46. Sermon on the Mount Secrets - Entertaining an angel

While driving home from Stellenbosch to Strand, South Africa, after work some years ago, I picked up a hitchhiker with a backpack. His name was Johan, and he was a fifty-four-year-old bushman from the Kuruman district. He was one of those people I enjoy having in my company, because he liked to talk and

therefore I didn’t have to; I could just listen.

He was on his way to Mosselbaai, looking for his sister, whose children he had been raising for the past eight years. She hadn’t been able to afford to keep them, and unless she signed them over to him, welfare would not help him.

Johan was a family man working for a farmer. He had never before been so far from home and had taken a wrong route. He had been on the road for fourteen days already and had covered about 1520 km (950 miles). Some of the drivers had charged him for his ride and, being quite poor, he had to sacrifice two of his blankets. The advantage of the detour for him, though, was that he had the privilege of seeing the beautiful Cape and the sea for the first time.

As we covered the 26 km (16 miles) between my work and home, I felt the urge to give him a place to stay for the night. However, it became a battle of the mind. Being a South African, I heard about race problems and crime all day long. Part of me didn’t like the thought of having a stranger in my house overnight. Dusk was falling, but it was still light enough for him to get a ride. Then Hebrews 13:2 crossed my mind: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

We lived near the N2 Motorway, which would have been the best place for Johan to get a ride, since the same road passes right by Mosselbaai, his destination. I decided to give him both opportunities. I dropped him off on the N2 with some money for food as well as my telephone number and money for the public telephone. I told him to call if it got dark before he got a ride. As I drove on, my thoughts about crime and strangers still nagged at my mind, but I secretly hoped he would call. And he did.

The time I spent with Johan was a good time. The more we got to know him, the more we desired to bless him. At first, he felt uncomfortable walking into our house and sitting in the lounge because he lived in a clay house back on the farm and was treated most of his life as a farmworker. He ate with us and took a long, hot bath before he went to bed. I presume it was his first proper bath ever, because he had to carry water over a long distance to his house and wash in a basin.

He had picked up a cough on his long trip, so we gave him some cough syrup and vitamin C. The Lord knew Johan was His child and that he had suffered hunger and hardship, so He prompted us to meet Johan’s needs. We did not know then whether he was a Christian.

            Johan’s contribution, however, was much greater. We had a superb time during supper and thereafter. He treated us with stories of his world, a world unfamiliar to city-dwellers such as us. He told about his tame porcupines, his horses’ different temperaments, how they farm and that they eat certain parts of the cotton plant. He told us about his vegetables, which he raises inside the outer room of his house because it is too hot to grow a garden outside. We laughed at his stories about how baboons sleep and steal honey and corn, and his tales were all the more hilarious with his bushman-like illustrations and body movements.

All the time we talked, he gave glory to God. My first carnal thought was that he was trying to please us or that he was a typical religious South African.

The next morning, we were both very emotional when I dropped him off on the N2, as if in one night we had become lifelong friends. At work, I had a hard time concentrating because I kept re-living our previous night with Johan. I missed him and longed for his company. The worst thing was that I had forgotten to get his address.

A few days later, the telephone rang. The “angel” needed a place to stay again. With great joy we picked him up. He had a prosperous trip to Mosselbaai, only to discover that his sister was now living in another town.

This time he devoted his time to Isak, our nine-year-old boy. I watched while he sketched the prettiest flowers on a piece of paper, and all the time he was teaching Isak to draw pictures.

We were all tired and went to bed early. As I walked past his closed door, I stood for a moment and listened (maybe not so appropriate, but his prayer touched my heart). With utmost compassion, he praised Father God for His care thus far and pleadingly trusted Him to take care of him for the rest of his journey. 

Why did I share this with you? Was it so that you could think well of us? Is the right hand supposed to know what the left hand is doing? Should we not do good works in secret so that our Father can reward us (Matthew 6:1-4)? No, there is nothing good about me. I am much too wretched.

That first night I couldn’t sleep because I was worried that Johan would leave with some of our possessions during the night. When he came the second time, I was tired and not in the mood for another late night. You see, my carnal nature, the flesh, resisted my spirit. My spirit, being renewed by God and occupied by the Holy Spirit, was glad about this visitor, but my sinful nature resisted it. Galatians 5:17 agrees with this: “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” Paul proclaimed in Romans 7:18, 19: “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” Being good, for most Christians, is a sacrifice. Usually, all the glory belongs to the Lord. 

