freed from legalism.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Gal 5:1 NRSV

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom 5:1 NRSV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:1 NRSV

Your Calling and Mission

 Jesus came to purge you and me of our sins. What should our lives look like afterwards?

Jesus didn't just come to cleanse your life of offences so that you could continue your everyday life without dirty sins. God wants to use you to set other people free.

When the first people believed the devil's lies and rebelled against God's commandment, they gave their God-given dominion over this world into the hands of the enemy.

Jesus defeated the devil with his sinless life, his death on the cross and his resurrection from the realm of the dead.

Shortly before his return to the Father in heaven, he instructed his disciples to take back the lost world for God.

We find the final instructions to his disciples in four biblical passages.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Mt 28:19 NRSV

And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mk 16:17–18 NRSV


But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NIV

When we read these passages carefully, we see a heavenly calling to a dramatic mission, but the enemy has been misguiding us for centuries.

We have thought this mission was only for a few especially holy ordained preachers and missionaries.
We have thought that the dramatic spiritual gifts in Mark chapter 16 were only for a short time 2000 years ago.

But when we read all these passages together, we see that Jesus has called us to a supernatural mission ‘to the ends of the earth’. (Acts 1:8)

This mission is still a work in progress. You and I are called to play an important role. God is at work in your life.

Don't stay where you are. Let the Holy Spirit give you a new revelation of your heavenly destiny.  

Start seeking God's path for your life today. Do something new. How can you act differently today? Start small. Move forward step by step.

God Uses Broken People

 God is perfect and you are not perfect. You will never be perfect on this earth, but God loves you in your imperfection.

Once I was in a church service.

The pastor, who is now in heaven, said after the sermon that we could come to the front. Anyone who needs healing can come forward on the left-hand side. The healing team will pray for them. If you want to hear a personal word from God, you can come forward on the right side.

I wanted to hear from God and I went to the right. A strange man asked me if I wanted to hear from God, and I answered yes.

Then he described a vision he saw for me.

He saw a hill. On the top was a tree with the sun rising behind it.

About nine months later, I landed with my wife at Frankfurt Airport at six o'clock on 25 December. An older man and his wife, who I didn't know, picked us up and drove us to his house in the Taunus Mountains. The hills were covered with fir trees and the sun was rising. This man's vision was true.

God loves very imperfect people like me and you. He uses very imperfect and often emotionally wounded people to proclaim his loving plans.

When Jesus began his ministry as an itinerant preacher, the first person to proselytise for him was a woman who was not highly regarded in the village.

Jesus was travelling from Judah to Galilee. He stopped at a well in Samaria and was thirsty.

There he spoke to a woman. At that time, it was very out of line for a rabbi to speak to a woman alone, but Jesus was never conventional.

After a short conversation, Jesus said:

He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.”

The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’;

for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” Jn 4:16–18 NASB95

Jesus loves disreputable and emotionally wounded people, people who are often despised in synagogues or churches.

Then the conversation continued.

The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.”
Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.” Jn 4:25–26 NRSV

So the woman left her water pot, and went into the city and said to the men,
“Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?”
They went out of the city, and were coming to Him. Jn 4:28–30 NASB95

Is your life a mess? No problem for Jesus.

Do you have to wait until your life is in order before you can proclaim the good news of Jesus? No! No! No!

Knowing About God or Knowing God

 Nothing is as dead as knowledge without life experience.

What kind of teacher would you rather have? In some countries, there are English teachers with excellent knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary, but they speak English very poorly.

There are many Japanese who learnt English at school, but they can hardly speak English.

There are also some theologians who do not believe in God, and others who believe in God theoretically but they have no meaningful experience in prayer.

The Apostle Paul was one of the most prominent Bible experts among the Jews of his time. He was very religious, but he did not know God until he met Jesus in person.

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. Acts 9:3–5 NIV

There are some Christians who believe in Christian doctrines but they have no personal connection to God.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Mt 7:21 NRSV

How did the first Christians do the will of the Father?

