by Apostle Andre Pelser

Today I want to give you three examples where people said, "Remember me".

• Joseph
• Nehemiah
• The thief on the cross

My Grandmother used to sit at the piano and sing a very short little chorus:

    Remember me Almighty One

    Remember me Almighty One

All of us want to be remembered somehow. That is why people leave rich legacies behind – to be remembered. There is a statue of a man in Lagos. I asked the taxi driver who the man was. He simply said, ‘I don’t know his name but he did a lot for the country’.

We remember Neels Labuschagne every time we give a bursary to a student. He left an investment in the earth that will be remembered as long as Miracle Bible College continues. This year we have a student from Malawi to whom the bursary has been given. We have trained another student from Sutherland in South Africa for two years, Lundell Baadjies. His father was part of the Bible School right at the beginning and is doing evangelistic work on the farms surrounding Sutherland.

When Joseph was cast into prison with a false accusation, he served the prison warden so well that he was promoted to run the prison. He also served fellow prisoners by using his gift of interpreting dreams. When the king’s cup bearer was released from prison after Joseph interpreted his dream Joseph asked him: ‘remember me when you are established again.’ But the man forgot about Joseph in prison.

Only when the king had a dream that troubled him did the cup bearer remember Joseph. He told the king: ‘there is a man in prison that interprets dreams.’ The king had Joseph brought out of prison and changed his prison clothes.

Joseph had a habit of always leaving his coat behind: when his brothers tricked him and threw him into a pit they took his coat of many colours that his father especially made for him and tore it and dipped it in blood so that they could lie to their father and say that Jospeh was eaten by a wild animal. That animal was jealousy! They sold him to travelling traders for 30 pieces of silver.

Amazing Joseph’s worst moment became significant in the eyes of God! Jesus was betrayed by Judas for 30 pieces of silver! It is amazing how God honours those whom He favours: even your enemy’s worst shot turns out to be in your favour! If the devil knew he would not have crucified Jesus on the cross! His best shot became Jesus’s highest promotion! You never suffer in vain for the Gospel’s sake! It becomes your blessing in disguise!

So Joseph was brought before the king and the king asked him if he could interpret the dream. Joseph immediately gave the right perspective and said, ‘it is not for me to interpret the king’s dream, but there is a God in heaven that interpret’s dreams.’ Wow, what a confession! What a way to honour God in front of a heathen king!

God honours those who honours him! In Chariots of Fire the Scottish athlete that refused to run on a Sunday in the race that he was sure to win, had to compete in the 400 meters which he never raced before, but before the race the American athlete that won the race that the Scot refused to run on a Sunday gave him a note in his hand that read: God honours those who honour Him. With that note the Scot ran and won a gold medal in the Olympic Games!

Joseph was promoted to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. His dream of his brothers and his father bowing before Him finally came true. They had to come and buy food from him in Egypt because there was a famine in their land.

Joseph had a very clear perspective about his experiences. When the brothers finally confessed their sin against him for selling him as a slave to slave traders, he explained; ‘No it was God who sent me ahead of you to prepare provision for you in Egypt!’

He even obtained a whole city from the king of Egypt for his family! They were given a large area where they could farm and make a living! How about that!

God remembered Joseph...

When God remembers you He honours you!

Nehemiah was working for a foreign king. He served as a slave. He was the king’s cup bearer. But the king saw that he was not really happy. So the king asked him what was wrong. Nehemiah said, he would like to go and rebuild the walls and the temple of his city from which they were evicted as slaves.

He prayed and asked God to give him favour with the foreign king.

The king honoured him and gave him all the material he desired to rebuild the wall and the temple. He even gave him an escort of soldiers so that he could arrive safely.

When Nehemiah arrived at the ruins of the house of the Lord, he rode alone in the moonlight to convey the place. It stirred him so deeply to see the house of the Lord in ruins that he made up his mind to make this task his life time task. Nothing would deter him from finishing the work!

When Sanballat and his cohorts tried to prevent Nehemiah from finishing the work by using false accusations against him to turn his men against him, Nehemiah simply told God to take care of it and carried on with the work. When Sanballat saw that his false accusations couldn’t stop Nehemiah he sent a posse to tell him to come down to him so that they could discuss another treaty. Nehemiah simply replied, ‘Can a man like me come down to you? I am doing a great work for the Lord and I do not have time to come down to you!’

