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Saved by the power of God. Huband, father and preacher. Living to reveal the heart of God to the world.
March 9, 2017 heartofthefather.co.za
You know the hardest thing to preach or teach about these days is finances. But I would like
to share this with you so you may be liberated and also challenged to live out what you believe God
will do for you because of His heart for you.
I will not be using the typical scriptures but I would like to bring a plain & simple concept across.
For me the Gospel will always be simple,otherwise for me, it is probably not the Gospel.
Mat 6:24 No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Mat 6:25 Therefore I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Mat 6:26 Behold the birds of the air; for they sow not, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them; are you not much better than they are?
Mat 6:27 Which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his stature?
Mat 6:28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not toil, nor do they spin,
Mat 6:29 but I say to you that even Solomon in his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 Therefore if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much rather clothe you, little-faiths?
Mat 6:34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow; for tomorrow shall be anxious for its own things. Sufficient to the day is the evil of it.
Such an amazing passage, I don’t know why this never gets used for finances?! It clearly deals with most of the things finances are for. Money,Food, drink, clothes are core needs we all have, even though our list has grown since bible times.
Can I ask you where will you find His kingdom? Where will you find His righteousness?
The kingdom? is within us. The righteousness? is what we have become in Christ Jesus.
So He says in Mat 6:33 seek FIRST the KINGDOM OF GOD and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS and all these thing will be added to you.
The problem I see today is not that people aren’t sowing,tithing or something like that, but it is that people do not believe that they deserve
Gods provision for them! It is from that place that people usually try sow or tithe and see if it works for them or not since there are always testimonies of
people giving & people receiving. But then the real question should be, are you worthy of the blessing & provision God wants to give?
The answer is always yes! As it says in Mat 6:32 that “your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things”, He gives us the assurance of being our Father and in verse 26 it says that we are so much better than birds yet God takes care of them.
Why do we struggle so much with finances and feel unworthy?! He reminds us in Mat 6 verse 27 and 34 not to be anxious. I believe our feeling of
unworthiness takes us to being anxious & that is opposite to what His kingdom or righteousness affirms in us.
Seeking first, should be discovering who God is for you & through you as a son, since your Father knows your needs, you will know(trust) His provision.
Truth is your that your provision is ready for you as a son. Slaves don’t get the blessings, but sons do. Sons also give, in fact they love giving because they
act like their Father.
Now please don’t hear me say that you shouldn’t give, but if you don’t give, why should you be any less blessed?! But if you are blessed, why not give?
It all starts with us & His Kingdom within us wants to draw blessings toward us. His righteousness puts us in the place of a son that
is in right relationship with the Father that wants take care of us.
Like I said, a simple message : Because of what you believe, act on it as if its true. Your Father wants to provide for you, what kind of life
do you want to live and what will you do with your finances? It is not about how much you give or get in return, it is about the truth that you are a son & you
live it out. The world is watching you everyday.. first,it will always be about the people(sons & daughters) of a Father, then comes the part where the Father
Jesus says here to the people who were not born again yet,”if you being evil know how to give good gifts, how much more shall your Father in heaven”.
Today born again people are not evil like these were that Jesus was talking to, but we are the children of His Kingdom of His Righteousness, so how much more does He want to give!
November 17, 2016 heartofthefather.co.za
Join us on for the Foundation & Identity training (Includes :Christian lifestyle, Identity, healing, relationships, deliverance, miracles, prophecy, words of knowledge, supernatural, knowledge of the scriptures)
If runners train for a race, why should we not train as Christians for the races we face in the world. I believe we are supposed to run & win in this lifes’ race. Run & not get worn out, with endurance because we trained well.
Contact us for more information & you can follow us on our FaceBook page for the events schedule.
For training in your area please contact us & we will come to you. .
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van Wortels na Vrugte – Deur Henru Pieters
July 25, 2016 heartofthefather.co.za
My reis deur die dieptes van die Hebreeuse Wortels Beweging en hoe GENADE alleen my daaruit gered het.
Die Torah Pad…
Vir omtrent ses en ‘n halfjaar was ek intensief betrokke in die Hebreeuse Wortels Beweging. Vir meer as vyf jaar het ek Bybelse Hebreeuse klasse landswyd aangebied. Vir drie jaar was ek ‘n Messiaanse bedienaar in verskillende bedienings, met verskeie funksies.
Wanneer ek my storie vertel, dan getuig ek net aangaande dit wat ek gesien, gehoor en beleef het in my wandel. Ek kan nie namens enige ander persoon praat nie, ek is ook bewus dat ons almal mense is en ons ervarings en perspektiewe verskil. Daarmee wil ek graag meedeel wat ek ervaar het. Dit wat ek deel word beoog om die Liggaam van Christus te stig, nie om klippe te gooi nie, maar eerder een broer wat deel met ander broers en susters in ‘n liefdevolle wyse.
NUWE OPENBARINGS – NUWE WANDEL
My eerste aanraking met die Hebreeuse Wortels Beweging (HWB) ook bekend as die Messiaanse Beweging, was in 2008. Dit was gedurende my tyd as ‘n vrywillige werker by die Volle Evangelie Kerk (V.E.K). Die mense het anders geklink en gelyk, maar tog het hulle dieselfde Bybel gehad as ek en boonop het hulle dit beter geken as ek. Hulle het ‘n antwoord uit die Skrif gehad vir alles wat hulle doen, sowel as nie doen nie. My vrywillige werk by die V.E.K. het dus geëindig a.g.v. ‘n verloop van omstandighede waar ek teologiese verskille gehad het met die kerk.
