With All Might E-Book

Riaan Engelbrecht

• Herausgeber: Riaan Engelbrecht
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Of the greatest commandment, we read in Mark 12 (NIV): “29 The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ We need to again place a spotlight on the word “strength”. So what does it then mean to serve God with all our strength? We can also ask do we really serve and love God with all our strength. For if we do, then we must make every effort, day and night, to obey God, to follow Him, to love Him, and to serve Him. We must do so with every ounce of our strength, with every ounce of conviction, and there must be no room, none whatsoever, for the world to steal our love for God, or our devotion, loyalty and faithfulness. To love God with all our strength (might) is to constantly all the time seek His will, His ways and truth. It calls for us to pay attention to God, to be serious about Him above everything else and to love Him as our First Love.

Leseprobe

Also by the same author:

Perilous Times Series Volumes 1- 10

In Pursuit of God Series Volumes 1 -13

The Holy Spirit Series Volumes 1 - 3

The Disciple of God Series Volumes 1 - 5 (Vol 2 Part A and B)

Deliverance Volumes 1 – 3 (Vol 1 Part A and B)

Crossroads to Freedom Volumes 1-4

The Kingdom of God Series Volumes 1- 4

The Prophetic Series Volumes 1-4

With All Might

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The author’s intellectual property rights are protected by international Copyright law. You are licensed to use this digital copy strictly for your personal enjoyment only: it must not be redistributed or offered for sale in any form.

Scriptures quotes from the New Kings James Bible, King James, Amplified, and the New International Version.

For more free study material and audio visit http://avishuaministries.wixsite.com/avishua

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Intro

Hebrews 11 – Faith

Hebrews 4 – Shalom Rest

1 Thessalonians 5 – Spirit of God

2 Peter 3 – Holiness

2 Timothy 4 – Run the Race

Deuteronomy 6 – Obedience

Ephesians 4 – Walk with God

2 Peter 1 – Progressive Growth

Exodus 33 – Glory and Presence

1 Thessalonians 1 – Truth

Galatians 5 – Liberty

Genesis 49 - Excellence

Isaiah 30 – Idolatry

2 Samuel 22 - Life of David

Psalm 37 – Ways of God

1 Timothy 6 – Righteousness

Acts 15 – Strong in God

Matthew 6 – Will of God

1 Corinthians 9 – Conviction

Joshua 1 – Courage

John 15 – Abide

Leviticus 6 – Sacrifice

Luke 13 – Narrow Gate

Matthew 5 – Salt and Light

Persevere in the Kingdom

Proverbs 3 – Wisdom

Love, obey and serve with all might as David danced

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About the Author

Intro

Of the greatest commandment, we read in Mark 12 (NIV): “28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Our focus is on the word “strength”. The NKJV also renders the translation as “strength”. In Matthew 22 of the greatest commandment we read, “37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” In this instance, the word “strength” is not used. Is this important? Recently, the Lord has placed it on my heart to return to the greatest commandment, specifically as stated in Mark 12, and more specifically how we are to serve and love the Lord with all our strength, or in other words, with all our might.

What Jesus said in Mark 12 is what Moses said in “Deuteronomy 6: 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” God doesn’t change. Of Israel under the Old Covenant He called them to serve and love Him with all their strength. Of the disciples under the New Covenant, the same applies.

So what does it then mean to serve God with all our strength? We can also ask do we really serve and love God with all our strength. For if we do, then we must make every effort, day and night, to obey God, to follow Him, to love Him, and to serve Him. We must do so with every ounce of our strength, with every ounce of conviction, and there must be no room, none whatsoever, for the world to steal our love for God, or our devotion, loyalty and faithfulness. To love God with all our strength (might) is to constantly all the time seek His will, His ways and truth. It calls for us to pay attention to God, to be serious about Him above everything else and to love Him as our First Love.

2 Peter 1 (NIV) for example admonishes us as follows: “5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.” The NKJ translates “making every effort” as giving all diligence.

Paul writes the following to the church in Ephesus: “Ephesians 1: 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.”

Paul’s prayed that the believers would by wisdom, revelation and understanding in the knowledge of Christ come to grasp the exceeding greatness of God’s power, which works according to God’s mighty power. And that power and might of God that works within all believers by the Holy Spirit is above all “principality, and power, and might, and dominion”! There is, therefore, no power or authority that is greater or stronger than God. And such power works within the believer.