The enemy always tries to pull you down, to humiliate you to destroy you. Jesus said, the thief has come to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come to give you life and life more abundantly!

When the temple and the wall was rebuilt, Nehemiah brought the prophet and the scribe called Ezra to read the Word of the Lord to all the people. The people cried when they heard the word and they repented of their sins. Nehemiah not only rebuilt the physical wall and the temple but also rebuilt the people’s spirits. He reformed a nation!

Then Nehemiah prayed a wonderful prayer and said, ‘Remember me for good oh Lord, for all that I have done for you!’

You can only remind God to remember what you have done after you have done it! Many people talk about doing things but they do absolutely nothing.

When I was 12 years old and old prophetess by the name of Aunty Raper came into our home in 65 Gardenere Avenue, Brakpan and prophesied to my father that he would be on the Executive Council of the Apostolic Faith Mission and that God would use my mother to help a lot of people by giving them scriptures if she would read the bible more. My father ended up in the Executive Council when he became the Chairman of the Western Cape, when we lived in Milnerton. Here we are labouring in the field where my father was honoured. My mother became an inspiration to thousands of people and I remember how she would share scriptures with her music pupils. She trained many pastor’s wifes to play the piano so that they could lead worship where their husbands pastored a church. She wrote to us wherever we were doing missionary work and planting churches and always included scripture verses. Both my parents fulfilled Aunty Raper’s prophecy.

Aunty Raper prophesied over me: ‘There is a calling of God on your life. God will also use you in other lands.’

Tomorrow, Yve, my daughter, and I are going to India on a mission to trian pastors in the rural areas in the south of India. This will be the 60th nation that God will use me in. Before I turn 60 I go to my 60th nation!

I can pray Nehemiah’s prayer, God remember me for good for all that I have done for you!

The thief on the cross turned to Jesus and acknowledged that Jesus was a king. He said, ‘Lord, remember me when you get to your kingdom!’ Jesus said, ‘Today you will be with me in Paradise!’

Amazing, it didn’t take a three hour prayer to get the job done! It was a simply heart felt prayer that reached the heart of our Saviour! Remember me!

Perhaps you cannot say that you have been so faithful as Joseph that the Lord should honour you to remember you today; perhaps you have not done much for the Lord so that you could pray the prayer of Nehemiah that God should remember you for good – perhaps all you can pray today is to ask the Lord to remember you like the thief on the cross.

I have Good News for you today: the Lord will remember you!

When God remembers someone He honours and blesses them. Today if you sincerely cry out and ask the Lord to remember you, He will remember you! What a privilege to serve a God that hears our prayers! He is not a dead God made of wood or stone, He is a living God and Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God!

Do you want God to remember you today? Just pray this simple prayer with conviction: Lord, remember me!

You will be amazed at the eternal consequences!

31 December 2009

Jesus said men’s hearts would fail in the end times because of the terrible things that would come over the earth. We are living in those times. Paul gave three reasons why we live in pernicious and terrible times: men are lovers of self, lovers of money and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

As we look back over the last decade, specifically over the past year, we have very little to encourage us. We face the 21^st Century with great uncertainty. In Australia they termed a phrase ‘The One-ders’ to refer to people who live in the 21^st Century.

I have good news for all who are prepared to believe in Jesus Christ: if He knew what we would face, would he not have given us all we require to live a godly life in these terrible times? He has given us keys to spiritual fortification in His Word.

God who gave us His own son also gave us all we need to face life in the 21^st Century. He has held nothing back. But we have to come to Him on His terms and learn to walk in His ways. We have to apply the spiritual re-enforcement.

God’s ways are not our ways and God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. They are higher than our ways and our thoughts. But as the rain comes down and waters the earth and causes it to bud and bring forth fruit, so the Word of God shall not return void but accomplish the thing to which it was sent.