Met die afloop daarvan was ek genader deur ‘n persoon wat aangebied het om my te onderrig in basiese Bybelse Hebreeus, sowel as die agtergrond van die Torah en die Tanakh (OT) en verskeie onderwerp studies. In Augustus van 2009, het my reis van nuwe openbarings begin. Dit het my vir die volgende ses jaar lank laat dieper delf in elke rigting vir meer kennis. Die ontnugtering en skok van hoe afvallig die Sondag kerk geword het, was een van die eerste hoof onderwerpe in ons studies. Heidense feeste soos Kersfees, Paasfees en Sondag aanbidding, was ontmasker en ontleed, met diep gesprekke oor Kerk geskiedenis en sistematiese teologie. Ek het vinnig verbitterd geraak teenoor die Sondag Kerk waaruit ek nou gekom het: “Hoekom leer hulle mense nie die waarheid nie?” het ek gedink. Geleidelik het daar ‘n hardheid in my gemoed gesak en ek wou nie eers meer ‘n “Christen” genoem word nie.
DIE BOOM VAN KENNIS…
Studeer, studeer en studeer, was wat ek vir maande lank gedoen het. Ek het dus vinnig verlief geraak op Bybelse Hebreeus. My heidense Kerk fondasie was stelselmatig afgebreek en vervang met ‘n Torah gebaseerde Hebreeuse perspektief, sodat ek die Skrif reg kon interpreteer.
Maart 2010 was ek op my eerste toer Israel toe. Dit was ‘n wonderlike belewenis. November 2010, het ek in geskryf by ‘n Suid Afrikaanse Hebreeuse Wortels Instituut om verder te studeer. Junie 2011, het ek begin om Bybelse Hebreeuse klasse aan te bied, ek het oor die volgende vyf jaar meer as 20 klasse landwyd aangebied. 2011 was ek amptelik aangestel as ‘n Hebreeuse navorser vir die Instituut waar ek studeer – ek het in Desember 2013, by die Instituut bedank, a.g.v. verskeie onreëlmatighede.
November 2011, behartig Brad Scott van Wildbranch Ministries my Messiaanse troue in Johannesburg. Oktober 2012, het ek vir die tweede keer Israel toe gegaan. Januarie 2013, ontvang ek my Honneurs Graad in Messiaanse Judaïsme. Oktober 2013, was ek aangestel as ‘n Leraar in ‘n Messiaanse gemeente in Vanderbijlpark. In November het ek ‘n derde Bybelse Hebreeuse kursus aan die Universiteit van Johannesburg voltooi.
DIE MESSIAANSE FOKUS
Die Torah pad het ‘n heel nuwe dimensie aan geneem teen die tyd wat ek voltyds by ‘n Messiaanse bediening begin het. Die hoof was ‘n man met ‘n visie wat diep spore wou trap vir die Messiaanse gemeenskappe. “Ons moet die mense Torah gehoorsaamheid leer” het hy gereeld vir my gesê. Ons het die mense geleer hoe om Shabbat te onderhou, Kosher te eet, die feeste te vier asook hoe dit Yeshua se koms vooraf proklameer, ons moes die mense Torah leer want,
“My volk gaan te gronde weens gebrek aan kennis; omdat jy die kennis verwerp het, sal Ek jou verwerp, sodat jy vir My die priesteramp nie sal bedien nie; omdat jy die wet van jou God vergeet het, sal Ek ook jou kinders vergeet.
Ons dienste was in ‘n V.E.K. gebou wat ons gehuur het vir Saterdae, waar ons weekliks die Torah parasha (porsie) bedien het. Ons fokus was op die restourasie terug na die Handelinge Gemeente. Die gemeente was ongeveer 80 lidmate sterk en was daardie tyd die grootste waarvan ons bewus was in die Vaal Driehoek.
Ongelukkig was die fokus nooit om Geestelik te groei, die eenvoudige Evangelie te verkondig aan ‘n verlore wêreld of om net die Here se aangesig te soek in lofprysing en aanbidding nie. Die fokus was verwerwing van kennis, die herstel van die Torah en om Christene uit die Babiloniese kerk sisteem te lei.
IDENTITEIT – ISRAEL (HUIS VAN EFRAIM)
Met my eerste tree op die Torah pad, het ek in aanraking gekom met die konflik oor identiteit. Ek was geleer dat ek nie eintlik ‘n heiden was nie, maar wel van die “Huis van Efraim” of ook bekend as die “Tien Stamme”. Ek sou eers jare later die ware vrug sien wat hierdie leerstelling sou voortbring in my lewe.
Die kerk het tradisioneel geglo dat dit Israel vervang/verplaas het, onderworpe aan ‘n leerstelling wat “Vervangings Teologie” genoem word. Die HWB se lering van die “Twee Huise” is inderdaad ‘n omgekeerde “Vervangings Teologie”, waar almal wat in Yeshua glo Israel word en nie die nasies in die vlees bly nie. In Efesiërs 2:11-22 en Romeine 11 verduidelik Paulus die eenheid in die Messias van Jood en nie-Jood, maar word tog hierdie Skrifte asook menigte ander verdraai om ‘n “Twee Huis” lering te staaf.
