A DISTINCTIVE ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS CHRIST

THE BOOK OF RUTH

The book of Ruth is based on a woman named Ruth and it portrays her as a woman who is chosen as she is amongst the women on lineages of Jesus Christ.

A short background on Ruth, she made a decision to stay with Naomi even after Naomi's son, Ruth's husband had passed away. Ruth could have easily left her mother-in-law seeing that she had nothing left to offer her but she stayed.

When they got to a new hometown, Ruth, as it was harvest time, Ruth went to the fields to pick up leftovers and Boaz gave her permission to do so. Fast forward, Ruth obtained favour and got married to Boaz. I want us to note that it all began when Ruth and Naomi moved out of their hometown and comfort zone.

We sometimes go to church based on what the church can offer us, hoping to obtain certain things, some may call it a break through. We sometimes don’t go to church because of faith or seeking God's kingdom. And the danger in that is when you run out of those reasons and your break through does not happen, it easy to lose faith in God and or even your Christianity as well.

We can learn a thing or two from Ruth. Which is to stay with God even when circumstances prove to be otherwise. When it comes to Ruth, even when Naomi tried to chase her away as Naomi had nothing to offer Ruth, but Ruth made a decision to stay. What is evidence from Ruth's decision, it her faith and not being easily shaken and she was not expecting to receive nor seeking anything from Naomi, but stayed purely based on love. She had faith in difficult times.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

There came a time when Naomi and Ruth had to move from their hometown, which meant moving out from their comfort zone.

What does it mean to move away from your comfort zone?

1. You need to understand the devil is at work all the time, you need to pray to God at all times, even when you're in the darkest pit, where there seems to be no hope. You just need to call upon God, Hid door is always open, at any time.

2. Be anchored in Faith

To have faith means to see through God's eye. Ruth lost it all but she was still hopeful and had faith in God. She had to use her spiritual vision to believe that everything was working for her Good.

[James 1:12]

Depression

I suffered from depression, I'm still not sure if putting it as "suffered" is fit enough because it is kind of putting it as if it is in the past, as if I have completely mastered it. I personally feel that fighting depression is a continuous battle that we get to fight because it can be triggered by tiny things that you were not aware that they were issues. There are days where depression would be at its lowest as if it's completely done, and there are those where it will be at its highest. What really helps is holding on to God.

When I actually track back, my depression started at the age of 15 years. It started mainly because of bullying. I was teased a lot about my appearance, my teeth, ears, forehead, you name it. I grew up thinking that I wasn't pretty enough, that I didn't mount to the standards of beauty. It went an extent that I even changed schools in grade 9. That didn't help, even though I was not teased at the new school, I still carried those negative thoughts with me. I struggled to make new friends.

This started to become something that I just couldn't understand, demonic even if we could put it that way, because I had given up on God as I felt so has been taken away from me. There was just no reason for me to believe, there was just no need. Even when my mom was still around, I didn't go to church as much but I still prayed and believed in God. Even after mom's passing, I continued a bit to pray but it got a point of just having no hope and I stopped.

One of the things that made me cope or manage it well was being part of the Bible Study group. Hearing the testimonies that other people shared, gave me hope that I am not alone in this as I was able to relate to their stories, hearing how they managed and how they were able to get past it.

This one time I was listening to a radio station and they were talking about depression and committing suicide, this one guy said during the day we walk around wearing these face masks for facade but as soon as we go home, we unmask ourselves and reality hits. To be honest, to have this facade that everything is ok during the day is not something that you do intentionally, it is something that happens automatically with you even realizing that you are doing it.

To make things worse, my mom passed away during the mist of all this and I didn't deal with these emotions because I am apathetic when it comes to vulnerability. I continued on as normal, and two years later, a good friend of mine also passed away. When the friend passed away, it awakened all the feelings and emotions that I have tucked away when my mom passed away, it all came back. Then my depression was at its highest level.

Previously it wasn't severe as I didn't have these voices, it was just this huge sadness. The more you allow it to manifest, the more it grows. I associated this with the kind of music that I listen to, I listened to sad music and it started to grow, the more I grew up, the more it just didn't go away until I got to "semi-adulthood".