There are many today who believe that the Christian religion can save them if they live a reasonably virtuous and Christian life, Jesus taught otherwise.

In the New Testament, Jesus demanded trust and personal devotion, and he never changed.

Many of the first believers after Jesus' ascension did not see Jesus, but they did see the apostles and other disciples being endowed with spiritual gifts and shining with God's glory at the first Pentecost.

In the New Testament, it was normal to experience God's presence.

In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 1 Pet 1:6 NRSV

Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 1 Pet 1:8 NRSV

The priest cannot save you. The pope cannot save you. Your pastor cannot save you.

The Ten Commandments cannot save you. Your virtue cannot save you.

If you agree with all the doctrines of your free church, Protestant church or Catholic Church, your agreement with correct theology cannot save you.

If you zealously crusade for biblical truth and morality, that will not save you. Progressive activism will not save you. Conservative culture war will not save you.

Do you know Jesus personally? What role does Jesus play in your daily life?

How often do you experience God's presence? His tangible love?

Do you experience the Holy Spirit as your companion and personal guide?

The apostle John described the Christian life as fellowship with God and other Christians.

We declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 Jn 1:3 NRSV

Jesus did not allow himself to be tortured for hours on the cross just to found a religion.

Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. Rev 3:20 NRSV

Knowing God Personally

 If we believe in Jesus, we are forgiven and saved from eternal death.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Jn 11:25–26 ESV

What is this faith by which we are saved? Many are baptised as babies, but they do not know what has happened.

Some are baptised as adults, but there is no trace of brotherly love and mercy in their lives afterwards. Some become loving people, but others become merely religious and self-righteous.

‘everyone who lives and believes in me.’ Jesus speaks of an enduring life that is determined and characterised by faith.

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Jn 8:31–32 NRSV

What does ‘continue in my word’ mean?

You should read the Bible every day? A good idea, but is that what Jesus meant?
Keeping God's commandments? Also good. We must not disobey God's commandments.

Jesus taught the Bible very differently from the pious Jews of his time.

Jesus was one hundred per cent a Bible man, but he spoke of something different, of a living relationship with himself.

Jesus rebuked the pious Bible experts who listened to him.

“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.
Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. Jn 5:39–40 NRSV

What did Jesus mean when he told the Jews to remain in his word?

They should live as Jesus himself taught. It is not enough to agree with biblical truth. We must put Jesus' teachings into practice every day.

But how can we love our enemies? Not just be nice to difficult people, not just pray for the conversion of sinners, but really be touched by the love of God for evil people?

We must take the teachings of Jesus seriously, but that is not enough.

When Jesus called his disciples to follow him before the cross, it was both a command and an invitation to live in personal communion with him. Peter and Andrew had to leave their fishing boat behind. Matthew had to give up his business.

Back then, Jesus was a travelling preacher. Following him often meant travelling with him.

Even today, there are newly converted Christians who have to leave their job or their home, but many should stay where they are.

What does discipleship mean today?

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Rom 8:14 NRSV

We do not have visible fellowship with Jesus today, but we do have God's invitation to experience fellowship with his Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a theological concept, but a loving person, a person who loves you like Jesus himself.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Cor 13:14 NIV

We can only live the way Jesus wants us to live if we allow ourselves to be changed inwardly by the love of God. Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to bring about this inner healing.

Friendship with Jesus

 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. Jn 15:15 NIV

Those who see God as a harsh judge will see themselves as unworthy servants. We are certainly unworthy servants. We are flawed and we must always acknowledge our sins and failings and receive God's forgiveness.

Our sin is not insignificant to God. Jesus had to take a terrible punishment for our sins, but Jesus has taken away all our guilt. Now he wants to look at you and me very differently, as his beloved children.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom 5:1 NIV

Anyone who still sees God as a harsh judge has never grasped this wonderful truth of grace.

