It has always been about hearing Him

It has always been about hearing Him

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day… “I heard Your voice in the garden.”  (Gen. 3:8-10)

Adam and Eve were created to hear the Father and learn from Him.  Sin brought fear and ignorance into Adam and Eve, and men have been living without the fellowship of the Lord that we were created to enjoy ever since.

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” (Mt. 4:4)

We were created to hear Him.  Apart from hearing God, life is more biological than spiritual.  Life isn’t life if there is no divine hearing.  There can be no life without His voice.

We are expected to hear Him.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (Jn. 10:27)

It should not be difficult to recognize the voice of God.  We were created to recognize His voice.  The problem lies in the distraction of so many other voices competing for our allegiance.

Jesus was limited in His ministry to what He heard from the Father.

“I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” (Jn. 8:28)

“Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do;” (Jn. 5:19)

Whether we use the term “seeing” or “hearing”, we are speaking of the revelation of the Holy Spirit to our spirit.  If Jesus was limited to what He saw and heard, why do we think that we can live our lives as we wish and then have instant faith when it is needed?

The only way to walk in faith is to hear Him.

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17)

It has always been about hearing God.  It will always be about hearing God.  The victories we desire are wrapped up in hearing Him.  Our knowledge is not enough.  Knowledge was not enough for Adam and Eve in the Garden.  Knowledge killed them because they didn’t get it from His voice.

Determine to lay aside the mundane voices of the world and grow sensitive to the voice of God.  Therein is the victory and the abundant life you desire.

Barry Bennett
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What is a Generational Curse?

 

What is a Generational Curse?

How often have we heard Christians talking about the need to break generational curses?  Much of what has been taught on this subject borders on unbelief.  Believers that concentrate on curses do not understand the realities of the finished work of the cross.  People are not defeated in life due to being cursed as much as they are perishing due to their lack of knowledge of the Lord.

This is why Jesus said, “Go ye teaching” and did not say, “Go ye breaking curses.”  It is the Truth that sets us free, not some kind of mystical deliverance session.

Jesus has already been made a curse for us and has already blessed us (Gal. 3:13)!  And, what is more, God was in Christ, reconciling the whole world to Himself, not holding man’s trespasses against him (2 Cor. 5:19). God is not holding sins or curses against anyone!

What are commonly referred to as generational curses today are really nothing more than the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. (Gal. 5:19-21)

The manifestations of the flesh should not surprise us.  We are the product of our fallen society, culture, false religions, customs and morals taught us by our families, and tendencies we have learned from others.  If the parents were alcoholics there may be a tendency for the children to adopt the same behavior, but many children do not.  If anger and wrath were a part of the home environment, the same tendencies can be carried over to the children’s homes when they are adults, but in many cases those tendencies are rejected.

While some call these generational curses, we should see them as strongholds that must be torn down by the renewing of the mind.  It is the truth that sets us free.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2Co 10:4-5)

As born again sons and daughters of God, we are equipped to defeat the works of the flesh by the Spirit and cleanse our minds from the patterns of the past.  It is our willful choosing of God’s ways, words, thoughts and actions that will replace the strongholds we have known.  Over time, new patterns of the Spirit are established and we are able to walk free from the bondages of the past.

The Old Testament verses that refer to generational curses were spoken to Israel while under the Law, and referred to what would happen to those who hate Him (see Deut. 5:8-10).  What we can conclude by these verses is that God had made a statement concerning the consequences of sin upon succeeding generations “of them that hate me” under the Law.  This has nothing to do with new creation believers!

“Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”  (Col. 1:13)

There are no curses in the Kingdom of God.  Only promises that are “yes” and “amen!”

Barry Bennett
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Is Legalism the Real Problem?

Is Legalism the Real Problem?

Daily I read posts from grace teachers and preachers attacking the Law and legalism.  I understand the enthusiasm to explore our relationship with God apart from law keeping, but is legalism really our problem?

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.”  (James 1:14-15)

Lust is the problem.  Lust exists in all men whether they are under the Law or have never heard of the Law.  The Mosaic law doesn’t bring forth sin.  Lust brings forth sin.  The Law only served to strengthen and reveal sin.  It did not create it.

When Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses and took its penalty on Himself, the capacity to sin was not eliminated.  Sin continues in the human race as we all know.  Our own lusts are evidence that being free from the condemnation of the Law hasn’t freed us from the capacity to sin.  As Jesus said, the spirit (of man) is willing but the flesh is weak!

As born again Christians we are not only free from the Law of Moses (as a means of righteousness) we are free from the law of sin and death!

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”  (Rom. 8:2)

While we spend so much time focusing on ‘legalism’ as our enemy, it is really only the symptom of the real problem.  The real problem isn’t legalism.  The real problem is the flesh.  Being distracted by legalism and attacking legalism isn’t the answer.  The answer is to mortify the deeds of the body by the Spirit!

“For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.”  (Ro 8:13)

“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would.” (Gal. 5:17)

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”  (Gal. 5:24)

Rather than focus on the Law as our enemy (a subtle distraction), it is time to live by the Spirit and live above the lusts of the flesh.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”  (Rom. 8:1)

Barry Bennett

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More thoughts on the Word of God, the Bible

More thoughts on the Word of God, the Bible.

Verses to consider when the Bible is being attacked as nothing more than the error ridden musings of old men who didn’t know what they were talking about.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  (Eph 6:17)

– How can you take the sword of the Spirit (the word of God) if it is not written?

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12)

– Where is this word that is quick and powerful?  Is it written?

Jesus prayed in John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

– Why does Jesus refer to Your truth and Your word?  Isn’t He the Word and the Truth?  Could He be referring to the scriptures?

“…have you not read what was spoken to you by God?”  (Mt. 22:31)

– Jesus equated scripture with the voice of God.  The Bible is God’s living Word.