We need to understand that we can serve and love God with all our might and strength, free from the worldly influences and negative destructive forces of this world because His strength and power that is greater than anything else that works within us! Yes, by that power all creation was formed, and such power is vested in God who resides within the believer through the Spirit of God. For this reason, we can overcome, be joyous, victorious, and be at peace.

1 Corinthians 15 says, “58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” In God’s strength we can stand firm, because God is faithful. Exodus 15 declares, “2 The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him. Also read “Isaiah 33: 5 The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. 6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is His treasure.” In God’s strength, we can flourish and prosper, spiritually above anything else, to honour and glorify God.

Paul also writes in “Ephesians 3: 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.” We are, therefore, strengthened by God’s glory, and we are strengthened by the Spirit of God according to the spiritual riches (treasures) of His glory. And such glory speaks of God’s very nature, and the weightiness of His divinity works within the believer when we yield and submit to His will. Glory to God, for when we abide in His presence by His strength, we then are grounded in glorious love so that we may love and serve God with all our strength!

Paul conveys the same idea in “Colossians 1: 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

Philippians 4 says, “9 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Take note, “according to His riches in glory”. We shall enjoy a life of blessing, hope, triumph and provision when we seek His glory above all when we seek to abide in such glory (read John 15) and we seek to honour God’s glory with our strength in our conduct, speech and faith.

Philippians 4 connects with Matthew 6:33 where we are urged to seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness above all, and then rest shall be added. This scripture is part of Jesus’ teaching on the Lord’s Prayer, which embodies seeking God’s Kingdom and His will above all else, and in doing so, we are reminded that God will supply us with all our needs (according to His will and plan and purpose).

Again, Ephesians 3 speaks of being strengthened with might by his Spirit, which connects to Isaiah 11m which says “2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” We can only serve God with all our might and strength when we are led by the Spirit of God. For the Spirit leads us to serve God with wisdom, knowledge, understanding and might! Yes, in the Spirit we abide in God’s glory, and in such glory, we find the strength to serve and love God with all our strength.

This is why Philippians 4 says, “13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” and also “2 Corinthians 12:9: And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” And as we are strengthened by God’s strength, we walk in the reality of Isaiah 40 that says, “29 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.”

Paul was certainly a servant of God who loved God with all his strength. He was, therefore, because of his obedience and willingness to serve God able to write in “2 Timothy 4: 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever.”

Glory to God, in God’s strength we find deliverance. In His glory we walk in hope. By His power we are rescued. For by His might and as we serve and the Lord by such strength we walk also in the reality of Psalm 91, where Moses reminds us that the Lord shall indeed protect His servants from the devourer, be it pestilence, sickness, spiritual attacks and from the snare of the fowler. Paul after all knew all about being strengthened by God and being delivered by God, just consider the time that he was rescued from the dangers of a shipwreck.

Another follower of God who certainly knew about being strengthened was King David, who surely served God with all of his strength. By the power of God he slew Goliath, and by the strength of God he overcame the murderous attempts of Saul and countless of enemies. He writes in “Psalm 18:1 I will love You, O Lord, my strength, the Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, ... 32 It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect,” and also “Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer,” and “Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.”

Indeed, we read in “Proverbs 10:29 The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.” Glory to God. We need to seek the way of God earnestly, for on such a path we find the Lord’s strength to overcome fear, trials and tribulations. In His strength, we can endure, overcome and thrive to His glory.

There is a well-known Scripture, Ephesians 3:20-21, which reads: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever." This Scripture has been preached countless times in churches, yet so often it is spoken to apply within a personal context, thus self-empowerment. It is often spoken in the context that we must dream big, be creative, and achieve more in our lives, even beyond our imagination, because of the power that works within us. Ephesians 3 is often also coupled with Philippians 4 which reads: "13 I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers."

The reality is that it is because of the Western mindset that life basically revolves around the person, thus the Self, that Scripture is no longer Christ-centered. And so churches have equated the above verses with personal empowerment, enrichment and fulfilment, thus a life of reaching goals and dreams to the benefit of the Self, be it in the form of a career, of becoming wealthy or even becoming famous. This even implies to kingdom-building. So churches encourage people to dream big and live big, but within the context of the Western mindset of a grand life of materialism, of need, want and earthly treasures.