DIE EEN HUIS WORD TOE TWEE HUISE
“As ons sê dat ons Israel is, maar geen begeerte of poging wys om terug te gaan na ons beloofde land nie, dan bedrieg ons onsself”, het ek gereeld aan die gemeente gesê. Augustus 2014 het van ons gemeente se leierskap Israel toe vertrek om uit te vind hoe ons kon terugtrek Israel toe. Die uitkoms van ons ondersoek in Israel het daartoe gelei dat ons een moontlike weg terug land toe gesien het. Dit was in samewerking met Kol hator wat ons sou help proseliteer en Ortodokse Jode word. Hul raad was as volg: ” Verwerp net die Christen Jesus openlik voor die Rabbi’s, omdat julle eintlik in die Joodse Yeshua glo”.
Terug in Suid-Afrika was ons voorgestelde plan nie goed ontvang deur die ander leierskap nie, in Oktober 2014 was daar ‘n gemeente skeuring. Die meerderheid van die gemeente wou nie proseliteer nie. Saam myself en die hoof was daar ‘n klein groepie mense wat bereid was om hierdie pionier roeping aan te durf. “Die Twee Huise moet verenig word voor die wederkoms van Yeshua, sekerlik sal net ‘n oorblyfsel die werk kan voltooi”, het die hoof gesê.
LITTLE ISRAEL KIBBUTZ
Einde 2012 het die idee om ‘n Kibbutz (landbou gemeenskap) op te rig gekom vanaf die hoof van die gemeente. Ek het dit sterk ondersteun in my eie kapasiteit. In April 2014 het die Kibbutz vorm gekry op ‘n plot in Meyerton. Aanvanklik was die visie om ‘n Messiaanse sending gemeenskap op te rig vir jongmense. Dit het egter gou verander in ‘n Proseliteer Gemeenskap waar ons voorberei sou word vir ‘n Ortodokse leefwyse in Israel. Die sou plaasvind onder leiding van Kol hator se Rabbi Avraham Feld en Ovadyah Avrahami. Die visie was om as ‘n gemeenskap saam te proseliteer en Ortodokse Jode te word, sonder om Yeshua te verloën in die proses.
Ongelukkig in die volgende paar maande sou ek skeuring op skeuring beleef a.g.v. hierdie lering. Na ses maande aan die einde van Mei het ons die Kibbutz op Meyerton toegemaak, die eksperiment was dus ‘n flop.
Aan ‘n man wat partyskap verwek, moet jy jou onttrek ná die eerste en tweede vermaning, wetende dat so iemand op ‘n verkeerde pad is en sonde doen en selfveroordeeld staan.
WEER ‘N KEER OM DIE BERG…
Die voormalige hoof stel op daardie stadium toe voor ons begin ‘n nuwe bediening saam, weereens met die “Twee Huis” lering as ‘n fundamentele leerstelling. Ons het ‘n kerk gebou gehuur straatop van die vorige gemeente, “ons gaan die Handelinge se Sinagoge weer herstel” of so het ons gedink. Geen Lofprysing of aanbidding nie, maar eerder die Amida gebed soos dit in Sinagoges gebid was in die eerste eeu. Daar was bedien oor die Torah porsie, na die diens was daar ‘n uur en ‘n half se “Midrash” studie oor die spesifieke porsie.
As ‘n leier in ons gemeente, het ek ‘n opregte begeerte gehad om te sien hoe ons herstel word terug na die dae van die Handelinge gemeente, die wonders en tekens, die krag van die Gees en tot die verstaan van die eerste eeu se Joodse volgelinge van die Messias. Tog het dit nie gelyk asof ons enige vordering toon nie. Inteendeel ons het net meer intellektuele kennis vergader en geensins die krag of die vrugte gevind as bewyse nie. Êrens het ons iets gemis. Verskeie vrae het by my afgespeel – was daar dalk meer te verstaan van die Torah? Dalk meer Hebreeuse kennis wat ons benodig? Ons vrugte asook die demonstrasie van krag en glorie het dan nie vermeerder in gelyke verhouding met ons kennis nie.
Uiteindelik het die Here vir my en my vrou gewys, na ‘n reeks Goddelike gebeurtenisse in ons persoonlike lewens dat Hy ‘n nuwe seisoen vir ons beplan. Vroeg in Januarie 2016 het ons bedank uit die Messiaanse bediening waarby ons betrokke was. Ons Hemelse Vader roep ons terug na Sy Hart en so begin ons opnuut wandel in ‘n pad van intimiteit met ons Eerste Liefde.
Hebreeus is ‘n wonderlike taal, dit is voordelig om te gebruik en te verstaan in Bybelstudie. Die verstaan van die Ou en Nuwe Testament as een verhaal in geheel help gelowiges om die groter beeld van God se verlossings plan in te sien. Hoe Israel en die Kerk saam deel vorm van God se plan word duideliker wanneer mens die Joodse wortels asook die Hebreeuse aard van die Nuwe Testament verstaan.
Paulus waarsku dat “die kennis maak opgeblase, maar die liefde stig” 1 Kor. 8:1. Ongelukkig is Hoogmoed een van die duidelikste kenmerke van die HWB. Paulus word uitgemaak as ‘n valse apostel in baie groepies, omdat sy interpretasie van die Torah nie volgens hierdie groepies verstaan of aanvaar word nie. Paulus sê mos,
“hulle wil leraars van die wet wees, alhoewel hulle wat hulle sê, of die dinge wat hulle beslis beweer, nie verstaan nie.”
