Everyday Evangelism: Praying With People

Everyday Evangelism: Praying With People

by | Sep 11, 2024 | Equipped, The Pattern

One of the things that Christians seem to struggle with, no matter how far in their walk with the Lord they might be, is praying for others.

Many of us just don’t have that kind of personality, we don’t have that boldness…

We see in Mark chapter 6 that Jesus sent out the Twelve in pairs of two to go and do some practical ministry. We read in verses 12-13: “ They went out and preached that people should repent.  They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” (NIV)

The disciples were sent out to pray for people – amongst other things. 

And we, as disciples of the Lord Jesus, are all called to do the same.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be complicated or super spiritual. It just needs to be authentic – from the heart.

That being said, I offer a few guidelines below to get you started:

1. Finding a person to pray for:

Usually the opportunity to pray for someone will present itself naturally. Other times you might be led to pray for someone in church, or even in a public place (as has often happened to me). 

I would advise that you avoid praying for a member of the opposite sex alone. If you are a man praying for a woman, please make sure that your wife, or another woman from your team is present – and vice versa.

Also, before you start praying for someone make sure to introduce yourself properly, and ensure that you know their name.

2. Ask the person if you can pray for them:

Once you have found someone who needs prayer, ask them if it is okay for you to pray for them right there and then. Do not just launch into prayer and the laying on of hands. It is important that the person you are praying for is comfortable with what is about to happen.

Remember to always check before laying hands on anyone.

3. Ask the person what you can pray for:

It will make your task of in-person prayer so much easier if you have a specific need to pray for. Make sure your prayer specifically addresses this need. Pray in a way that is encouraging and loving.

4. Keep it short and simple:

You don’t have to pray a long, eloquent prayer. God hears our faith – not our words. If your prayer is only a sentence or two – don’t worry – there is power in the faith-filled prayer of the righteous!

5. Make sure you end the time of prayer with a clear AMEN.

You want to be sure that the person you are praying for knows when the prayer has ended.

Conclusion: Praying for someone else in person doesn’t have to be hard. God wants us to pray for one another, and it can be a great way of opening the door for you to share your faith.

If you find yourself praying for a person who does not go to church, or is perhaps unsaved, why don’t you take the opportunity to invite them to your church – so that you can carry on praying and walking with the person in the Lord.

We are all called to pray for one another. 

Let us take up the work of prayer and make a difference for the Kingdom wherever we might find ourselves.

Tabernacle Typology 9: Spices

Tabernacle Typology 9: Spices

by | Sep 11, 2024 | Bible Studies, God in the Details, Tabernacle Typology, Typology

Exodus 30:23-25, KJV:

“Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.”

In the previous reading we looked at the use and the significance of olive oil in the Tabernacle – how it was used as fuel for the lamps – but also for the production of anointing oil.

This time we will look at the 4 spices included in the anointing oil.

The four spices are: Myrrh, Cinnamon, Calamus and Cassia.

Myrrh: Myrrh has been used throughout the ages for medicine and perfumery. It is a sweet smelling substance and bitter to the taste. It is closely related to frankincense and comes from the same family of woody, flowering plants.

It is extracted by repeatedly wounding the trees until they ‘bleed’ the myrrh gum.

In medicine it is used as an antiseptic in toothpastes, gargles and mouthwashes. It is also used in salves for abrasions and as a pain-reliever in ointments. It has also been said to be helpful in relieving the symptoms of arthritis among other things.

In ancient times myrrh was used as a tincture to alleviate the suffering of the dying. Jesus, on the cross, was offered myrrh mixed with wine for the pain, but He refused.

The trees were ‘bled’ to procure the oil, ‘wounded’ to get the healing balm. Christ was wounded for our transgressions and pierced for our iniquities – for the Healing Balm of His Blood to flow.

Fragrant Cinnamon: Cinnamon is obtained from the bark of trees belonging to the Cinnamomum family.

It is used to add flavor to both sweet and savoury dishes – breakfast, lunch and dinner – and has a lot of health benefits.

In Ancient Times it was considered very rare and costly. According to Pliny the Elder a Roman pound (more or less 327 grams) cost about 50 months of labor (or 1500 denarii). It was often given to kings and emperors as gifts, and even offered as tribute to their pagan gods.