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. Jn 3:16 NIV

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— Jn 1:12 NIV

If you see God as a judge watching you from heaven, you have either never entrusted your life to Jesus or you have never really understood God's love since your conversion.

God is not far away. He dwells lovingly with his children.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28 NASB95

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Jn 15:7 NRSV

How can you live in this close personal relationship with Jesus if you fear him as a harsh judge? You can't.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:1 NRSV

End Time Battles

 Moses was a man with a high calling. He was to lead his enslaved people out of the land of their oppression and through the desert. Then he was to take them into a beautiful country and conquer the land for God.

God's plans are always good, but when we walk in God's ways, we always encounter adversaries and obstacles.

The first problem for Moses came when he was born. Pharaoh wanted to kill all the male babies of the Hebrews, but God saved his life. Pharaoh's daughter found Moses and took pity on him. She adopted Moses and gave him back to his mother. What a miracle of God!

In these end times, we Christians have a great calling. Do you want to be part of a mighty end-time revival? Then you have an adversary who wants to stop you. God's kingdom is coming, but the devil wants to nip the end-time revival in the bud.

One of the enemy's tactics is to spread the negative teaching that we should only expect decay before the return of the Lord Jesus, that God is supposedly not planning a great revival.

But in the Bible I find God's prophetic promise that we should expect both darkness and glory.

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Is 60:1–2 NRSV

Does this only apply to the Jews? No.

Jesus commanded the apostles to set in motion a mission that is to increase until his return.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ... Mt 28:19 NRSV

We have not yet reached all nations. The Great Commission still applies. Just as with Moses, God's great plan will face terrible opposition.

Moses needed amazing supernatural miracles to overcome Pharaoh's resistance. Likewise, we need amazing miracles to overcome the devil's opposition in our time.

And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;  

they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mk 16:17–18 NRSV

A Muslim Girl Discovers Jesus

 She was the baby of a large Muslim family in Central Asia. When the communist government collapsed, a terrible civil war broke out. There was hunger, murder and chaos. Women and girls were abducted, raped and murdered on a daily basis.

Her parents were educated and good people. She was tenderly loved by her parents and siblings and she wanted to honour her parents and their God.

Despite the genuine love in her family, she learnt that women were second-class people in Islam. She always aspired to become a virtuous Muslim woman in the hope of not suffering in hell.

She had a teacher at school who gave her a children's Bible. She was fascinated by Jesus, especially by the signs and miraculous healings.

Then she began to dream about Jesus. These dreams were real visitations and they kept coming back. She could feel the unspeakable love of God as Jesus explained how He loved her and that He was the only way to God.

She was very lively and loved sports and she learnt karate at school because martial arts were useful in a civil war where women and girls were always at risk. But then she could no longer pay for karate lessons.

Then came Americans who taught martial arts for free. It was Taekwondo, a martial art from Korea. She was thrilled.

The teacher explained that not only the body is important in martial arts, but above all the mind and soul. He was a Christian and boldly proclaimed the love and power of God.

She was deeply touched. She heard, ‘God is love’. In the Koran, Allah has 99 names, but no name speaks of love.

She heard that God is the Father, but she had learnt in Islam from an early age that Allah has no children.

She heard that God created men and women in His own image, but this was unheard of in Islam. She had always learnt that as a woman, she was only a second-class human being. Now she heard something totally different and immeasurably better.

She was still a Muslim. She asked the second coach if he believed that Jesus was the Son of God. This idea is blasphemous to Muslims, and the missionary already knew this.

He gave her the Gospel of John and said she would find the answers she was looking for in this little book.

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. Jn 3:16 NIV

When she read these words, she was touched, but she was still on her journey of discovery.

She still prayed her Islamic prayers five times a day, but Allah never answered.

As a Muslim woman in a religious civil war, it was life-threatening to attend a Christian service.

Nevertheless, she wanted to attend the service with the missionary, even though she feared not only persecution and murder, but also the flames of hell because of Allah's judgement.