Yet, when Paul wrote his epistles, and when he was speaking about Jesus who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, he was surely not thinking of a fancy lifestyle, of becoming famous, or wealthy, or notorious, or even dreaming big of a grand career in ministry or tent-making. Paul was surely thinking of the Gospel. This is man who suffered for the Gospel, and who endured opposition from the Romans, the Greeks and even his own brethren who held onto the Law. The entire life of Paul spoke of a man who was Christ-focused and Christ-centered. So when Paul spoke of doing all things through Him who strengthens and empowers, it was not about his career, reputation, or brand image. It was about the Gospel. Paul was always speaking within the context of the Gospel.

His entire life was about preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and not merely about his own glory. He therefore could do all things in the power of God which will benefit not the Self, but the Kingdom of God. His focus was on God, on the lost and those who still needed to be liberated from the slavery of religious mindsets, Roman Empire indoctrination and Greek philosophy. He knew the road of humility and staying humble in the service of Jesus who is the hope of Glory.

In the Amplified Bible, Philippians 4 reads as follows: “13 I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfil His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency).” So in terms of power that works within, which is the Holy Spirit, Paul saw it as necessary for completing his task, thus his mandate.

Peter wrote the following in “2 Peter 1:3: By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one how called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence.”

According to Peter, we have been empowered not for self-enrichment and self-empowerment, but for godly living which exalts and glorifies the Lord. Interestingly enough, in the Eastern psyche, enlightenment and empowerment are the cause and effect of new personal awareness or consciousness. Thus, a spiritual process.

They are considered two integral parts of one learning process for self-knowledge. In the East, you cannot experience empowerment without first becoming enlightened spiritually, and psychologically, as well. However, in the West, enlightenment and empowerment are often two distinctly unrelated concepts. Thus, where enlightenment and empowerment are part of a whole in Eastern culture, they are two distinct concepts in Western culture.

Merriam-Webster describes “empowerment” as the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life or one’s rights. In churches these days, we are so focused on becoming self-empowered yet not enlightened in terms of growing truly closer to God. We thus use God for our empowerment, thus to grow confident and strong in our abilities to become all that we can become, yet we remain spiritually impoverished and bankrupt.

This is all to be blamed on the Western mindset of greed and power, how we view the world and even how we have viewed spiritual matters. It says in “Matthew 6: 33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.” Thus according to Jesus, we must first seek enlightenment, meaning being spiritually reborn (John 3) and drawing closer to God, and then we shall be empowered not for our glory but for the glory of God. And this is why the power on high (Acts 1:7), thus the Spirit of the Lord, works within the believer, so that we can be enlightened in the knowledge and the truth of the Kingdom, and also then be empowered to obey, to be faithful, and to complete our task here on earth.

For Paul, it was never about self-empowerment without Christ, but always being empowered to glorify the Lord in the truth of the Kingdom. We have received power on high, not for self-empowerment of reaching big dreams, but to see God glorified and to preach the Gospel in its truth and in the Spirit to the world.

May we remain Christ-centered and Christ-focussed, and seek the Lord to fulfil the Great Commission and bring Him the Glory by whose power and grace we have been saved and redeemed.

May He enlighten us to the truth of His ways and His Kingdom for us to be empowered to run the race, keep the course and see the Kingdom established in many lives.

Hebrews 11 – Faith

The above chapter is very known as the “faith” chapter. It speaks of the great exploits of those who have walked in the faith of God to the glory of God. Since Hebrews 11:6 says that “without faith it is impossible to please God”, then we must earnestly seek to walk in faith.

We need to make every effort to walk in radical faith that places all its hope and trust in a radical God, for whom all things are possible. Mark 11:23, 24 says: “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” There has always been men and women of dangerous faith in the church, but do we have enough of them? Do we have enough of those who believe in the impossible? For Jesus said ‘just believe.” Dangerous faith is possible because our faith rests solely on an infallible and great God. These are indeed days when we need to have our faith strengthened.