In the body it reduces inflammation and is also good for your heart health. It is considered a heart stimulant because it increases blood flow. It can stimulate a weak heart.

Our hearts might’ve been weak before – but with the death and resurrection of our Lord we are encouraged, our hearts stimulated with hope, faith and courage. Where the myrrh symbolizes His suffering, the cinnamon embodies the sweet, fragrant nature of His sacrifice.

When we apply the sacrifice of Jesus to a discouraged heart – His death and resurrection – we find joy unspeakable and full of glory – adding flavour to our worship as our lives are transformed and we become a fragrant offer unto our Lord.

Calamus: This spice comes from a semi-aquatic, flowering plant found around marshes, next to rivers and in wetlands. It is a sweet smelling stalk which was often cut and dried to produce a type of powder which would then be used in medicines and perfumes.

It was not native to Palestine – where the Israelites were at the time – and was probably imported from Arabia Felix or India. This made it very rare and extremely costly.

It was often used in the treatment of eye infections and diseases.

It is through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross that the eyes of our hearts are opened to see the resurrection power of God.

The Hebrew word used to describe Calamus is ‘Qaneh’ derived from ‘Qanah’ which is also translated in the Old Testament to refer to buying or redeeming.

Just like the calamus flower grows out of the marsh, rising up through and flowering above the pungent, often stagnant water, so Jesus was put in the marsh of the grave only to rise and bring New Life. Calamus therefore remains a powerful reminder of the precious, sweet resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

Cassia: This fragrant spice is closely related to the fragrant cinnamon above – the difference is the plant it is derived from. Cassia is derived from the plant Cinnamomum Cassia which, like Calamus, was an imported trade item bought from Southeast Asia.

Cassia is a type of evergreen, ‘weeping’ tree – this means that the branches are soft and limp, bending evermore downward as the grow.

The Hebrew word for Cassia, ‘qadad’ means ‘bowed down’. This speaks of the humility with which Christ approached the Cross – humbly giving His life for the ransom of many.

This is the same attitude with which we should approach the Cross. It is in us ‘bending down’ like the branches of the Cassia tree that we allow Christ to move in power and glory in our lives, in humility we go to His throne and He gives us the victory.

Reflect:

1. Besides typifying Christ, all of these precious, aromatic spices are also symbolic of our worship of Christ. What are some of the ways in which we can make a connection between these spices and our Christian walk?

2. All of these materials were exceedingly precious and costly. What is precious to you? Are you willing to give it as a sacrifice to the Lord? What would it mean if you were to give it to Him?

Prayer: Lord, I come and pour out my heart before You in gratitude and thanksgiving. As I reflect on the passage above, I pray that You would help me to start living a life worthy of the One You gave. I pray that I will become willing to bring what is costly to me as a sacrifice to You – my time, my effort and all of my strength – that my life might be a fragrant and pleasant offering unto You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Understanding Steps 6 and 7: Drop The Rock

Understanding Steps 6 and 7: Drop The Rock

by | Sep 10, 2024 | 12 Steps, Counselling, Finding Help, Therapeuo

“Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”

Step 6, Alcoholics Anonymous

“Praise the Lord, my soul,
   and forget not all his benefits—
 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases…”

Psalm 103:2-3, NIV

All the steps thus far have been leading up to this moment. 

We have, by now, explored the concept of a Power Greater than ourselves – both the group, and above all, God – and we have made an honest evaluation of ourselves. We come to realise that we are not just powerless over our drinking, drug-use or compulsive behaviour – but that we are powerless over all of our negative feelings, thoughts and behaviour.

Our drug use, compulsive behaviour and drinking are often just symptoms, rather than the problem itself.

Up until now we have been treating symptoms, but now it is time to start working on the root causes of our drinking and drugging.

This could include bitterness, rejection, fear, insecurity and unforgiveness – to name just a few.

We realize now, just as the insanity of addiction is starting to lift, that there are other areas, often larger areas in our lives that need some very real change.

And God is the only one who can help us do that.

Step 6 is about realizing that life change is necessary – and more importantly, that it is possible. In the sixth step we become willing to hand over our baggage to God, the only One strong enough to shoulder the burden for us.

This realization drives us towards step 7: “We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”

Step 7 is about surrendering all of our hurt, all of our pain, wounds and scars to God – a cry for divine intervention.

