Ask whatever you will…

Yesterday evening Kobus had a very interesting sermon – to be filled up with the Word of God.

One of the Scriptures he used is one of those that I have always wandered about:

John 15:7b(AMP)

…ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

If the Bible says, we can ask whatever we will, and it shall be done, why is it that we sometimes ask some things, and it is not done…?

The problem with this Scripture, like many others, is that it is read out of context. The beginning of this Scripture it vital to the understanding:

John 15:7(AMP)

⁷If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

You have to live in Him and His Words need to live in your heart!

You might say: “Well, I am in Him and I read His Word! Now I can ask whatever I want to!”

The way you will know that you are in Him and His Words live in your heart, is that your prayers will be in alignment with His will. You will not ask anything that is not His will, because you will pray according to His Word! You will pray out of your heart, and your heart will be full of the Word of God!

How do you live in Him? By asking Him to dwell inside of you through His Spirit!

How does His Words remain and continue to live in you? By reading the Word of God daily and allowing the Word into your heart!

Live and remain in Him and His Word! Then you will be able to ask according to His will, and it will be done for you!

Shalom!

Kobus & Anina

A little book that speaks

Do you believe that God can use anyone to speak through?

Yesterday I told you about the lady that has very little in life, but she was so thankful about her new job and small wooden home, that she gave us a little inspirational book, to show God her gratitude!

The little book is about the well-known “Footprints”:

Although these words are familiar to us, God used it to speak to us, God said to us through this little book: “I AM carrying you My children!”

Even if you are in fulltime ministry, you sometimes need to hear words like these! It is just so much more special if the message comes in a special way!

God can use anything or anyone to get a message to you. In our case, a woman who seemingly has nothing was the messenger from God. Although she gave a little book, God changed it in a message!

Are you missing a message from God through a seemingly unimportant person or gift?

Or maybe you need to give a “little book” that will give a message to someone else!

God is alive and well. He speaks to His children – you just need to listen to the hidden messages that He brings through people and things you don’t expect it from!

Shalom!

Kobus & Anina

A thank you that touched the heart!

To work among people that are poor is not always easy, but we have learned that the rewards you receive make it all the worthwhile. This past Sunday was one of those days that makes it worthwhile!

We have been praying for one of our ladies that did not have a job and sometimes even stayed on street. Sunday she came to us and testified that she got a job and a “Wendy” (a small wooden house, +/- 3 meter by 4 meter). She was extremely excited about her new “home”!

She wanted to thank us for our prayers and support and from her pocket she took out a small little book… A lady that owns almost nothing gave us one of her little inspirational books! She wanted to give something to show her gratitude towards God!

My heart was touched deeply and it made me think about the ten lepers in Luke 17 that cried with one voice to Jesus to heal them. Jesus heard them and responded with a simple command, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” On their way to show themselves to the priests, they were healed! People that once were required by law to always keep their distance, and if they would come near clean people, they were required to shout out “Unclean! Unclean!”

I can just imagine the joy and excitement of these 10 men. One however, a Samaritan stopped and returned to Jesus, falling to his knees, thanking Him for his healing!

Jesus had two reactions to the Samaritan at his feet. The first was that He wondered where the other 9 were. “Weren’t there 10 of you?” he asked. “Where are the others?” “Weren’t they made clean too?” It was as if Jesus expected all of them to return to say thank you!

Sometimes we take the blessings like a house to live in, for granted and we only appreciate it more when we don’t have it anymore. We have so much to be thankful about!

When last did you say thank you? Sometimes you need to stop and turn around to give a word of thanks like the leper. Sometimes you need to give something, even if you only have a little, to show your gratitude!

Tomorrow I’ll tell you what the little book is all about!

Shalom!

Kobus & Anina

Bible freedom

The Bible is God’s revelation of His heart to His children. There is not a book in the world that is more inspiring, uplifting and full of truth than this Book!

Since the beginning of this year, we have been motivating the people of our congregation to really get into the Word of God! Reading through the Bible in one year, studying and meditating on Scripture!

We however realized that there is a difference between reading the Bible under law and reading the Bible under grace!

What exactly do I mean by this? Some people started to read the Bible because they felt they had to, thus operating under the law. Thinking they must read the Bible to please God, feeling guilty if they missed one day of Bible reading. It became an obligation that brought condemnation.

Whereas under grace, Bible reading is something you do because you want to read His Word. Not because you want to please Him, but because you want to know this wonderful God better. It gives you a feeling of liberation and the result is life and joy!

Galatians 5:1(AMP) says:

 ¹IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].

Stand fast in your freedom. Let the study of God’s Word bring you freedom. Read it because you want to read it. I promise the more you read it, the more you will want to read it!

Shalom!

Kobus & Anina

Barefoot Christian

 

Romans 16:20(NIV)

 ²⁰ The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet…

Satan is defeated, but he still roams like a roaring lion, trying to deceive and destroy us. The Word however says that God will crush him under our feet.

Are you crushing satan under your feet? Be careful not to do it with bare feet!

Sunday we reflected again on the prodigal son. We focused on the sandals that the father gave him. It is interesting to note that in those days slaves did not wear shoes. God showed us that in our congregation there is still allot of Christians with bare feet! People who still have a slave mentality and has not yet put on their spiritual shoes of sonship!

Shoes are there to protect and keep warm. A slave and a son that will walk the same road will have different experiences. The son will walk upon thorns and stones, but will not feel the pain. A slave on the other hand will feel every thorn and sharp stone, this will make him complain and question the pain and ultimately question God’s goodness!

Never attempt to crush the devil under your feet without your spiritual shoes! Decide today to put on the shoes that come from your Father:

Ephesians 6:15(NLT)

¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

It is God’s peace on your feet that will destroy the devil! Get His peace on your feet and satan will be crushed in your life!

Shalom!

Kobua & Anina

Salem Danville

How I know God is real

This morning at our prayer and care group, the following question was asked: “Why do you believe what you believe?”

What would your answer be? If you believe that God is the Creator of heaven and earth and that Jesus Christ is His Son, why do you believe this?

Many people believe out of tradition. Others believe because they are afraid to go to hell. Most people are however unable to answer why they actually believe in God.

While we were discussing this, one of the ladies stood up and said: “I believe, because a few months ago I used alcohol from morning till night, I was depressed and angry! But one Sunday at the church, I decided to invite God back into my life. Since then everything changed, neither my husband nor myself are using any alcohol and we are free!”

There are many reasons why I believe in God, but the realness of God is the most tangible for me in the way He changes people. People down and out, touched by His grace, transformed from nobodies, to somebodies in Jesus. Victims that testify of victories! Misery changed into a Message!

People cannot change in this way by themselves. Only God, through His touch, can radically change people. This makes our God a real God!

If you need some change, open your heart to the real God, He will truly change you!

Shalom!

Kobus en Anina

Spiritual victory

This Sunday we had the most amazing services! The Him Team blessed us with worship out of heaven.

While we were worshipping, I looked at the precious people of our congregation. Despite their circumstances, their hands were in the air, giving it all to their King. Most of them are without work and live with just the bare necessities.

At that moment I was reminded of Jehoshaphat and his singing men:

2 Chronicles 20:21-22(NIV)

²¹ After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

   “Give thanks to the LORD,
   for his love endures forever.”

 ²² As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.

If we could see into the spirit when we worship, I think we will worship more! Through our praise, the Lord set up an ambush against our enemies!

Thank you Johan, Corli and your whole team, for leading us into spiritual victory!

Shalom!

Kobus & Anina Homan