Smith Wigglesworth, the man of faith, said that God has designed that the just shall live by faith. And this is so true. He also said: “Any man can be changed by faith, no matter how he may be fettered. I know that God’s word is sufficient. One word from Him can change a nation. His word is from everlasting to everlasting.” (www.smithwigglesworth.com)

Wigglesworth is a well-known figure in British church history and he is one of these heroes who inherited the promises of God in his lifetime. Wigglesworth was a Pentecostal preacher from Bradford, who proved that living a life of faith attracts the supernatural working of God. His life tells the extraordinary tale of a man who, though beset by numerous human deficiencies and defects, lived a life of signs, wonder and miracles because he knew his God. Dangerous faith that pleases God truly flows from a deep conviction of who God is. As we read His Word and believe the promises that He has so graciously given to us, we are made partakers of His very essence and life.

Then there is the missionary John G Lake (1870– 1935) and the incredible faith he showed in a great God when he came into contact with sickness, bacteria and viruses. The amazing thing is, he never got sick. Instead, the power in the Blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit proved far more powerful! Do we really comprehend the power of God? If we do, then we shall be moved by dangerous faith. Do we really comprehend the power in the Blood of Jesus? Do we really comprehend the power of the Holy Spirit?

It seems rather these days we as believers are more scared of viruses, bacteria, the world and the devil than God! We are more afraid instead of realising we are more than conquerors, and in the Blood of Jesus is healing, restoration, deliverance and redemption! Yes, the Blood of Jesus is the solution, the cure and the answer! The Blood saves. The Blood cures any ailment, and disease, any corruption of the spirit and the soul! Just believe, just believe.

Regarding John G Lake, the story goes that when the Ebola virus erupted in Africa, killing thousands without restraint or cure, it left the medical world perplexed. Lake, however, laid hands on infected people who were not to be touched. The slightest contact with any secretion from an infected person is all it takes for transmission. Lake along with his Holy Ghost-filled team brought to an abrupt end the spread of the deadly virus!

When asked by the medical world how he did it, Lake had this to say: “I have the life of God in me, every virus that comes in contact with me dies.” Reports go that he asked them to get an inoculum from an infected person and observe it under a microscope to ascertain viral activities in it. They did and confirmed the living and multiplying virus. He then asked them to put the inoculum on his palm and observe it under the microscope. This time there were no more activities. All were dead upon contact with him. Lake said that this is a testimony of the power of a life-giving God! And he pointed out that every child of God has this life because he that has the Son has this life. And such life is radical, real and glorious!

Indeed, Lake like Wigglesworth would have stood on the promise of “Mark 16:15-18: And these signs shall follow them that believe, in my Name, they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them, they shall lay hand on the sick and they shall recover.”

Then there was the story of the controversial faith healer John Alexander Dowie (1847 – 1907), who at one time wrote how he sat in his study in the parsonage of the Congregational Church at Newtown, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. At the time his heart was very heavy, for he had had visited the sick and dying beds of more than thirty of his flock. He prayed for some message to help him in such troubling times, and that is when he was led to Acts 10:38. This passage revealed unto him that Satan is the defiler, and Christ as the Healer. He saw the way of healing is Christ, and subsequently moved in great faith to see the sick and dying delivered and healed by the power of God.

Yes, faith comes by hearing the Word of God! Just as Dowie was moved to take action by faith, just so the Reformer Martin Luther was moved into action when he grasped the reality that the righteous shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). Faith commands power; faith comes from the Word of God - those who fear the Lord live in the truth and power of the Word!

We need to move in radical faith for nothing can stand against God. We must trust God and His Word to rest in such radical and glorious mountain-moving faith. Towards the end of 2018, The Lord stirred my spirit to be awakened to the greatness of God. For the Lord at the time spoke about how even those who follow and worship Him have forgotten who this great and almighty God is. If we truly know Him, we shall move by great faith.

I remember years ago, during my quiet time, I had a brief yet an intense encounter with God. It felt almost like my entire body was unable to be in the presence of the Almighty. I was reminded of the Scripture that no flesh should glory in His Presence (1 Corinthians 1:29). I still believe that encounter served one specific purpose – it reminded me of who I am and who God is. In other words, I am man, and He is God. Period. Moses had such an encounter with God. He faced God as the Great I AM. God appeared to Moses in the burning bush just before he was mandated by the hand of God to lead the people out of slavery. We read in Exodus 3: 4 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

He is I AM. Glorious, wonderful, and magnificent. He exists and is real. Before all and He shall forever be. I believe that the church has in the haze of religion, legalism and traditionalism forgotten who this mighty God is. Do we still truly believe and know who this God is? Why then do we mock Him so by adopting our standards of right and wrong?