That opportunity was significant in my life. In years past, Julia and I had been hospitable and kind-hearted, but gradually, materialism and the cares of life had caused us to become self-centered—quite wretched, I must admit. After Johan came, we felt a strong desire to be as close to Jesus as possible. I needed to serve and love again. One of the more tangible ways to accomplish that was to start picking up hitchhikers. I always used to do it, naturally with the wisdom and protection of the Holy Spirit. It also used to create an opportunity to meet a new friend, let my light shine, and share the gospel.

Through the years, however, I had become always in a hurry, never had time to stop, and always found an excuse such as the fear of crime. Therefore, I didn’t have that opportunity to let my light shine anymore. Now I started once again to make a conscious decision to pick up hitchhikers, and that is how I met Johan.

            In the light of our neglect of the Lord’s command on hospitality and my desire to revive, hosting Johan was a major breakthrough. It was good for our spiritual lives and was a great step toward our ideal of being like Jesus.

This kind of testimony should be making the rounds all the time, because it encourages others to use opportunities the Lord gives us in order for God’s Kingdom to prevail. How about you? What has the Holy Spirit used to change your life, and how has He used you to change the lives of others? Colossians 4:5: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” 

For children and adults who are prepared to learn in a childlike way. For more information see http://t-a-c.co.za.

45. Sermon on the Mount Secrets - How to be Perfect!

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

This passage has intrigued me for a long time. Who can be perfect? What did Jesus mean when He said it? Did He mean it literally?

The Greek meaning of “perfect” is a man of full age - mature. 

            Do we understand maturity? The average, balanced person starts off young, full of energy and ambition. While he is young and immature, life revolves around him. He enjoys achieving one accomplishment after the other. Even after marriage and having children, this is still his nature, but now he includes his spouse’s and children’s successes as part of his own. As he grows older, however, material things and performance become less and less important, and his spouse, children, and other people take higher priority. When the grandchildren appear, everything revolves around them. In old age, nothing but his interdependence on other people has any value.
         Age does not always play a role in maturity. A person can be “of age” or mature at any age beyond the teenage years. Even a teenager can be mature within his group or in comparison with his peers. Someone can be in her fifties or even older and be completely immature. The point is that in this passage, the word “perfect” seems to mean “mature.” This perfection God looks for is all about His character, one of mercy and forgiveness.

A mature believer demonstrates self-control—control over the tongue, actions, and emotions. Such a person is not influenced by what is said of him or to him. He is not controlled by circumstances or outside forces but only by the Holy Spirit. He allows the Holy Spirit’s control to be superior to his circumstances. If, for instance, one insults a child, she might cry. A mature person just laughs at an insult, because he knows who he is in Christ.

Maturity consists of forgetting about oneself and focusing instead on the needs of others. A mature person has no personal or self-centered desires left to fulfill or bring to completeness. She is content with who she is and can focus her attention on others, displaying integrity and virtue.

God the Father is perfect (mature), and so are Jesus and the Holy Spirit. God has nothing to prove. He is not fazed by our emotional outbursts, anger tantrums, and insults through our disobedience. He remains calm and continue to accomplish His purposes with our lives. 
He is the perfect example of unselfishness in that He gave his only son to die for our iniquities. Ever since then, he has proved his maturity in taking personal responsibility for each of His millions of children twenty-four hours a day. Have you ever thought about the Lord’s personal interest in your life? If you are sensitive, you will hear the Holy Spirit’s continual guidance and warnings. My wife and I can give countless testimonies of times when we, for example, were warned and thus prevented a traffic accident. Once I took some change from a wall safe. Because of the size of the safe, the moneybox had to stand on its side. I got the warning that it was open, but I didn’t think that was possible. Guess what, the next moment all the money was on the floor. Who warned me? The Holy Spirit did. Many of us know how the Holy Spirit has helped us to find lost items.

If God, who holds the universe in the palm of His hand, takes such personal interest in the smallest aspect of each of His millions of children, and if Jesus could take such intense interest in His peers of the day, how much more should we take interest in the few people we see every day?

Why did Jesus say we must be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect? Maturity and perfection are not natural for us. We naturally focus inward. Therefore, perfection and maturity are conscious, daily choices—resistance to introversion on a momentary basis.

