This great gospel has the most awesome origin and the most triumphant conclusion. In [...]]]> Jesus once said: “My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I’m going.” An understanding of our origin and final destiny has a greater influence on our ‘now’ – our present experience – than anything else.

This great gospel has the most awesome origin and the most triumphant conclusion. In the beginning, before creation, before time as we experience it, before the existence of evil, the God who is love planned to share this love with beings created in His image and likeness. This God, who is all-knowing and able to accomplish all of His purposes, planned a love-affair that would span over eons and conclude with a final victory in which His love conquered all – no contradiction; no evil, for death will die. This gospel is not some new idea, but the ancient, original thought of God. The truth of this message is ever fresh as it finds resonance in us.

John, realising the ancient beginning of this message wrote: “Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command, but an old command that you have had from the beginning”. But he also realised that this truth remains fresh and current as it finds confirmation in our lives, and so he wrote: “On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both Christ and you—the darkness on its way out and the True Light already blazing!”

http://hearhim.net/wordpress/

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Hi A & M and others,

It was such a lovely weekend with you all – I loved seeing old faces [...]]]> Thank you all for making the weekend so significant. Discovering the wonders of Christ and the reflection of our own identity in Him is what our fellowship is all about. (Andre & Mary-Anne)

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Hi A & M and others,

It was such a lovely weekend with you all – I loved seeing old faces and meeting new – and such an encouraging time of just hanging out with the Truth, I came away feeling like this life is easy and light when you just look at things from God’s perspective.

Really enjoyed spending time just chatting around the fundamental things of Christ, who He is and who He says we are – Andre you were a real blessing sharing and reminding us of our position in the Word, before the foundations of time!! All the truths about His heart for us, particularly the one this morning about not trying to achieve his good favour by our behaviour but realising he is already impressed with us so we’re inspired to be impressive…! So many positive things came out of the weekend – thanks again for highlighting ‘all the good stuff’… we can never get enough of it.

Have a wonderful week everybody, enjoy the sunshine, hope to see some more of your faces again soon )

Abs

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Jesus blew our definitions apart … and still does.
Jesus simply did not fit the religious expectations … and [...]]]> “We don’t label people like we used to, with our handy pre-printed tags. We even tried doing this with Jesus, but He blew our definitions apart” 2 Cor 5:16 (The Word on the street translation)

Jesus blew our definitions apart … and still does.
Jesus simply did not fit the religious expectations … and still doesn’t.
He did not qualify for any of the official religious positions that were available … yet God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every other name. His background was a bit dodgy, too dodgy for some to associate with Him … yet before Abraham was, He is. His authority was questioned because He did not submit Himself under the ‘covering’ of any of the groups of His day … yet the Father acknowledged Him and that was all the recognition He needed. The religious structures of His day could not contain Him … and still He does not dwell in temples or organisations made by human hands.

If there was anyone who should have recognized who Jesus really was, it should have been those who dedicated their lives to the study of the prophetic scriptures … yet, being absorbed in interpreting the past and defining their future hope, they missed the present – the greatest event that occurred right in front of their eyes.

John 5:39 “You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me!

How many precious believers are stuck in the same trap today – refining their doctrine; neutralized by a future expectation that contributes nothing to their present encounter with God.

When John wrote the letter we know as 1John, he does not muse on the days gone past, those awesome days when Christ was still in the flesh with them. No. He overflows with excitement about an experience that is present and available to all. He is the same one who wrote: “There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I can’t imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books.” (John 21:25) One would have imagined that he would have spend the rest of his life recording these words and deeds – I mean these are the words and deeds of God manifested in the flesh! Yet, he doesn’t! He discovers a greater message than just recording historic facts – introducing his audience into a living present encounter with I AM. (Not ‘I used to be’, or ‘I will be’). He discovered the God who blows our definitions, our doctrines and our structures apart.

There is only one definition of man – Christ
All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ. Col 3:9 MSG

…until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. Eph 4:13

I think it’s time that we blow every other definition apart! I think it’s time for us to see from His point of view.

The Bible points to a reality greater than itself. Jesus said: You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, John 5:39,40.  There [...]]]> by Dawie Blake

The Bible points to a reality greater than itself. Jesus said: You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, John 5:39,40.  There is value to be discovered in the scriptures far beyond ‘right’ information. The pages within the Bible are like a mine… as you delve into it, you find the gold. Many people unfortunately read the Bible as a mere instruction book, and what should bring life, instead brings confusion, condemnation and even things like disunity, pride etc… in short spiritual death. More people have been confused and side-tracked by the Bible than any other book. Dearly beloved, it is not an instruction book!