She could not say a word to her family. She said she went to a training session with the martial arts trainer, but she said no more.

During the service, she immediately felt the overwhelming love of God and also the love of the Christians. The light did not come from countless candles, but from the hearts of the Christians. Here was something completely different from the old Christian religion she had seen before.

Allah had never answered her daily prayers. So she had the pastor pray for her in Jesus' name. The loving touch of the Holy Spirit came upon her and she could no longer stand on her feet.

As she lay on the floor for hours, she saw Jesus on the cross in a vision. God spoke to her for hours.

‘When I was finally able to get up again, I had become a new person.’

Face to Face with Jesus: A Former Muslim's Extraordinary Journey to Heaven and Encounter with the God of Love Kindle Edition. by Bodie Thoene, Samaa Habib

Expect Miracles Today.

 In our time we have seen gifted evangelists. There have been multiple healing miracles and huge numbers are converted to Jesus.

• Some claim that we should not celebrate miraculous healings because not everyone is healed.

• Should doctors not treat sick people because some do not get better?

• Should surgeons give up because some operations don't succeed?

• Should children stop going to school because some children are failing?

I believe we must follow Jesus. Should we try to live virtuously like Jesus? Of course, we should.

• Should we proclaim the good news of eternal life like Jesus?

• Should we love suffering people mercifully?

But nothing more?

How did Jesus minister?

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

Without regular miraculous healings, the story of Jesus would have been completely different. For Jesus, miraculous healings were indispensable. That is why healings and miracles should be very important in our Christian life. Otherwise, we wouldn't portray Jesus as he really was.

But some claim that these miracles were only meant for back then.

What did Jesus say about this?

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. Jn 14:12 NIV

Why should we expect miracles and pray for them? Because Jesus told us that his supernatural ministry should be our example.

Why?

Because in his ministry on earth, Jesus accurately portrayed God's eternal character, and that is also our task.

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Jn 14:8–9 NIV

Jesus did not turn away any sick person who asked for healing before the cross. Signs, wonders and healings were not exceptional events, but a revelation of God's eternal character.

Unfortunately, some leaders in the evangelical tradition have not understood this, but our model is not evangelical theology, but Jesus himself as he appears in the Bible.

A well-known evangelist explained that Jesus told him to expect a miracle every day. He was to tell the Christians: 

‘Expect a miracle every day.’

That is radical. But Jesus was also radical.

But when we read the story of Jesus in the Bible, we see Jesus thinking and acting in exactly the same way. Jesus is our role model.

Your Heavenly Bodyguard

Have you committed your life to the Son of God?
He wants to be your provider, healer and your invincible bodyguard.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Ps 34:7 NIV

In Africa, there are often conflicts between Christians and Muslims. A Christian community was once threatened by angry Muslims. The jihadists wanted to burn down the church and kill the Christians.

The Christians sought refuge in the church and prayed. When the Islamists approached, they were frightened and fled. Why? The Muslims saw powerful angels, God's bodyguards.

Jackie Pullinger is an English woman who moved to Hong Kong at the age of 21 to do missionary work on her own.

She went to the most horrible, dirty and dangerous neighbourhood to reach the prostitutes, pimps and drug dealers for Jesus. With God's power and love, this terrible place was totally transformed.

God was her bodyguard.

Can we therefore expect that as Christians, we will always be immune to all persecution and violence? Unfortunately not.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Mt 5:10–12 NIV

Paul experienced terrible persecution but also many miraculous healings.

Some claim that Paul was seriously ill, that his illness was long-lasting and that God refused to heal him, or that Paul was never healed.

But when we consider the extreme violence that Paul was subjected to and how he was still able to continue his incredibly hard ministry, there is no way he could have done this without repeated miraculous healings.

Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 2 Co 11:24–25 NASB95

Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.

But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. Acts 14:19–20 NIV

Jesus promised us as his disciples that we should expect God's care, protection and healing, but also suffering and persecution.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Ps 34:19 NASB95

Jesus took your Shame and Guilt

 Jesus died for you to take your punishment upon himself. You no longer need to carry your shame. Don't be ashamed any more. Jesus hung stark naked on the cross to bear your shame.

