In Acts chapter 3, Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray. A lame man was carried to the gate of the temple each day, to beg from the people who went to the temple. The man begged Peter and John for something to meet his physical needs. Peter had no money to give to the man, but offered something worth much more than money. “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk””(Acts 3:6). Peter held the man by his hand and immediately, his feet regained strength. The man leapt to his feet and went into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God.

The people who saw this man walking were amazed. They ran towards Peter and John because of this great miracle. Peter did not accept the glory for himself, but used this as an opportunity to minister about Jesus Christ. He told them that Jesus had been sent to save the world from their sins. In their ignorance, they rejected Jesus Christ and commanded that he be crucified. Peter acknowledged that they did this out of ignorance and to also fulfil what was prophesied. All was not lost for the people, but Peter admonished them to repentance.

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). Peter confirmed that their act of repentance, would lead to times of refreshing in the presence of God. As such, the people could approach God with a clear conscience. Although the people had sinned against God, he was faithful to forgive their sins and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness. ““Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

Sin can separate us from God, because a guilty conscience makes it difficult for us to be truly free before God. The good news is that the solution is extremely easy. Confess your sins to God, repent of your sin and accept God’s forgiveness. God places our sins into the sea of forgetfulness and he remembers them no more. When the devil tries to remind you of your sins and mistakes, remind him of his future in hell. God does not condemn you, so walk in freedom, knowing that you are forgiven. Whom the son sets free is free indeed. With this freedom, you can come boldly before God, knowing that you will be refreshed.

A.P.-Y.

Earlier in Genesis 37, Joseph was thrown in a pit and later sold by his brothers into slavery. Joseph’s brothers hated him because he was favoured by his father. Added to this was Joseph’s dreams which suggested that he would rule over his brothers. Fast forward a few years and Joseph is now the Prime Minister of Egypt. Joseph presides over a famine and has stored up enough grain, so people from other countries came to buy supplies. Joseph’s brothers also turned up in Egypt to buy supplies for their family. Joseph recognised his brothers, but they did not know that it was Joseph.

Joseph treated them harshly, as a test of their character. He first put them in prison and ordered them to send for their younger brother. This younger brother was Joseph’s brother that his mother bore. Joseph reasoned that if his brothers hated him, then they would also hate his brother. This is because Jacob loved Joseph’s mother more than his other wives. He was likely to cherish Joseph’s brother since he has lost Joseph. “Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us”” (Genesis 42:21).

Joseph wept as he listened to his brothers, as their conversation signalled remourse for their wrong doing. Despite this initial acknowledgment between them, Joseph tested them again. This time he threatened the life and safety of his brother Benjamin. Joseph’s brothers showed a willingness, to sacrifice their own lives for their brother. This provided the evidence which Joseph needed to assure him that his brothers had changed. He was now confident that he could reveal himself to them, because they were no longer a threat to his life.

Joseph had forgiven his brothers long before their visit to Egypt. What Jospeh needed to establish was whether or not he could trust them. We have to forgive anyone who has hurt us. Establishing trust is another task and we cannot give away our trust. The reality is that we can never guarantee that people will not hurt us. However, when people have demonstrated the capacity to cause you harm, it is wise to establish trust. Allow people to earn your trust and demonstrate evidence that they have changed. People do grow and change, but it is unwise to assume that time alone creates change. We need to set standards and allow people to demonstrate that they are trust worthy.

A.P.-Y.

David spoke of nations noisily assembling against him. They devised plots in vain, as the Kings of the earth prepared for battle. They took council together against the Lord and against his anointed people. “Let us break apart their [divine] bands [of restraint] And cast away their cords [of control] from us” (Psalms 2:3). God’s response to this is laughter and mockery. “It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in” (Isaiah 40:22).

God brings princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. David later said in Psalm 2, that God is ready to give us the nations for our inheritance. God will allow us to possess the ends of the earth. “You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2:9). David’s warning was that Kings and rulers of the earth should exercise wisdom. They should serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Our God is a great and terrible God, who keeps the covenant of mercy to those who love him and obey his commandments (Nehemiah 1:5).

There is no king like our God, no ruler as strong and mighty as our God. World leaders exercise dominance and threaten to take control. “But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap” (Malachi 3:2). Our weapons are not carnal, but mighty through God to pull down strongholds. We laugh at the empty threats of the enemy. We laugh at his attempts to cause us fear, because we will not be defeated with the Lord on our side. The battle belongs to God, so we will hold our peace and God will fight for us. We will never be defeated with the Lord on our side.

“but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming” (Psalm 37:13).

A.P.-Y.