Living a life without God is hard, at that time I didn't know it. I just blocked everything and then suddenly I started hearing these voices and they became vivid images. Tracing back to when I initially had depression, these voices were there because I couldn't sleep, at that time I thought it was just bad dreams. But these this time around it started happening even when I wasn't asleep, while awake. I'd get these images of me hurting myself, it started getting scary. I only started understanding what it really was when God re-entered my life but when it was still happening, I was just lost in the mist of my troubles and I wouldn't pray because there was this thing that would suppress me if I tried to pray. I knew what I wanted to say in prayer, but I just couldn't spit it out.

This certain day when I had these thoughts and images of hurting myself, even till this day, I am not sure if I was really going to do it or not but I recall having a conversation with God. I was just preparing myself that if I really end up doing it, I want to have a conversation with God first. I wanted to pray but then I remembered I couldn't pray, something told me to just speak to God and I poured my heart out.

After having a conversation with God, I was filled with shame and guilt for the things I have thought of doing and for not trusting Him. This is the scripture that gave me comfort:

[Luke 7:46]

You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.

[Luke 7:47]

For the longest time I thought God has turned His back on me, only to find that He was just waiting on me to call on Him. During that conversation with God, I found myself reading:

[Luke 7:37]

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.

[Luke 7:38]

As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

[Luke 7:39]

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven —as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little."

[Luke 7:48]

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

[Luke 7:49]

The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

[Luke 7:50]

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

[Philippians 1:21]

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

[Philippians 1:22]

If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

[Philippians 1:23]

I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

[Philippians 1:24]

but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is —that she is a sinner."

[Luke 7:44]

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

[Luke 7:45]

You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.

What has really helped me with depression is holding on to His feet and holding on to everything that is Him. A part of me believes that if I let go, the voices will come back, that's a part of me that is just scared and a huge part of truly believes that I've already conquered this. Whenever the voices come back, I tell myself it's not it, I've already conquered it.

We face new challenges every day and they do bring back depression but we just have to believe that we won't be ruled by depression and it has no portion over our lives and it can never rule us. Only God has authority over us, nothing else. He cleanses out everything in our lives, including depression. It is important to truly devote yourself to God.

We know which medication to take when we have flue symptoms or any type of sickness. The same applies with depression, God is my medication, He's my healer and my everything. If you really want to beat this, you just need to let God in.

Healing According to

Lungile Ngcobo

I don’t think we ever truly heal from certain things, we just learn how to live with the pain. Over time we grow immune to the triggers although the wound is still just as big. I think of it as a never-ending process we must commit ourselves to for the sake of our well-being. At some point the internet had a habit of telling people who expressed any dissatisfaction with anything to “heal”. Wouldn’t it be quite something if it were that easy? “Oh hey friend, I can’t make lunch this weekend. I’m going to heal. Yeah.. My plans for the weekend are just healing. I should’ve healed by 3.30pm Saturday.” If healing were so easy surely there wouldn’t be so many people whose pain somewhat throws them over the edge, at times literally, adopting toxic mechanisms just to see it through the next day. If it were a one-size-fits-all then all of us wouldn’t be wishing therapy was easily accessible or if the humans around us were not so cruel, or wishing life didn’t throw things for us to constantly heal from to begin with. But it does, now what?

through that which makes it worth it. I do not believe in having to suffer and endure the worst just because God is with me. I do it just because, all I often pray is just the strength to see it through and hope for better days.

ourselves to this, it becomes easier to not succumb to the cruelty of the world, because the reality is that the world we live in is unfair. There is an imbalance of power, good and bad and while it is somewhat freeing to know you’re not accountable for it, you are responsible for you.

One of my favourite Bible scriptures is 2 Corinthians 12:9, which holds “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness….” I do not by any means glamourize nor romanticize suffering just because of the belief that God has something to teach me

I remember at some point in my life I had a very unhealthy relationship with positivity. “Just stay positive,” I’d often tell myself, at times others (which I sincerely apologize for I had no idea what I was talking about). For every bad, I had a good, to the point of deluding myself that everything happens for a reason which we have come to accept. Reality though is not everything in our lives happens because of a profound reason. We each go through different seasons because that is the order of life. Some people will harm you but you will never get the satisfaction of seeing them crumble as that may not be in the plans for their lives.

