In this Text we are reminded of the three (3) sources of temptations, namely: Our Flesh, the World and Satan. We understood that temptation itself is not sin, because we know that our Lord was tempted and yet remained sinless and pure. When we fall to temptations, then sin comes in and we know that we then have to call on the Grace of Christ. Romans 3:23 (both physical and spiritual). “For all have sinned and, come short of the Glory of God.”
These three sources of temptations are evident in the story recorded in Genesis. Eve fell into the temptation, and we can see from this story the manifestation of these 3 temptations; (1) The lust of flesh or eyes (Gen 3:6), World or the creation – the forbidden fruit itself (Gen. 3:3); (3) Satan himself – the Serpent (Gen 3:4-5). This can also be seen in the 3 temptations from Satan himself as recorded in Matthew 4. (1) Lust of flesh – stone to bread to fulfill the desire of flesh. (2) Kingdoms of this world (3) Satan, when he attacked the validity of God’s word.
As Christians, we are in a spiritual warfare, and we need to put on the “armour of God” as recorded in Ephesians 6 which represents Christ Himself. We must put on Christ, His robe of righteousness, and His virtues in order for us to overcome these temptations which are our spiritual enemies. Interestingly, our Lord gave us a solution so we can overcome these temptations, and this can be found in Luke 9:23 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me”. To overcome the first temptation is to first deny ourselves. The lust of the flesh is our first enemy and to overcome this is to deny ourselves to humble ourselves and fully trust and submit to God’s will and His ways. The second enemy is the temptation from things of the world such as love of money, material wealth, creations, fame, etc. To overcome this is to carry our cross. The one thing we ought to carry from this world is the message from the preaching of the Cross of Christ which was given to us through His gospels. The Cross of Christ carries the message of hope, peace, humility, forgiveness, grace and most importantly divine love. Therefore, we should always carry these heavenly virtues and treasures wherever we go. The last enemy is Satan himself, to overcome him is “to follow Christ”. We must obey the teachings of the Lord, follow in His footsteps and let the works of the Holy Spirit manifest in us to overcome these temptations.
Like our Lord Jesus Christ, He has defeated God’s three enemies for our sakes: Sin, Hell and Death. He defeated these three enemies using the same principle – Denied His throne in heaven and came to us in the form of a bondservant; He carried His Cross; and He followed/obeyed His Father in heaven. Our Lord leads us by setting an example, and we ought to follow His footsteps.
Let us remember this teaching that our Lord gave us, walk, and live by it faithfully. We must never forget that we are called to be more than conquerors through Christ who loved us (Romans 8:37). Indeed, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).

The mark of authority of the Church of Christ is its foundation Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Christ promised to build His church upon the testimony of Peter who spoke by the Holy Ghost. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” He referred to this as a rock. He then made a promise to the Apostles – Matthew 16:19, “And I will give unto thee the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.” (The word of God). Today this follows on as the ministry of the Apostolic Church.

In the parallel of the two kinds of foundations and two kinds of builders (Matthew 7:24-27) the Lord points out how different a man’s attitude can be towards his teaching. As the Children of God we are taught not just to hear the word of God but live according to it. In so doing we are also assuming an attitude not of our own opinion, but one that is as a result of the ministration of the Spirit of Christ. It should be our striving to build upon this attitude every day by accepting the word of God and implementing it. Then the Lord spoke about the houses being lashed by the elements, water and wind represent in this picture the many opinions, teaching, philosophies of life, and sin, error and deception is the driving power.

How would our spiritual house weather such a tempest? We would be weather proofed by the word brought by the faithful messengers of Jesus today and fulfilling it. And we must continue doing this until the end! The word of God gives us security, giving in to the foreign spirits no matter how insignificant they might seem is to court danger and risk the collapse of our spiritual house. This would mean tremendous loss to us, while the work of salvation strides on toward completion.

Although the waters of the various philosophies do push up against the work of God, it stands firm. If we want to remain safe in the face of the influences, the wind and water of our time, we must do what the Lord admonishes. “Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is” (Mark 13:33). We are waiting for the Lord daily, and at His appearing may He find that we have built on rock-like ground and living according to His teaching.

We can see John describes a natural wonder in the centre of New Jerusalem, “the river of the water of life as clear as crystal flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.”