In the world, Jesus said, you will have tribulation, but do not be afraid I have overcome the world. John the apostle of love tells us that it is our faith in Jesus Christ that helps us to overcome the world. We can have peace in our hearts and minds, in spite of the condition of the world we live in, because of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Baghdad is being bombed non-stop but finally Iraq is going to have its first general election since Saddam Hussein was deposed in 2003. This also infers that Iraq will use its own currency instead of the American dollar.

In Tehran in Iran the re-election of Mahmoujd Ahmadinejad was vehemently opposed by unauthorized political rallies supported by young and old. The atmosphere was more of a street party than a political rally.

The Guinea dictator Moussa Dadis Camara survived an assassination attempt. He is still in power.

US president Barack Obama has finally signed the deal to repay Native American Indians what has been owed to them for use of tribal lands – close to $3.4 billion. The pact still needs to be approved by a federal court and authorized by congress.

In Rio de Janeiro streets kids and vagrants have been killed by police since 2003. These injustices simply go unpunished.

Remote control unmanned airplanes will patrol the coasts of America for surveillance to keep a watch out for smugglers and illegal immigrants off Florida’s coast. One aircraft costs $13 million.

 Romania’s political stalemate continues due to infighting and accusations of fraud during the election. The government in Romania has collapsed.

On the other hand Bolivia that is notorious for coups and has had five Presidents in five years has been stabilized by the re-election of Evo Morales, the first Native American President in Bolivia’s history.

Vladimir Putkin intends to run for re-election in his bid for presidency in Russia in 2010. When asked if he had plans to retire, he said, ‘Don’t hold your breath.’

Al Quada boss Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts is always guessed at and yet much of the suicide bombing in the world is directly related to this extreme Muslim sect.

The war in Afghanistan is increasing. 60 000 US Marines were deployed towards the end of 2009 to strengthen the presence of American soldiers in that desolate area. The soldiers march sometimes for 6 days in 57 degrees Celsius with 54 kilogram packs on their backs. At night they dig shallow firing holes to sleep in. One soldier remarked: ‘It feels like sleeping in a narrow grave, but you do feel safer.’

Michael Jackson passed away but lives on in his on screen presence the Thriller dance parties that were performed in no less than 14 difference cities.

Edward Kennedy was buried in the dark in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. The Secret Service brought in a light to help the funeral goers to see where they were going.

China is going to build one of the largest solar power stations in the world at Crescent Moon Lake, in the desert of Dunhuang.

Pasig City in the Philippines was almost destroyed by Typhoon Parma and a sports arena near Manila turned into an evacuation center housing 1000 destitute families. Because there was no toilet facilities and people couldn’t bath it was like the smell of a dump site.

Saturn’s equinox revealed a third dimension to the planted that was never seen before.

Old quarters in big cities have been revamped to become the playground of the rich and famous. For instance, Woolloomooloo in Sydney-East, is now the home of many famous and rich Australians. Russell Crow lives in an $8, 5 million penthouse.

The Copenhagen Summit for world weather changes delivered precious little answers and showed man’s inability to control the changes in nature patterns.

Here are several keys for spiritual reinforcement.

Ephesians 3:14-19

1.    Pray for a reason, not a ritual.

2.    Pray that God may grant you to be strengthened with might in the inner man. This happens through the Spirit of God working in us.

3.    Pray that Christ may dwell in your heart by faith

4.    Pray that you be rooted and grounded in love

5.    Pray to comprehend the size of Christ’s love in all its dimensions

6.    Pray that God will fill you with the fullness of God

7.    Pray to know and believe the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge

Remember that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we think or ask. The word, ‘to know’ in this passage is ‘epiginowsko’ which speaks of experiential knowledge. We need to experience God’s love.

The width of God’s love

I Chronicles 23:17 the grandson of Moses was called Rehabiah meaning God is wide. He had many sons. Once someone understands the width of God’s love it can be passed on from generation to generation. This is also spiritual technology to reinforce our faith.

Christ’s patience, kindness and goodness, his forgiveness and his sustaining power are all proof of his love. He loves you until you learn to love Him.

The depth of God’s love

There is no shallow end to the deep, deep love of God. Shakespeare wrote, love is not love which alters when it alteration finds, oh no, it is an ever fixed mark that looks upon tempest and is never shaken, it is the North Star to every wandering bark…

The length of God’s love

To what length will love go to save a soul? God’s longsuffering towards us is proof of the length of Christ’s love – He just never gives up on anyone!