The message of the Bible stands between the lines. Its message is very simple and Paul warns that you should not be deceived from it’s simplicity. As you ponder the history and people and events within, your eyes open to the message that runs throughout – God’s original thought for man restored successfully in Christ. This is the gold the human spirit is nourished by; the rest gives it context. This thought of God could never perfectly be communicated or understood, except through the manifestation of His Son, Jesus Christ. “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but You have prepared a body for Me, to do Your will”. In the last days God spoke to us in His Son…

Everyone just loves the story in which He came to earth; not with flashing lightning and trumpets and power that would bring all men to their knees, but he came as a baby born in a stable so that the very least of us (from a human point of view) could identify with Him. He wasn’t after awe and fear because that alone doesn’t nurture fellowship, but distance. He was after our identification with Him, His original thought of likeness restored in man’s own mind. “I came to do Your will, O God” (Heb 10:7).

He referred to Himself as the “son of man” – he was saying hereby “I am like you”. In another instance the glory of the son of God/man is manifested on the mountain and God the Father refers to Him as: “… my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him”. Peter writes saying that in this we have the message of God to mankind confirmed, namely the son of man is the son of God! He writes “you will do well to heed this word as a light that shines in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your own heart!”

In the next verse he continues saying “knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation”… Jesus didn’t come to display his unique glory, but to reveal man’s – the revelation of the glory of the Son of God was the revelation of the glory (doxa) of the son of man!

Just think about it for a moment. This amazing God with infinite ability and love – we can only expect the most wonderful things pertaining to Life in great capital letters from Him! Eph 1:3, Eph 3:19. Rom 8:32. Mat 7:11, Mark 1:40-41. Joyful fellowship with Him, His great desire, is restored when we see and know ourselves as He sees and knows and enjoys us – we are after all the product of the success of the cross. Paul’s prayer is that we may see as He does Eph 1:17-18.

Jesus quotes Ps 82 to the Pharisees who were offended by a “common” man (Jesus) identifying himself with God. Ps 82 is a fascinating portion of scripture!

In a beautiful and sinless world of absolute completeness and perfection created by God and restored through the cross, righteousness is not there to point out the wrongs and condemn the doers, but to restore order by making the blind see the truth about their identity. It is a simple but powerful gospel for it restores the source of life. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he”.

Ps 82:2 – “How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” … in other words, how long will you continue to live twisted lives, void of righteousness?

Ps 82:3-4 “Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked.” … these are the things God desires… but why does man not walk this way?…

Ps 82:5 – “They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are unstable.”

Ps 82:6 – “I said, ‘You are gods (elohim – the same word used in Gen 1:26: ‘And Elohim said let us make man in our image, after our likeness…’) and all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like mere men, and fall like one of the princes.”

While man does not know and understand who they are and where they come from, they are in darkness and as rulers they cause chaos in this world – its very foundations are threatened by the fruit of the lies they live. They were made vessels of the very glory, image and likeness of God, but without knowing this, they die like mere men and fall like those who strive in the strength of the flesh. So what is God’s message to these: “I said, ‘You are gods and all of you are children of the Most High.’”

The gospel is a call to sanity, to share God’s insight, to walk with our eyes open to the truth. There is only hurt, confusion, pride etc. etc. in darkness but as David says (Ps 17), “I will be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness!”

When God made this beautiful world and everything in it, He used His boundless creativity and intellect. But when He made you, He looked at Himself and made a copy… We can also say He didn’t make you, you were born from Him to be as He is. Therefore He is the blueprint of you, the mirror-image.

It is the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but now has been made known…. “Christ in you the hope of glory!”
He came as the light of the world that all may see… there is so much in this statement!
I am the Way the Truth and the Life – once again, we can write books about this statement!

In the spirit of man there is a yearning that no earthly thing will ever satisfy – except the knowledge of their inner identity – the knowledge of Christ. This knowledge bursts over into sweet fellowship with God and man, which is His original thought in action.

If you read the Bible in any other way, you will miss the point. Paul says what gain he had from his religious instruction, he counts it all dung! Why? For the all surpassing excellence of the knowledge of Christ! The Gold is God’s original thought, fully expressed in His Son, found in your spirit identity. Read the Bible as a mine for this Gold.