Since Jesus included the word “therefore,” we know He meant for us to refer back to the previous paragraph. This means that without being perfect (mature), we can’t do what Jesus commanded in the previous verses: turn the other cheek, walk the second mile, lend without expecting back, etc.

The focus is on caring for the extreme, those who are rejected by society. To forgive and care for those around you is easy. It takes no sacrifice, no humiliation, and no embarrassment; in fact, it gives you a good name in your community. But consider the consequences if you get intimately involved with "scoundrels": street children, prostitutes, thieves—society’s “enemies.” Your friends will ridicule you, the "scoundrels" will take advantage of you, and your life might be endangered. You might even have to be uncomfortable at times and embarrass your family.

Wasn’t this what the King of Glory experienced on earth, having left eternal glory for an ordinary existence among the common people? Isn’t this what the glorious Holy Spirit experiences every moment He gets involved in our filthy lifestyle (compared to God’s glory) to help us out of trouble time and time again? In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul tells us that we will be persecuted, but how will this happen if we never leave our comfort zones and live radically different in a sick world?

The Holy Spirit showed me that the majority of Christians have a wrong idea of what church is all about, and then they wonder why God is not prospering their church. Church seems to be a place where God must meet my needs—the same needs time and again as I go up for prayer over and over. Often, the sermon’s main focus is on how we can overcome our personal troubles. Furthermore, the tendency of the church is only to wait on the Lord, to experience His presence in their services and be blessed for that hour and enjoy supernatural sensations.

In some churches, the pastor preaches about what we are supposed to do and what the Lord wants, but the congregation doesn’t follow up with obedience. Only a handful of Christians become actively involved while the majority warms the seats. Many churches support missionaries, focus on prayer for the world, and are involved in some small-scale action. 
But what is it the Lord Jesus wanted? How about a church where members organise action teams for street outreach, missions, caring for the elderly, etc. Everybody is invited. These teams do their work during the week, and at the Sunday morning service, they give their reports. Upon hearing how wonderful the Lord has moved during the week, more Christians are challenged to get involved in ministry. Don't we then have reason to celebrate, to worship this powerful God who changes people through us?

I have written this article some years ago, but recently discovered a movement that does exactly what I just promoted in this article. Have a look at the video below, visit their website www.thelastreformation.com, and watch the Pioneer School videos.

44. Please read this, it's Important! Pete's Story - How to Love your Enemies Part 2

In the previous post we have started to discuss Matthew 5:43-48: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

For those living in South Africa, the extent of racial prejudice is no secret. We all know of the invisible wall that still exists between the majority of different races. We know how races avoid each other and call each other insulting names. One still sees and hears of extremist and hate-filled interracial behaviour. We do, however, find minorities that have excellent relationships across racial borders.

If it is like that years after apartheid was abandoned, how must it have been during the peak of racism—the time when Pete committed his crimes? He stole because the only impression he had of white people was one of oppressors who lived in luxury while he and his family had to live in poverty. Only in jail did Christians reach his heart.

Imagine that all people calling themselves Christians, especially the white people of that day, had obeyed the Lord’s teaching and loved their enemies. The Lord did not ask us to like our enemies. He wanted us to be patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, not keeping record of wrongs with our enemies. He wanted us not to delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. He wanted us always to protect and trust our enemies, always to hope the best for and persevere with our enemies.

How can you trust your enemies? You trust the Lord to deal with them.

If Pete’s enemies, white people, loved him as above, do you think that he would still have wanted to break in and steal from them? Would he have wasted seven of the best years of his life in prison? How many Petes are there in prison - tens, hundreds, thousands? If their enemies loved them, would they have wasted their lives in prison?

We are not talking only about the Petes who were hurt by racism. There are many Petes all over the world who are embittered by many other things. Most of those in prison are embittered by their parents, society, or even religion. It can be anything. In the process they have made many enemies, and as a result, they act as enemies to society and not only to individuals.

When a rebellious young person acts violently against an individual or vandalizes private property, it does not necessarily mean that person has anything against that individual. He might not even know the person. If such a rebel has a grudge against society, and if society shows him nothing but love instead of dumping him in jail, won’t he eventually change his attitude?

Most good and ordinary people have families who give them lots of love and attention. But consider the street children, drug addicts, gang members, etc. Would they have become like that if they had caring and praying families? I say no; they would have been with their families instead of on the streets.