Your healing and the direction of your life rests heavily on you being a healthy person, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. For every action you take or omit to, the consequences will be borne by you which is why you may as well choose the option that has you less miserable. One with creation and the Creator, your guides or if you don’t believe in anything, yourself. Wallowing in self-pity eventually grows old as harsh as it may sound. In the same way you may not want to hear certain words, other people around you eventually run out of words to comfort you.

The same God that knew me before I was formed in my mother’s womb, who created Heaven and Earth and my ancestors that walked before me is the same One that still walks with me and watches over every other person on the Earth no matter their sin. With this in mind, I then have convinced myself that no one is exempt from challenges, while the scale of our suffering will not be same, which although may seem unfair, that is just the order of things. The least we can do is focus on what is within our control. If daily we commit

I recently told a good friend of mine about how unhappy I have been as of late. Despite everything that is seemingly going right in my life I couldn’t celebrate what society would consider “wins”, (however small they are) and it hit me. The one person I’d pictured celebrating these milestones with is not here anymore. The loss of a parent, in my case, my mother whom I considered my everything is one of the closest things to hell on Earth I have experienced and yet here I am far from being free of the pain of losing her but pushing on.

My friend told me to be intentional about my happiness and identify those things that used to bring me joy and slowly gravitate towards them again to try and rekindle that enthusiasm for life and so lately I have been doing just that.

When healing from something the most mundane of tasks seem like literally trying to move mountains. With what strength when getting out of bed feels like a chore? Do not get me started on explaining the inexplicable emotions you feel. With this in mind, if you’re healing from anything you will need to be as generous to yourself as you would to the dearest person to you in the world (which I’m hoping is yourself). You will long for a community and it’d be nice to not walk the journey alone but be prepared to should need arise. Feel and process every emotion as it comes, don’t jump through any of the stages, when you repeat the same mistakes try again until you get it right.

All in all, I’d be lying if I said I knew of the existence of a fool proof approach to healing. Some people turn to prayer, mediation, drugs, relationship and some to themselves. All I know is wherever it is you find yourself, as long as you’re still here you can make progress. Time will pass, it will not stop and wait while you heal, might as well be a work in progress.

TRUSTING GOD BY: NELISWA DLAMINI

BASIS: DANIEL 3

Background of the story:

When king Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold (idol) for the people to worship, and whoever who didn't bow down to worship this idol was going to be thrown into the blazing furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood their ground and refused to worship the idol.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down to the idol because they knew who their God is an they trusted God. When these three men refused to bow down to this idol, king Nebuchadnezzar got furious and ordered for the furnace to be seven times hotter than usual, not understanding that seven stands for perfection. The fire burnt the soldiers but Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were unharmed, God protected them and the Nebuchadnezzar saw a 4th man.

In thrusting God, you need to start by believing in Him.

[Daniel 3:17]

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.

[Daniel 3:18]

But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Before we can even get into talking about trusting God, we need to understand who God is. God is the Alpha and Omega, creator of all things.

TRUSTING GOD BY: LUNGANI CHONCO

BASIS: GENESIS 22

When are we supposed to trust in God?

When is the right time to actually trust in God?

Are there any terms and conditions?

Should trust be circumstantial?

Firstly, let’s look at Abraham; he was called by God while residing in his old homeland enjoying life but God spoke to him genesis chapter 12 when God called him Abraham did respond by faith trusting God. He was asked to leave his homeland behind. Sometimes God requires us to get rid of specific people whom we love dearly, it might not be family but cutting off specific family members or cutting off friendships in our lives that causes us to derail from the will of God.

As time goes by Abraham begins to learn to trust more in God. Trust can be cultivated and trust can be nurtured but it's something that has to be taken care of every day but not only in the good times only but in the bad times as well.