1Jo 1:2-4 For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us; That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

There are truths which remain true whether you believe them or not. Paul understood this and wrote ‘for we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth‘ (2 Cor 13:8)In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God did something for and with mankind that [...]]]> We can do nothing against the truth

There are truths which remain true whether you believe them or not. Paul understood this and wrote ‘for we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth‘ (2 Cor 13:8)In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God did something for and with mankind that is immutable – not subject or susceptible to change or variation in form or quality or nature. The success of what He accomplished is unchallenged, unaffected by unbelief. In Christ God removed every obstacle and hindrance that stood between Himself and man. He dealt with sin – all sin of all people. He invalidated guilt – it has no foundation. These are things He did for us, whether we are aware of it or not. But He also did something with us – in His death, we died. In His resurrection we were elevated to a new position of blameless innocence before God. “There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge.“ (1 Cor 1:5 MSG) These things do not become true when you believe them – they are true even if you are unaware of them. Even if no-one believed, the truth about man and God would remain true. “What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all!” (Rom 3:3)
Fully persuaded

So if the truth remains truth no matter what I believe, does my faith really matter? Absolutely yes, in every way. We only experience the benefit of truth as we embrace it. “For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said” (Heb 4:2) The truth has no value for you individually, if it is not combined with faith. Paul wrote about the ‘wealth’ or ‘riches’ of being fully persuaded (Col 2:2) There is a richness of life, a rest of satisfaction, an abundance of contentment, that is only found in being fully persuaded.

Falling in love
Faith is so much more than correct information … as much as falling in love is more than knowing the facts about another person. When I met Mary-Anne, I did not not even know how to spell her name, her date of birth or background, but that did not stop my heart from responding with a ‘wow’. When a beautiful landscape appears before me, I instantly respond with appreciation without needing facts and figures. Faith is such a gift – its an instant response when encountering God. Whenever He reveals Himself we automatically respond with awe and adoration. Seeing what He sees causes us to believe what He believes. It is so much more than the pathetic ‘Statements Of Faith’ that some organisations publish. I’m so glad that neither Jesus nor Paul ever wrote a ‘Statement of Faith’ – they knew that the adoration they had in response to the beauty of the Father could never be reduced to a set of principles or neatly categorised into a doctrine. All we could ever hope to express is an introduction, an invitation for others to see what we see.

For the truth
‘for we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth‘ (2 Cor 13:8) Although we can do nothing against the truth, we can do something for it! We can allow it to have its full effect in us and through us. We can draw the maximum value and benefit from it as we combine it with faith, allowing God to persuade us fully as He is persuaded. 1Cor 1: 6 speaks about the testimony of Christ that has been confirmed in us.
Why do you think Paul, knowing that we can do nothing against the truth, would still risk his life and endure agonising persecution and torture for the sake of making this truth known. Well, we don’t have to guess, he wrote about his motivation. “For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: if One died for all, then all died. And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.” (2 Cor 5:14,15) Paul reached a conclusion – the conclusion that, what Christ accomplished, included all mankind … yet the full implication of this truth, the benefit of this truth still eluded the masses because of ignorance. The desire for others to enjoy the full benefit of these immutable truths, drove him to make this truth known as accurately as possible.
So what can we do for the truth? We can allow it to have its full effect in and through us. Allow the testimony of Christ to be confirmed in you. We do this as we continue to live in awe at the revelation brought to us through Jesus Christ. We do this as we allow our enjoyment of Him to overflow into loving others – a love that compels us to live for more than just ourselves.
The full value and benefit of the truth will be realized. He is not pressed by time or impatient to draw all men to Himself – He has all eternity to show us the full value and benefit of what He accomplished on our behalf “so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” until “all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father” (Eph 2:7; Phil 2:10,11)
We have the privilege of being co-workers with Him. You can read more about witnessing for Christ in an article called ‘Are-you-qualified-to-share-christ?‘

Download this article as a pdf.

Maar vir die wat die hemelse taal kan verstaan, geniet die brief van Leon en Jacobi

Apologies to those who do not not understand Afrikaans – just ignore … or better yet, forward this to any friend who does understand Afrikaans. I can assure you it will be of great value to them.

