“Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (verse 5). “Bring what to pass?” we ask. God will bring to pass the thing that does us the most good and that brings Him the most glory. Psalm 37:5 is a good verse to hide in our heart. No doubt there’s something  in our life we’d like to see God do. We’ve been thinking about it, dreaming about it, praying about it. If God is going to accomplish things for us and in us and through us, we must follow certain instruction:

First, we must commit our way to the Lord. This is a definite act of our will. We don’t commit it to the Lord and then take it back, any more than a farmer plants his seed and then keeps digging it up to see if it’s growing! Committing our way to the Lord is an act of the will, an act of faith. We make our way His way, and we make His way our way.

Second, we must trust God. “Commit thy way to the Lord, trust also in Him” (verse 5). What does it mean to trust God? It means to believe His promises. It means to know that He is such a wonderful God that He can be trusted. We trust people because of their character. If they have good character, we trust them. We trust people because of good performance. When they have done the job well, we  know we can trust them. God’s character is perfect, and His record is perfect.

Third, we must wait on the Lord. “And He shall bring it to pass” (verse 5). When will He do it? When He wants to. This is one of the biggest problems of many—-“waiting on Him.” This is why David added in verse 7: “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him”. We are told to be silent to God, and let Him hold thee.” Brethren, Just rest in the Lord; Wait for Him. He’s working on us and on us while He’s working for us. Commit, trust, wait, and He will bring it to pass.

What would you like to see God do in your life? Are we willing to commit, trust and wait? How will we follow these instructions?

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.“ Amen!

Today the role of the apostles has not changed. They have to give great witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ so that grace will abound, and great grace will abound amongst the people for it is through this resurrection that the great hope is given unto us that we too can be resurrected to life, and by this new life we can be part of the Kingdom of God. What greater grace from Christ, to be with Him in His Kingdom.

We read how our Lord pained and made the commitment, and knew what stood before Him – the same way that we should make a commitment in our life. In the garden He asked His Father, ‘If it was possible that this cup should be taken from Him? Not my will, but thy will be done.’ He was not referring to the pain that stood before Him but knew when the sins of the world were placed on Him, His Father would have to leave Him because God can not stand in the presence of sin. Isaiah 54: 7 “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.”

God sent an angel to comfort Him and He prayed more earnestly, and it reads He sweated as it were drops of blood onto the ground, and Christ then knew that He had to become the  scapegoat for the sins of the people to fulfil the Mosaic law where once each year two animals were taken before the high priest. One was sacrificed to Jehovah and the blood from that sacrifice was placed upon the head of the other goat and the high priest asked that it be released so that the sins of the people be covered. It was released into the desert and wherever the people saw the blood on the ground, dripping from the head they knew that the scapegoat had passed and that their sins were now covered.

Our Lord became the scapegoat for all of our sins. In this we receive the grace of Christ, and in this we receive that great promise that as Christ made the commitment and as He had told the people for a sign, tear down this temple and in three days I will build it up. He was speaking about the temple of His body. We also have to be prepared to make that commitment, and that sign to those who ask of us – “Show us a sign?” We too must believe that this living temple of God, which is the Christian Church, although it will be seen to be put down, in three days in God’s time, it will also be raised up. It will be raised up by the power that rose Christ from the grave. The Apostle Paul said that power was the power of the Holy Ghost. Our Lord went into the grave as the Son of man, and through the resurrection, through the power of the Holy Spirit He came out of the grave as the Son of God. We look forward also to our final conversion at the next great resurrection day when our Lord returns.

Because of the great victory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and by His bodily resurrection from the grave we can see the fulfillment of God’s word Isaiah 25:8 “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.” 1 Corinthians 15:20 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and became the first fruits of them that slept.”

This is the description given in the bible to understand the Christian faith, the important point. Surely, for this reason this verse has been the basis for many services. In the bible translation “hope for all” this verse is quoted as follows. “What do we call faith?” Faith is the firm assurance that God’s promises will be fulfilled, it is a deep conviction that God’s spiritual world is reality, even though we cannot see it yet.

By this faith our forefathers received God’s testimony! What secret is contained in the description of faith, what treasure is shown in this way when God reveals Himself unto us! He loves our confident expectation and unmovable conviction — HE seeks it in us — HE wants to convince us the same as our forefathers.

The 11th Chapter of Hebrews invites us to reflect on this FAITH in pictures which speak for themselves.

Verse 3 THROUGH FAITH we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

By Faith we understand.                     Perception, Recognition, Knowing right from wrong.

Verse 4 BY FAITH Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

By Faith we receive the desires to bring sacrifice. Reasons: Love, Gratitude, Loyalty, Obedience.