But we do not believe in a deceased martyr. Jesus came back from the grave. He rose again in the flesh so that we can be sure that his promises are true and reliable.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Jn 11:25–26 NASB95

What does it mean to believe in Jesus? Have you entrusted your life to Jesus?

When Jesus died, his disciples panicked and despaired. We, too, are weak. But despite their doubts and misunderstandings, they still loved Jesus.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Jn 20:19–20 NIV

But Thomas was not there. He was traumatised and could not believe until Jesus came to him too. Despite his doubts, he still loved Jesus. When he saw Jesus, the scales fell from his eyes.

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jn 20:27–28 NIV

Jesus knew their hearts and his love for them was even stronger. So it is with Jesus and you. If your heart is attached to Jesus despite everything, you must be sure that his love for you is immeasurably stronger.

If you are like Thomas, if your heart is attached to Jesus, you have eternal life. Your old life is over.

God lifts up the humble

Paul describes himself as a slave but also as an apostle.

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, Rom 1:1 NASB95

The Greek word for bond-servant is DOULOS, which means slave.

He had completely surrendered his life to the will of God, submitting himself like a slave, but God had entrusted him with a high office.

God wants us to humble ourselves before him, but not because he wants to humiliate us.

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Lk 14:11 NASB95

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. Jas 4:10 NASB95

Those who always humiliate or despise themselves do not understand God's love.

If your family, your boss or your church leader keeps putting you down, it's not from God.

I no longer call you servants because a master does not take his servants into his confidence.
You are now my friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. John 15:15

If you dedicate yourself completely to the will of God, like a faithful and willing slave, but love and trust God like a beloved son or daughter, Jesus will embrace you and cherish you as a dear friend.

What is your Calling?

 Many years ago I heard a guest preacher. He was a missionary and he challenged the Christians to come forward to lay down their lives for missions. At least twenty Christians came forward, but no one became a missionary.

What is your calling? Have you asked God?
If you have a God-given purpose, are you practically involved in fulfilling that calling?

There are some Christians who are fully committed to fulfilling their calling. Without these Christians, God's kingdom on earth would perish. Thank God that will never happen.

But we must never sit in a cosy corner and leave all the responsibility for God's kingdom to a few heroes. Unfortunately, there are too many such passive Christians. That's why we're not seeing revival yet.

Most Christians are not called to lead a church or preach from the pulpit. Unfortunately, we have a misguided tradition where everything revolves around the pastor in the pulpit. Preaching has no value if Christians are not activated as dynamic disciples.

What is your calling? What does your heart burn for?

But perhaps you are overburdened by everyday duties and tasks.

Peter, John and their brothers had to leave their work as fishermen to fulfil their calling, but most of us are not called to do this.

Paul was more than full time in ministry, but he often worked as a tent maker as well.

Luke was not a prominent preacher, but he was well educated. He researched the stories of Jesus and wrote the Gospel of Luke.

You have talents and abilities from God. You have an important role in God's plan, but you can only fulfil your potential if you take time to develop your gifts.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. Ecc 9:10 NIV

Do you feel obliged to always satisfy the wishes of others?

If you strive to always fulfil the expectations of others, you will always be tired and frustrated, and never reach God's goal for your life.

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Is 55:6 NIV

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isa 30:21 NIV

It is rare to hear the audible voice of God, but if you are open to the leading of God, He will direct you.

If you always fulfil the wishes of others, you will always turn away from God's purpose for your life, even if you always behave properly.

Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Mt 8:21–22 NIV

Jesus did not mean that we should not attend funerals, but he insists that God's calling must be our first priority.

You Can Know God as your Friend

 Jesus told his disciples that they were his friends. Why? Because he had told them everything he had heard from the Father in heaven.