Every day Abraham starts his life by serving God with a lot of mistakes while serving God, he sleeps with Hagar trying to orchestrate the will of God in his life. God doesn’t need any help to do his will in our lives. Trust is nurtured in the different seasons of life. In Abraham’s case. His waiting was prolonged, he saw a need to make God’s will take place faster. In today’s terms. That will be seen in a lot of factors. God has a partner in store for a single Christian but because they have been waiting too long for the right person, they go out and find someone out of the will of God. God challenges you to trust Him with everything in your life and yes including trusting Him with your finances as well, just remember the story of the Widow’s offering on Mark 12:41-44.

Abraham trusted God enough to leave his homeland and was willing to sacrifice his own son to fulfil God’s will. If God were to challenge you to leave everything that you hold dear to your life, would you be willing to leave it all for Him and put all your trust in Him? When Jesus calls his first disciples, they left everything and followed Jesus Christ. Are you willing to surrender all and live for Christ?

Matthew 4: 18-22

Trusting God has to start at specific point in our lives, it’s not something that comes when we find ourselves in deep waters only, but there has to be a reference point in our lives that we can say this is when I learnt to trust in God.

God continues to use Abraham despite his flaws then we get to the most interesting part of the moon where God says to Abraham go to the mountain mount Moriah sacrifice your son by faith. The act of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son is a chiastic act of Jesus Christ being the ultimate sacrifice.

We will all be challenged to trust in God no matter what, the question is; are you willing to continue to trust God, even in difficult times?

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Waiting on God

Apostle Paul asserts that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love him, who are called according to his plan and purpose ~ Romans 8:28. This Implies that as the children of God we are not exempted to trials and tribulations but our father who is rich in mercy uses those very unfavourable circumstances to elevate and transform our lives to fulfil his greater plan in our lives. In other words, whatever that we go through, regardless of how burdensome or painful it can be, it is part of God’s greater plan for our lives. We hear disciples asking Jesus about the man who was born blind, whether his condition was caused by his sin or his parents’ sin. Jesus answered them and said, his blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parents’ sins, but he is blind so that God’s power might be seen at work in him-John 9: 1-3. The plan of God for each one of us is to prosper and never to harm us –Jeremiah 29:11. Though Job lost everything he had, the Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first, in other words he restored Job’s fortunes in abundance-Job 42: 10.

We are always ready to doubt the love of God whenever we face trials and tribulations, and the noise from the world is also a contributing factor. It cannot be disputed that there are high expectations from the unbelievers that our lives should always be smooth since we call ourselves children of God. Not only the unbelievers, but also us as believers, we often feel entitled and we believe that nothing bad should happen to us,

we should not lack anything and that things should happen in line with our scheduled time. It is not entirely wrong that we feel entitled to these things because the word of God has guaranteed us his provision and protection. However, we ought to remember that even Christ the author of our faith had gone through these things and the bible has equipped us on how we ought to respond. James provides that we should consider ourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come our way, for such trials produces perseverance-James 1:1.

The word of God encourages us to wait for the Lord, David reinforces this in psalms “Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart, wait for the Lord”~ Psalms 27: 14. We can all attest on how distressing waiting can be, it requires a lot of courage, hope, faith and strength that can only be drawn from God himself through prayer and his word. Since we are in Christ, we are distinguished from unbelievers in that we have been gifted with the Holy Spirit, who enables us to bear fruit. Our works demonstrate the change of sanctification that is at work in our hearts. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and selfcontrol ~ Gal-5:22-23. Each of these fruits is of great significance in our journey. While we wait for the Lord, faithfulness and self-control is always tested. We need to be rooted in the principles of faith that the evil one cannot convince us otherwise, as he often uses this opportunity to lead us astray. This is also where our love for God is tested, whether we love God because of what he does for us or we love him because of who he is. Whenever we serve the Lord, we should not lose joy because of whatever that we go through and his peace that surpasses all human understanding should never depart our hearts. While we wait, we need to be patient knowing that God has our best interests at heart even though at times, he may seem to be delaying us.