Verse 5 BY FAITH Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

By Faith we shall not see death.           In this spiritual death.

Verse 7 BY FAITH Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

By Faith in the fulfillment of God’s word. To trust the word of God, contrary to the advice of other people.

Verse 8 BY FAITH Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

By Faith we become obedient.                        Go! Act! Speak!

1Thessalonians 5:24 “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”

Verse 11 THROUGH FAITH also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

By Faith we receive.                           Our daily life, our lives cannot remain empty.

By Faith we trust in God’s promises.               Such as Sarah, who was promised to conceive despite her age.

Verse 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

By Faith we think.                               A new way of thinking can be learnt.

Verse 27 BY FAITH he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

By Faith we cling to that which we cannot see, as if we would see.

Living a life as if He were with us.

Verse 29 BY FAITH they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

By Faith obstacles are removed. Which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

Verse 30 BY FAITH the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

Without Faith these things could not be overcome. Not that there are no obstacles, but Faith instead of our own strength.

No wonder, without FAITH it is impossible to please God, for to come to God you have to believe that God is God and rewards those who seek Him.

During one of Africa’s military coups, part of the attacking force ran out of bullets. Then a lorry belonging to the defenders drove up and was captured – it contained a box of ammunition. When we feel hopeless and defeated, God provides unexpected ammunition to help us continue to fight. He gave David five smooth stones. The Lord Jesus offered His disciples prayer and fasting. Apostle Paul recommends seven “weapons of righteousness” which we can request today, as men of God and as soldiers of Jesus Christ, where the Holy Spirit is in charge of the stores.

1. Purity — This is freedom from sin, our past sins have been forgiven. Today the Lord Jesus gives us power to keep away from them if we ask Him for it.
2. Knowledge — He has given us His word, which we are responsible to study and know, so that we can show others the way to God.
3. Forbearance — We should have the quality of being patient with people, witnessing and soul winning, we know that God loves them and wants all people to come to Him. 1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
4. Kindness — Kind deeds are great weapons of righteousness. When the unbeliever receives this quality from the Christian, he knows his Christianity is real. The hungry are fed, the sick are healed, and the oppressed are given justice. Mark 9:14-29.
5. Genuine Love — We must care about others whether they are our family, friends, or neighbours; or people of another tribe, race or nation; or even our enemies. This love should extend to them too. 2 Timothy 2:3 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
6. Truthful Speech — We have the word of God, which is truthful for all persons. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” We are the light of this word, let your yes be yes and your no be no. People must be able to depend upon our word.
7. The Power of God — Apostle Paul did not credit himself with anything that had been accomplished. It was all done to the power of God working in his life. If we try to do the work of the kingdom of God in our own strength we fail, it must be God’s power working through us.

Ask ourselves if we are good soldiers of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:4 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

Let all of us be encouraged to pray for the weapons we need.

Objective: Community idea is based on the faith in the crucified Son of God. God’s plan of salvation is no secret. The Holy Spirit God’s action. The love of God, know!

1 Paul’s appearance in Corinth

On his second missionary journey.  Paul came from Athens to Corinth (Acts 18). He stayed there 18 months and told the Jews and Greeks the gospel of Jesus Christ. His letter to the church makes a summary on the situation there now, which seems to arise from a number of problems, maladministration and tensions.

Paul starts his letter with a look back at the beginning of its activities, as he once again, reminds them from the beginning.  And so, Paul again reminds the church the basis of their faith: Jesus Christ.

The solution to our community issues and problems as they arise should also make it clear we have to put first what we stand for: God is our Lord, Jesus is the head of the church.

Only from this, the correct answers and solutions.  Will be revealed.

2 The proclamation of the Gospel

2.1 I (Paul) came not with excellency of speech and higher wisdom

• Church planting is done without the need for special effects and show acts
• Externalities are ultimately ineffective
• It all depends on the heart: when God’s Spirit is the heart and takes place, there is the personal relationship with God and in the multitude of the faithful the church

2.2 The Crucified Jesus Christ alone,

• The message of the gospel is simple and clear
• Beauty corrections are not necessary to be added
• The sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus is valid and cannot be by-passed

2.3 In weakness and fear and much trembling

• Paul: who has great knowledge in many matters and seems to be in control, acknowledges
• Paul knows his weaknesses
• God is establishing the Church (Acts 18:10), Paul is only His messenger

2.4   Sermon in demonstration of the Spirit and of power

• No human persuasion but only on God’s Spirit and power
• A “designated” messenger of God only delivers God’s action
• No Mindless chatter or philosophies but: from the Spirit, the Spirit, the Spirit

2.5 So that faith in the power of God is founded        

• Not on Paul, Apollos or otherwise not on a human is faith based, but solely on God; so that there should be the division or arguments based on men’s appeal and wisdom
• This is true then as now
• One Spirit, one Lord, one God (1. I Cor. 12.4)

2.6/9 The wisdom of God

         The hidden people

God’s action does not fit into the human imagination and the human value systems:

• Instead of merit-grace
• Love-instead of indifference
• Reconciliation-rather than confrontation
•    Patience-instead of propaganda
• Truth -instead of a lie
• Justice-instead of selfishness

10 The godly revealed them through the Spirit of God

• God’s action is no longer hidden.
• His Spirit reveals all of that is required

“The development plan for the new building area can be viewed at the Town Hall.”

