REFLECT JESUS

(summary of Sunday sermon at Kwasizabantu Mission, by Rev FH Stegen)

In 2Corinthians 3 verses 16 to18 we read that the veil has been taken away for those who have turned to the Lord.  The Lord Jesus has opened a way for us into the Holy of Holies when He died for us on the cross of Calvary, where we received remission for our sins.   In v16 of the same chapter, we read that whoever repents and turns from their wickedness, the veil is taken away and can enter the Holy of Holies because that which separated man and God is taken away by the cross of the Lord Jesus.  Every person who turns from sin, can come into the Holy of Holies where we can see the Lord Jesus face to face.   When the Lord came to Ezekiel, he said that it was the likeness of the Lord and it was like the appearance of a rainbow.  That’s the life we Christians should live in that we should yearn to enter the Holy of Holies to see the wonders of what Christ has done for us.  It is only when our sins are taken away that we have the liberty to do this but many of us run around with burdens instead of coming to the Lord Jesus and casting our burdens on Him.

It is the most beautiful experience for a Christian when the veil is taken away. Then the shining face is "mirrowed" to the whole world. Is the glory of God seen in us? 

Another meaning of he mirror is the Word of God.  Does my life conform to Christ and His Word?  The way I talk and respond in situations, should reflect the Lord Jesus.  We must be constantly watchful to examine the Bible as to how Christ lived, reacted and spoke, and the cry of the heart should be that we are being constantly conformed into His image.  The Lord Jesus Himself said that He could not speak His own words but only what the Father in heaven utters.  In the same way, we have to stand before the “mirror” of God’s word so that we can behave in such a way that we become like Him.

That is also why the Lord sent the Spirit in order to reveal the will of the Father and make us like Him.  He tells us what is wrong and right in His sight and where we fall short.  How wonderful that the Lord Jesus opened the way so that we can see Him as He is and then transform us into His image. Then, others can see Christ in you and me. When we walk and talk, do people see the glory of heaven?  This should not only be believed in, but also be our experience, so that we become the reflection of this truth.

Our cry should be that we become more like Christ no matter what happens.  Whether I am afflicted, perplexed or  struck down, I am not crushed but am always on top.

It is told that a captain in a plane full of passengers learned that there was a rat in the engine.  He knew that the rat would gnaw at the wires and could cause a fatal accident.  He decided to fly higher as he as he could where there would be little oxygen so that the rat would be killed.  When he eventually landed and looked at the engine, he found that the rat had indeed died.   We need to fly high and experience more of Jesus because He promises us victory. Nothing should get us down and we should always be on top as we become more and more like Him.

 

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SAFETY IN HIM

(summary of sermon by Rev EH Stegen)

(also a South African wedding feast of Chris & Geralde Botha (see photos below) which took place in the Netherlands on 24 April.)

"Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee." (Psalm 33:22)

Even if the whole world is for you, if the Lord is against you, you are doomed. But even though the whole world be against you, if God is for you, you are safe.

If your hope is in anything else but in God you are fighting in vain. If God is not for you there is no future.

That is  why we read, "our hope is in you, o Lord". He alone can save us. With all we have within us we trust in you o Lord. 

In ancestral worship they slaughter goats and cattle. That is what they trust in for protection.

However, the Bible gives us this wonderful truth, that our hope is to be in God alone. Then it is true that His love will remain over us.

The word translated "mercy" in the original Greek could be translated, meekness, unity, mercy, grace, love.

In Zulu the Christians call themselves "AmaKholwa, from the word "kholiwe" which means "to be fully satisfied". Just as this word means full satisfaction after a good meal so too we find absolute satisfaction in Christ and there is no longer any longing for the things of the world, because He satisfies fully.

Some truths about love (since this is the South African celebration of the wedding of Chris and Geralde): If there is no love in a marriage, or love diminishes with time, then it is like hell. So too, it is a tragedy when a church does not grow in love, with more and more people drawn by that love which reaches out to the world around us.

The Bible says in 1Cor 13 that love surpasses all things, even faith and hope. That's why we are told to pursue love.

Married people should grow in their depth of love towards each other and every new day must be like the wedding day, and better. Otherwise, there is a grave problem in that marriage.

Let us read together: "Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). 

The Bible also tells us that "love covers a multitude of sins".  Besides the obvious truth in marriage that a husband should not expect his wife to look the same after bearing 6 children, the love which spouses have towards each other and Christians towards each other, is ever growing and deepening through time.

Someone once told me that it is astonishing that "Job could speak the day he was born". He explained: the Bible says, "Job cursed the day he was born". Besides the play on words there is an unfortunate truth and that is that many people curse the day they were born, wishing they had never been born. So too, there are spouses who curse the day they got married. That is just an indication that there is no godly love in that marriage.

The Bible tells us: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." (Isaiah 49:15). So great and enduring is God's love towards us - far greater than a mother's love.

So great is His love that He even died for you. In verse 16 of Psalm 33 we are told that "no king is saved through a great army or delivered by his great strength". It is clear to the Psalmist and must be clear to us as well, that there is nothing else we can rely on or trust in. Only God Himself is trustworthy. Only He is a safe refuge.

to see Netherlands wedding photos, click here

to see engagement photos of Chris and Geralda, click here