The height of God’s love

T he upward dimension of God’s love is as high as the heavens above. It speaks of the fullness of god. He supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

As we increase in the knowledge of God we are strengthened with all might in the inner man according to His glorious power. This helps us to endure, to be patient and to maintain our joy in believing with long suffering.

Spiritual re-enforcement is required to keep Kingdom values alive when we go through trials and tribulations of our faith.

We are strengthened (dunamis, inherent power giving us ability) with all might (dunamis) according to his glorious (doxa, weightiness, power and strength, wealth and magnificence) power (kratos, god’s manifested power revealed in the earth). God’s power is manifested relevant to our need.

He has translated us from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of the Son of His love. He drew us to Himself with cords of love – away from lawless deeds. We have moved location; we have changed address!

He paid the ransom for our redemption in full, through his blood. Our sins are fully forgiven! (Colossians 1:11-14)

We ask and pray that we would be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Here lies a great secret of the church and the blessing of belonging to the body of Christ: when our hearts are knit together in love we attain to all the riches of the full assurance of understanding to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2, 3).

When you are spiritually reinforced, your love will be grounded in Christ and your faith will be steadfast and not shaken or stirred. You will be established in the faith and abound in thanksgiving.

(Colossians 1:23 and 2:6, 7)

For this purpose I suffer all the things I do, because I am a minister of the mysteries of God. For this reason I labor and strive and face all the conflicts and temptations I have to face. For this reason I bow my knees to pray – for you. Pray for me also. I am your servant in the Lord.

Apostle Andre Pelser, Christmas 2009

Christmas has lost its value because of commercialization: Father Christmas and his presents have taken over from the true meaning of the birth of Christ. Christmas carols have been so commercialized that they have lost their message.

To reform our concept of Christmas we should look at the birth of Christ in the lives of people: to celebrate the born again experience, in other words, Christ being formed in people’s lives, is to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas when Jesus Christ was born.

But after birth there has to be growth: Jesus did not stay away in a manger for 2000 years! The commercial world does not mind a baby Jesus. It sells! But they do not want Him to be the Son of the Living God, or the Lord of lords or King of kings.

Paul described apostolic labors when he tried to win back the allegiance of the Galatians’ believers who back slid into religious formalism of Jewish traditions soon after they experienced the joy of the liberty of the Spirit of God.

Galatians 4:8-11

⁸ Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. ⁹ But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again^b to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? ¹⁰ Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. ¹¹ I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

 

Galatians 4:19 - 29

¹⁹ My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, ²⁰ ^† I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

²¹ Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? ²² For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. ²³ But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. ²⁴ Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants^e; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. ²⁵ For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. ²⁶ But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. ²⁷ For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. ²⁸ Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. ²⁹ But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

^[1]

Here are several descriptions of labors that are required until Christ is formed in us all.

1.

Labor in Greek is kopos: it means taking a beating, striking, causing weariness hardship and trouble.

Nola and Renate…much labor, much trouble, weariness of the flesh and mind. It seems so unnecessary, but it is called laboring….

2.

Parecho also means to labor but it means to afford, to give. By giving to missionaries you are also laboring, or entering into their labors, so you will enter into their rewards as well. Jesus had women who supported his ministry. So did Paul. They obviously also had men who supported them financially.

3.

Ergon which is pleasant work: all work is not exhausting and wearisome! To labor in doctrine, to teach the word is an enjoyable task! What a privilege to be the messenger of the most high God!

4.

Mochthos is distressful labor causing hardship. We often have to go through things we do not like for the sake of others. This is how Christ is formed in them and in us: they eventually remember the price you paid on their behalf and then they begin to change. They are changed into the image of Christ.

5.

Cheimatzo is driving in winter’s cold. It is sometimes hard to get up to pray in winter. My mother used to wrap herself in a blanket and pray in the early hours of the morning. My wife, Nola, sits in bed praying for the family, the church and other people we are laboring for. She does not start the day without seeking God on behalf of other people. This is laboring in the spirit.

6.