I love the book of Isiah 60:22 which says “I the Lord when the time is right will make it happen”, God may seem quiet when we pray and ask from him, but he will surely give each one of us what we desire in due time. His due time is often not in agreement with ours. This is the truth that we all need to come into grips with as brethren so that our relationship with God will remain stable. I say this because many have opted to return to the world because they failed to understand that God’s timing often contradicts ours, and that when he shows up, he will give us more than we have asked for. The Lord is able to give us exceedingly and abundantly above all than we have asked for or think, according to his power working in us ~ Ephesians 3: 20-21, ours is to wait patiently on him. Waiting on the Lord requires that we do not lean on our own understanding, and yield to God’s wisdom and will because we can never fully comprehend his ways ~ Proverbs 3:5-6.

try to convince God that something is good for me, guess what? my Father (God) just did not think so, and he was not even moved by my tears. That is how much he loves us and he does not even owe us any explanation. However, I can assure you that when his plan unfolds, you will understand that it was all worth it and that those NO’s came from a good place. Everyone’s journey is unique and requires that we enquire from God so that he may guide our path. Comparing your life with that of someone else is likely to cause adverse consequences, you will be tempted to believe that God loves your neighbour more than he loves you, and you are likely to become bitter and envious. Remember at some point you also have said “NO” to your own child, did it mean you do not love your Child? Let me not dwell much on this, as the Holy Spirit interprets for you.

despising Sarah. I can imagine the pain that this brought to Sarah knowing that she has failed her duty as a wife and another woman has succeeded in fulfilling such duty to her husband. The pain led Sarah to become bitter and started treating Hagar cruelly to the point where Hagar had to run away ~Gen 16. This is what we can all attest to, that when things do not go according to our plan or not taking place at the time we desire them to, we tend to panic and instead of waiting, we opt for shortcuts which often yield unpleasant repercussions. Sarah took a shortcut by encouraging his husband to have a child with Hagar who ended up despising her when she got pregnant and made her inferior in her own home, instead of bringing relief, this brought more pain and led Sarah to become cruel against her.

It is necessary to highlight that at times, while we wait on God to answer our payers, we should also anticipate a “NO”. Yes, I just said it. Does he love us less when he says “NO”? absolutely Not, but he also loves us enough to say “NO” when he knows what we ask for will be harmful to us in the long run, or will hinder us from reaching where he is taking us. Remember he is our father and knows us better than anyone else. Yes, the same God who said “Yes” to your fellow Christian, can say “NO” to you. In my journey with Christ, I have received many No’s and at times I would even

Sarah, a woman who gave birth at the age of Ninety years

I am also reminded of Sarah, a woman who could not bear children for his husband. Sarah and Abraham were advanced in years and never had children. This troubled Sarah that at some point her despair reached such dept that she encouraged his husband to have a child with her handmaid Hagar, who conceived a son named Ishmael. When Hagar became pregnant with Abraham’s son, she became proud and started

Prior to the birth of Ishmael, the Lord had appeared through a vision to Abraham, telling him that he will have an heir and that he will have as many descendants as the stars that he showed to him ~Gen 15: 4. After the birth of Ishmael, the Lord again appeared to Abraham, telling him that his wife Sarah will have a son, at this time Sarah and Abraham were very old and Sarah had stopped having her periods. Sarah laughed at these news, because they contradicted with their current condition (as they were already old to have children) ~ Gen 18. The Lord blessed Sarah as he had promised and she became pregnant and bore a son named Isaac to Abraham. At the time Isaac was born, Abraham was hundred and Sarah was ninety years. After the birth of Isaac,