Maar vir die wat die hemelse taal kan verstaan, geniet die brief van Leon en Jacobi

Dierbare Vriende

Kommunikasie is so belangrik.  Alles wat God in Jesus gedoen het was om alles uit die weg te ruim wat ons kommunikasie met Hom onmoontlik gemaak het. Christus het werklik alle afstand uitgewis en vir ons teruggebring na die plek waar ons vandaan kom – die enigste plek waar ons tuis is en volkome rus en vervulling kan beleef vir tyd en ewigheid.  Wat ‘n voorreg, Vader se huis in ons tuiste!!!  Dit is ook ons boodskap, God se Goeie Tyding, vir elke mens op aarde!  Dis ons grootste voorreg om in hierdie lewe hierdie boodskap, hierdie Jesus Christus, aan mense voor te stel.  Dis heerlik en wonderlik en nie ‘n groot moeilike offer wat ons moet bring nie!  God se Seun het die offer gebring waardeur die wereld met Vader versoen is.   Om ons liggame as lewende offer vir HOM te gee – om vir HOM te lewe wat vir ons gesterf het, is die grootste eer en seen wat daar ooit kan wees.  SY wil is ‘goed, welgevallig en volmaak’! 

Ons verstaan almeer die betekenis van Jesus se woorde – “julle sal krag (in Grieks,‘dunamis’) ontvang wanneer die Heilige Gees oor julle kom…”.  Jesus se belofte vir sy dissipels het in vervulling gegaan.  Die koms van die Helige Gees het die “beter” dimensie, die Nuwe Verbond dimensie, kom werklikheid maak!  Christus was nie net meer ‘n fisiese wonderlike Messias by hulle nie, maar, deur SY Gees het HY en VADER IN hulle kom woon!  Wanneer die Heilige Gees ons vul, getuig Hy van Christus. Hy verheerlik Hom en lei ons in die hele waarheid.  Van binne af word ons versterk en Christus Self neem gestalte in ‘n mens en van binne af vloei lewe uit. Van binne af skyn die lig buitentoe. Van binne af werk SY liefde en niks kan standhou voor SY liefde nie!!  Omstandighede verloor seggenskap, want HY wat in ons is, is die opstanding en die lewe! HY wat in ons is is groter as alles wat in die wereld is! Elke opinie, elke gesag en elke invloed van buite moet die knie buig voor HOM aan wie alle gesag in hemel en op aarde behoort.  Christus is IN ONS en ons is IN HOM!  HY is ons lewe en NIKS kan ons skei van SY liefde nie!   SY teenwoordigheid is konstant en kragtig.  Berge smelt sommer!!!   Spontane getuienis is so heerlik. Lewe is spontaan!   Die vrug van die GEES is so pragtig en smaaklik!   Die boom swoeg en sweet nie om vrug te dra nie – die boom geniet dit wat hy ontvang deur sy wortels en die vrug is nie bedoel vir die boom nie, maar vir honger mense!   

Ek skryf hierdie dinge ook sommer so spontaan – want alles wat hier gebeur is die vrug van Christus se sukses.  Ons is maar net getuies van HOM!  Wat ‘n lekkerte!  Christus is so ‘n pragtige en kragtige Koning!  Die karakter van Sy koninkryk is wonderlik – geregtigheid: volkome liefde-verhouding met Vader en met mekaar!  Dis so ‘n groot behoefte van elke mens.  Die vrug/gevolg daarvan is die opsomming van elke mens op aarde se begeerte en behoefte – ware konstante vrede en blydskap! 

Dis nou Dinsdagoggend, 9 Oktober!   Dis vandag ons dogter, Mariette, se verjaardag.  Sy en haar man en al ons kinders en vyf kleinkinders is almal in Suid Afrika.  More is dit Jacobi se 60e verjaardag!  Jacobi was nog nooit verlee oor haar ouderdom nie!   Dis in elkgeval die beste tyd van ons lewe – nou en wat voorle!  Ons is in ons Vader se diens!  Ons jeug word gedurig vernuwe soos die van arende!   Die word aftree bestaan lank nie meer in ons woordeskat nie.   Wat ‘n ontsaglike voorreg om te lewe vir HOM wat vir ons gesterwe het!   Paulus se getuienis is ons s’n  - “ Vir ons is die lewe Christus..”   Die lewe is die wonderlikste avontuur saammet HOM wat die Weg, die Waarheid en die Lewe is!