Ergonizomai is laboring to the point of exhaustion. Jesus sometimes became so weary from his journeys that he had to sit down. Paul labored until he was weary, other apostles labored until they dropped. Nola and I have worked until we were worn out, physically, on several occasions. Then the Lord renews our strength and we go on laboring again.

7.

Philotimeomai is laboring seeking honor. The desire to be an elder or a deacon is a worthy pursuit. You have to sort your own life out in order to have oversight over other people. This sorting out never ceases. As you grow spiritually the Lord has to purify you and perfect you. He does this by chastisement and by correction. He brings hidden things to the surface so that you can recognize it. Then he deals with it, with your permission, of course. In the end we seek the honor of God, not just the honor of men.

 

There are different types of labor in the scriptures:

Laboring in physical labor

Laboring in imprisonments, tumults, watchings and fastings often!

Laboring by holding forth the word of life, by teaching apostolic doctrine

Laboring in companionship

Laboring in supporting apostolic missions financially

Laboring in prayers

Laboring to enter into the rest of faith

Laboring in patience

Laboring in withstanding evil

Scriptures:

^[2]

1 Cor 4:12			And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
2 Cor 6:5			In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
Phil 2:16			Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Phil 2:25			Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
Phil 4:3			And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Col 4:12			Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
1 Thess 1:3			Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
1 Thess 5:12			And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
Heb 4:11			Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Rev 2:2			I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

 

 

We labor until Christ is formed in all of us

 

The Greek definition of Formed:

morphoo (3445), like the noun (A, No. 1), refers, not to the external and transient, but to the inward and real; it is used in Gal. 4:19, expressing the necessity of a change in character and conduct to correspond with inward spiritual condition, so that there may be moral conformity to Christ.¶

 

Gal 4:19			My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Phil 2:6			Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Phil 2:7			But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
1 Tim 2:13			For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
2 Tim 3:5			Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

We cannot produce Christ: it is a deep, inner work of the Holy Spirit in us. We can teach and pray, we can be patient, we can endure hardship, but only God can give the growth. Only God can form Christ within, the hope of glory.

We are often observers of the outward performance of people, which sometimes discourages us. We give up on people. We say that they will never change! We are not to judge what God is doing in their lives. Who knows, we might not see them for ten years and by that time, Christ has been formed in their lives and we are so surprised to see the change we could not bring about.

That is why we need to labor in patience…Love is patient and it is kind. Love does not seek its own, but the betterment of others and the greater glory of God.

Let us not grow weary in well-doing for in the end we will be rewarded for all our labors. Christ knows our works, and our labors…and He will reward us. There is no labor lost in the economy of God.

One life it soon will be past.

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Conquering feelings of unworthiness

The Prodigal son had feelings of unworthiness in his heart all along. What the heart is full of, the mouth speaks. When he returned to his father’s house he said, ‘I am not worthy…’ A feeling of unworthiness robs us of our blessing. Unworthiness spoils our success. Unworthiness keeps us from enjoying our best achievements. We are just never good enough in our own eyes.

Jonny WIlkenson the great English fly half that won the world cup for England in Australia with that brilliant, memorable drop-kick, confessed that he never allowed himself to enjoy the victories, but just went on practicing like a machine. He wrote a book later in his life encouraging young footballers to learn to take time off to go to the beach, or to play some music or do something they enjoy instead of just practicing, practicing, practicing.

I dreamt that I put my arm around one of our church members and gave him a hug and told him that he should enjoy the benefits of his labors. I also saw my oldest son, Aje, drive a brand new car in a dream and told him he deserves it.

Perhaps your parents or teachers told you that you are not worthy of success. Perhaps your peers made you feel useless and hopeless. But today I have good news for you: Jesus Christ died to make you worthy before God. If you believe in Him and accept His sacrifice for you on the cross of Calvary, you can stand in the presence of the most High God without any feelings of inferiority or insecurity. This is what the righteousness by faith will do for you.

Luke 15:12-19 tells the story of the Prodigal Son. There are some lessons we can learn from the parable of the Prodigal Son that will help us to defeat our feeling of unworthiness.

Tiger Woods has recently confessed to infidelity and the world has been wondering how someone so successful could fall prone to something like that. The psychologists describe a paradise syndrome which explains it. People feel unworthy of the fame, wealth and success they have achieved and in a sense want to tarnish their reputation in order to justify themselves.