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began   26 but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith  (Rom. 16:25-26)

– God commanded that the gospel mystery be revealed by the scriptures in order to bring men to faith.

Paul used those same scriptures to persuade unbelievers about Jesus and the Kingdom.  “So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.” (Acts 28:23)

“thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.” (Mark 7:13)

– Some are guilty of invalidating God’s Word.  Where is this Word?  Scripture?

“If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken).” (John 10:35)

– The Word of God is called Scripture and it cannot be broken.

“that…. you might learn not to exceed what is written, in order that no one of you might become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.” (1 Cor. 4:6)

– Paul exhorts that we not go beyond that which is written.  He is referring to Old Testament scriptures.  Today it seems that there is almost a contest to see who can go the furthest from that which is written.

Barry Bennett
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Benefits of Redemption

Our redemption was accomplished two thousand years ago and all of the benefits of that redemption became available at that time for all who believe. We have been freed from the power of sin and all of its manifestations, including sickness.

We can find God’s heart to see His people healed in many scriptures in both Old and New Testaments. God reveals Himself in one of His redemptive names as the God who heals us (Ex. 15:26). God’s nature cannot change so if He was a healer before the Law and under the Law, how much more under grace!!

Isaiah prophesied and Peter confirmed that by Jesus’ stripes we were healed. (Isa. 53:4-5, 1 Pet. 2:24) In other words, forgiveness exists for all men whether they receive it or not. The price was paid. And thus, healing is also available to all, though many do not take advantage of it.

Jesus revealed the will of God (Heb. 10:7) in His ministry when He went about healing all (Acts 10:38).

Jesus commissioned the church to heal the sick (Mark 16:18), and we see the early church walking in this power.

James asks if any among the church is sick (James 5:14). The very question implies that there should be no sick among us, and the necessary steps to receive healing are given.

Healing was accomplished on the cross and is available to all men, just as redemption from sin is available to all men. As we are transformed by the renewing of our minds and we walk in the authority and revelation of this great truth, we will be able to appropriate what Christ has purchased for us with His stripes.

Barry Bennett

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Do you have a stronghold?

Do you have a stronghold?

 

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Cor. 10:4-5)

 

A stronghold is an imagination or thought.  It is a belief system that is so ingrained in the heart and mind of a person that it colors their perception of themselves, others and the circumstances of life.  A stronghold can be a cultural norm, a religious tradition, a political ideology or the latest social movement.  It can include how we were raised and what we were taught by our parents and teachers.  Strongholds can be impacted by music, movies and the latest political news.

 

In every case, a stronghold represents a belief that is against the nature of God and His purposes for man.  The one who is holding to the stronghold may not wish to be against God in their thinking, but the stronghold is so deeply rooted that they aren’t even aware that they are filtering God’s Truth through the lens of the stronghold.

 

Strongholds allow deception.  The fundamental characteristic about deception is that the one who is deceived doesn’t know it.  The stronghold has become a part of their approach to life and their approach to Truth.  Even Truth must be shaped and filtered to fit the mold of the stronghold.

 

Within the body of Christ there are many strongholds.  Perhaps the strongest is the belief that God is controlling all things.  The misunderstanding of sovereignty has paralyzed much of the body of Christ and left many living lives of passive resignation.  This is hardly what God had in mind for His children.

 

The results of the sovereignty stronghold change faith from a proactive potential to destroy the works of the enemy into an inactive acceptance of loss and suffering as part of His celestial plan.  Prayer becomes “wishful hoping.”  The most popular Bible stories that support this stronghold are Job, Paul’s thorn, and chastisement (Heb. 12).  While all these stories have powerful lessons for us, the person trapped in the stronghold cannot or will not see the truth.  The Bible becomes a mysterious manual to explain human suffering rather than a divine revelation of redemption and the restoration of man’s authority and purpose.

 

Only truth can set the captive free.  But truth must be desired and sought.  This means that the stronghold must be allowed to be challenged.  Rather than adjusting to strongholds, let’s move out of the darkness and allow His truth to tear down everything that holds us captive.  If your belief system allows you to be a victim of fate, you have a stronghold.

 

Barry Bennett

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Are we clay in the hands of the Potter?

Are we clay in the hands of the Potter?

A very common, traditional teaching in the church is that believers are clay and God is a Potter, shaping, molding and doing as He will with us. This understanding has never born witness in my spirit. If I am a new creation, created in righteousness, filled with His Spirit, adopted into His family and seated with Him in heavenly places, in what sense am I clay?

When we go to the Scriptures for understanding, an entirely different picture is painted. The idea of the Potter certainly refers to God, but the subject of the clay never refers to individuals, especially not in the New Covenant. The clay in the Old Testament refers either to Israel or to the nations. The contexts of the passages speaking of the potter and the clay is always with reference to God’s dealings with Israel. They are the chosen portion from the lump of the nations with whom God is working.

Romans 9 is frequently referred to as a passage that speaks of believers as clay, but again, Romans 9 is speaking of the Old Testament analogy of Israel found in Isaiah 29, Isaiah 45, Isaiah 64, and Jeremiah 18. In every case the context is the nation of Israel. In Jeremiah 18 it makes the subject very clear: “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;” (Jer. 18:6-7)

God is speaking to Israel in the context of the covenant of the Law and the promise He made to Abraham to curse those who cursed Israel.

What about us? In 2 Timothy Paul speaks to the idea of believers becoming vessels unto honor and dishonor. Here is the passage: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.” (2 Tim. 2:20)

But when we continue reading a very interesting statement is made.

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2Ti 2:21)

Reading the full chapter reveals that if a man wants to be a vessel of honor in the house of the Lord, he must purge himself from iniquity! That is a very different picture than the traditional teaching of the potter and the clay. Aren’t we already forgiven and cleansed? Yes, our spirits are one with Him, created in righteousness. But that is not what Paul is referring to. Read Colossians 3:5-14 for a full description of what Paul is referring to in 2 Timothy 2.