Wat ‘n geweldige voorreg om voltyds besig te wees met die uitvoering van Christus se Groot Opdrag!   Wat ‘n onbeskryflike guns van God dat ons deel kan he aan die magtige verlossingsplan van God vir hierdie wereld!   Wat ‘n ewige guns en voorreg dat ons ons eie tydelike liggaam en alles wat ons het aktief tot Sy beskiking kan stel!    Hy het Sy lewe, Sy liggaam vir ons ge-offer.  Wat ‘n kosbare geleentheid dat ons onsself, ons eie begrensde tydelike ideale, ons eie klein wereldjie, kan offer vir HOM wat SY ewige lewe, SY ewige onbegrensde onvernietigbare wonderlike Koninkryk, SY ewige erfenis, vir ons kom gee het!   SY VADER is ons VADER!   ONSE VADER het ons geseen met al die geestelike seeninge in hemelse plekke in Christus Jesus!!  Hoe wonderlik dat SY ‘goeie, welgevallige en volmaakte’ wil in en deur ons lewe kan geskied hier op aarde soos in die hemel!   UIT HOM, DEUR HOM EN TOT HOM IS ALLES!  SYNE IS DIE HEERLIKHEID!   Ons is SYNE en HY is ons s’n!  

Vanaand vier ons saammet ons span en ‘n klompie ander kosbare mense Jacobi se verjaardag.  Sy het gekies dat dit ‘n profetiese geleentheid sal wees.  Elkeen kry geleentheid om profeties vir mekaar en vir haar te bedien.   Ons glo dit sal sommer die begin wees van ‘n Nuwe Verbond profetiese skool!   Dis mos deel van die wonderlike vervulling van Joel 2 met die koms van die Heilige Gees op Pinksterdag – “julle seuns en julle dogters sal profeteer…”    Soveel pragtige geestelike seuns en dogters waarmee Vader ons geseen het in hierdie land!   Ons is onbeskryflik ryk!  

Onmoontlik om oor alles verslag te doen.   Statistieke kan nie die werking van die Helige Gees beskrywe nie.   Ons was en is baie besig.   Daar is min naweke wat ek en Dima hier by ons tuisbasis in Belgarod is.  Dringende uitnodigings na soveel verskillende plekke neem steeds toe.  Ek glo dis die dringendste maar ook mees vrugbare tyd vir bediening wat ons nog beleef het in hierdie land.   Soveel mense word verlos en volkome vrygemaak en genees en vervul met die Heilige Gees.  Dissipels word gemaak en toegerus tot kragtige getuies van Christus.

Ons, ek Jacobi en Dima, was die afgelope naweek vir die eerste keer hierdie jaar weer in die stad Dneperpetrovsk met sy ongeveer twee miljoen mense.   Ons was uitgenooi deur Pastor Sergey van die “New Generation” gemeente om met die geleentheid van die gemeente se twaalfde verjaardag daar te bedien.  

Ons was ook uitgenooi deur die Messiaanse gemeente om Saterdagmiddag en aand by hulle te bedien.   Soos so baie ander van die sterkste en mees toegewyde geestelike leiers in hierdie land kom beide Andrey en sy vrou, Ira, uit ‘n totaal gebroke agtergrond van dwelms en misdaad.   Hulle Saterdag Joodse gemeente groei sterk sowel as hulle Sondag-gemeente wat veral bestaan uit bekeerlinge vanuit dwelms en misdaad.   Die Saterdag geleentheid was besonder geseend.   Die gemeente het sterk gegroei sedert ons ‘n jaar gelede daar was.  Die lof en aanbiddingstyd aan die begin van die diens was kosbaar.  Dis wonderlik om te sien hoe klein kindertjies in die Heilige Gees sing en dans en aanbid! 