The water is very important because the city is a centre of human life and water is an essential part of life. We know Spirit’s don’t need water, but human bodies do. We know what it is like to be thirsty but the people who live in a bone-dry climate willingly grasp the wonder of constantly available fresh water, pure and uncontaminated, able to satisfy the thirst, notice that the source of this powerful stream is the throne of God and occupied by the Lamb who is our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the course of all-natural beauty and wonders. The great river reflects His thirst quenching, and needs satisfying nature. He always meets His people’s needs and fulfills their desires.

The city has many other streets, of course, but none like this for this leads directly to the Lord’s throne and one need only follow the river up to its source to arrive at the Lamb’s throne.

Verse 3 “And there shall be no more curse but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.”

Genesis 2:9-10 “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And the river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted and became into four heads.”

This river is described by its fountain head — the throne of God and its Lamb. The four heads signify the four faithful ministries given to the church. Ephesians 4:11-12 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

All our springs of grace, comfort, and glory are in God and all our streams from Him are the mediation of the Lamb. The quality of our streams are clear and pure but the streams of worldly comfort are very unclear or dirty but these are clear, and uplifting, giving life, and protecting life, to those who drink of them and they shall be full of understanding and comfort, and continue walking in the light of the Lord Jesus Christ and this not for a short period, but for eternity.

John 4:13-14  ^“Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

God is Light

“We learn without the heat of the sun and its Light, the earth would be a lifeless ball of ice- coated rock”. Similarly, without God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth and the Towering Light above us, our lives would be cold, meaningless, lifeless and in darkness. We have the choice between Light or darkness. As Apostolic children of God, we should choose Light – where God is, there is no darkness for God is Light and the bright guiding force in our lives.

As the sun supplies the earth with energy to grow plants to provide food and oxygen for life, so too does God (the ultimate source of light), through His radiant beams guarantee us an abundant supply of (a) food that will never perish, (b) drink that quenches our thirst forever and (c) everlasting oxygen.

(a) John 6:27 Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat that endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed.

(b) John 4:14 But whosoever shall drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

(c) Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

We have to remain steadfast and pray to God, through Christ, to stay within this Light!       John 12:35-36: Then Jesus said unto them, “Yet a little while is the light with you”: Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not wither he goeth. While ye have light believe in the light, that ye may be children of the light.

So also are we blessed to have been anointed with the Holy Spirit, which is God with us. This illuminates our paths and guides us from one truth to another.

We sing: Thy Holy Spirit Lord alone can deeper Love inspire; His power within our souls can light the sacred fire.

“We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of the darkness and into his marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9).” Let us cherish this blessing and act.

Isn’t that a wonderful thought, my beloved. Even though we know we are gifted on this earth and we have received the blessings of God, but truly the end gain for us is to inherit the Kingdom of God, and that is the place that Jesus Christ has gone to prepare for us. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again. Wonderful thought, wonderful feeling, but the clear instruction for us is we have to remain on this narrow path, we have to work according to Scripture, we have to make sure that we remain steadfastly in this love that Jesus Christ illustrated on this earth. We have to remain in that. We have to make sure that we follow the righteousness, and we seek the Kingdom of God, because the fact that we are Sealed Apostolic Christians does not give us a free pass. We have to be reminded every single day of our lives. By doing that, not alone, do we create and offer ourselves the opportunity, but we also shine so that someone else might be called to this wonderful Jesus Christ our Saviour. Thomas says to the Lord – We know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? An important question he asks, How can we know the way? We know the way, my beloved, because Jesus declares the following where He says – I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jesus is the way, Jesus is the truth, and Jesus is the one that blows life into us so that we can dwell within this wonderful calling of ours. He says – Even though I go to prepare a place for you, I would not leave you alone. I won’t leave you orphaned. He says – I won’t leave you comfortless, I will come to you; and that is in the form of the Holy Spirit of God that is our Comforter.

We have to ensure that this Holy Spirit that has been sealed in our hearts, in our lives, has to manifest itself by the good deeds and the good work that Jesus Christ illustrated. Now, can we see the Holy Spirit? We can’t see the Holy Spirit, but you can see how the Holy Spirit manifests itself, and that is what we have to do. It is like the wind outside.