The point is that God is not beating and shaping His children as clay. He is not sending calamity, sickness and destruction into our lives. He sent His Word (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and the Word alone can perfect us.

Barry Bennett

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Clichés: God moves in mysterious ways.

God moves in mysterious ways.

The mother of all clichés might be this one.  The idea is that God is mysterious and we are simple pawns in His celestial game.  What right do we have to understand anything?  He has it all under control.  Everything happens for a reason.  He allows evil.  He gives and takes away, and, just to make sure that we wash our hands of all responsibility we declare, “He moves in mysterious ways.”

Nevertheless, Jesus made it clear that if you have seen Him, you have seen the Father (Jn. 14:9).  Jesus is God in the flesh.  His words and actions perfectly reveal the Father.  There is no more mystery!  If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.  He went about doing good and healing all because God was with Him (Acts 10:38).  Where God is, goodness and healing exist.

The mystery actually resides in the hearts of those who have chosen ignorance and fatalism.  They have refused to be transformed by the renewing of their minds (Rom. 12:2).  They have not sought out wisdom and spiritual understanding (Eph. 1:17-18).  The thought of accepting the responsibility for reigning in life overwhelms them. Living by clichés is much easier.

Your expectations in life will follow your core beliefs.  If you believe that God is schizophrenic and mysterious, you should expect a life of questions and loss.  Clichés will be your only solution.  When you understand that God has given you His Name, His blood, His Spirit, His Word, His better Covenant, His promises, His armor, His faith and the keys to His kingdom, you will begin to cooperate with Him and enforce His will in your life. 

It is time to expect God’s blessings in your life.  It is time to expect to do God’s works.  It is time to resist the enemy.  It is time to walk in your divine authority over the enemy, sickness and loss.  Drop the clichés and get to know God.  He has given you dominion.  Don’t give it to the devil! 

Barry Bennett
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The Gospel of Clichés

The Gospel of Clichés

In the next few weeks I want to look at a number of clichés that some Christians use to explain their view of God and the world.

Cliché #1     God is in control.

This is a typical response by many Christians to any event in the world that seems tragic or incomprehensible.  It is meant to convey that while world events, tragedies, sicknesses and death may be mysterious to us, we can take comfort because God has everything under control.

This is a fundamental misunderstanding that leads to fatalism, passivity and a wrong view of God.  I would suggest that God has everything under control in heaven/new heaven, new earth, because everyone and everything will be fully submitted to Him.  On this earth, however, we see corruption, death, tragedy and darkness.  God is not controlling these things.

Why do we glibly declare that God is in control, but He doesn’t even control us who claim to be filled with His Spirit?  Does God make you obey the law, pay your taxes, drive the speed limit and deny the flesh?  And yet we are to believe that God has “everything else” under control?

God gave the earth to man (Gen. 1:26-28, Ps. 115:16, Ps. 8:4-6).  This truth is the foundation of understanding the nature of God, the nature of man and the purpose of redemption.  Man was created in God’s image and created to have dominion over God’s creation.  Sin separated man from God’s life and purpose and left the earth under the dominion of Satan (2 Cor. 4:4, 1 Jn. 5:19).

To suggest that God controls all things places full responsibility for sickness, death, tragedies, wars, natural disasters, child abuse and every other evil in His lap.  It makes God the perpetrator of human suffering.

When we get the revelation that God gave dominion to man, we can begin to cooperate with His purposes in the earth.  We are called to reign in life!  (Rom. 5:17)  We are called to still the storms, heal the sick, cast out demons and extend the Kingdom (Jn. 14:12).  We aren’t called to sit back and respond with clichés to the suffering around us or in our own lives.  It is time to submit to the true knowledge of God, resist Satan, sin and corruption and reign in life! (James 4:7)

Barry Bennett
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The gospel is “the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God.” (Rom. 16:25-26)

“The Scripture cannot mean more to you than it did to the original audience and original author.”  “To apply things written thousands of years ago to our own culture will only lead to error in interpretation.”

This is one of the latest attempts to undermine the authority of the Scripture.  Even on the surface these are nonsensical statements.  Basically, all Scripture means more to me than it did to the original audience!  Jesus had to open the minds of the disciples to understand the Old Testament (Luke 24:45).  Didn’t the scriptures mean more to them at that point than they ever did at the time they were written to Israel?  They began to see Christ in the Old Testament where they had never seen Him before (Luke 24:47).

 

Isn’t the gospel itself a revealer of things hidden?  The gospel is “the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God.”  (Rom. 16:25-26)

 

Didn’t an angel tell Daniel, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” (Dan. 12:9)

 

The very nature of Bible prophecy is that it is meaningless to the original audience, but revealed by the Spirit to later generations who see its coming fulfillment.

 

Doesn’t Isaiah 53, the prophecy concerning Christ’s redemptive work, mean more to us than it did to the Jews that lived 700 years before Christ?  What about Psalm 22, which describes the crucifixion of Christ hundreds of years before crucifixion was a known form of capital punishment?

 

Peter addresses this very subject in 2 Peter 3.  The ENTIRE CHAPTER is devoted to comforting the ‘original audience’ concerning the end times and not losing hope simply because the events of Christ’s return are still in the future.  He even declares, “do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Pet. 3:8)

 

The motivation behind the premise that Scripture cannot mean more to you than it did to the original audience is simple.  Certain false teachers have an agenda and Scripture gets in the way of that agenda.  Thus, if they can arbitrarily and subjectively eliminate chunks of Scripture that contradict them, they have a clear path for their error.

 

We are not dealing with old manuscripts that have no relevance to our generation.  The Scripture is alive and there is spiritual relevance in every word.