Sarah was joyful and in great disbelief ~ Gen 21. When the Lord’s time to answer your prayers has finally arrived, he will definitely live you in disbelief and you will experience the joy that will make you forget all those years of suffering. God favoured Sarah, because even though Ishmael was born before Isaac, God had already predestined Sarah’s son to be the one through whom Abraham will have descendants that God had promised and he did not change his mind now that Ishmael is born first ~ Genesis 21:12.The bible also reveals that there were also other wives after Sarah, but God blessed Sarah’s son and predestined him. Can you see how far can the love of God go? it is common that when the Lord is about to bless you, he will let you go through the unthinkable to the point where you go through criticism and you even feel like you are alone, do not be deceived because that is exactly when the Lord is closer to you. Cay you see how God can exceed our expectation of what we have asked for ~Ephesians 3 :20-21? All that Sarah was longing for was a child, but when God decides to bless her (according to his timing) he did not only give her just a child but a son through whom Abraham will have as many descendants as the stars. Even though people around you can get the things you have been praying for before you, I can assure you that he has not forgotten about you, and what he has in store for you is only the best, rest on his promises. Below we look on how the life of Isaac points to the coming of Christ.

How Isaac’s life point to Christ

The most memorable and significant moment from Isaac’s life was with his father, on a mountain. Isaac had grown up and loved by his parents. One day his father came to him and told him they needed to go to the land of Moriah to worship God through Sacrifice. Though the bible does not indicate Isaac’s age, he was old enough to help his father carry the material needed to make a wood. He noticed his father had not brought the lamb to sacrifice and accepted his father‘s answer that “God himself will provide one” –Gen 22: 14. Isaac subsequently allowed his father to bind him, place him on the alter and even raise the knife ~ Gen 22:9-10. The bible does not indicate Isaac fighting back and resisting during this process. Considering his age, he was a young man who probably could have fought and overpowered his father, but he did not. Both Abraham and Isaac had a tremendous faith in God because Isaac also did not question his father when he said God will provide, in other words he also believed that there is nothing impossible with God. God ultimately provided a ram nearby to be sacrificed in the place of Isaac ~ Gen 22: 8. The manner in which Abraham submitted to God’s command, and Isaac followed his father to the sacrificial Alter, prophesied the greater sacrifice that would take place later. A father would ask his son to die as a sacrifice, to pay the price for sin and that Son would be

obedient to his father. Though Abraham had great faith in God, he could not pay the price for his sins, nor could Isaac. Only the perfect lamb would do so. Jesus came on earth as the perfect lamb who paid the vicarious atonement for everyone’s sins. He substituted himself for all sinners, including Isaac. We can say that Jesus is the ram in the thorns that God provided to die in Isaac’ place.

God loves you and never let anything or anyone convince you otherwise. In whatever you may be going through, God is right next to you, to preserve you and never doubt his presence in your life. Right at your weaknesses, God’s power is made perfect and his grace is sufficient for you ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. He sympathizes with your weaknesses ~Hebrews 4: 15. Continue to love him as he first loved you when he gave his only begotten son so that you may not perish, but have eternal life. We always have a reason to praise him, let us go ahead and seek his kingdom first and all these things that we desire so much shall be added unto us ~Matthew 6:33. Let me borrow the words of David “I remain confident of this, you will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” ~ Psalm 27:13. You are more than a conqueror, all that is born of God overcomes the world ~ 1 John 5: 4.

FORGIVENESS AND RECONNECTION

Nomfundo’s Playlist

IS THERE ANY SIN THAT CANNOT BE FORGIVEN?

It is good for us to be aware that there are sins that can be forgiven and a sin that cannot be forgiven.

[1 John 5:16]

If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.

[1 John 5:17]

All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

It is Jesus Himself that told us which sin exactly that cannot be forgiven.

1) William Mcdowell –Stay

2) SbuNoah – Medley ka Ma

3) Brian Courtney Wilson - I'll Just Say Yes

4) Benjamin Dube –Lomusa ongaka

5) Kelontae Gavin - No Ordinary Worship

Favourite Scripture

[Mark 3:28]

Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter,

[Mark 3:29] but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin."

[Mark 3:30]

He said this because they were saying, "He has an impure spirit."

[Ephesians 5: 10] and find out what pleases the Lord.

IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO RE CONNECT WITH GOD?