The Prodigal son could not enjoy all his privileges in his father’s house so he asked for his portion and left to spend it in a wasteful manner. He ended up in a pig sty eating the food of pigs. That’s where we end up when we leave our Heavenly Father’s house, the church! The thing the world has to offer is like pig’s food!

What the Prodigal Son forgot was the fact that he was his father’s son. He had to come to a full realization of his sonship again. Only when he came to himself in the pig sty did he remember what it was like in his father’s house. The servants in his father’s house had more food and privileges than what he experienced away from home.

He had to learn to appreciate what the father had to offer. When we despise our father’s provision and his care, we loose perspective. Many times we want more than what has been provided and we become so self-centered that we demand what is ‘rightfully’ ours to go and waste it on worthless things.

To as many as received him he gave the power to become sons of the living God, to as many as believed on his Name (John 1:12).

Learn to feed on the heavenly Manna, the word of God. The church is the place where you receive food that is convenient for your spirit. If you neglect your spirit man, your soul and your body will suffer. Your spirit man needs to be built up, fed and exercised, just as your natural body does. When people forget this aspect of living they pay the consequences.

The Prodigal Son had to come to repentance and then he had to get up and return to his father’s house. Yes, he was not worthy now, but his father made him worthy by giving him new clothes, a new ring, new shoes and organized a great feast to celebrate his return. He was dead, in a sense, to his father, but now he was alive again.

Sin kills our relationship with God our Heavenly Father. But whoever confesses his sin is forgiven for Christ’s sake and the Lord cleanses him from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).

The Prodigal Son’s father gave him back his self-worth. He regained his self respect again.

The book of Proverbs declares that a merry heart is like good medicine but a broken spirit is hard to bear. Perhaps your spirit has been broken. Perhaps you have strayed away from your heavenly father. Perhaps you have left the church and perhaps you have had your reasons for doing so. But today the Spirit of the Living God is prompting you to get up out of your desperate situation and He reminds you that there is sufficient supply and provision in your father’s house.

My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

Romans 8:18 promises us that this present suffering does not weigh up to the eternal weight of glory that is to be revealed.

In Zechariah 3 the Lord takes Joshua the high priest when Satan accuses him before God and the Lord rebukes Satan and commands that Joshua’s filthy garments be removed and that he should be clothed with a new garment and a new mitre be placed on his head. Then the Lord commands him: if you will walk in my commandments and obey my statutes you shall govern my house and have charge in my courts.

The Lord wants you to take charge of your life again. He wants you to walk in paths of righteousness for His sake. Return to him today by repenting and let him give you back your self-worth. Do not let feelings of unworthiness rob you of enjoying your life.

Because Jesus Christ died for you, he made you worthy of all his benefits: you are worthy of salvation, of healing, of the baptism in the Holy Spirit; you are worthy of His divine guidance and His care and provision!

Cast your care upon Him for He cares for you! (I Peter 5:7)

You are worthy of a husband, of a wife, of children, of being in the ministry! You are worthy of having your own car and your own home! You are worthy of doing well at school or at sport or at work.

There is no arrogance in the sense of worthiness that Christ gives, because we know our source of self-worth is God. He made you worthy.

Ephesians 4:1 – Live a life worthy of the Gospel because he made you worthy.

Beloved I wish that you prosper and be in health just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

Cultivating thePresence of God

By Apostle Aje Pelser

 

To be Preached Harvester Cape Town, 17^thJanuary, 2010

 

This teaching is a follow up on the sermon “Ark of HisPresence” by apostle Andre Pelser, also found in the Reformer Dec 2009 issuelocated on www.harvesterchurch.netunder the tab heading: “reformer”.

 

Meditating on the concept of God’s presence within the hearts of believers, reveals some tips for cultivating that presence of God in our daily lives.

 

For a good read about the presence of God,  read Brother Lawrence's letters to a friend that were collected into a book called: “The Practiceof the Presence of God – the best rule for a holy life.” Many true sons of God have discovered the inner adoration of God in the everyday walk of faith, and have found the greatest riches in life to be a deeper relationship with God.