Why then has the Church become so much about man and not about God? The Apostle Paul was a man of great humility, and he truly knew his place, and who God is. He never sought to boast about himself but sought to always boast about God. Galatians 6:14: But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

In the days of Moses, the people had certainly forgotten who the God of Abraham was. They had endured 400 years of slavery that had blinded them to the truth, just as the Pharisees and Sadducees would become blinded spiritually because of religion. They had become comfortable. When God spoke to Moses, it was so that the people had to be reminded of who God is.

They needed to be reminded of God’s greatness. Years later, Moses would remind the people of the following in Deuteronomy 6: 10 “So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, 11 houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full— 12 then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 13 You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. 14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you 15 (for the Lord your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.”

Have we forgotten who God is? Have we forgotten His goodness and greatness? Are we blinded by the need to be great and worthy? More than ever we need to be reminded of who this great God is. Yes, He makes the blind see and the lame walk, but ultimately He saves us from damnation by the forgiveness of our trespasses. He died on the cross so that we may be redeemed and may lead a life of spiritual prosperity. The story of God’s greatness does not begin in the New Testament, but it begins before all things, and for mankind, the story begins with Adam and Eve. After all, we have dismissed the Old Testament, and so have forgotten who God is – the great and almighty God who spoke light and it was. It says in “Psalm 145: 3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.”

How awesome, how delightful, how beautiful, how mesmerising and how encouraging when we truly begin to realise who this amazing God is whom we serve! In our world of so many religions, what other ‘god’ can even come close by reputation or by the testimony of deeds to our Lord, the Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Sadly, Israel after the days of David and Solomon began to lose its respect, its awe and its wonder at the Lord whom it served as a nation. King David, when he penned the above psalm, was still very mindful of his God who gave Him life. He wrote against the backdrop of a landscape of great deeds that the Lord had done for Israel for years on end. How else but to praise and worship this amazing and great God! For if we stand in faith and we stand in the realisation of the God we serve, then surely the challenges and the obstacles and the fears of this life will pale in the light of His greatness and goodness.

It was by faith in this awesome God, instilled in the Israelites that the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. It was by faith in this great God that the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days.

It was by faith in this powerful God that men like Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets conquered kingdoms, administered justice and gained what was promised, who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames and escaped the edge of the sword, whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. It was by faith in this living God that the Bible testifies to women who received back their dead.

Many throughout the ages have faced jeers and flogging, have been chained and put in prison, have been stoned while others were sawed in two or were put to death by the sword – all was done in the faith of a better tomorrow and in the hope of the resurrection. They died for their faith was in a great and awesome God. When the disciples were in the boat along with Jesus a great storm came and they were filled with fear. Jesus said the following in Matthew 8:26: But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” Jesus rebuked them for having so little faith. This may be harsh, but the reality is that at times we have forgotten whom we serve. If we truly know God and His greatness, why they will our faith be so small? It says in “Psalm 97:5: The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.” When we fail in our faith, it is an insult to God for we have forgotten that we serve an awesome God! Weak faith cannot please God.

We serve an almighty God, so fear not, and be full of faith! The Bible speaks of many who went about in sheepskins and goatskins, who were destitute, persecuted and mistreated – these men and women wandered in deserts and mountains and slept in caves and holes in the ground. But by faith, they endured to the glory of the Lord, for their hope and trust and faith rested in this loving God whom they know is worthy of praise and deserves all our love.

In Daniel 4 we read of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, who defied the one and true Lord, and thus was humbled for many months, having to eat grass like an animal. But once he was restored, Daniel records how this powerful ruler of the earth then praised the Most High, honouring and glorifying the Lord who lives forever. Verse 34: His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" ... 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.