What happens to those youngsters once they’ve grown up? They become criminals. What would then be the best way to prevent crime? Love those unloved ones! If each Christian would go out once or twice a week and love the unloved, crime and vandalism would decrease in most countries. The enemies of society do not need policing, they need love. Even lonely adults need only to be loved and listened to now and then.

Jesus said to pray for those who persecute you. Why must we do that? It is simply because they do not know what they are doing. Jesus prayed on the cross: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34).” Persecutors are hurting and vulnerable to instigation from the devil. The murderers, thieves, vandals, and so on are hurting because they compare their terrible circumstances with the seemingly glittering conditions of the “fortunate” as they see them. The hurt of embittered people is the ideal breeding ground for the sin of persecution, and the Lord can bring light to their darkened minds only if somebody prays for them.

Jesus spelled out the sacrifice of love. We are to love those who do not love us. Godly love is not a business deal. We are not to give while looking for what we can get.

Jesus mentioned tax collectors. They were businessmen. They had found out that if they “love” their customers, they get results in the form of money. The friendly person in the modern shop has the same intentions, and so do most businesspersons or professionals in today’s world. But if you owe them money, see how their “love” changes?

Jesus also mentioned greeting only our brothers. Have you ever walked past somebody you knew, but she completely ignored you? The next moment she heartily greeted somebody else, maybe a client or friend. How did you feel? Rejected? Like scum?

How many people have you made to feel like scum, an outcast, by not even greeting them, let alone loving them? Love is a sacrifice; it is doing something you don’t really want to do, greeting and loving the unacceptable for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

The youth outreach team of our church often worked with street kids. We gave them as much clean fun as possible and linked that to the name of Jesus. (I’m not talking about religious Children’s Church stuff, but about playing, chatting, and so forth.) I hope one day they will look back, saying, “The greatest times in my miserable street life were when Jesus played with me.”

As a pharmacist in the United Kingdom, part of my job was to issue a heroin-replacement medicine to addicts to help them break the power of that drug. Since I love these people so much, I spent a lot of time chatting with and loving them while handing them the drug. I asked about their families, played with their kids when they accompany their parents, and congratulated them when their dose had been reduced. 

When I hand medicine out, I regularly ask people whether they want to be healed and when they want it, I pray a short authoritative prayer for their healing, trusting the Lord to be true to His Word in Mark 16:17-18: "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”  These are not necessarily people I like, and some often don't treat me well, but this type of love would draw attention, and people would ask why I do it. When the time is right, somebody will ask me, and I will answer that Jesus loves them. Even if they don't ask me, the Holy Spirit will reveal it to them, leading to them searching for Jesus.

The world is used to competing with their enemies, having to fight their own battles, and overcoming their own hardships. If their enemies then show them gentleness, kindness, and forgiveness, it will be impossible for them not to notice a difference. Guess who will benefit by it: the Kingdom of God.

Love, however, does not come naturally. Love comes only from God. We are way too selfish by nature to love unconditionally. For us to obey this commandment, we need to be filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit’s presence and then simply make the decision to obey.

Jesus ended these words with "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Don't miss the revelation in the next message on what He meant by 'be perfect'!

For children and adults who are prepared to learn in a childlike way. For more information see http://t-a-c.co.za.

43. Sermon on the Mount Secrets - Pete's Story - How to Love your Enemies Part 1

Some time ago, I picked up a hitchhiker named Pete. He was black, dressed neatly in a suit. He had a lily in his hands and said he was on his way to church about twelve miles (19 kilometres) from his home. His pastor’s wife loved lilies, and it was for her, he told me, beaming and full of the Lord.

As we got to know each other, I discovered that Pete met the Lord in prison. Since his pastor had supported him when he needed it most, he felt obligated to support the pastor now, even though he had to hitchhike to get to church.

He told me that he had been in prison for breaking and entering and theft. “I used to believe that white people owed the blacks, so I took from the whites and gave to the poor.” 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)

            All over the world, people of different cultures hate each other. Many blacks and whites hate one other, as do many people of other cultures. In every country, the citizens can put their finger on some form of cultural hatred. In some countries, even people of the same culture but different castes hate each other.

Sometimes enemies are formed even though nobody has suffered personal harm. Often, individuals of a particular race or culture have taken up the offense of others within their own people group. This seems to be a universal truth.