We see the wind going through the trees and we see the leaves moving around. We don’t see the wind but we see the work of the wind. Summary: If you walk on the beach, and the wind comes up and blows the sand against your leg, you don’t see the wind, but you feel the working of the wind. That is the Holy Spirit of God, and that is how it manifests itself. That is the truth that we have in our lives, so we have to ensure that this Holy Spirit of God works and it manifests itself by building and not breaking, by love, by charity, and by everything Jesus Christ. That’s what we have to do and make sure that we dwell accordingly. In this we read and we find peace in Jesus Christ. He taught – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Does that not sound similar to – Thy will I give you, My will I leave you. Unfortunately, we often by the doing of our own will remove us from this peace we have in Jesus Christ. He taught, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. We as the wonderful people of God, and those who still have to be drawn to this wonderful faith that we all serve, we have to ensure that we remain in this peace of the Lord and not be afraid, because if God is with us – What can be against us?

We may see on our left hand so many fall, on our right hand so many fall, but we know we will remain steadfast because God is the one that directs our lives through Jesus Christ and the Comforter we have. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away. Jesus Christ left this earth and will come again to us. ‘If ye loved me, ye would rejoice.’ We have to keep on loving the name of Jesus Christ, we have to keep on loving the sending of Jesus Christ, we have to keep on loving the characteristics of Jesus Christ. We have to keep on loving each other because that is the example that was set for us. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.

No more snares and affliction of this world, but we will be one in Jesus Christ then. That is what we have to look forward to in our day, this second coming of Jesus Christ, so let us remain steadfast, let us remain prepared, let us remain in love, let us remain in this life, and let us seek the righteousness of Jesus Christ, because that is where it will go well with everyone.

This event, recorded in the Holy Bible, is a most vivid example of a man called to serve God and displays the Grace of Christ. By the conversion of Saul, who was a Jew from the Tribe of Benjamin, and also a Roman citizen from his father who was a Pharisee, he also, because of this became a Pharisee and persecuted the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem and Judea. It is shown that God chooses who He will to serve Him.

We should note the Lords words, “why persecutest thou Me?” Saul was persecuting Christians, so if we persecute members of the church, in Jesus eyes we are persecuting Him. Saul, who would later be known as Apostle Paul, would go on to write more than half of what is contained in the New Testament.

God showed that no matter what our history and past beliefs are, at His will we are capable of serving Him in many ways.

Apostle Paul would go to Damascus as instructed and there he waited. A disciple by the name of Ananias was told by the Lord to seek out Saul in the street which is called Straight. Ananias hesitated because Saul had persecuted the Christians, but the Lord told him that Saul was a vessel chosen by Him to take His name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel.

When Ananias found Saul, he put his hands on him and told him that Jesus had sent him to him that he might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Saul received his sight again and was baptized, and immediately went into the synagogues preaching that Jesus is the son of God. This preaching offended many of the Jews and they made plans to kill him, but the disciples helped him escape.

Paul (as he was re-named) met with the other Apostles in Jerusalem three years later and told them what had happened to him and then began his preaching in Tarsus and the surrounding area. The Holy Ghost was his teacher.

God tells us that He is the good and dependable shepherd and that no other being, including us, has in no way His degree of goodness and dependability. But those who put themselves in humility as a sheep under His care, will share in His love, mercy and in His promises.

It is the prophet Ezekiel, who by authority of God and in His name speaks with authority to the shepherds of Israel, and then to the people of Israel. A word that concerns us today and has full validity.

God tells the pastors (today the leaders of our time) to what extent they do not fulfil their duties; He gives them a bad report card. It is as if the chairman of the supervisory board assesses the executives of a company. Now this can not only be transferred to executives of today’s companies, but also to all possible institutions and associations, but above all to senior executives of the churches. Now we see how God’s Word has validity today.

How do we manage? The centre is Gods Honour and its essence as a measure of our actions. Everybody with a mission in the Church of Jesus Christ must therefore always think back to God’s words and guidance to see how far God’s admonitions are applicable.  Devotion is the key to carrying out tasks in God’s vineyard, correct-let and reverse (do penance)  ..it helps under God’s direction. His word and his direction to seek and then also live it.

God gives us His measure. Just as He is shepherd, so all the staff should judge. But we should not think that it is an impossible task that we should not even start. With such thinking we would exclude the possible help of God.

God knows very well that as humans we are imperfect and therefore our possibilities are limited. But if we let Him live in us, let Him make us a good shepherd of the flock, God can bless. It is worthwhile, therefore, to work happily and trustfully on God’s cause under his guidance.

