Category: Pastoral Letters

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AFM Pastoral Letter 4th Quarter_2023

AFM Family,

We have reached the end of the year! This moment always gives an individual an opportunity to look back and reflect on the past year as well as an opportunity to look ahead to the new year. This is how I approached this last Pastoral Letter of 2023. In addition, I asked my fellow National Office Bearers to also contribute and share what is currently stirring in their hearts. Together, we trust that the messages in this Letter will be a blessing to our AFM Family. We conclude with Christmas wishes as we enter a special and significant season on the Christian calendar.

PART 1: Dr Henri Weideman
(President of the AFM of SA)

Focus on our Holy Spirit Foundations

We are a Pentecostal church, which means we believe in the working of the Holy Spirit in and through the everyday lives of Christ’s followers. In South Africa, we need to keep the Holy Spirit fire burning in our hearts and lives to fulfil our redemptive purpose. I am encouraged by the way most Regions and many assemblies throughout the church have taken up the theme for 2023 and focused on the Holy Spirit’s work in and through us.

“In South Africa, we need to keep the Holy Spirit fire burning in our hearts and lives to fulfil our redemptive purpose.”

Leadership Development

For many years we have been talking about the development of leaders. This year it became a reality! By taking a group of twelve young leaders through a yearlong development program, the AFM Legacy Leadership Program is aimed at developing a generation of God-fearing, Christ-like, Holy Spirit-filled leaders who will live, lead, and leave a legacy for the church, the Kingdom and society at large.

The first in-person session of this program took place from 28 September to 1 October 2023 in Centurion (Gauteng). This session focused on the AFM history and background, the ecumenical church space in South Africa, and personal awareness, -knowledge and life purpose. It will be followed by online engagements, assignments and two more in-person sessions early in 2024. If you are interested in knowing more about this specific programme in the AFM, you can refer to the brochure on the website: https://afm-ags.org/afm-legacy-leadership-program/. The applications for the 2024-2025 intake will open shortly.

We also embarked on strategic ongoing leadership interventions for National Leadership Forum (NLF) members. During the 2023 NLF sessions, the following topics were covered: “Leading for Engagement”; “Proactively Addressing Mental Health” and “Strategy Frameworks that Leads to Effective Action Plans” – all of which were conducted by the Themba Thandeka Leadership Institute.

Education and Training Collaborative Agreements

The NLF approved the creation of multiple entry points into ordained ministry, including both the CHE (Academic) & QCTO (Occupational) level 6 and 7 courses. Engagements with the South African Theological Seminary (SATS) continued and resulted in the signing of an RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) agreement for implementation beginning in 2024. An agreement on collaboration in implementing QCTO qualifications, (inclusive of NQF level 2 and 5 qualifications as entry points) was established with Word and Life Academy. This is a highlight for me because it will enable easier and more affordable entry into ministry training for AFM members who experience that God is calling them.

The Welfare Department

The greatest achievement in the AFM Welfare during this time, was to bring this ministry on a more sustainable financial path. This was achieved by several cost-saving actions, inclusive of cuts in some salaries, combining children’s homes where feasible, selling some houses and setting profit off against outstanding bonds, combining posts, and filling vacancies on a subsidy scale. One of the greatest challenges remains the transformation of the way the welfare ministry of the church is perceived and the way it functions, to be more service provider-orientated. We had a successful strategic planning workshop in November 2023 in this regard.

“I realized that building unity and building relationships are directly linked.”

Deepening the Expression of Unity

The visible deepening of the expression of unity on all levels in the AFM is of great importance to me. I continue to engage strategically with leaders, role players and members of our church in this regard and I see healthy but slow progress. I realized that building unity and building relationships are directly linked. We need to talk more about this and work intentionally on building relationships in our local communities.

PART 2: Past. Rudi Coertzen
(General Treasurer of the AFM of SA)

The year 2023 was a year where I was stretched and challenged to serve our Master with greater vigour. Our theme for the year, Keep the Fire Burning, helped me to focus clearly on what is important. Every time I spoke, I realized, the fire must burn brightly. As we started the year with our NOB Empowerments, I was fortunate to interact with all our pastors and leaders. I enjoyed engaging with our leaders and asking and answering difficult questions. From my perspective, the empowerments were a great blessing to me, and it helped me to grow in my relationship with God.

All the different department conferences were well attended and the energy from the leaders of the departments, energized me. The youth was like the youth is, exuberant and loud and lots of dance and songs. The women impressed us with a well-organized, well-attended and colourful conference in Durban. The men did excellently in their coming together and the Children’s Ministry presented an educator training event in Cape Town. Our church is busy and moving all over the country. Our National Ablaze Conference in Cape Town brought all the different parts of our church together. It was a wonderful experience for everyone who attended.

“Our church is busy and moving all over the country.”

Between all the activities we held a lot of meetings, and I experienced the Hand of GOD and the inputs of the Holy Spirit in our meetings. We are a church and if we do not allow the leading of the Holy Spirit, our work will be in vain. Something that not many members know is that we as NOB meet every Tuesday morning on Zoom to discuss matters of the church, but also to pray. We have regularly interceded for our pastors, their families, and our members. It often happened that we prayed for issues that were unfolding in our country. Prayer is our weapon! I am looking forward to 2024 as we are planning and praying for great things to happen. May you and your family have a peaceful festive season and experience once again the blessing of the great gift, Jesus Christ, that was sent to us.