Ek wil graag die volgende getuienis ivm Pastor Sergey en die New Generation gemeente met julle deel as ‘n getuienis van God se getrouheid om nie te laat vaar die werk van SY hande nie en ook as ‘n voorbeeld van hoe God werk deur julle wat dit vir ons moontlik maak om hier te wees.   Twaalf jaar gelede was ek in DneperPetrovsk om te bedien in twee groot ou Pinkster kerke.   ‘n Jong man, Sergey het my daar ontmoet en gevra of ek die Sondagmiddag na sy groepie kan kom.   Toe ek en my tolk, Valodia, in die kamer inkom was daar ‘n groepie van omtrent 20, meestal ou mense, besig om te sing.   Ons het ingekom en vir ‘n paar oomblikke net gestaan en in stilte gekyk na die mense.   Skielik was ons almal saam gebroke in God se teenwoordigheid en die hele groep het spontaan vorentoe gekom en vir ons omhels.  Sergey het my vertel dat juis daardie naweek was hy so desperaat en het hy gevoel dat hulle nie kan aangaan nie.  Hulle het die week nie kos gehad om te eet nie en hulle het besef dat hulle nie hulle twee kindertjies die Maandag kon skooltoe stuur nie, omdat hulle geen skoolgelde kon betaal nie.  Hy het my vertel dat toe ek aan die einde sy hand vat en hom groet het daar note in sy hand agtergebly.  Hulle kon kos koop en die kinders kon skooltoe gaan.  Hy se daardie dag het daar ‘n keerpunt gekom en nooit het hulle weer getwyfel nie.   Die gemeente het nou gegroei tot omtrent 1000 lidmate en hulle is baie kragtig en gesond en is aktief werksaam op baie terreine.   Lena, Sergey se vrou het Sondag vir ons vertel dat sy die boodskap van daardie eerste Sondag nog altyd onthou – die liefde van God.  Sy se sy het dit nie net gehoor nie, maar gesien.  

Ek en Dima het ‘n jaar gelede ook daar bedien.  Hulle het ons nou vertel dat daardie dag het daar ‘n keerpunt gekom in die hele fokus van hulle gemeente.   Ons het die Sondag bedien oor die Evangelie, wat die Nuwe Verbond boodskap is, wat nie vermeng mag raak met die ou verbond nie.  God het in Christus, Sy Seun, ALLES gedoen en ons het nie die reg om, soos Johannes die Doper, nog aan te gaan met ‘n ou verbond bediening nie.  Johannes was die laaste van die ou verbond profete wat bekering vanuit die wet as basis gepreek het.  Christus is die einde van die wet. Elke belofte en offer en fees het in Christus in vervulling gegaan!  Die volheid van die tyd het aangebreek!   ALLE afstand tussen God en mens is uitgewis.  Ons is nie meer besig om deur ‘n stadige proses nader aan God te kom nie.  Die wat ver was het naby gekom deur die bloed van Christus!   Geen offer vir sonde is meer nodig of moontlik nie.  God HET in Christus die wereld met Homself versoen en die misdaad rekord is uitgewis aan die kruis!  GEEN wets-geregtigheid is moontlik vir die mens nie.  Die waarheid van die Evangelie, wat die mens vrymaak, het alles te make met wat Christus gedoen het in Sy kruis en opstanding.  Ons kan niks byvoeg om ons nog meer te versoen of nog meer regverdig te maak nie!   Die krag van die Evangelie tot verlossing is vir die wat glo, omdat in die Evangelie God se geregtigheid ge-openbaar word van geloof tot geloof.  Niks kan meer van buite bygevoeg word nie.  Christus het deur Sy offer vir ons dit moontlik gemaak om in hierdie lewe meer as oorwinnaars in Hom te wees.  Sy werk is so volmaak dat selfs ons liggaam is nou heilig, SY heiligdom, waarin HY deur Sy Gees woon en ons nie meer onder die mag van die ou natuur en sonde en die duiwel hoef te lewe nie!  Ons is nie gerehabiliteerde sondaars nie, maar NUWE SKEPPING mense wat uit God gebore is.  Ons het Sy natuur deelagtig geword en deur SY Gees en vermo-e kan ons nou lewe tot SY eer.  Sy Woord is deur Sy Gees in ons harte en verstand ingegrafeer.  SY liefde is deur Sy Gees in ons harte uitgestort!  Die ou dinge het verbygegaan!  KYK!  ALLES IS NUUT! 

Sondagoggend se geleentheid was besonders.  Die aanbidding was kosbaar.  Die hele groot saal was gevul met God se teenwoordigheid.   Toe ons op die verhoog staan en moes begin praat, het ons spontaan voortgegaan en in die Heilige Gees vry en profeties gesing en aanbid.   Profetiese bediening was spontaan en kragtig.  Die Woord was soos ‘n vloedgolf van openbaring vir ons almal.  Aan die einde was die breking van die brood en wyn wat ons saam geniet het ‘n dinamiese ervaring en deklarasie van die krag van die kruis-Evangelie tot verlossing en genesing en versoening vir elkeen. 