 

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  (Heb. 4:12)

 

The ‘original audience’ may not have gleaned even a portion of what has been revealed to us today.  Don’t be persuaded to dismiss the Scriptures because you didn’t happen to be there when they were written.  Living words have no expiration date.

 

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Rom. 15:4)

Barry Bennett

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A TIMELY WORD – DID JESUS TAKE AWAY OUR SINS IN THE BAPTISM OF JOHN?

Did Jesus take away our sins in the baptism of John?

Category: Sin and the Cross
Description: A current unusual teaching making the rounds is that Jesus took the sins of the world upon Himself in the baptism of John.

​A current unusual teaching making the rounds is that Jesus took the sins of the world upon Himself in the baptism of John. He was able to freely heal and minister to the multitudes because He had already taken their sins. The teaching comes from the following:

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (Jn. 1:29)

The teacher of this doctrine supposes that John’s statement became reality when Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan. This is quite a leap, and a very wrong conclusion. The idea is based upon the Old Testament story of the scape goat. The priests would lay their hands on the scape goat and send their sins off into the wilderness. (Lev. 16:21-22) It is supposed that this was a type and shadow of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness with the sins of the whole world. However, there are several major flaws with this teaching.

First of all, the story in Leviticus begins with two goats being chosen. (see Lev. 16:7-19) The first goat is sacrificed as a sin offering. “Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail…” (v. 15) After the sin offering is complete, hands are laid on the scape goat and it is sent into the wilderness. Notice the order of events: first the sacrificial goat and second, the scape goat.

Before Jesus could fulfill the ‘type’ of the scape goat and carry our sins into the lowest parts of the earth, He must first be the sacrificial goat. “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa. 53:5) “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree.” (1 Pet. 2:24)

Jesus did not take our sins in the waters of baptism. He took them on the cross. How, then, did He minister to a fallen world if sin was still in the way? “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” (Mk 2:10-11)

Jesus had power on earth to forgive sins. His righteousness overcame the obstacle of sin. His authority was a function of His righteousness. Jesus was not carrying the sins of the world as He ministered, and He didn’t leave them somewhere in the wilderness. He became the sacrificial lamb on the cross, and then descended into the lowest parts of the earth, thus fulfilling both types in the proper order.

Barry Bennett

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A TIMELY WORD – ARE ALL MEN “BORN AGAIN?”

Are all men ‘born again?’

​There is a new doctrine infiltrating the body of Christ that declares that all humans who have been born after the resurrection of Jesus have been born without the fallen Adamic nature. They have been ‘born again’ in Christ by virtue of simply being born after redemption was complete. It is said that the epistles of the New Testament were directed to the ‘transitional man,’ and not to those born after the cross. This transitional generation included those born before the cross and who still had the Adamic nature. They and they alone had to believe in Christ in order to be born again. All who were born into this world after the cross are by default born again and have the very nature of God within according to this teaching.

Several observations:

1.Why is this never stated in the New Testament, either by Jesus or any other New Testament writer? Would not this have been incredibly important information to have revealed to future generations?

2. Why did Jesus say that repentance was to be preached among all nations beginning in Jerusalem? (Luke 24:47) If repentance was only necessary for the transitional man, why didn’t Jesus make this clear? He knew that the disciples would not reach the whole world in their lifetimes.

3. Why did Peter indicate that repentance for the remission of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit was for ‘their children and to all that are afar off,’ if Jesus knew that all who would be born after His resurrection would need no repentance in order to receive the promise of the Spirit?

4. All men are included in Christ’s redemptive work, but not all men are in Christ. That is why Jesus commanded that the gospel be preached in all the world, and Paul declared that all men should repent. (Acts 17:30)

We are born again by the Word of God which we ‘hear,’ believe and confess unto salvation.

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Ro 10:8-10)

This is the born again experience. We hear the Word, believe the Word, confess the Word and are born again by the Word.

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Pet. 1:23)

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1)

All men were in Adam by natural birth. Men can only be in Christ by spiritual re-birth. This is a result of faith.​

Barry Bennett

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RECEIVING HEALING

RECEIVING HEALING

Health is a need for everybody. People go to different institutions like hospitals to name but one, to receive healing from different conditions. Treatment is provided by medical professions trained in different specialities. Thank God for these professionals.

There is another way that people receive their healing direct from God. That is why the hospital ministry is being done. Jesus Christ who used to heal, is still healing today. The Bible says He is the same yesterday, today and forever. The same power that operated through Him is the same power that operate in believers today.

The recipient of this type of healing needs to understand that the healer is Jesus Christ through the believer, to the sick person. The faith of the recipient needs to be developed first for her or him to receive healing. Some people received their healing instantly, some received their healing gradually. We thank God for healing people through hospital ministry. The number of inpatients have reduced remarkably as compared to the number of inpatients when we started at the beginning of February 2018. We minister to the sick in hospital once a week.

We give God the glory and praise.

Sinah Baloyi

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A TIMELY WORD – THE MAN BORN BLIND

The Man Born Blind

I am frequently asked about the story in John, chapter 9, concerning Jesus’ response to the man born blind.

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” (John 9:2-4)

This passage can be confusing if we aren’t well grounded in the subject of healing and where sickness came from. Was Jesus saying that God caused this man to be born blind so that Jesus could later heal him? I don’t believe so.

Physical sicknesses, birth defects and deformities are not the work of God, but rather the results of the power of sin in the human race. Death, sickness and physical limitations were not a part of God’s creation. They are a result of sin in the earth. Not necessarily personal sin, but simply the impact of sin within the genetic makeup of men which is passed down through generations.