The plan of salvation for the salvation of the world can be viewed in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And in contrast to many land-use plans in our cities and municipalise God’s plan of salvation is permanent since there is no need for any amendments.

It is worth more than just to have a quick look, it should be studied.

There in we will find and know the love of God.

Again, and again, the holy scriptures do proclaim the mighty deliverance of mankind through God the Almighty. These verses of the Psalmist make it clear what, after hundreds of years, should happen to us also through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

To be man means to experience limitations. Limitations of health, life’s strength and time. An old church hymn says: “We are only guests on earth and travel restlessly, with many a hardship, towards the everlasting homeland. The ways are abandoned and of times we are alone. In these grey streets, nobody wants to be with us. Only one gives guidance, that is the loving Christ, He faithfully travels beside us when everyone forgets.”

Jesus knows about the troubles of man. So, we are told of many wonderful deliverances. People come in their helplessness to Jesus and He helps beyond our comprehension, when everything seems hopeless.

A few friends undertake a risk, to bring a lame man to Jesus. With difficulty, they make a pathway through the multitude. When they could not enter into the house they climbed, without hesitation, on to the roof, let their friend down through an opening and laid him before the feet of Jesus. The Lord accepted this action as more than caring and love for a friend. He sees therein a trust, that seeks Him as Saviour. Now, Jesus starts with the healing of the sick one, but so profound, that those who surrounded them became speechless. He brings this man’s life in order, connecting him with God. He forgives his sins (Luke 5:18-26).

Jesus also knows about our corruption. He therefore does not doctor around our symptoms, but rather goes straight to the root of our sickness: Sin. And who is healed from sin, in him starts a newness of life. And the other things, the stiff limbs, the aches here and there, your restlessness, your worries -they will also be taken: ” …take your bed and go home! (Luke 5:24), God speaks this at the latest on that day, on which He calls us into His perfect world.

It is a man of high reputation, who comes running to Jesus and falls before Him to the ground. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, was at the end of his strength when he reached Jesus. So dark as now, it had never been in his heart. His daughter can or will not live any more, she fights with her life, death threatens her. There he bursts out: “My daughter, lies at the point of death! Do come quickly to her, lay Your hand on her that she may be healed! “In his desperate need, he was no more the important man who among the crowd of people, he is now only father and one of them. His daughter is important, life-important. Fear surrounds his heart. Jairus sees friends coming towards him, their heads shaking:” No-one can help your daughter any more, it is over!” Jairus is in despair, everything is finished. There, Jesus turns to him and says:” Don’t get alarmed! Be not afraid, only believe!” Now starts the healing for both. First for the father and then the oppressed, paralysed and seemingly passed away life at home. Jesus asks then also the mother, who stayed with the daughter and a few of his friends to come into the child’s room. “There she lies lifeless” says the mother. But Jesus takes lovingly the hand of the girl: “Damsel, I say unto thee, arise!’ And there the daughter arose. She stands on her feet and tries the first steps. She can live again. Her father and mother cannot grasp it. (told freely according to Mark 5: 21-24 and 35-43).

Here are powers, but also nearness and humanity at work, which Jesus as the Son of God can give with authority. All experience the credibility of His redeeming love. It breaks through laws of seemingly unchangeable constraints (death), paralyses, hopelessness’s, and injuries of all kind. With Jesus Christ consequently, a new reality of salvation had begun, which took its way – into all depths of humanity.

With these words the Apostle John ask us to make an important decision. Where does our interest lie, or what is more, whom do we love, God or the world?

Today it takes a lot of courage to stand firmly on God’ side and to renounce the world, “Don’t be prudish and old-fashioned” some say. Others say “This kind of narrow minded Christianity is outdated.” Are they right? Are these words not meant for the present times? Do they imply hostility towards our bodies and the world?

Let us first understand that is meant here by the word “world.” This word has many meanings. It is usually used in a neutral sense, in terms such as ‘world peace’, ‘world trade’ etc. When it is used in connection with creation, then it means all creatures, human beings, the animal and plant kingdom as well as our whole planet. There is a lot in this world which God or man has created and which quite naturally, and without restricting us in any way, gladdens our hearts.