Ons het die middag in ‘n ander groot gemeente in Dneperpetrovsk bedien.  Vrymakende ervaring.  Die aand het ons afgesluit in Pastor Sergey se gemeente.  Die tema was Jesus se Groot Opdrag.   Die EEN Koringkorrel wat gesterf het, het ‘n groot kwaliteit oes opgelewer van koringkorrels!   Die vleeswording van Christus word vermenigvuldig in die baie seuns van God wat tot openbaring kom en op alle terreine in hierdie lewe en oral op aarde kragtige Christus-getuies is!   Romeine 8 gaan dinamies in vervulling!   Die skepping wag nie meer tevergeefs op die “openbaarmaking van die seuns van God” nie!   Die apostoliese barenswee, die Heilge Gees se intersessie met onuitspreeklike sugtinge, God se ewige bestemming vir die mens gaan kragtig in vervulling – Christus kry gestalte in mense en HY is nou die eersgeborene van baie broeders!   Hy is nie skaam om vir ons te erken en voor te stel aan die hele wereld as SY broeders nie!   Ons het ons ware identiteit ontdek deur SY Gees van waarheid in ons wat getuig van Christus in ons en van binne roep ons uit “ABBA VADER”.  Ons hoor die een stem en opinie wat saak maak – “jy is MY geliefde seun – Ek het ‘n welbehae in jou”!  Daarom leef en werk ons nie meer vir ons eie naam of klein verganklike koninkrykie en stof-roem nie!   Die Woord word vlees en openbaar die heerlikheid van die Vader – vol van genade en waarheid.   Die liefde van Christus, die EEN wat vir almal gesterf het se liefde, dring ons, as bedienaars van die Nuwe Verbond, om die Evangelie van versoening aan almal te verkondig.  Wat ‘n voorreg om nie toeskouers te wees nie maar tenvolle betrokke in die vervulling van God se profetiese woord – “So waar as EK leef, se die HERE, die hele aarde sal vol wees van die heerlikheid van die HERE!   Dis oestyd!!!

Hier in Belgarod gaan dit goed.  Hier gaan ook nuwe deure oop en Vader gee vir ons guns by kosbare mense ter wille van die Evangelie.  Jacobi se span is pragtige dissipels van Christus en oor elkeen kan ons getuienisse vir julle skryf.   Hulle word almeer effektief diensbaar op almeer terreine.   Ons basis word op ‘n besondere wyse gebruik.  Die deure is letterlik oopgemaak vir die wereld daarbuite.   Die winkel (kafee – eetplek) is ‘n oop geleentheid en vreemdelinge word vriende.   Jacobi glo daaraan om vir mense blyplek te gee!   Hier is ‘n span padwerkers van Odessa wat besig is om die uiters swak paaie van ons dorp reg te maak.  Die hoof van die groep en sy seun het vir ‘n paar dae in ons bo-vertrek woonstelletjie kom bly.   Vanaf volgende week kom daar blykbaar tien padwerkers hier bly vir ‘n tyd!    Die hoof het vir Jacobi gese dat die burgemeester van Odessa graag vir ons wil ontmoet omdat hy gehoor het van die werk wat hier gedoen word – veral onder verslaafde jongmense.   Dis sulke kosbare geleenthede om Christus, in die heerlike atmosfeer en vrug van die Helige Gees, aan mense voor te stel!   

Jacobi en haar span van vier wat Engelse klasse in die een kinderhuis is ook baie vrugbaar. (Ons een onderwyseres, Olga, gee Russies vir die kindertjies wat skooljare gemis het).  Die kinders het so groot waardering en liefde ontwikkel vir ons groepie.  Jacobi en die span se harte is gewen deur die kosbare kindertjies en sy wil nou net kinders in pleegsorg neem!  

Oleg en Valentina bly op die oomblik in die woonstel bokant die winkel.   Oleg was ‘n paar maande gelede sterwend en het werklik uit die poorte van die dood teruggekom.   Ons het vir hom in die hospitaal im Odessa gaan bid en die volgende oggend kon hy vir die eerste keer weer opstaan en het hy gebel en getuig dat sy koors gebreek is en dat sy longe skoon is.   Hy is nog baie swak en dis ‘n stadige proses van sterker word.   Bid asseblief saammet ons.  Hy en Valentina was baie kragtig deur God gebruik in die lewens van talle verslaafde jongmense wat tot bekering gekom het.  Hy is ‘n vir my ‘n wonderlike vriend en broer en ek glo ons sal weer saam bedien.

Vrydag, 12 Okt.  Jammer vir die onderbreking!   Die eerste keer wat ek kans kry om weer voor die rekenaar te sit!   So ‘n heerlike vol geseende kairos tydperk! 