1 Timotheus 1:7
Wanneer die fokus verskuif word na kennis, sal hoogmoed volg, hoogmoed veroorsaak argumentasie, argumentasie lei na twis, waarvan die uiteinde skeuring en verdeeldheid van die Liggaam is. ‘n Huis wat verdeeld is, sal nie staande bly nie.
Henru Pieters binne Zichron Ya’aqov se Sinagoge, Augustus 2014.
Ek het self beleef hoe vriende van my uit die Sondag Kerk gaan, op soek na iets meer, in die HWB ingekom het vurig vir Jesus en die Bybel. ‘n Paar jaar later het ons vir hulle gaan kuier, glad nie bewus waarmee hulle tans besig was nie. Dit was op daardie punt wat ons onsself in ‘n leeukuil bevind het, hulle het Paulus ontbloot as ‘n valse apostel en ook bevind deur hul studies dat Jesus nie die Messias is nie en dat die Nuwe Testament ‘n onbetroubare bron is wat deur die Katolieke kerk verdraai is. Die hartseerste vir my was, dat hierdie nie die enigste gevalle was wat ek self teëgekom het nie.
“en elke gees wat nie bely dat Jesus Christus in die vlees gekom het nie, is nie uit God nie; en dit is die gees van die Antichris waarvan julle gehoor het dat hy kom, en hy is nou al in die wêreld.”
PAULUS EN DIE VALSE LERAARS
Ek staan tans met meer waardering vir Paulus se konstante worsteling met die Joodse leraars wat rondgegaan het en al die gelowiges onder die nasies geleer het dat hulle moet die Feeste, Sabbatte en die Torah onderhou. Paulus verwys kontant na hierdie broers as valse leraars Gal. 3:2, Kol. 2:4-23 en Fil. 3:1-7. Paulus het nooit wetteloosheid verkondig nie, maar hy het ‘n intieme wandel deur die Heilige Gees in reinheid en eenheid gepreek.
DIE GOD BOKSIE
Die mense wat gewoonlik die meeste sukkel met die Godsdienstige Gees, sal die eerstes wees wat die werke van God in ‘n boksie sit en geen ander manifestasie van God of werking sal aanvaar buite hul God boksie nie. Die kerk net na Jesus het ook gesukkel om te verstaan hoe God nog ‘n plan het met Israel, al het hulle die Messias verloën. Paulus skryf,
“O Diepte van die rykdom en wysheid en kennis van God! Hoe ondeurgrondelik is sy oordele en onnaspeurlik sy weë! Want wie het die gedagte van die Here geken, of wie was sy raadsman gewees? Of wie het eers iets aan Hom gegee, dat dit hom vergeld moet word? Want uit Hom en deur Hom en tot Hom is alle dinge. Syne is die heerlikheid tot in ewigheid. Amen.”
DIE FARISEËR GEES
Mattheüs 23 het Jesus die Fariseërs baie reguit aangespreek oor hul skynheiligheid en hul Godsdienstigheid. Wanneer die uiterlike meer beklemtoon word as die innerlike, word ruimte gegee vir ‘n Godsdienstige Gees om te seëvier. As ‘n sisteem, leerstelling of ‘n persoon, mense leer om afhanklik en vasgebind te word aan enige iets anders as aan Jesus, dan is dit die perfekte geleentheid vir die Godsdienstige Gees om kop uit te steek. Enige beheer wat uitgeoefen word oor mense a.g.v. ‘n leerstelling, kom uit ‘n Godsdienstige Gees.
Die elemente wat in die HWB die meeste op gefokus word, is onder andere;
Die Feeste van die Here, Shabbat, Kosher eet, Torah studie, Hebreeuse name, Tsitsit en Tallit (soms ook die Kippah) dra, baarde groei en om die korrekte Hebreeuse interpretasie van die Nuwe Testament te hê. Wat vir my skokkend was, is die feit dat ek mense gesien het wat al die bogenoemde beoefen het, maar geensins wedergebore was nie. Hulle het net een Godsdiens verruil vir ‘n ander, maar niemand om hulle kom egter agter dat hulle nog in die vlees is nie.
Foto: Henru Pieters, Augustus 2014 “First Aliyah Museum” Zichron Ya’aqov.
WAT SAL ONS DAN Sê?
Is alles dan verkeerd wat geleer of beoefen word in die HWB? Dit is een van die vrae wat ek gereeld gevra word. Nee, alles is nie verkeerd nie, daar is waarheid omtrent baie dinge, maar ongelukkig is meer waarheid nodig om ‘n sterker misleiding te hê. Die goeie kant van die Boom van Kennis, sal nooit lewe kan voortbring nie.
Die sterk misleiding in die HWB is dat die fokus nie bly by ‘n eenvoudige verhouding met Jesus nie, maar meer gekompliseerd word, tot op die punt dat die eenvoudige man op die straat nie die “Ware Evangelie” kan verstaan en gered kan word nie. Die fokus gly so stelselmatig na, kennis van die Woord asook die “regte name, kalender, gebruike, ens.”, dat iemand vir jare besig kan wees met dinge wat jou elke week verstom laat staan oor hoe “wonderlik” so en so is, maar dat jy nooit besef jou verhouding met Jesus is besig om tot niet te gaan nie.