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. Jn 15:15 NIV

Jesus shared many heavenly truths with the Jews of his day, but far from everything.
If you share everything in your heart at the office or via Facebook, you are really foolish.

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Mt 7:6 NASB95

Jesus is the best of all friends for you and me. You can trust Jesus with all your longings, all your problems and all your secrets.

But if you also want to be a close friend to Jesus, you have to be trustworthy.

The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. Ps 25:14 NKJV

You have secrets, and if you are a faithful friend, you will not betray the secrets of your friends.

Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. With them alone he shares the secrets of his promises. Ps 25:14 The Living Bible, Paraphrased

There are Christians who are diligent in service, but they do not see their role as friends of God, but as servants or ministers.

The Prodigal Son returned to his father with this mindset.

I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
But when he arrived at his father's house, his father received him quite differently. Lk 15:18–19 NIV

But the father ordered his servants: ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and bring him a pair of sandals!

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Lk 15:22–24 NIV

The prodigal son hoped to be with his father only as a servant. He was humble because he was ashamed. Those who genuinely humble themselves before God are honoured by God.

But there are also Christians who are proud in their service. This pride can exclude us from friendship with God.

God is not looking for Christians who serve because of shame or who are proud because of supposed achievements.

God is looking for Christians who are open to His love and who become faithful friends through their experiences of God's love.

Knowing Jesus. Hearing His Voice

 Jesus did not call people to be passive believers waiting to die and go to heaven.

For Jesus, faith was a strong personal connection with his heavenly Father. He wants you and me to experience nothing less.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. Jn 15:9 NIV

 Jesus lived his whole life on earth, saturated with the love of his Father and filled with the Holy Spirit of God. He wants nothing less for you and me.

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.
 
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. Jn 7:37–39 NIV

He called people to follow Him, to learn from Him, to obey Him, to become like Him, to live in friendship with God as He had just done.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jn 8:12 NIV

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

It does not mean travelling to Israel, wearing old-fashioned clothes and preaching in Aramaic.

Nor does it mean fitting in at a church where nothing special happens. With Jesus in Israel, it was never conventional, routine or religious.

God calls you to trust Him as Jesus trusted, to know Him as Jesus knew Him personally.  

God calls you to be full of love for others, loving like Jesus.

God is calling you to hear His voice and recognise and do what He shows you, just like Jesus.

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Jn 14:10 NIV

You and I are far from living up to this amazing example, but we can grow into Christ.

Follow God's example in everything, for you are his beloved children.

Let your lives be characterised by love, just as Christ loved us, for he gave himself as a gift and sacrifice for our sins...

How did Jesus live on earth?

He was always in communication with his Heavenly Father. He was always open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in every moment.

I am learning to experience the guidance of the Holy Spirit better and better. This is a learning process for all of us.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. Jn 10:27–28 NIV

Are you not yet travelling with Jesus? You can start now.

Failure is not Final

 You failed. Perhaps you tried your best, but you failed.

We are all flawed, even when we want to do the best we can. Then your friendship, your job, your love relationship, your ministry explodes. You can now see how you went wrong.

But something is broken. You are suffering. The people you care about are suffering. What can you do?

We can cry out to God for help. Only God can knit your heart together. Only God can repair broken friendships.

Jesus died to reconcile you with God. He also wants to reconcile you with your neighbour.

Are you now ready to recognise your mistakes? Then God can help you in a marvellous way.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Ps 147:3 NIV

Jesus came to save sinners. No one is excluded. Jesus is also the good shepherd who restores his already saved sheep when they go wrong.

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Lk 15:4 NIV

Perhaps you are already a faithful disciple, but you have failed.

You have gone astray, but perhaps not too far. Nevertheless, you are hurt, and you have hurt your friendship or family too. You are devastated, but Jesus loves you no less.

Jesus still remains your good shepherd.

Even if you have truly sinned wilfully, you must know that Jesus wants to give you grace to repent and receive his forgiveness.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 Jn 1:8–9 NIV