Ons Kiev-roeping is steeds vars en baie helder.   Vader het vir ons gewys dat ons nie haastig hiervandaan sal wegtrek nie, maar dat die werk hier kragtig gestabiliseer word en dat Hy die regte persone voorberei het om in een span saammet ons hier in Belgarod voort te gaan met SY Koninkrykswerk.  Ons uitbeweeg na Kiev is ‘n uitbreiding van hierdie werk.   Die afgelope twee dae was Jurie Kriel, een van die leiers van “First Love” gemeente in Wellington, en drie van hulle lidmate hier by ons.  Ons het Woensdag en Donderdag twee spesiale byeenkomstes in ons plaaslike gemeente gehad en Vader het hulle kragtig geseen en gebruik.   Bonnie de Waal en haar seun, Jean Pierre, bly nog tot Maandag en sal vandag saammet ons Kiev toe ry waar ons ‘n vol naweek van bediening het in drie groot gemeentes.   Bonnie en haar man, Anton, het reeds vyf jaar gelede vir ons gekontak en vir ons vertel van hul sterk roeping na Oekraine.   Hulle was o.a. drie jaar lank in Mozambiek.   Jurie het ook met ons gepraat oor die moontlikheid dat van ons jongmense na hulle Sending Bybelskool in Wellington kom.   Bid asseblief saammet ons daaroor – daar is drie moontlike kandidate.  

Die tyd waarin ons leef is geweldig belangrik.   Sondag in Dneperpetrovsk, in pastor Andrey se kar oppad vanaf die middag diens na Sergey se gemeente vir die aanddiens, het hy ‘n Engelse CD gespeel, en die eerste lied het begin met hierdie refrein wat oor en oor gesing was – “Time is running out. Time is running out….”.   Oral rondom ons in hierdie wereld is duisende mense verlore omdat hulle nie weet hoe kosbaar hulle is nie en dat Vader hulle so geweldig lief het dat Hy Sy Seun, Jesus, gestuur het om vir almal te sterwe en almal met Hom te versoen!  Hierdie wonderlike Goeie Tyding Verlossings-boodskap is aan ons toevertrou….    “Hoe kan hulle glo as hulle nie hoor nie?  Hoe kan hulle hoor as daar nie iemand is wat preek nie?   Hoe kan hulle preek as hulle nie gestuur word nie? …. “GAAN!  Verkondig die Evangelie aan die ganse mensdom”   KYK!!  EK IS, IS MET JULLE al die dae!”    

Bid asb vir ons besoek na Rusland, 25 Okt tot 15 November.   Reeds twee maal baie tyd spandeer in Russiese ambassade met visum aansoek.  Elke keer ander storie.  Vandag oppad Kiev toe wil ons weer gaan probeer.  Ons moet Rusland toe gaan! 

Dankie so baie, baie vir julle liefde en saamleef-betrokkenheid en ondersteuning.   Verantwoordelikhede brei uit en daar is so groot nood en behoefte wat ons hier verteenwoordig.  Ons is saam in diens van ons VERLOSSER-KONING!   Soveel kosbare blywende en groeiende vrug op julle beleggings in SY Koninkryk!   Gister het Pastoor Mark en Lena hier aangekom vanaf Pierva Maisk en hulle ry vanoggend saam terug na Odessa.  Hulle lewe en bediening het so geweldig verander en is so versterk en daar is so baie kosbare vrug van verlore veslaafde sondaars wat vrygemaak word tot kragtige seuns en dogters van Vader ook danksy SA familie in Christus se seen en hulp.   Julle ontvang profete-loon!  

Ons verlang om van julle te hoor!!!  Skryf asseblief en gee nuus en ook sake waaroor ons vir julle kan bid.   Ons bid elke dag ook saammet ons mense hier vir julle in Suid Afrika!  Dankie vir julle voorbidding!  Ons is vir julle lief met die liefde van Christus.  Die gebede van Ef. 1 en 3 vir julle.

Saam in SY diens

Leon en Jacobi

SENDING OEKRAINE

Posadres:
Leon en Jacobi du Toit
P.O. Box 111
67700 Belgarod – Dnestrovski
Odessa Region
UKRAINE .

E-pos: ua@missionukraine.net   ukraine4jesus@yahoo.co.uk
Huis-telefoonnommer: 00 380 4849 25793
Selnommer: 00 380 957438775

Sendingrekening: ABSA.  Oekraine Sending: 9121035563