All sins are forgivable except for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Before we can even get to answering the question of "is it ever too late to re connect with God?", there is a need for us to be honest with ourselves and be aware that there are sins that can be forgiven and a sin that lead to death. We all know that sin entered the world when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Immediately after Adam and Even had eaten the forbidden fruit, God wanted us to re connect with Him. God made a Covenant that through her offspring, the serpent's head will be crushed and to the serpent He uttered these words:

[Genesis 3:15]

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

God is a gracious God and He is a promise keeper. In the first book in the Holy Bible, Genesis, God promised that through "her offspring", the serpent's head will be crushed and that was a Pre introduction of Jesus Christ. Quite several times God has proven that whatever He has promised, He will do.

If you pay careful attention, you'll realize that all the events in the Old Testament are leading up to the story of Jesus Christ and communicating to us God's desire to resuscitate the human race back to His kingdom.

[John 3:16]

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

THE COVENANT

Before we can get to the conclusion if it is ever too late to re connect with God. Let us take note of God's promises to us and the covenants He has had with His people.

1) Abraham and Sarah

God promised Abraham that he will be father of many nations, at that time Sarah couldn't even conceive and she was old. To many it may have seemed a bit impossible as Sarah was old. We often make decisions based on our own limited knowledge, impatience and insufficient facts due to our lack of faith. Those decisions are often detrimental to us and our relationship with God. Do you realise that when Sarah asked her slave girl to bear a child for her husband, God's plan for her to have Isaac was still a mystery.

It is important to note that, even with the decision that Sarah made prematurely by giving Hagar to Abraham, it didn't stop God's plan for her to conceive Isaac, without delay. Our main problem is impatience and lack of faith.

[Genesis 21:1]

Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.

[Genesis 21:2]

Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.

Jesus Christ being the Saviour

Due to our human nature, we always have a justifiable reason why we do things that we do, even though we know it is against God's will and is not pleasing in God's eyes. God has given us freewill and freedom to make decisions, whether we make a good or a bad one, He still gives us the freedom to make decisions.

Despite the bad decisions and the mistakes we make along the way, God still chooses us to be His own and forgives us, not because we deserve it, but because of His love for us.

[Romans 5:8]

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

[Luke 19:10]

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

[Luke 5:32]

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

When Jesus was on the Cross, he had two men next to him that were going to be crucified with him. One of those two men was wise enough to acknowledge his own mistakes and wrongdoings, he then asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus replied to the man the wise man;

[Luke 23:43]

Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

Your beautiful love story between you and God begins with rekindling the fire by repenting, accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour and trusting God to handle all your affairs. In fact the answer lies with you, is it ever too late to re connect with God?

THE PRODIGAL SON

The prodigal son is oneof the most prominent parables ever told by Jesus. The central theme ofthis parable is directly linked tothe theme of allthree parables in Luke 15.

[Luke 15:7]

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

[Luke 15:10]

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

The theme is the celebration in heaven over arepentant sinner.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus was largely opposed by the scribes and Pharisees because His teachings confronted theirbelief system and exposed theirsinful hearts.

[Luke 15:1]

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.

[Luke 15:2]

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

In the cultural context of Jesus’ audience, tosit with and dine with someone was considered as tantamount to approval and acceptance of that individual and the theological view of the scribes and Pharisees had no room for this behaviour. However, throughout scripture, it is vivid that Jesus was by no means a participant in anyone’s sin. However, throughout scripture, it is vividthat Jesus was by no means a participant in anyone’s sin. He was simply taking His ministry to the neediest of sinner. He said, “those who arewellhave no need of a physician but those who are sick.

I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (Luke 5-3132). The parable commences with a boy asking his father to givehim the portion of the goods thatbelong to him (inheritance). This was an extremely shamefuldemand by the son because he was declaringthat hewanted tolive independent from his father and he wish his father was death. It is beyond possible to imagine any greater shame a son can cause his father and his family that this. From verse 13, “he gathered alltogether and journey to a far country where he wasted his possessions with prodigal living. After exhausting all his possessions, there arose agreat famine in that country and he began to be in want to the point that he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate. And no one gave him anything.(Verse 16) “But when he came to his senses he said, “how many of my father’s servant have bread and to spareand I perish with hunger. I will say to him, “Father I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am not worthy tobe called your son.