Dit is nie meer ‘n geheim dat die tradisionele kerke begin leegloop nie, mense is op soek na meer, maar meer van wat? Ek glo ons almal is op soek na meer van die Here se teenwoordigheid, net soos Dawid gesê het;
“Een ding het ek van die HERE begeer, dit sal ek soek: dat ek al die dae van my lewe mag woon in die huis van die HERE, om die lieflikheid van die HERE te aanskou en te ondersoek in sy tempel”
Kennis van die Here, hoe wonderlik en diep Sy Woorde is. Om verstom en in bewondering te wees is sekerlik die naaste plaasvervanger vir die Here se teenwoordigheid. Met opregte harte en rein bedoelings soek mense na ‘n dieper verhouding met God, maar dan word hulle mislei deur mooipraatjies en die wysheid van mense, net om vasgevang te word in ‘n baie sterker en dieper strik.
Die demonstrasie van die Gees en van krag sê Paulus is waarmee ons die Evangelie moet bedien.
DIE HOOGSTE PRIORITEIT
Die vraag tans in my hart is dus: “Hoe sou hierdie fokus van die HWB opweeg in die Vervolgde Kerk”? Dit wat werklik die belangrikste is vir ‘n mens en wat ook vir God die hoogste prioriteit is, sal altyd jou verhouding met Hom wees. Ken jy Sy stem vandag? More is dalk te laat vir jou. Is jy bereid om vandag te sterf vir jou baie eenvoudige geloof in Jesus as jou verlosser?
Ons is nie in ‘n verhouding met ‘n boek nie, maar met ‘n Persoon. Die Bybel is ‘n wonderlike, kosbare boek, maar ons lees en studeer daarvan moet eindig by die Persoon van Jesus, nie by Godsdiens nie.
Vir meer inligting kontak Henru Pieters gerus by henru.pieters@gmail.com
Rabbi Avraham Feld en Ovadyah Avrahami stigters van Kol hator
Kol hator se diagram oor die evolusie van die Hebreeuse Wortels Beweging
May 2, 2016 heartofthefather.co.za
February 25, 2016 heartofthefather.co.za
Something that every person in their life faces constantly is conflict. Be it either with others or within themselves. This is especially prevalent in close relationships, more so in marriage. I believe God gave Carlo and me wisdom enough in this area to be of help to others. Carlo met me when I was still a young girl at school; needless to say he instantly fell in love. Of course he did, because he is just a stellar loving guy like that. While we were in the phase of getting to know one another we realised that we would rather sit and talk about the Word and things of God than any other subject. We shared our views on various subjects, and soon realised we were definitely likeminded when it comes to relationships and marriage. During one of these discussions Carlo and I were discussing the fact that many people find Christianity challenging, he then went on to say that if you struggle in a certain area of your Christianity, it is merely due to the fact that there is just too much of yourself to contend with, that it is not Christianity that is difficult, but YOU are being difficult. This to me was such a profound statement as it relates to every other area of our lives. If marriage is very difficult to you, it might just be that you are in your own way, and that the hindrance to peace is in fact your own selfish desires. Marriage, like Christianity, becomes difficult and confusing only when you are not getting what you want from the other person.
It is definitely true that every person has needs, and that we should communicate these needs to one another. But if you can only communicate your need to your spouse with an added pinch of threat or intimidation, you are in fact manipulating him instead of building a relationship. Your spouse is not there merely to supply your every need, to fulfil a role your heart has a yearning for, to out-do your parents, or give your more than they ever did. I feel the need to stress that although we have been taught since a young age to desire a knight in shining armour, and rightly so, our husbands cannot ever fulfil a role reserved only for God in His goodness. My husband is most definitely my hero, but can never be my Redeemer. Carlo has rescued me from many hardships, and he spared me many heartaches and disappointments. But God is and will always be my ultimate Saviour. In reality He is the only one who ultimately saves us from depression and disappointment. Misplaced trust leads to disappointment and hurt. We cannot let the performance of our spouse determine our measure of peace.
I think of how many times I have resented someone for not fulfilling some role I had expected, and the feelings I associate with those memories are hurt and anger. I believe I do not need to remind you that these are not thoughts and feelings inspired by God’s perspective of someone. I have resented my husband for not taking out the trash after he agreed to do so, and soon I found myself resenting him for much more than just an overflowing trash can. He rapidly evolved into a very noncompliant person in my opinion. Soon I was the girl burdened with the spouse who committed myriad indiscretions a day. Where previously I had been happy and content, I was now an embittered and unsatisfied mix of agitations. I can honestly say the poor guy couldn’t do one thing right. Of course when I put up with it and kept my suggestions to myself I felt like a supremely spiritual person for attaining taciturn discretion. I think so many times we create conflict and engage in arguments thinking it could result in peace. That fighting and having our say would smooth out the wrinkles of the situation. Although I’m an ardent believer in conflict resolution I am severely opposed to strife and fighting. Encouraging conflict creates an atmosphere conducive to manipulation and disempowerment. Getting angry at your spouse will never accomplish anything good. I’ve many times in my life felt the need to inform people that pointing out my mistakes won’t miraculously make me change my ways. Awareness of sin doesn’t necessarily eradicate it from our lives. James 1:20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. We think annoyance with sin in people does the work of the Word in their lives. Just discern whether you are in fact utilising the Word of God or your own words. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. When we approach unsuspecting people with a mouth-full we intend to lavish on them, it is most certainly due to a desire to be heard or acknowledged. James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice
Let me point out that in order for you to be right, your spouse becomes the wrong one. The issue with creating unhealthy conflict is that it empowers one person at the cost of another. When we do find ourselves with conflicting ideas or opinions it is really fine for both of you to be right. Yes, right. At the same time, in the same room, in the same lifetime. For real, I mean it. We need to eliminate the idea that only one person can be right at a given time. If your spouse’s opinion differs from yours, listen. Pay attention. Hear what is being said. Ponder. Respond (optional). Remember that using the time your spouse is talking to come up with an answer is not really considered listening at all.