Where step 6 is the motivation – the preparation of the heart – step 7 is the beginning of tangible action.

In surrendering our flaws, faults and failures to God, we also ask Him to give us the strength and wisdom to do better. 

In making a daily practice out of Step 6 and 7, in combination with step 10 (a daily inventory – which we will cover later), we see a recipe for permanent and lasting change.

In a lot of recovery groups this is called ‘drop the rock’ – because that’s what we are doing. Taking the heaviness of our fears, resentments, unforgiveness, etc – and dropping it at the feet of the Cross.

More often than not, however, we will find that we pick up new rocks, or sometimes even the old ones we dropped before – and this is why it is necessary for these steps to become a daily practice.

The hope is to get to a point where we ‘drop the rock’ almost as soon as we pick it up – and in time to leave it on the ground altogether.

These steps are about progress – not perfection. 

And God will help us. But only if we let Him.

Prayer: Lord, help me today to take a step of faith as I surrender all of my hurt, my pain, my torment to You! Have all of me, Lord, the good and the bad – as I surrender all I am to You. Start a work of restoration in me. Guide me Lord along new paths towards a brighter, better future – a future planned by You. Remove from me all my defects of character, my fear, resentment and tendency towards unforgiveness. Take my burdens. Replace it with strength and wisdom so I may grow in my relationship with You and those around me. In Jesus Name. Amen.

If you have chosen to take this leap of faith or have any questions regarding this post, please reach out to me: andre@adlabuschagne.co.za / 0653703806. We would love to journey with you!

 

Walking With Jesus Part 6: Authority (Mark 1:21-28)

Walking With Jesus Part 6: Authority (Mark 1:21-28)

by | Sep 9, 2024 | Bible Studies, God in the Details, Walking With Jesus

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 

Mark 1:21-22, NIV 

Early on in His ministry Jesus made waves in the synagogues through His radical teaching.

The teachers of the law had a lot of knowledge – they had authority over the letter – they could quote and interpret the scriptures with ease. 

But Jesus taught as one who had ‘authority’ – a different kind of authority. 

The Bible uses the word ‘Exousia’ here. Exousia refers specifically to the authority to act or do. It specifically refers to a moral authority – the liberty to do as one pleases. In most cases, in the New Testament, this refers to the spiritual authority of God delegated to believers, but is also used to refer to Pilate’s authority to choose who lives and who dies.

This is the authority that Jesus functioned in – as God made flesh – all authority was in Him.

Authority over eternal life and death – authority over the Heavens and the Earth. Authority over all things.

And it was clear in His teaching. He spoke and taught – not just as one who believed, but one who KNEW.

There was a certainty and a boldness in His teaching.

When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven, it was not merely an allegory or a parable, but a vision waiting to take root. A thing that was, although not seen by mortal eyes, surely real and tangible – Jesus spoke of the Kingdom and the rule of God, not just as metaphysical ideas or philosophical constructs – but as a real and tangible thing you could touch and experience.

He spoke with the authority of one who HAD experienced eternity. He spoke with the authority of one who had seen, and touched, and lived the Kingdom – because He had!

He WAS the Kingdom made flesh.

He spoke as one who had the authority to not only choose who would live and die (like Pilate, a right reserved for kings) – but as the One who had the authority to turn dry bones into armies and crush death itself.

Even the gates of hell trembled when He spoke.

While teaching in the synagogue a man with an impure spirit cried out: “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” (v.24, NIV)

And Jesus responded simply with: “Be quiet, come out!”

And the Spirit obeyed. The people marvelled at this – “even the impure spirits obey Him…”

The authority of God was in Jesus. Not just authority to speak – but authority to DO.

This is the same authority promised to all believers. Jesus does not just teach – He demonstrates.

Paul again and again urges believers to realize that Christ is alive – not just seated in the Heavens upon His eternal throne – but within us. He works in us and through us through His Holy Spirit living in us.

Let us live every day, walking like Jesus walked. Let us learn from Him. As we explore the scriptures further we will learn more about this authority that Jesus had and how it translates into the life of the believer.

For now, I leave you with this thought: The Word is always backed up with action. Jesus did not just teach. He DID. He took action.

My prayer for you today is that God’s Word will come alive in you. That it will be more than just letters on a page, but that, through His Holy Spirit, you will be able to translate it into action.