 

There are simple tips to follow that appear so easy to access that one might find oneself seeking to earn God’s presence through a greater effort of self-will and sacrificial devotion. The truth that believers like Madame Guyon and Brother Lawrence came to understand is that God is actually seeking to commune with us even more than we try to commune with Him. This releases us from striving to be holier that others in self effort and dead works, and releases a pure devotion based on a heartfelt worship of God inspirit and in truth.

 

Being spiritual is not a competition but a state of being in His presence, understanding the revelation that has been released in the church today and applying it simply with child-like faith. The benefits of such an application can be discerned in the many testimonies of individuals recently at Harvester, who broke through into the inner walk of faith, beyond outward impressiveness and materialistic goals. To abide in the vine, both individually and corporately is to see Christ formed in people. That in itself is the ultimate benefit.

 

 

Here are some of those tips for cultivatingthe presence of God in our daily lives:

·        Read the Bible

Like Madame Guyon teaches us:

Here is alink to download her book from the internet: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/guyon/prayer.html entitled: “A Short and Easy Method of Prayer” her book is available on public domain for free. She encourages believers to savour each word of scripture and not to rush through a Bible reading. Responding to the Word prayerfully is a strong theme and her work is studied by all current Miracle Bible College students, and should be studied by more churches. However, we often get bombarded in the media with shallow books of prayer that frankly don’t compare with her simple teaching that has born more fruit in my life anyway!

Read as Apostle Paul encourages us to do:

1Ti4:12  Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1Ti4:13  Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Apostle Andre is writing about Dogma with an apostolic perspective and will continue with his teachings on return from a mission to India next month, we all look forward to the series this year, but maybe in preparation for that, we can all do our share in reading more Word, so that accurate apostolic doctrine can be inscribed in our hearts, and that we can cultivate a more accurate spiritual awareness of God in our daily activities.

 

·        Learn to pray ceaselessly

1Th5:16  Rejoice always,

1Th5:17  pray without ceasing,

1Th5:18  in everything give thanks; for thisis the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

 

If westart off by praying because we feel guilty for not praying enough, we regressback into the dark ages of medieval church, where vain repetitions got clockedup as a measure of one’s spirituality. Praying because we want to commune morewth God is an altogether different and more sustainable motivator.

 

 

·        Spend some time in meditation

Psalm 5:1 David asks God toconsider his meditation which includes the meaning of murmuring and whisperingto oneself.

Take your thoughts that botheryou and confront them with a muttering of scripture about that topic. If youare sick, whisper to yourself about Jesus who Himself bore our infirmities, whowas chastised for our peace, by whose stripes we are healed – that is amouthful already. So often we just quote scriptures without thinking about itand mulling over the words till they sink into our hearts and eventually becomepart of the fibre o our being.

Meditation H1901 hâgîyg

BDBDefinition:

1) whisper, musing, murmuring

1a) murmuring

1b) musing

 

·        Practice Spontaneous praise andworship –

Sing that old song that comes up in your heart. Pray for that person that sprang up in your mind. Give to that person that is lacking basic necessities. Show some love to the unloved. Be led by the Spirit basically.

The famous scripture in the New Testament with which harvester’s have become very familiar is Colossians3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

 

But notice how a good lifestyle of worship is based on the Word dwelling in us richly. These simple tips provided are linked to each other and have a direct impact on the other.

For instance, purely reading the Bible without prayer will just puff up the intellectual believer.

Prayer without meditation will be shallow and short!

Giving thanks will not last long if thought has not gone into it in meditation, and we won’t have anything to thank God for if we had not asked for His promise in prayer, after discovering them through reading the Word!

 

Make a habit of giving Thanks  

Give thanks as a habit, but also in prayer. Our prayer requests should be made known to God with thanksgiving. Kids that thank Dad for the presents and gifts from their heart will always receive more, because it’s the Father’s good pleasure to give them the kingdom…

 

Luk12:31  But seek the kingdom of God, andall these things shall be added to you.

Luk12:32  "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

 

So let’s give thanks, as Apostle Andre reminds us: “Thankfulness is ‘thinkfulness’”

 

Think about God’s greatness and the wonder of His Son Jesus Christ, who gave His life as a ransom for many.

He is always here!