God has boundaries
February 9, 2016 heartofthefather.co.za
Boundaries, simply put are limits you set up around you to for yourself and other people. There are healthy type of boundaries & unhealthy ones. I’d like to talk about the healthy ones since we are in Christ & believe on loving one another. We are not people who are in life just for ourselves and what we can get, our needs being met comes from God, not people or circumstances being in our favour, even though God does give us favour with people and blesses our circumstances too.
God also has boundaries. We know this from looking at the covenant relationships between God and man through the Bible. Without going into too many details we know that through every covenant there were rules made or promises. Every covenant was different, some would be based on promises and not rules like that of Abram and then another would be mainly rules like the covenant with Moses. I want to refer to the covenant of Moses as that shows us what huge boundaries look like & especially since Israel chose to have it this way.
Since it was a covenant that had so much rules & boundaries, it would show how easy people would break them & push them. This showed us if we had to comply with Gods boundaries & our own, what they would look like & what we would look like through Gods eyes.
Through the Old Testament we see God gets angry because people push the boundaries without thinking twice and then there are others who believed God and found favour in His sight. If I could say it in a different way, it’s like they listened to Him and were very considerate of who He is. This is relationship. You will always find favour by being considerate of someone’s heart even though you aren’t good with keeping the rules.
Somehow being considerate helps you understand the boundaries of another person. But God sends His Son who has the greatest consideration and understanding of His Fathers boundaries and walks in perfect relationship with Him and Jesus Christ makes a covenant with His Father. Now He invites us to be in Him so we look just like Jesus when the Father looks at us!
This doesn’t mean we become perfect law keepers, this means He comes into us & we are in Him and as we grow in Him we start seeing what the Father sees us as now and we grow in our understanding of who He is so we can become more like Him, because the new covenant boundaries only draw us closer.
So in our new covenant we have the healthiest boundary ever! Jesus! It only takes believing to have this boundary count to your absolute benefit & to His, since He gains a son or daughter who can be in relationship with Him. He doesn’t become angry now that the new covenant is established since you look like Jesus to Him. He will not force His boundaries on you, that’s why it remains healthy.
Even if someone rejects God, His boundaries toward that person is still open and healthy, the one doing the rejecting would be the one with unhealthy boundaries. Like I said, He will not force you. He loves you and invites you to be a son & daughter, accept Him as He accepts you, learn His heart toward you. Let your unhealthy boundaries go and accept the best One from Him, His name is Jesus. He made you & you were made for love, His love.
Any other love or acceptance should not affect your life except build you and grow you more in His love. You can depend on Him; let Him meet your need. We do something with His love though, since we abide in His Boundary, we give love away. We don’t take responsibility for other people’s unhealthy boundaries or insecurities. We live first for His kingdom & that is our priority, areas where we do not have influence, we need to move out of those, otherwise we step out of His Boundary which is Christ & we try be someone’s saviour. Even Christ who is the Saviour set Himself to be a healthy boundary for people to accept & find the Life that is in Him only or… keep their own boundaries that lead them on their own path void of life.
In His word, He has life for you, it is not a rulebook or a love letter, it’s all about relationship & you can learn from it to know the Fathers heart, never forget the Boundary(Jesus) when reading the word, otherwise you can read it with your own unhealthy boundaries and miss the life He has for you.
Why it is raining in South Africa
January 25, 2016 heartofthefather.co.za
The last 10 days it rained here in Gauteng and I’m really thankful for that, also the other areas that need it. A few days before it started to rain, there were “Facebook”videos and “posts” about why it has not rained and I felt in my heart to begin to thank Jesus for the rain and told it to come. Other people of faith started praying for rain as well and thanking God although there was no sign of rain coming. Just the day after that, the rain began to fall every day!
I would like to shed light on the idea that Christians have that a drought is because South Africa far from God and must be turn back or repent.
Also there are Old Testament and Old Covenant examples being used. Now I do not want to say much about it except that Christ is not used as an example, where the problem lies, because then the idea that God withheld rain is portrayed as in Old Testament times of drought and punishment is due to sin.
But! We are now in Christ and He is the will of God manifested! As the Father said, “This is My Son, listen to him!”
Jesus was in the boat with the disciples and the storm was wild and they feared for their lives, but Jesus was sleeping! They awoke him and asked Him: don’t You care that we perish? Jesus gave the answer: Why are you afraid? As if they should not be afraid? Then He said to the storm to be still and it was so!
In today’s time and in some Christian movements Jesus’ story in the boat will look different. Jesus would wake up and make his disciples immediately aware of their sin and how they are just like Jonah who made wrong decision and that it is God who caused the storm & now God was waiting for them to turn back and repent.
But it’s not how it turned out, even with Judas that would betray him. Jesus still says: why are “you” afraid? He also speaks to storm as if it was not the Father who sent the storm.
What I want to say today is that it is not God that withholds things and He isn’t waiting to do something until everyone is converted. Yes we need to come to the full realization of God’s Kingdom as the word “Repent” means in Matthew 4:17 to change our minds because the kingdom is at hand. Also yes, you have to accept God’s forgiveness and so we can live in it.