Reflect:

  1. John calls Jesus the Word Made Flesh (John 1). Jesus is the heart and the will of God, the very Word of God made manifest in the earth. The Holy Spirit is ‘Christ in us’. How should this affect our daily lives?
  2. What is one way that you can preach the Gospel without using words? What does it mean to be, not just a hearer, but also a doer of God’s Word? What does it look like?

Prayer: Lord, help me today to not only be a hearer of Your Word, but also a doer. Be present in my understanding and in my deeds, Lord. Help me understand the authority given to all believers through the indwelling of Your Holy Spirit – and help me walk in this authority. Help me walk in this victory – and help me share this victory with others. Victory over sin and temptation, situations and circumstances – let me understand and function according to Your Word. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Here I Am, Send Me Part 5: Surrender

Here I Am, Send Me Part 5: Surrender

by | Sep 5, 2024 | Called, Discover Your Ministry, Here I Am, Send Me, The Pattern

Joshua is about action.

His name means ‘the Lord is Salvation’ or more accurately ‘Jehovah is Salvation’.

He was a military man – a mighty warrior – but also a prophet waiting on every word the Lord spoke unto him.

His job was to lead the Jewish nation of Israel back to their homeland – to the Promised Land. His job was to reclaim that which they had lost at the hands of their enemies, to take what the Lord had given them.

The author of Hebrews writes:

Hebrews 4:9-11: (KJV)
9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Rest is defined in the Webster’s Dictionary as:

A state of quiet or repose; a cessation from motion or labor; tranquillity; as, rest from mental exertion; rest of body or mind.

In Psalm 95 David speaks regarding the day of provocation in which Israel tempted God and saw His works for 40 years – and he also states – ‘if you hear His voice today, do not harden your hearts’, and this is an indication that there is hope. We can move into the rest of God – the rest of God being a cessation (an end) of our own works, of our own will, a state of quiet and response to the will of God.

Christ comes and calls us to move into the promise of restoration and salvation – the promise of a new life with God – He invites us into His rest and gives us His Spirit, our guide, our comforter and our teacher, so that we can find our rest, in His.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary states that this rest of God isn’t a Sabbath like rest, but rather a state of blessedness, and this corresponds with verse 11 where the author states – let us labor to enter into that rest!

That is exactly what Joshua did. He marched across the Jordan with absolute assurance that his God was with him – that he would not face these enemies alone. He had the faith, but now he had to react.

He made his way across the Jordan and gave himself as a living sacrifice to God, saying – Lord, have Your way in and through me.

He said, Lord, let Your will be done. Me and my house will serve You.

Surrender. He surrendered unto God, gave it all – his mind, his mouth, his heart, his physical self – everything was laid at His feet, before the throne of the Lord of Hosts.

Let us work to attain that state of blessed dependence upon God, let us work and strive for righteousness, hunger and thirst for His ways so that we can move into His rest!

Let us seek the true will of God, let us labor to have that assurance that what every step we take has been ordained by God, that we are fully and completely on His straight and narrow way.

If rest means the cessation of our works, our own works, it also means the start of His work in us.

Ceasing our labor (once we are in Him) allows Him to work in us.

This is another of those rather elusive key concepts we don’t always think about.

Absolute surrender.

If you want to be a success story in the Kingdom of God, stop writing your own story and let Him finish it. Cease your works and let Him work through you.

In Hebrews 4:11: we read:

16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Let us seek God with all boldness, just as He commanded Joshua – without fear.

Take action – surrender to Him.

Reflect:

1. What would it look like if you were surrendered to the call of God on your life? Where might it lead? What sacrifices would you have to make? What is hindering you – what obstacles are there between you and surrender to God?

2. Our labor (work) is to enter the rest of God – a place where our work stops and His work starts – what does this mean to you? How do we get to that place of absolute surrender?

3. What steps can you take today to step into the will of God for your life? What is the next step you have to take?

Prayer: Lord, You are the One who turns oceans into highways – You flatten the walls of the enemy to make the way straight before me – You move mountains to give me clear passage. I pray that You will show me the desires that I have put above You, that You will show me, through Your Spirit, the doubts and fears holding me back – and that You will help me give them to You. Remove these obstacles, oh Lord, and help me surrender all I have and all I am to You and Your Will for my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.