Glory to our Lord! Nebuchadnezzar, so full of pride and arrogance, had to admit that his greatness paled when compared to the power of God. And just so the apparent greatness of all so-called gods and deities of this world is but like dust in the wind when it comes to the splendour and the glory of our incredible God. For this God gives life and upholds the universe of billions upon billions of stars. Earth is but a speckle of dust in the greater cosmos, but God knows every one’s names, our fears, our hopes, our needs and our longings. 

Moses penned the words that would become the Book of Deuteronomy at the end of Israel’s wandering through the desert. Moses at the time reminded the people who they are, where they came from and who this awesome God is whom they serve. He was after all speaking to new generations who had not passed from Egypt into the wilderness so Moses had to remind them of God’s greatness, lest they forget how great He is. 

Moses spoke these lasting words for all generations to come (Deuteronomy 10): “12 And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? 14 To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. ...  17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.”

Praise our Lord for He is good, awesome, incredible and wonderful.  Do we as His people still respect Him for whom He is? Do we give Him enough credit through praise and worship? Do we still have faith in this awesome God? And indeed, if we have faith in Him and respect this awesome God, let us then respect His name, let us respect the sacrifice of Jesus, let us respect the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by being living testimonies of His love and goodness. Let us be the light of this world and let the world know we are Christians by our love.

And so, let us ponder the greatness of God. From the majesty of the heavens, ruling all dominion, Jesus becomes a small baby. Conceived and carried for nine months, for He is Life and He shall forever be the One who grants us the physical breath and the spiritual regeneration of hope and glory. In the smallness of His frame lies the greatness of His Kingdom. In His cry as a newborn is a cry on the cross of “Father forgive them’ still echoes. In His hunger, lies the greatness of His divinity to feed all who starve for He is the Living Bread of Heaven. In His thirst as a babe, we shall forever know He offers the Living Waters and all we drink will never be thirsty again. In His vulnerability, lies the power of His humility.

In the complexities of being a new life, rested the complexities of being Sovereign and Lord of all.  In the frailty offered by a makeshift manger, we still find a God who upholds all as He cradled and protected Noah in an ark. Yes, He was held and loved by human hands, but His greatness will forever shine through as even then He reminded us that He would hold us all by loving hands that will never fail or grow weak.

We serve an awesome and great God. Never doubt that truth. In the smallest detail of His creation is the reflection of His greatness, for we remain the reflection of His Glory if we shall only yield to His divinity that was once enwrapped in humanity. And the thumbprint He left behind as a child, forever His identity shines through in all of those who call Him Christ. We are His Creation – adopted, and brought to glorious life in the realisation of His splendour and beauty.  We serve an awesome God – from havens to the cradle to the cross and the grave, but now we are free because of the greatness of His love.

It says in 1 Chronicles 16:25: “For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods.” And also Psalm 96:4: “For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.” Yes, He deserves to be praised, to be adorned, and to be worshipped for He has made all! 1 Chronicles 29:11: "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

Yes, this is a great and mighty God! We read in Ephesians 1:19-20: and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.

This is a God who gives life, not just physically, but also spiritually! This is a God of splendour and wonder, of majesty and glory. There is none like Him. Of the Spirit of the Lord, we read in "Isaiah 11: 2 The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord."

Yes, all wisdom belongs to God. All power. All majesty and all glory. There is none like Him. "Psalm 145: 3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom."

And because we serve such an awesome God, Hebrews 11 which speaks of the heavenly hope becomes a reality in our lives. There is none like Him. Saviour. Redeemer. Wonderful Counsellor. Lord of lords. King of kings.

Do we still truly BELIEVE this is the Mighty Lord who still heals, who still delivers, who still prospers, for still makes a way” Just believe, just believe. Sing Hallelujah. Sing to the Lamb that was slain and the One who has the power to open the seals in heaven. It is time to believe in the IMPOSSIBLE. Believe in the Glory. Believe God will sustain. Believe God will part the way. Believe. Just believe cries the Lord! Oh child of God, is not a mustard seed but small, so the Lord asks not of the impossible, but just the simple cry of obedience, of faithfulness and to know He is the Lord of Love and Mercy. Just believe, for the Lord who shook Egypt and Babylon, who has shaken the hearts of man and the ground we walk on, surely this Great I Am shall be with His children. Just believe!