Now through the prophet, God will also become the people of our time. He presents us His mirror in which we see what we do.  Often, we do not pay attention to the good that God gives us and even crush it or contaminate it. We should always be aware that some sheep can even be a wolf in a sheepskin coat. God makes it clear that He rejects this behaviour.

To be rejected by God!! Can we guess what that means? So, it is up to us as children of God to stand still and ask ourselves: How do I think?  How do I talk? What am I doing? Can God always look at it with pleasure? It is necessary for us to be aware of this every day.

This awareness can help that He can reshape us. We deliberately hold out to Him, deliver ourselves, consider our words and actions, and thus actively prepare the ground that He can change. But everyone has their eyes fixed on them and not on the others — with the help of sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ of course can be involved (for example through prayer support).

We must remember, we cannot help a person change thinking, talking and doing unless they ask. How many times do we think we have to help, without being asked? We then wonder why our help does not have the impact as we imagine. How can God help us if we do not ask for it? He leads us according to His wise plan and thus on the right path for us. But we also have to want it and ask for it. But not with specifications, as so often. We have our ideas of what our lives should look like and ask God to do so. That God wants to divert our lives differently is crushed. When I enforce my opinion and will, God’s word becomes contaminated- Thy will be done!

Only in peace and quiet, disconnected from everything that moves us out of the world, we can be connected to the Holy Spirit in God. This is how we experience His Word and His Will. Because he is the Good Shepherd.

Ezekiel 34: 31 “And ye my flock, the flock, of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.”

If we humbly place ourselves under God’s care, then we have part in His love, His grace and His promises.

As we embrace the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ and life, we will see the green pasture of God and experience how God is the Good Shepherd. So, all the children of God are His sheep and hear His voice.

To believe, that Jesus is God’s Son and the promised Saviour of the world, is by no means, even among Christians, any more a forgone conclusion. The miracles He performed are meanwhile declined as “miracle-tales”.

The faith, which the Apostle John attributes to conquering the world, our text, way surpasses of course the belief of Jesus’ historical existence, that He stilled the wind, walked on water, healed the sick and even bought the dead to life again.

The belief which is meant here, begins here, where we get to know ourselves. Man is, because of sin, separated from, his origin, his God: he is severed from God. We are inclined to more or less belittle this fact: “Because we are all sinners, who come short of the glory of God,” not alone in this but are found in best company, therefore no need to meditate. God will know to discern between my little debt and someone else’s enormous one. Certainly, mercy we all need but in quite different measure.” Only then, when we cannot shut our eyes any more to the devastating, deadly consequence of every sin, do we begin to acknowledge our own, personal lost condition.

Our incapability to do anything about this lost state, makes this great need of being delivered from it more distinct. We finally realize what the separation from God really means for us. We begin to suffer under this separation. Like in the parable of the lost son, grows repentance, ripens the decision to turn to the Father for help.

So, we become those who knock, of which Jesus says, that it will be opened to them. The belief is then a finding and obtaining. Reconciliation with God, through unconditional acceptance of His Grace, leads to soul rest. Out of gratitude our love grows to Him and finally deep devotion. He becomes Lord over our life.

Loved ones serve each other with joy, it is no burden. Where a man loves Christ and through Him God, there he finds pleasure in the law of the Lord. Even more: He will have no fear of the commandment, because his love makes him capable to fulfil it without difficulty. Not for nothing Paul says: “Love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom 13:10).

That such a belief then turns to works, is quite understandable. The love for Christ, the turning to God leads to turning to our fellowman. Who is captured by the gospel can in no wise remain idle. Christ calls those who are in fellowship with Him to duty. To go and bring forth fruit in His commission to us. For a branch, connected to the living vine, it is not a laborious performance, but contrary, a normal manifestation of life.

To experience God in His love and to receive a glimpse of His riches, strengthens our faith. The humbling and at the same time amazing happy acknowledgement, to live by His mercy, in spite of oftentimes appearances of doubts and disobedience outside to be accepted by Him, encourages to hold fast to His Grace.

Finally, out of faith grows the living hope, that God will fully establish His glorious kingdom and His blessing of salvation for man, as promised, in His own time. In this manner, as the love to God grows, the wish also grows, that this might soon come to pass.

Christ has overcome the world and gives everyone, who believes in Him, the chance to be partaker of this same victory.