Cultural hatred is present among Christians too. Sometimes we suppress or mask it because we know we should love instead. We don’t want others to know of our hatred, so we hide it. Soon it becomes evident to those close to us, because one can’t hide one’s true self.

The above words of Jesus can change our attitude toward other cultures. First He tells us to love our enemies. What does love mean? Pete, the hitchhiker, had decided that white people were his enemies and that their so-called riches were due to their privileged position. His natural reaction was to hurt his enemies by taking what he thought they owed him.

What made him think white people are his enemies? What causes any one of us to think that another culture is inferior or superior to us and therefore our enemies? Isn’t it gossip and propaganda? Where does this come from? Isn’t it from the father of lies—the devil? He uses cultural differences as an excuse to sow discord. If we live according to his lies, we are his children. John 8:44: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Nevertheless, Jesus said to love your enemies that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. What do we see here? We see a condition. If you want to be sons of your Father in heaven, you must love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. However, that does not come naturally. It is a choice we make which is supported by the power of the Lord. It is also important to realize that you don’t have to like those you love. You don’t have to agree with those you love. Don Francisco sings, “Love is not a feeling; it’s an act of the will.” Love is deeds of choice, something we do to bless another, whether we like him or not. If we wait until we feel good about somebody we don’t like, we will never love.

Love has its rules. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 reads: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Galatians 5:22 reads: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” I once heard it should actually read, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, which is joy, peace . . . .” Love must be exercised. It does not come naturally. You don’t have to feel love—just do it.

An extreme example of loving your enemy is a man visiting his daughter’s rapist in jail on a regular basis, treating him with special things and thoughts simply for the sake of Jesus and the salvation of the man’s soul. Do you think it is easy for Father God to make His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and send rain on the just and on the unjust scoundrels like us (Matthew 5:45)? If God was like us, we would have a hard time. Fortunately for us, He is love.

Hatred is also a temptation to be resisted. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it,” (1 Corinthians 10:13). To be continued.

For children and adults who are prepared to learn in a childlike way. For more information see http://t-a-c.co.za.

42. Sermon on the Mount Secrets - How about Good Works? Part 2

In the previous post we began looking at the verse in Matthew 5:42: Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

The second part of our passage is based on the same principle as above. From Luke 6:28 onward, we find Luke’s record of the section we read in Matthew.

“Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” (Luke 6:30)

“And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:34-36)

Again, we have the freedom to decide in what way we want to be testimonies to the love of God. The more we give, the more we receive. The key in the latter passage is the notion of being different from the sinners. Being like God must carry much more weight with us than does the value of our property.

The other day, I heard a pastor say that greed causes concern about what the church does with our money. It is difficult to part with our money, because we want to control it ourselves. The same principle applies to lending. If I am too attached to material goods or money, it is hard to trust others with it.

As far as lending our possessions is concerned, few of us have endless resources, and other people don’t take as good care of our goods as we do. We don’t always have the money to replace the loaned item if it gets damaged by the borrower. I am often leery to loan out my possessions, since they often return broken. But one thing I loaned out came back in one piece, and God has blessed it ever since.

            Here’s the story. Many years ago, the chairman of our Christian motorcycle club organized an outreach to a motorcycle rally in northeast Zimbabwe. Then his motorcycle was stolen.

At the time, I lived in Pretoria, South Africa. I felt the urge to lend him my new motorcycle for the trip. It wasn’t an easy decision, since this bike was precious to me, and the trip was a thousand miles long, covered over two weeks. I didn’t know whether I should loan it to him or not, so I asked one of my spiritual leaders.

He said that nothing good comes from man, so such an idea must have been from the Lord. So, in obedience, I loaned the leader my bike.

 Ever since then, my bike has been a blessing. I’ve had it for over eighteen years and 100,000 miles, which is surprising for a motorcycle. In the end, I sold it for a good price. 

         To give is a faith thing. If I give in a way the Lord directs me and trust Him to make sure the money is used in the right way, it is easier to part with. Lending should be handled like giving; in consultation with God. He knows the hearts of all men. We are His instruments, accomplishing His purposes. When He wants to bless, He uses us. When He wants to discipline, He also uses us. Be in touch always! But the aim should be to rather obey these passages in Matthew and Luke.

For children and adults who are prepared to learn in a childlike way. For more information see http://t-a-c.co.za.