If blindness and sickness bring glory to God, why was no one glorifying God for this man’s blindness, or for the sicknesses and diseases that were rampant in Israel in Jesus’ day? Why did Jesus heal all who came to Him without exception if these sicknesses were the will of God for His glory? Was Jesus diminishing God’s glory by healing the sick? Or, is it obvious that God was being glorified when healings took place?

Jesus declared that this blindness was not the result of a personal sin or the sin of his parents. Nevertheless, it was an opportunity for the works of God. The work of God was this man’s sight, not his blindness. God was glorified when healing took place, not before.

Every malady in the human race is an opportunity for the works of God. Every manifestation of sin, darkness, corruption and suffering is a chance to bring healing and deliverance. Rather than assigning blame, Jesus did the work of God.​

While it is still day (while grace and faith are available through the body of Christ), we should be about the business of doing the works of God.

Barry Bennett

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A TIMELY WORD – IS THE BIBLE GOD’S WORD?

A Timely Word

Is the Bible God’s Word?

There is a growing movement in some Christian circles to establish the Bible as fallible and only an imperfect guide to knowing God and Jesus. The reasons are clear. The Bible gets in the way of the Jesus or Father they have imagined. Nevertheless, Jesus had complete confidence and faith in the Old Testament and made sure that the minds of the disciples were opened to understand it.

“Now He said to them, ‘These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:44-45)

Here are some other statements that demonstrate Jesus’ thoughts on that which is written:

“he is not to honor his father or his mother. And thus you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.” (Matt 15:6)

“thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.” (Mark 7:13)

“If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken).” (John 10:35)

But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God (Mt. 22:31)

Type the phrase ‘have you not read’ into your Bible search feature and you will find seven such statements spoken by Jesus. The term ‘it is written’ is found over 30 times in the gospels and another 39 times in the rest of the New Testament! Apparently Jesus and the other New Testament authors believed in the Old Testament scriptures as the Word of God.

​”All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17) The word “inspired” is literally “God-breathed.” This is an interesting phrase since it declares that the Scriptures are from the mouth of God.

The Bible carries God’s authority. Jesus quoted it to defeat Satan.

The Bible carries God’s life. People are born again by believing and reading the Scriptures.

The Bible can heal the sick. Many have been healed by the promises found in the Word of God. It is health to our flesh.

The Bible gives birth to faith, vision and hope.

This article could go on for pages. Please be certain that all who question the infallibility of Scripture do so because they don’t want to believe Scripture. They have their own agenda which leads to confusion, loss and ultimately destruction.

“that…. you might learn not to exceed what is written, in order that no one of you might become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.” (1 Cor. 4:6)

Barry Bennett

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PRISON MINISTRY

Prison Ministry has really been incredible thus far.  I am in charge of running it this year.  A group of us go to a prison 40 km from Heidelberg every Wednesday for an hour.  We run a course called Discipleship Evangelism with a few small groups.  One of the 2nd year students and I lead one of these groups.

We have seen God do some amazing things.  They guys are being transformed right before our very eyes.  One of my favourite parts of each week is being greeted by their smiling faces, full of joy and contentment when we arrive.  It feels like we have become family.  Many have received salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit through this ministry.  Each member in our small group had a wonderful, life-changing experience with the Lord when they were baptised in the Holy spirit and started speaking in tongues.  For example, just a couple of weeks ago a newcomer wanted to be baptised in the Holy Spirit.  We laid hands on him.  He fell down under the power of the Holy spirit.  Later he started speaking in tongues.  This all happened in the prison courtyard.  There were inmates hanging out of windows and looking through bars, trying to get a glimpse of what was going on.  The following week you could see the change on this man’s face!

written by Peter Martin

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ENROLL NOW FOR 2018

CHARIS BIBLE COLLEGE – HEIDELBERG, WC, SA

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2017 MISSION TRIPS

2017 MISSION TRIP – 2ND YEARS

2017 MISSION TRIPS – 2ND YEAR PRACTICAL MINISTRY STUDENTS
MOSSEL BAY 8 – 12 AUGUST
LESOTHO 1 – 8 SEPTEMBER
KNYSNA 12 – 16 SEPTEMBER

VISION
TRANSFORMING LIVES, TRAINING LEADERS AND CHANGING THE WORLD!

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How God loves us 24/7!

How God loves us 24/7!

Most believers when they read 1 Corinthians 13 which we commonly refer to as the “Love Chapter” often times feel somewhat condemned or guilty when they compare it to their own walk of faith. They somehow realize they have fallen short of what God expects of them and somewhat hopeless.

I would like you to take a brand new look from a different perspective at this chapter and allow the Holy Spirit to show you something fresh and new that maybe you never saw before, when reading the “Love Chapter”.

First let me point out a few very important facts that one must keep in mind while reading this passage. In 1 John 4:8 it tells us that “God is Love” and we know that 1 Corinthians 13 is a definition of how love works or is expressed. So if God is Love and the Apostle Paul is teaching us how love is expressed and functions, it is fair to say that this is how God who is love is treating us today 24/7.

With that in mind let me help you see a truth that will empower and transform your walk of faith. I am going to tweak this chapter a little to help emphasize the point I hope you will see by replacing the word love with “Your Heavenly Father”.
Read slowly and keep in mind this is how God is treating you now.
Your Heavenly Father endures long and is patient and kind; he never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, he is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

Your Heavenly Father is not conceited arrogant and inflated with pride; he is not rude unmannerly and does not act unbecomingly.

Your Heavenly Father does not insist on his own rights or his own way, for Your Heavenly Father is not self-seeking; he is not touchy or fretful or resentful; he takes no account of the evil done to him God pays no attention to a suffered wrong.
Your Heavenly Father does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

Your Heavenly Father bears up under anything and everything that comes, he is ever ready to believe the best of every person, Your Heavenly Father’s hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and he endures everything without weakening.
Your Heavenly Father never fails never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Amplified Bible
When you begin to meditate and embrace this incredible truth of how God loves you, it will help your heart experience the reality of his love, that he has always had for you. Let’s not forget it was shed abroad in your heart when you first believed, it hasn’t left you. Rom 5:5

In 1 John 4:19 it tells us that “we love God because he first loved us” our ability to love God comes from our ability to receive his love first. You cannot give what you do not have and you cannot lead where you have not been.