Nothing, but nothing says the Lord is impossible to Him. Nothing but nothing can defeat Him. Nothing is greater than Him. Nothing is more powerful than Him. Nothing is more awesome than Him. Just believe! Believers, it is time to step out in faith. It is time to believe in the Glory that will shake the heavens and the earth. For the Lord is moved by the righteous who move in faith!

Do we believe He not only heals but He keeps us healthy? Do we believe He is the Lord who will guard us against all sickness, dread diseases and injuries? Do we believe He is the same God who spoke through Moses in Exodus 15: 26: “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

Just believe for it says in Luke 1:37: “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Is anything too hard for me says the Lord? So why fear? Has the Blood of the Lord lost its power? Its value? Its hope? Is Jesus not the same as ever and tomorrow? Is He is the Lion of Judah? Is He not the Balm of Gilead? Glory to God. For yes, all praise belongs to Him. All the praise. All the glory. He is the Mighty One. He is the I Am. No man shall stand against Him. No man shall defeat Him. No spiritual force can destroy Him. For those who stand with Him stands in the ever great might of our God who still saves, still heals and still delivers!

Today, the Lord asks us as His children: Do we believe? Did He not say in John 11: “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Glory to God! It is time to step out of faith. Believe and trust not in this world, but have faith in the Almighty! Seek Him! Have faith for He shall make a way! Let not your heart be troubled and let not your knees buckle. For He shall carry you. For He shall strengthen you to run and to walk in His might and glory. For He shall be your refuge and High Tower. Why fear?

Come, come all, and bow before Majesty. Bow before the Great I Am. He washes away all sins. Break all yokes. Destroys all bondages. Not even the gates of hell shall prevail against the steadfast believer! Let us sing the Song of Moses: “The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him. 3 The LORD is a man of war; The LORD is His name.”

In 2 Corinthians 4 we read “7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.”

Glory to God that is radical and dangerous faith! It is faith that keeps us going no matter what the situation or the circumstances. It is faith that keeps us standing strong in the fire, in the storm, in the suffering, in the pain, in the good days and in the days of peril and strife! For such faith flows from Christ who overcame the grave! It is a faith that cannot be destroyed or crushed. We just need to believe in a great and mighty God! Oh yes, we may be at times hard-pressed, perplexed and even persecuted, but glory to God we shall arise, be full of praise and joy for we shall not despair! Our God is for us and we shall not be forsaken. Indeed, this world may strike us down, but we shall not be destroyed. Glory to God. All praise my Lord, all praise belongs to You! Let the world sing Hallelujah! Let the Church sing Hallelujah!

Saints, there are two key areas where we still fall short in our spiritual walk and growth. One is faith and the other is trust. Faith in the Lord and trust in the Lord is terribly lacking. Yet, aren’t they the same we might ponder? No. Faith is to believe the Lord can do something. Trust is to believe the Lord will do something. We know the Lord can provide and heal and deliver and lead us on the right path. Do we however believe that the Lord will? For the Lord says He is always by our side, all that He asks is for us to trust in Him.

We have no peace, for we do not trust. The Lord knows the path that we tread, He knows the pitfalls and He knows what destination we must reach and at what time we must do so. The Lord sees things that we can’t, knows things and hears things. He is the beginning and the end, yet we take His hand and trust Him to lead us over the rocky path and the good path. We must not believe that He can but that He will. Faith and trust. Yet we lack in both. We say we do, yet our daily lives testify that we rarely trust in the Lord. If we don’t trust, we walk in our effort. If we don’t trust, we walk in deception and rely on the strength of this world. How much do we trust Him? It is a question of surrendering to His will.

Do we believe He will do what He says He will? Sure, we have faith in His abilities, yet do we trust Him with all that we are and all that we have? Trust me, says the Lord and then you will be free and then you will have peace.

If we, however, stand still long enough in His presence and allow Him to reveal our lack of trust in Him, we will be shocked at our lack. Indeed, these days, even our faith runs aground for we will in the natural.  The Lord looks down and finds His children do not trust Him to lead them in the everlasting way of His hand. Trust, says the Lord. Just trust in Him. Lay it all down. Everything. Rely never on your own strength and that man knows the true path.

Faith has run dry because man has forgotten true worship, for true worship is the act of leaning towards, in trembling realisation and an ever-deepening spiritual hunger, the throne of the Father.