In today’s reading the word world mean that part of it which is against God. It means men, who rebel against God, it means their godless and sinful lives. Here we are warned about the danger that threatens our spiritual life. It also helps us to truly love our fellowmen. May this reading enable us to make a clear decision. In many cases this might not be so simple. Man no longer considers those things displeasing to God to be wrong or dangerous. This attitude does not work. It is impossible to love God and ‘this’ world. Jesus called the devil the “Prince of this world” (John 14:30). We cannot love God and evil at the same time.

Light has no communion with darkness, and righteousness has no relationship with unrighteousness or truth with untruth. We should not worry about what society considers moral, but should rather flee from the destructive power of godlessness.

The greatest gift God gave us, is the gift of love! Love is life. Through the love of God we have been saved from death. What do I love most? To what use do I put it? On what does my life depend? The answer will tell us where our interests lie. It is sad to see this gift wasted on unimportant things. If man loved God as much as transitory things, then man’s life would be different. John, therefore, rightly says: “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” He says it without moralizing. He states a fact. Therefore, love God for He loves us first.

The Apostle mentions three ways by which the love of the world is kindled in us, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye of the pride of life. As individuals we have been given no guideline to check whether we have become victims of the world. Here we have to use our judgement and love to find our relationship with God. Following rules would be easy. Instead each one has to follow his conscience and choose his own way. He who looks earnestly within himself will clearly see what he truly is, and thereby find his way to eternal life.

In this Psalm we see recorded two forms of blessings -a plea for all servants to “Bless ye the Lord”, and a declaration that the Lord should also “bless thee”.  If we read the bible we see four different types of blessings emerging, and at first it is hard for us to grasp that we, as humans, are given the instruction to “Bless ye the Lord” -after all, we surely believe that God is the Almighty, and all blessings flow from Him? This is so and has always been from the beginning, as we read in Genesis 1 :28, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” These blessings are still being effected today, because the word of God is true, and because God is eternal and omnipotent.  His omnipotence causes his blessings to avail in the present life in respect to all things and also in the life to come. God gives forth both spiritual and natural blessings -Spiritual blessings which are eternal, and natural blessings which are temporary to us. This is the first type of blessing, the blessings from God, and this should be sought after, acknowledged, and thanked for at all times in our life. We have a proverb, “If something is worth asking for then it is worth thanking for”, and this should always be on our minds; it leads us to the second form of blessing, which is when we “bless God”, as is the instruction in the text.
Psalms 103: 1-2 makes it very clear as written, “Bless the Lord, 0 my soul; and all that is within me; bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” We see it should be a spiritual or soul generated act from within us. When we perform this type of blessing we acknowledge those characteristics which are His, acknowledge His sovereignty and express thanks for His mercies, especially in the sending of His son, Jesus Christ -and these blessings will never go unrewarded, as we see in Christ’s teaching in Matthew 10:32, “whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven”. This confession, or blessing, must be in accordance with the Psalmist’s instruction, ”from the soul”, which is in sincerity and not loosely voiced around.
The third form of blessing is when we, as humans, bless one another, either on behalf of the Lord, or from ourselves. Often we read in the bible where divine guidance was given to issue the blessing as in Genesis 49:28, when Jacob foretold to all his sons what their futures would be, and then it is recorded, “All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spoke unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them”. Moses blessed the Children of Israel in Deuteronomy 33, and under God’s instruction all Priests from the time of Aaron are to issue a blessing on their fellows in the form of the benediction. As well as these divinely led blessings we can, and must, bless each other by expressing good wishes, and above all being prepared to pray for blessings for one another. When we pray for another we extend to them one of the greatest blessings we can give. The Apostle James (5: 16) instructs us, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed”. By passing this blessing on to another, by praying for them, we know according to Job 42: 1 0, it pleases the Lord, “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before”. Often in life we become so concerned about ourselves that we forget to pray for others, thus withholding our blessings from them.
We also bless in this life, in thanksgiving, natural things. The most common example is at meal times when we
place a blessing on the food that the Lord has provided. This blessing seems to originate from the days of Moses when they were instructed to place a blessing on the food of the Passover. Christ upheld this when on earth and we can read at the times of feeding the multitude it is recorded, ‘He blessed the loaves and fishes and brake”. At the Last Supper it is recorded he took the bread and wine and blessed it, and then gave it to His Apostles, declaring it to be His body and blood (Blessed). We see from this that God does accept this form of blessing if it is accompanied with thanksgiving. -Let us never, as our text warns, become as servants that by night stand in the house of the Lord -Never let the darkness of the world overshadow our desire to BLESS and BE BLESSED.