Fear can modify your behavior but only Love can change your heart.
Copy the above tweaked passage and keep it with you during the day and read it a few times throughout the day to remind yourself this is how God is treating me right now. Watch what happens in your heart in the weeks ahead.

Giselle van Wyk

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LIVING THE GOSPEL

What does living the Gospel mean?

I believe that we are called to live the Gospel, to show Jesus through us to the world.

What does being a Christian mean?

Does it mean believing in Jesus? Or believing in God?
Does Christianity mean being nice to others?

I personally believe Christianity is not a Religion but a life style. It is alive, if Christianity is alive people should see it in us. We are Jesus walking on the earth. When you look at the disciples lives when they got the Holy Spirit they received a new boldness, as well as miracles signs and wonders. Peter for example denied Jesus and later in the book of Acts is preaching and getting thousands saved. His shadow is healing people. We can see the boldness and power given through the Holy Spirit. Acts 4:13 states this “seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and perceiving that they were unleaved and uneducated men, they marvelled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

In Acts 3 with the lame man who was lame from when he was born,
Acts 3:6 then peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead cleanse the lepers, cast out demons, freely you have received freely give.

Moses
Moses is a petrol attendant in Port Alfred I think he has helped me with petrol once before. Moses is an everyday normal person. However one day Moses when he was fill up someone’s petrol, he sticks his hand through the window and puts in on the man’s chest. And starts praying for the man’s heart. This man was one his way to PE hospital to get a heart operation, however he was totally healed. This is someone who I believe is a normal Christian. He is showing the life style we should be living. He was at his job, and his job wasn’t a pastor in a church or an elder. The answer is no he is just a normal Christian.

He didn’t limit God by reasoning. He didn’t say Lord if I put my hand through the window he will think I am stealing stuff. He just heard God and moved he wasn’t too busy for God to speak. He was busy doing his Job but still had time to do what God wanted.

This is someone who hasn’t spent 2 or 3 years in Bible College, this is someone who just loves God. How many of us here are living the Gospel. He didn’t say that he hasn’t done his first year bible college yet.

Creation is waiting for the sons of God to manifest, the harvest is plentiful the labourers are few. I know I am preaching to the choir because you are here getting equipped.

In John 21:25 “And there are also many other things that Jesus did which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the World itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen”

John 14:12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will also: and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father.

1 John 4:17 as He is so are we in this world.

Romans 8:11 But If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Every second there are people perishing without having heard the Gospel. There are people who think they are saved and are on their way to hell, Hosea 4:6 are we making a difference, are we letting God speak to us. We have received the Holy Spirit to go out and give the Holy Spirit to us. I want to ask you is the Holy Spirit for just you? Or is it for you to give to others? John 3:16 says if God so loved the world that he gave His only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting live.

God so loved the world that he gave, or sent the best, Jesus. God has a heart for giving. Daniel said whoever has God’s heart captains the ship. God’s heart is for the world. He sent His son for the whole world. Barry says Jesus was the first missionary, God had one son and made him a missionary.

Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead cleanse the lepers, cast out demons, freely you have received freely give.

The Holy Spirit is for more than just us if we look at Acts 1:8 “But You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem (where you live), and in all Judea (own nation) and Samaria (Cross culture ministry), and to the end of the earth.”

Matthew 28 Go make disciples
God’s heart is to reproduce himself in His image.
The Greek word for power is “Dynamis” there is strongs definition – miraculous power.

It doesn’t say the Holy Spirit will come on you to help you and keep it to yourself holy and good. Look at Jesus he trained His disciples, if they didn’t go and kept the spirit to themselves, then would you have the Holy Spirit now? If we look at acts 1:8 it is clear that the Holy Spirit is for everyone. 

If Reinhard Bonkke or Andrew Wommack didn’t do anything….

An example of this;  if superman stayed on his couch would he be superman? You have superman living inside of you!

God wanted a big family on earth, look at Genesis have dominion. Genesis 1
Leaving everything you know, getting out of the boat, Reinhard Bonnke in a video where there is a big boat with 70 life boats but only 3 get used, We are there.

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit.

John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I send you.

Romans10:14-15 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? How shall they preach unless they are sent?…..

God’s heart is for His children Luke 15:7 look at the joy about His son coming back.

Written by Kyle Handley

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Discerning His Voice

Do you ever just feel like asking God what to do? Do you feel like God is not speaking? Are you frustrated?

 

I want to encourage you that at one time or another we have all been there. We have all struggled to discern  God’s voice. It is interesting to me that everyone knows it is important to hear Gods voice but how? How do we hear His voice?

 

If you are a believer I want to encourage you that you already hear His voice. The bible says “my sheep hear my voice” If you are a follower of Christ you hear His voice. So it is not a question of hearing His voice but discerning His voice.

 

If we look at the life of Samuel we can see that he heard the voice of the Lord but He did not discern it until Eli explained to Samuel that it was actually God speaking. Samuel heard Gods voice twice before He recognised it was God. I believe this is true for us also.

 

God is always speaking and we can see through the above scriptures that we are always hearing! However, we can also see that we are not always discerning!

 

How do we discern His voice?

 

There are a few foundational ways that I would like to share with you- in the hope that they would benefit and enable you to accurately discern His voice.

 

Number 1 is the word. The bible says that the written word is a more sure word of prophecy- basically meaning that the word is the highest authority in hearing God. The bible says He has elevated His word above His name! So if what your hearing does not line up or agree with the bible or biblical principles- You heard wrong. Pretty simple actually.