Faith has been shipwrecked because of our love of this world, because of our love of the natural and our love for the self. Our faith has become shallow and so has our spiritual walk in truth for the strength of our flesh shines so brightly and the arrogance of our fortitude weakens our humble resolve. Indeed, the Bride has forgotten the voice of the Bridegroom. The Bride has forgotten what the footsteps of the Father sound like. The Bride has lost the beauty of His splendour, the exhilaration of His breath and the strength of His heartbeat.

In Luke 18, we read how Jesus challenges us to walk in persistent faith.  Persistent faith comes when we continue believing and keep on hoping in God’s Word. It says in "2 Peter 1: 2 May grace (God’s favour) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue)."

In our search for meaning, man has lamely crawled towards false lights of hope. Man has crawled away from the Cross, away from the true nature of serving the King and away from glorifying the Son. Mankind has lost the knowledge of being completely and utterly captivated by the Spirit. Is it any wonder why our faith is shipwrecked? We trust not in the Lord but in man, for we dwell in the natural and not the supernatural.

Words or actions cannot comprehend faith. Faith is Spirit. Faith is supernatural. Only when we behold Him in true worship, there where we are silent and abandoned to His will, will we know Him and know faith and know love and know the truth.  Our faith will again rise when we seek true union with Him. Let not our trust be manifested in things that are constructed upon shifting sands of illusions and delusions. Comprehending the Father will only take place when we reside in the Spirit. Let us then make every effort to walk in radical and dangerous faith that pleases God, for then we truly serve the Lord with all our strength!

Hebrews 4 – Shalom Rest

We read in the above Scripture: “4 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” 6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” 

We need to earnestly seek the rest of God. For many, this speaks of honouring the Sabbath. Yet, if we study Hebrews 4 and the Sabbath, you will find to walk in God’s rest is all about loving and serving God with all our strength.

In the Old Testament, keeping the Sabbath holy [or hallow] involved a physical approach to the day, such as not working or not carrying a burden. Under the Law of Moses, there were numerous commandments on how to treat the Sabbath holy. This includes for example:

• Not to travel on Shabbat outside the limits of one's place of residence (Exodus. 16:29)

• To sanctify Shabbat (Exodus 20:8)

• Not to do work on Shabbat (Exodus 20:10)

• To rest on Shabbat (Exodus 23:12; 34:21)

The big debate in the churches these days is do we uphold the Sabbath, and if so, how? Well, the 10 Commandments instruct us to do so, so the only question that remains is how. We need to understand that according to the New Covenant, Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. And this connects directly with walking in God’s rest, and we do so being honouring the greatest commandment.

It says in “Luke 6: 1 Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. 2 And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 3 But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” 5 And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Luke 6 demonstrates that ultimately, to keep the Sabbath holy under the Covenant of the Blood is to honour the Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus fulfilled the Laws regarding the physical requirements of Sabbath by becoming the Sabbath and thus spiritually fulfilling and completing the requirements. He taught about fulfilling the Law in Matthew 5. We, therefore, keep and follow the Sabbath when we follow God and stay obedient and faithful to His commandments.

What is the significance for us today when it comes to keeping the Sabbath holy and not allowing the Sabbath to become defiled? Again, we have to remind ourselves that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5).

In the Old Testament, the Sabbath had to uphold as a physical commandment by obeying rules and regulations. But under the New Covenant, the Sabbath is no longer a physical ceremony but it is a spiritual embodiment to be found in the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings - He who is Jesus.  Therefore to keep the Sabbath holy and hallow means not to follow a physical regulation or law by for example keeping a certain day aside, but it means to keep one’s entire life aside for purity and holiness as one follows God in Spirit and Truth!

Jesus is the truth and the light and the way. To keep the Sabbath holy, is to follow His Truth, His Way and Life all day, every day, and every minute! It is not about just keeping one day holy, but keeping one’s entire life holy. This then means to have a clean and pure and contrite heart, for then one will ascend the hill of the Lord and stand in His Presence. To, therefore, keep the Sabbath is not only a weekly occurrence – as what we get with Sunday Christians – but every day and every second commitment for we are in a relationship with God. To follow the true Sabbath by serving the Lord translates into a higher spiritual commitment and a higher spiritual walk of loyalty and dedication, which requires denying the self and carrying the cross.