Who are we today? God’s people? His children? Interestingly by Jesus’ example, we see He said we are going to do what He did and more! But if we ourselves still stay in an Old covenant perspective, we will feel that we are not worthy and can only hope that God will have mercy on us.
See in the Old Covenant the people had to keep the covenant rules like contract and if they had broken the rules, God would keep His part of the contract which entailed punishment. Also the nation had to make sacrifices for their sins and because they have broken the covenant rules but it never lasted because their sacrifices was not able to make them free and they were aware of their sinful nature.
Here in the new covenant, we have Jesus, who kept the covenant perfectly and did not sin, but He made the new covenant with the Father, we did not. Finally, He became the perfect sacrifice for us and He took His blood to the heavens itself. it’s in Hebrews 9.
24: For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:25: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;26 : For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
So when we are in Christ we have no reason to feel guilty, because the perfect sacrifice was made, there is no punishment waiting for us because we live now in Him. In the new covenant we are in Christ and so He gave us a new nature when we change our minds to His kingdom and rule here because He is now within us!
Jesus comes and says He is the first born among many brethren and we are those brothers! But why was there a storm while Jesus was in the boat? Because the enemy really exists too, but we have power through Christ to tell him what to do as Jesus did with the storm. It’s in Romans 8 v 28-34
28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.30: Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?32: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?33: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.34: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Why do all things work together for Good? Because He is for us & we who are in Christ are being formed in His image. Therefore we are talking to the storm and the storm has to listen. Now we can talk to the weather and tell the rain to come! We are no longer sinners, but we are sons and daughters of our Father.
Hoekom dit nou reën in Suid Afrika
January 20, 2016 heartofthefather.co.za
Die laaste 10 dae reën dit so lekker hier in Gauteng en eks regtig dankbaar teenoor die Vader daaroor, ook vir die ander areas wat dit so nodig het. ‘n Paar dae voor dit so gereën het was daar op “Facebook”
video’s en posts oor hoekom dit nie reën nie en toe voel ek om te begin dankie sê vir Jesus vir die reën en dit beveel om te kom. Ander persone van geloof het ook so begin net bid vir reën en dankie se alhoewel daar geen teken was van reën wat kom nie. Net die dag daarna het die reën begin val elke dag!
Wat ek graag wil by uitkom is die idee wat Christene kwyt raak dat daar droogte is omdat Suid Afrika ver van God af is en moet terug draai of moet bekeer word(die bekeer is gewoonlik
dat mense hulle lewens vir God moet gee)
Ook word daar Ou testament en Ou verbond voorbeelde gebruik. Nou daarin wil ek nie veel se behalwe dat Christus nie as voorbeeld gebruik word nie, waarin die probleem lê, want dan word die idee dat God reën weerhou mooi uitgebeeld word soos in Ou Testament tye van droogte en straf a.g.v sonde.
Maar! Ons is nou in Christus en Hy is die wil van God wat aan ons gemanifesteer het! Soos die Vader gesê het : “Hierdie is My Seun, Luister na Hom!”
Ek het so gedink aan Jesus in die boot saam met die dissipels en die storm was woes en hulle het gevrees vir hul lewens, maar Jesus slaap! Hulle maak Hom wakker en se vir hom gee U nie om dat ons vergaan nie. Jesus gee die antwoord : Hoekom is julle bang? Asof hulle nie moes bang wees nie? Toe se Hy vir die storm om stil te word en dit was so!
In vandag se tyd en in sekere Christelike bewegings sal Jesus se storie in die boot anders gelyk het. Jesus sou wakker word en vir Sy dissipels dadelik bewus gemaak het van hul sonde en hoe hulle nou net soos Jona is wat verkeerde besluit gemaak het en dat dit God is wat die storms veroorsaak het, waar God net wag dat hulle moet terug draai en hulleself bekeer.
Maar dis tog nie hoe dit uitgedraai het nie, met Judas wat Hom gaan verraai vra Jesus nog steeds: hoekom is “julle” bang? Ook praat Hy met die storm asof dit nie Sy Vader is wat die storm gestuur
Wat ek wil se vandag is dat dit nie God is wat dinge weerhou nie en Hy ook nie eers iets doen wanner mense almal bekeer is nie. Ja ons moet tot volle realiteit kom van God se Koninkryk soos die woord “Bekeer” beteken in Mat 4:17 om ons gedagtes te verander want die koninkryk het naby gekom. Ook ja mens moet God se vergifnis aanvaar en so kan ons daarin leef.
Wie is ons vandag? God se volk? Sy kinders? Wat interessant is as ons dit deur Jesus se voorbeeld kyk dan sien ons Hy gesê ons gaan kan doen wat Hy doen en meer! Maar as ons onsself nog in ‘n Ou
verbond perspektief plaas is ons nie waardig en kan net hoop dat God ons genadig sal wees.
Sien in die Ou verbond moes die volk die verbond se reëls hou soos ‘n kontrak en as hulle dit gebreek het moes God Sy deel van die kontrak nakom wat straf ingehou het. Dan ook moes die volk offers maak vir hulle sonde en dat hulle die verbond se reëls gebreek het maar dit het nooit gehou nie want hulle offer was nie waardig om hulle vry te maak nie en hulle was net bewus van hulle sondige natuur.