 

Number 2 is peace. The bible exalts us to let the peace of God rule our hearts- the word for rule is umpire. So let the peace be your umpire for what to do and what not to do. If you thinking you are hearing God spend some time seeing if you have peace about it? And make sure it is a heavenly peace not just a good idea! To sum it up let God call the shots in your life… literally!

 

Finally in or short list is number 3 and that is the inner voice. When God speaks to me it is often in my own voice. And because it is in my own voice it can often be tempting to just dismiss it and think “That’s just me.” But I would encourage you to when you get that random thought just to look at it in the light of His word and your peace. If it lines up with those then you are on the right track to make decisions that will be the right decisions.

 

There are more ways to confirm and hear His voice, however I want to encourage you that you do hear His voice and He wants to lead and guide you. Now all you have to do is discern if it is the voice of the Lord.

 

Gods Grace as you walk this out!

 

Dayne Smith

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Deception

Satan has been defeated. He has been stripped him all his power and authority. Jesus made a public spectacle of the devil and his crowd, putting them to an open shame (Colossians 2:15). This happened about 2 000 years ago when Jesus triumphed over Satan through His substitutionary death, burial and resurrection. Now God always causes us to triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14). His victory was our victory. Jesus conquered Satan so that we can be “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37). But why then do we not always experience the benefits of this victory?
There is one reason… deception. Deception is Satan’s only weapon. To be deceived is to believe a lie. A lie is anything that opposes the truth. Jesus said that knowing the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). If knowing the truth is what makes us free, then deception is what keeps us in bondage.
Jesus said that He is the Truth (John 14:6). If we look to Jesus as our only source of wisdom and knowledge, then we can’t be deceived. If we look to anything else (e.g. ourselves, others, the news, movies, science, education etc.), then we will be deceived. If we are deceived, then we will not be free to experience all the benefits of the victory that Jesus won for us.
Are you experiencing bondage in a certain area? Do you want to experience more of the freedom and victory that is already yours in Christ? Contact Charis Bible College Heidelberg today. Phone: 028-7222701. Email: enquiries.hb.wc.za@awmcharis.com

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ED ELLIOTT 5 – 7 JUNE 2017

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Who is the Holy Ghost?

That was my big Question as a new believer in Jesus Christ. And this was my question, when I started the Charis Bible College. I know, that God is my Father in Heaven, I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that Jesus Christ changes my Life when I gave Him my life. But I don´t know what is the Holy Ghost: already and why I must need the Holy Ghost.

In the Charis College, I learnt, that the Holy Ghost is important for me, because He is the Mediator between me and God. The Bible says in John 14:26: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said  unto you”.

That´s means, that’s the Holy Ghost is the Person, who help me to understand all things:

–     what stand in the Bible

–     what Jesus Christ done for me and

–    what the Father in Heaven spoke to me.          

I pray many times to understanding this, I hear many Teachings in the College and then, when I spoke personally to the Holy Ghost: Where are you?? He said to me:

“I´m every time in and by you! I give you the answer to all your Questions, I teach you to understand the Bible, to understand the WORD OF GOD!”

And this was for me the big breakthrough. At this moment, I know, that I must ask every time the Holy Ghost to understand the Bible, to understand the Word of God.

Now, every time I ask the Holy Ghost when I need help to write a preach or when I speak with people about Jesus Christ. Every time I want that the Holy Ghost give me the Words for speaking, for preaching or for writing. Because I know now: Without the Holy Ghost I can do nothing – but with the Holy Ghost I can do all.

And that’s not only for me – that’s for everybody. We need the Holy Ghost for all Times in our Life.

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As I Have Loved You

We are not under the law anymore! We do not have to keep all of the commandments that were given in the Old Testament to have a relationship with God. We are children of the New Covenant. This covenant is governed by the law of love. Jesus gave us one – only one – commandment to live by. He said:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35)

If we are to love one another as Jesus has loved us, then we need to know how Jesus has loved us. We need to receive His love first. We can’t give away what we don’t have. If I asked you to give away a million rand, could you do it? Probably not. Why? Because you probably don’t have a million rand. You first need to receive the money before you can give it away. It’s the same with God’s love.

We first need to receive God’s love before we can love others. This is exactly how Jesus lived His life. In John 15:9 He said: “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” Jesus was able to love us because He first received love from His Father. We are to follow His example. As we come to know and believe the love that God has for us our love for others is made perfect (1 John 4:16-17).

The Christian life is not about trying to love God more – it’s all about discovering how much He loves you. He demonstrated His love for you by sending Jesus to die for you while you were still a sinner (Romans 5:8).

Learn more about receiving the love of God with Charis Bible College Heidelberg. Phone: 028-7222701. Email: enquiries.hb.wc.za@awmcharis.com.

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The Transformation Process

Did you know God has already given you everything you need? All that you need to succeed and prosper is already yours1 2 Peter 1:3 says: “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…”

God works in us the desire and ability to do what pleases Him (Phil 2:13). All we need to do is work it out. But how do we do that? Romans 12:2 says: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

That word transformed is translated from the Greek word metamorphoō. That is where we get our English word metamorphous from. Metamorphous is a process of radical transformation, like when a caterpillar is changed into a butterfly.

The caterpillar is a bit of a hideous creepy crawly. But whatever is needed for the caterpillar to become a beautiful, majestic, flying butterfly is already on the inside of it. God has worked in the caterpillar the desire and ability to be a butterfly; the caterpillar just needs to work it out. It does this by going through a radical transformation process.

In the same way, everything that you need to be who God has made you to be is already on the inside of you. Jesus Christ is living in you! That is the mystery of the Gospel (Colossians 1:27). You just need to go through a process of transformation. This happens as you simply renew your mind by looking into the Word of God at who you are in Christ, what you can do in Christ and what you have in Christ.