Make melike one of your hired servants. Here we see a turning point of the story. The beginning of repentance. The son remembers and realize that his father is good (providing hired servants with bread and tospare) and he recognized his ownsin and sinfulness whichis foundational for true repentance because we cannot cometoChrist for forgiveness of sin unless we are convicted of our own sinfulness. The son did not base his forgivenesson whether he feels forgiven but on the concrete goodness of his father andthe solid promise of od that if weconfess our sins, He willindeed forgive us (1 John 1:9).

We arefinally warned that we are not justified by our works but by faithin Christ alone. We are also encouragedthat though wemay be lost, fallen and fallible, Gods loving grace is sufficient to save and restoreus. Philip Yancey says ‘’ grace, like water, it flows to the lowest places”. Lastly, it’s imperative to highlight the fact that the joy in heaven is not cantered on the sinner but on the goodness ofGod.

His father sawhimfrom a distance and he had compassion and ran to him and kissed him and called for a big celebration he was sonwas lost but nowhe is found, he was dead but nowhe is alive. When the father heard of this celebration, he was veryangry which contradicted the father’s joy. He saidtohis father, “these many years I have been servingyou. I did not transgress your commandment and you never gave me a young goat to merry with my friends.” At this point we finally see the hateful heart of the older son. He alsodid not love the father but was more interested of recognition and benefits from the father. He did not share the samejoy with the father and preferred to merry “with friends”. Because of his legalism, he thinks the father owes him. This ishow the scribes and Pharisees are because they thought that by just keeping rules, God was pleased with them. Theydid not seethe need for the Father’s grace because they thought that keeping the rules made them right withGod and they missed God.

LIVINGAPRAYERFULLIFE:MAM’ TSHIDI

Livingaprayerfullifeiswhatdefinedthelifeof Jesusonearthanditcontinuestobeanefficient weapontoabelieverwhoprays.

[Ephesians6:18]

AndprayintheSpiritonalloccasionswithallkinds ofprayersandrequests.Withthisinmind,bealert andalwayskeeponprayingforalltheLord’s people.

[Romans 11:34]

"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"

[Romans 11:35]

"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?"

[Romans 11:36]

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

The crushing stones did not silence Stephen's prayer. What could silence earn for us?

Instead:

[Hebrews 4:16]

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. God has given us a responsibility also to pray for one another.

[James 5:16]

ScriptureconstantlyteachesusandaffirmJesusas GodbutthroughoutHisearthlyministry,heliveda lifeonobedienceandtotaldependenceinGod.This istheexampleoflifethatGodhasgivenusin Christ,toliveaprayerfullife.

[1Thessalonians5:17]

praycontinually,

WhenJesustaughthisdisciplestopray,hesaid praylikethis"Ourfather...".It'sencouragingto knowwhenwepray,wearenotprayingtoa stranger,butweareprayingtothesovereignGod whoisourfather.Whenwepray,wedonotimprove onHisknowledgeaboutwhattodonextandone's prayerdonotimproveonHiswisdom.Heisall knowingandallpowerfulinHimself.

The sovereignty of God is an encouraging factor to pray because we know and believe that, although we are small and powerless, we arepraying to a great and powerfulGod who is in total control of everything. Even the cruel torture of the crucifixion could not silence Jesus's prayer.

Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1873) famously said, "Noman can do me a truer kindness in this worldthan to pray for me." Hebelieved prayer is the greatest power inthe entire universe.

Whenever God is determined to do great work, He first set His people to pray.Since it is crystal clear throughout scripturethat God wants us topray(Matthew 7:7) and prayer really works if we pray according to His will and purpose. Wemust pray with Joy and confidence because our father is listening. If He had no interest to listen to our prayers, He would not bid usto pray.

COPYRIGHTS

Copyrights © Nonhlanhla Nomfundo Simelane, 2022

No part of this book maybe reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,or otherwise, without theprior written permission from the author.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Holy Bible, NIV

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1873)

GENERAL

Nothing in this book is intended toreplace your religious or cultural beliefs or any professional or medical advice, please utilise your discernment.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A special thank you to all the writers that contributed towards the book and everyone that supportedme in ensuring that thisbook as a success.

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