David was rumoured to have danced so hard before God that his clothes fell off. What the scripture actually says is that, “And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod” (2 Samuel 6:14). This ephod was a sleeveless garment worn by the Priests. David would have worn this under his royal robes and kingly garments. On this occasion, in worship and adoration to God, David laid aside his royal apparel in order to worship God. As a backdrop to this story, David initially set out to take the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem.

They built a cart to transport the ark, the ark fell, Uzzah reached out to save it and died. David became afraid of the Lord and left the ark in the house of Obed-Edom. The Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom and David was told about this. David went to collect the ark and take it back to Jerusalem with joy. On this occasion however, the ark was carried on the shoulders of the priests, as God had prescribed. David’s expression of worship included, singing and dancing before God. David danced until his wife became contemptuous and possibly embarrassed.

She scolded David for uncovering himself, before the male and female servants, as he danced before God. “I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honour” (2 Samuel 6:22). David’s heart was so set on worship and praise before God, that he was not worried about the opinion of others. He worshipped God, with the freedom to express his gratitude.

Most people use dance as a form of celebration at parties and other events. Yet some people remain stoic and barely express any emotions in a church setting. God is not a dead, boring, religious fanatic who values rigidity over joy and celebration. We use our bodies as an expression of gratitude unto God. The next time you are in a church service, make sure that you go prepared to sing, dance and celebrate before God. “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2)!

A.P.-Y.

In Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia, he encouraged the brethren to bear one another’s burdens. He cautioned them to be humble and look after those who taught the word. “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). Paul was saying that if we sow to the flesh, then we will reap corruption, but if we sow to the spirit, then we will reap eternal life. Paul taught them not to become weary or tired, of doing good unto others. A due season is coming, when everyone will reap if they remain patient.

Paul placed special emphasis on doing good, especially to other believers. We are one in the body of Christ. If we are all one body, how can we abuse each other and think that this will be pleasing to God? We have to show respect for our ministers and those who shepherd the flock. Look after the widows, elderly, children and those who are vulnerable. For those of us in positions of authority in the market place, we have to use that authority for good. You cannot join in with others, to help to persecute other Christians.

We cannot compartmentalise our lives and only remember that we are Christians on a Sunday. Our lives are a reflection of Jesus Christ and when we commit our work to God, this is an act of worship. God is present in the marketplace and our light will testify, about the love of Jesus Christ in us. We cannot turn a blind eye to injustice and abuse, or participate in oppressive behaviour. God is not pleased with this type of behaviour and we have to remember, that no sin goes unpunished. Do not think that money, wealth or promotion gained through unjust means, will have lasting value.

We will all have to answer to God and give an account for how we used what he has entrusted to us. “For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them” Isaiah 61:8). We grieve the Holy Spirit, when we stifle our conscience and use our positions to treat people unfairly. We must not be so hard hearted and stiff necked, that we cannot heed the rebuke of the Holy Spirit. Do good no matter the circumstances. Do good, even when you think no one is watching. Do good, because God sees everything, both good and evil.

A.P.-Y.

We may recall this story in 1 Kings 19, when Elijah ran to hide in a cave. Elijah heard the voice of the Lord, asking what he was doing in the cave. He defended his decision and threw a pity party, about being the only true prophet alive. God listened to Elijah and then instructed him to go and stand on the mountain, before Him. A great and strong wind tore the mountain and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.

After all of these magnificent demonstrations of wind, earthquake and fire, there was a low whisper. Elijah perceived the presence of God in the whisper. He wrapped his face in his cloak and stood at the entrance of the cave. God questioned Elijah once again and then gave him the instructions for his next assignment. I notice the distinction between Elijah hearing God’s voice and the sound of the low whisper. I perceive that the whisper was God himself in his manifested presence. This while at other times, Elijah did not hear the audible voice of God. What I believe that Elijah listened to most of the times, was the person of the inner witness.

It was important for Elijah to be able to listen and discern either manifestations of God. Elijah had a major assignment ahead of him, but was spooked by Jezebel’s threats. God was ready to anoint two new Kings and a prophet and Elijah had a role to play in this. He was God’s mantle in Jerusalem and God needed him to anoint Hazael, Jehu and Elisha. These two Kings would be instrumental in the destruction of Ahab and Jezebel’s detestable leadership. “And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death” (1 Kings 19:17).

Power was about to change hands in Jerusalem and God needed Elijah to make preparation for what was about to happen. Although Elijah was fearful, tired and throwing a pity party, he was still attuned to the voice of God. Elijah could hear God speak and despite his fears, moved in alignment with God’s will and plan. We have to trust the voice of God over our emotions and fears. We have to move at God’s instructions, even when we feel tired and afraid. There is a much larger scheme of events that are dependent on our actions. The devil can use our emotional weaknesses as a major source of distraction. Stay connected so that you can move on God’s instructions.

A.P.-Y.