Start the transformation process with Charis Bible College Heidelberg WC today. Phone 028-7222701. Email: enquiries.hb.wc.za@awmcharis.com.

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Selfless

Ever wonder how other people get themselves into the messes they are in? What about you? Ever wonder why you keep getting into these difficult situations?

I want to offer the possibility that it might be because of our self focused decisions that have lead us here. It may sound harsh but think about it. When was the last time you were in an argument or upset?  Were your actions selfless love for the other person? From experience I am guessing probably not.

The fact is we all have our wants, likes, etc. However so does everyone else. For any relationship to work we have to be willing to go that extra mile for someone else. So why not try?

The truth is it is difficult to put others first, in some areas its easy and even a pleasure, but in others it is actually really difficult sometimes even painful. Letting someone have their choice of a movie might be an easy thing to choose in love, but giving grace to a spouse that is under pressure at work and forgets an anniversary, not quite easy.

Why? Why is it harder to love them? I believe the reason is because it hurts more when our spouse forgets our anniversary than when they choose a movie.

So really we are battling ourselves not them. Yes they may have messed up and really hurt us but we have a choice. To love them. And Christ Himself saw to it that you have the Spirit in you that is able to love anyone, anytime, anywhere.

So today and the rest of the week be aware that God has enabled you to love every difficult person, even those closest to us and give grace to everyone that hurt you. Choose love today. And remember that the only thing stopping you from loving that person is your own self hurt.

Make the decision to love the other person and I guarantee that your relationships will be so much healthier and stronger as the Lord ministers His grace and mercy through you as you choose the selfless act of putting others first.

God’s Abundant Blessings,

Dayne Smith

 

 

 

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Experiencing Love Changes Everything…

The God we serve is one of love and love is His true nature. 1 John 4:8, – “He that loveth not knoweth not God; For God is love.”

1 Corinthians 13 describes what love is and that is exactly who God is! God is patient, God is kind, God rejoices in the truth, and more good things! Sadly many people today do not see God as love but as angry and full of judgement but that is not the true nature of God. We hear from people we need to be perfect and keep the commandments and focus on how we need to be “good enough” for God to accept us but that’s not true.

Many people are self-centered and keep looking at their sin thinking that the guilt will make them change instead of what God has done. God has done away with sin and reconciled us to Himself to us through Jesus. (2 Cor. 5:17-18, Col 1:19-20) Now looking at 1 John 4:8 we read that we can’t love if we don’t know God so how do we love? We get to know God but where to start? Let’s read,

Ephesians 3:18-19 “18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself].”
Isn’t that awesome! We get to know God by experiencing His love for us. God is not pushing mankind away from but wants to draw near to them if they will draw to Him but many believers don’t know this because they are focused on themselves instead of God’s love for them and the grace they have through Christ. 1 John 4:19 ” we love God because he first loved us”
Something to notice in these scriptures is that by experiencing God’s love we will be able to love!  So stop trying to perform and walk into God’s open arms and let God the Father love you unconditionally! He is for you and never against you and He is a father who loves you, who has given everything that you might know Him and experience His goodness.
To find out more on God’s love for you contact Charis Bible College 028-7222701 enquiries.hb.wc.za@awmcharis.com
and the website www.charisbiblecollege.org.za
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HOW TO STOP THE PAIN

Our life is like a garden and what we sow into our garden will bring joy or pain.  So many of us are experiencing pain in our lives and the more we try to fix the garden of our lives, on our own, we create more pain.

To stop the cycle of pain and the bad fruit in our lives is to discover what is most important in our lives and focus and that.  To deal with the bad fruit problem is not trying to remove it as it will always come back, but to focus on the finished work of the cross.

Take hold of the truth, that we are accepted in Jesus, we are righteous through Him, we qualify for every promise God has made.  As we focus on the truth we begin to eliminate the source that is feeding the bad fruit.  We begin dealing with the root.  Most often this root or source of pain, confusion and loss is the result of judgment which we have made – assuming to know why a person did what they did and then we react in a way that is not based on reality.  Only God has the right to judge.  He knows why people do what they do.

Jesus taught in (Matthew 7:1-2) Do not judge, or you too will be judged and with the same measure you will be judged.  As we judge (Luke 6:38) says it will be given back to us in greater measure.  So we create for ourselves even more pain.

If you want to find out more on how to stop the pain in your life, contact CHARIS BIBLE COLLEGE for more information.

written by:  Gaylyn Maree

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YOU WERE CREATED TO BE A FRIEND OF GOD

Everything God created was made for a purpose.  When He created Adam, he created a friend, one like himself, a spirit with the ability to choose.  Now God was allowing Adam to choose for himself, if he wanted God to be his friend, for friendship demanded is no friendship at all.

God had taken care of all Adams needs physically, emotionally and spiritually.  God had made his choice.  Adam and Eve chose to sin and walk away from the life of God and they  began to experience death, but God’s heart towards them never changed.  Sin drove them away from fellowship with Him.  Due to Adams sin we have all been born into sin, we have a sinful nature and in this condition we will not choose to be a friend of God.

Praise God for our Saviour Jesus!  Through Jesus we become born-again and we are given a brand new spirit, we are made friends of God, when we choose to receive Jesus as our Saviour.

That’s the grace of God, where we were far from Him, He made a plan to rescue us and through the work of the cross Jesus gives us spiritual life.  He gives us favour and every good thing that we don’t deserve, this is the goodness and kindness of God.

God allows you to choose.  He will never demand friendship, even though he loves you dearly.  If you are wanting to become a friend of God or to grow in your friendship with God contact Charis Bible College today.

Contact:  028-7222701 or enquiries@charisbiblecollege.org.za

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