8 July 2002, evening service

DFL exposed the danger of drugs by showing a video from the Police Department in Canada. Albertus Bodenstein shortly gave his testimony afterwards of how Jesus has set him free from drugs for 5 years already.

8 July 2002, afternoon service

Dumisani Makhoba gave a short devotion on the necessity to be cleansed from sin, after which those in need of counseling were given time to speak to counselors to make their lives right with God.

In Isiaiah 53:4 & 5 we read how Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, so that we need not die for our sins, if we put our trust in Him.

In Gen 39:8 & 9 we read of a young man that kept his life clean. His own brothers hated and persecuted him for his upright life, yet he persevered and conquered. Even in a strange country, where none of his acquaintance were near, he still feared God above all, kept his life clean, and overcame sin.

What must we do to receive this free gift of Jesus? In Mt 11:28, Jesus said that we need to come to Him and unburden our lives at His cross. We must take up His light yoke and follow Him.

Go to a righteous man of God, pray with him to God, that your sins might we forgiven, as James 5:16 says. In Isaiah 59:1 - 3 we read how your sins separate you from God, so that He will not hear. That wall of separation need to be removed. As this wall of sin crumble, you will experience the impossible becoming possible in your life. Where you had to sin in the past, even though you hated it, you will now have the power to resist sin. You will receive God's power to conquer stealing, immorality, lies, drinking, smoking, hatred, gossip, etc. As you confess your sins, the devil is forced out of your life. You are no longer the slave of sin, but are become slaves of righteousness. As the reward of sin is death, so too the reward of righteousness is everlasting life.

8 July 2002, morning service
Preacher - Erlo Stegen
Text: 1 Pet 1:18 & 19; 1 Cor 6:20

Many years ago a certain boy wrote a composition at school. He related a story of how he saw an old lady stand next to a road, afraid to cross because of the traffic. He felt compassion for her and helped her across the street. When they had crossed, she was delighted and asked him who his parents were. She wanted to meet the parents of such a boy.

Another boy in the same class also wrote a composition of a beggar that came to his parents' home, asking for food and help. He was the only one at home, and was disgusted with the beggar, saying to him, "All of you tramps are the same, lazy, and sponging on other people that work. I will not give you any food, or a place to sleep in our home. If you want to sleep somewhere for the night, go to the shed where you'll find some hay."
The next day the teacher called the class together, saying that there were two compositions that stood out. The first composition revealed a soft and good heart, whereas the second revealed an evil heart.

Today the one boy is a minister and a preacher of the Gospel, whereas the second grew up to be a person who always cause trouble and division wherever he goes. When his employees were asked about their boss, they replied that he acted like a madman, although he called himself a Christian.

You were redeemed by Jesus with a great price, more precious than gold or silver that perish. He paid His last drop of blood to so that you can live and be free. Therefore glorify Him in your body.

George Thomas was a pastor of a small town. One Sunday he entered church with an old, rusty, empty bird cage. He related the following story to his congregation as an explanation. The previous day he met a boy who carried this cage with two miserable-looking birds inside. He asked the boy what he was going to do with the birds. The boy replied that he was going to have fun with them, pluck their feathers while they are still alive and torture them. This boy had an evil, hard heart. He said that after enjoying himself with them, he will give them to his cat to finish them off. The pastor had compassion on the birds and asked the boy to sell them to him, to which the boy replied that those birds are not worth anything. Yet the pastor persisted, and the boy asked for $10. The pastor took $10 from his pocket, handed it to the boy, and bought the birds from him. As soon as the boy was gone to spend his "fortune", the pastor carefully opened the cage and set the birds free.

In a similar way, Jesus and Satan once met. Satan boasted to Jesus of how he had set a trap for the people Jesus had created and caught them in his trap. Jesus asked him what he was going to do to them. He replied that he was going to have fun with them, teach them to sin, flirt, hate, and kill each other. He said that he will cause husbands and wives to fight and divorce. He will teach children to disobey their parents, and destroy their lives with the opposite sex, drugs, alcohol, and smoking. Jesus then asked him what he was going to do when he's finish playing around with them. He replied that he will finally torture and kill them. Jesus asked, "What price do you want for them?" Satan replied that they're worth nothing, and already destroyed by his poison. "They will hate You, mock You, spit in Your face and kill You." Still Jesus persisted, "What is the price?" Satan sneered, "All Your blood, tears and Your life". "Done", Jesus replied, and paid the full price to redeem you and me.

If you have been bought with such a great price, it should be easy to say no to sin. Do you not realize that Satan is just having fun with you? Jesus did not only bought you, but redeemed you, because you were rightfully His.

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