Hier in die nuwe verbond het ons Jesus wat die verbond perfek gehou het en nie gesondig het nie, ook het Hy nuwe verbond gemaak met die Vader, nie ons nie. Laastens het Hy die perfekte offer geword vir ons en Hy het Sy bloed tot in die hemele gevat en daar die offer gemaak se dit in Hebreërs 9.
24:Christus het nie ingegaan in ‘n heiligdom wat deur mense gemaak is en net ‘n namaaksel van die ware is nie. Nee, Hy het in die hemel self ingegaan om nou ter wille van ons voor God te verskyn. 25:Hy het nie ingegaan om Homself herhaaldelik te offer nie, soos die hoëpriester elke jaar die Allerheiligste binnegaan met bloed wat nie sy eie is nie. 26:Dan sou Christus immers herhaaldelik moes gely het, reeds van die skepping van die wêreld af. Maar nou het Hy net een keer in die voleinding van die tye verskyn om deur sy offer die sonde weg te neem.
So wanner ons in Christus is het ons nie rede om skuldig te voel nie want die perfekte offer was gemaak, daar wag nie straf vir ons nie want ons lewe is nou in Hom.Ons is in die nuwe verbond want ons is in Christus en so het Hy ons ‘n nuwe natuur ook gegee wanner ons ons gedagtes verander na Sy koninkryk wat Heers en hier is want Hy is nou binne ons!
Jesus kom en se Hy is die eerste geborene tussen baie broers en daai broers is ons! Maar nou hoekom het die storm gekom terwyl Jesus dan in die boot was? Want die vyand bestaan regtig ook, maar ons het gesag deur Christus om vir hom te se wat om te doen soos Jesus met die storm. Dit se in Romeine 8 v 28-34
28:Ons weet dat God alles ten goede laat meewerk vir dié wat Hom liefhet, dié wat volgens sy besluit geroep is. 29:Dié wat Hy lank tevore verkies het, het Hy ook bestem om gelykvormig te wees aan die beeld van sy Seun, sodat sy Seun baie broers kan hê van wie Hy die Eerste is. 30:Dié wat Hy daartoe bestem het, het Hy ook geroep. En dié wat Hy geroep het, het Hy ook vrygespreek. En dié wat Hy vrygespreek het, het Hy ook verheerlik. Niks kan ons van die liefde van Christus skei nie 31:Wat is nou ons gevolgtrekking oor al hierdie dinge? Dít: God is vír ons, wie kan dan teen ons wees? 32:Hy het sy eie Seun nie gespaar nie, maar Hom oorgelewer om ons almal te red. Sal Hy ons dan nie al die ander dinge saam met Hom uit genade skenk nie? 33:Wie kan die uitverkorenes van God aankla? God self spreek hulle vry. 34:Wie kan ons veroordeel? Christus Jesus het gesterf, maar meer as dit: Hy is uit die dood opgewek, Hy sit aan die regterhand van God, Hy pleit vir ons.
Hoekom werk dinge ten Goede? Want ons wat in Christus is sal dinge te goede meewerk omdat Hy vir ons is en omdat Hy ons vorm in Sy beeld. Daarom praat ons met die storm en die storm moet luister. Daarom praat ons met die weer en se reën, kom! Ons is nie meer sondaars nie ,maar ons is seuns en dogters van ons vader.
Jesus het jou lief en daar is niks wat jy daaromtrent kan doen nie.
January 11, 2016 heartofthefather.co.za
The two questions you want to ask in your life are these two :
Who is God to me? & Who am I to God?
The way people answer these two will always be the frame in which their belief system is built.
These two questions always stay in my mind when I speak to anyone about God, because it helps me see what they need to hear to be encouraged to have more of God in their life.
We answer the first question, maybe, with a God that is judgmental & wants to punish us, then we end up with a bad idea for an answer to the second question. It only leaves us with little hope & maybe some mercy because what God is says a lot about us & what our destiny looks like.
This leaves the door open to a lot of feelings that will take us spiralling down fast & ultimately shipwreck our faith.
Now “Karma” and “the wheel turning” also makes sense when we feel like we have been wronged. So God must be the one instigating “Bad karma” or making “the wheel” to turn on people for their deeds.
While none of that is in the Bible, people do dig their own pits & fall into them while God has no part in that process except to lead someone to come help them out of that pit or be the voice telling them to stay away from certain things that would hurt them.
But aren’t we simply living Gods plan that He laid out for us? Not necessarily. See love doesn’t force you, it lets you choose. God is love. You can walk in His plan or another plan. God wants to walk with you & you to walk with Him. But for you to walk with Him you need to know His heart & His heart towards you is so good. Think on some words that describe God. Merciful, full of grace, giver of life, Father, Love! That is just a few simple examples of our God. Now if that is who He is to us, then who are we to Him? One’s who obtained mercy, received grace, have His life in us, sons & daughters of the Father, we live in His love.
If we have the wrong idea about God, we will miss His plan & will live a life less than what He intended for us. Today, see yourself in His eyes, from His perspective, through His heart. This turns our hearts to thankfulness & not blame. We do not need to be victims when God made us to be more than conquerors.
I would like to hear your thoughts on this. feel free to send a message to heartofthefather through the contact page.
October 5, 2015 heartofthefather.co.za
Local Village Gauteng
Carlo with the kids
One of the great testimonies we got is this lady called “Therisa” that had a very bad face condition for almost two years. She went to go wash her face after receiving prayer last week Sunday.It just started coming off of my face she said & she is so happy that her face got healed & she is praising God today with us