PART 1: Dr Henri Weideman
(President of the AFM of SA)

Prayer and Fasting

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 (NIV) encourages us to “Rejoice always, pray continually, (and to) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

“Prayer and the belief that God answers prayer, remain foundational to our faith as Pentecostal believers. “

Prayer and the belief that God answers prayer, remain foundational to our faith as Pentecostal believers. As the leaders of the AFM in South Africa we are calling on all our Pastors, Assembly Leaders, and members to make a determined effort to rejuvenate and energize our focus on prayer and fasting during the month of January. I ask every Assembly to facilitate times of prayer and fasting during January 2024. Monday, 15 January to Friday, 19 January 2024 is marked as a focus week in this regard.

Five video clips will be made available on the AFM of SA’s social media from 12 January 2024 onwards. The clips can be used in WhatsApp communication over the five days or as a point of departure during prayer meetings. The video clips will focus on “Prayer is…”:

• • Our direct communication line to God.
  • An expression of thankfulness.
  • Sharing our hearts with God.
  • About aligning our hearts with God.
  • Anytime and anywhere.

I acknowledge the fact that our Assemblies function within a diversity of circumstances and therefore I do not want to be prescriptive on how you should structure this month and the focus week of prayer and fasting. I however urge you to consider this important matter and to find a way that will work effectively in your context.

Let us be reminded that we should not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 6-7).

Focus On Foundational Spiritual Principles

Whatever we say about being a “missional” church boils down to a challenge: We need to rediscover and strengthen our spiritual identity and how we live as (Pentecostal) Christians in a world that has moved past being centred on the values and principles of Christianity.

“…rediscover and strengthen our spiritual identity.”

Our plan to be more missional in how we spread our message, must never only rely on conceptual forms of our drivers, being Discipleship, Empowerment, Community Involvement, working with other churches (Ecumenical Involvement), and being well-run (Good Governance). It must be based on building a deep connection with the Holy Spirit and on taking practical action.

As Christians, the things we do like praying, helping others, being together, and sharing our beliefs – are not just for our own benefit. They are about showing how God’s love can change the world. We are meant to go out and show this love in action, by being kind, forgiving, and giving hope to others.

The church is a product of and also an active participant in God’s mission. We are all missionaries. Every believer and every local church are central to God’s mission and must discern where and how He is moving in their specific context and join up with Him. To do this effectively, we need to continuously cultivate a renewed spiritual identity and life as a community of Jesus followers.

“…showing how God’s love can change the world.”

2024 NOB Empowerment Visits

The NOB felt led to continue the focus on who we are and how we must live as Holy Spirit-filled people and church in 2024. This time around with the focus on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. During the 2024 Regional Empowerment visits, we will focus on the theme:

FAN INTO FLAME – the gift of God, which is in you.

Based on 2 Timothy 1: 6: “Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you. (NIV)” and “Stir up the gift of God which is in you. (NKJV)” We will share on the spiritual gifts, sound teaching, our testimony and unity. In support of our theme, I give over to Past. Selby Khumalo (General Secretary) to share what is stirring in his heart regarding our 2024 FAN INTO FLAME theme:

PART 2: Past. Selby Khumalo
(General Secretary of the AFM of SA)

Maintenance of the Spiritual Fire

We are a community and people of the Spirit and Fire, having been “…baptised with the Holy Spirit and Fire.” (Luke 3:16, ESV) This fire of God is a sign of spiritual renewal, consecration, and empowerment. We must maintain and ensure that this spiritual fire is kept burning in us and in our spiritual family. This is God’s fire and not a manufactured fire – maintaining its burning is our entire obligation and commitment. Let us continue to FAN INTO FLAME the gifts of God which are in us:

“…His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail.” (Jeremiah 20:9, BSB)

“Do not extinguish the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19, BSB)

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…” (Ephesians 4:30, BSB)

We are excited to spend time with our Church Family on this very significant theme. Kindly take note that the dates and venues of the 2024 NOB Empowerment Visits have been confirmed and I can share this information with you:

PART 1: Past. Barend Petersen
(Deputy President of the AFM of SA)

Good Tidings of Great Joy!

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (Matthew 2: 10). “Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2: 10).

Jesus came as the light into this dark world. It was the star of Bethlehem that led the Wise men to Him in the manger in Bethlehem and they were filled with joy when they saw Jesus. The star of Bethlehem reminds us that all the efforts by the evil one to darken or extinguish the light of the Lord will fail and that He will guide us through this dark and broken world.

There is something uniquely special about Christmas that brings joy, peace, and goodwill to our hearts. The wonder of Christmas has been experienced since the birth of Jesus, throughout the ages by people all over the world. The magnetic power of the love of God, personified by the birth of His Son, continues to draw people to Him and change their lives. His birth reminds us that we too can experience the joy of redemption, of healing and provision.

David confidently declares in Psalm 16: 11: “You have made known to me the path of life, you fill me with joy in your presence with eternal pleasures at your right hand” whilst Nehemiah proclaims in chapter 8: 10: “The Joy of the Lord is my strength.” Most of us have experienced that, “…when my anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul” Psalm 94:19. May we truly experience the joy of the birth of Jesus Christ this Christmas and the year ahead!

PART 2: Dr Henri Weideman
(President of the AFM of SA)

Jesus, the light of the World!

Over the years different forms of light have been used as part of Christmas celebrations and decorations. In a small way, they depict the magnificent Light that Jesus shines into this world – from the day He was born, until today. Just as the star led the wise men to the new-born King – Jesus, the true light of the world, has come to dispel the darkness in our lives.

Let us remind our loved ones that:

Jesus is the Light of the World: In John 1: 4-5 we read: “In Him was life and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Jesus is the Gift of God’s Love: John 3: 16 tells us: “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.” Christmas is a testament to God’s incredible love for humanity. He gave us His Son Jesus Christ as the gift of Salvation to all mankind – the greatest gift we could ever receive.

I grew up in a house where only the young children received gifts on Christmas day and where it was explained that the gifts they received were a reminder of the birth and everlasting gift of Jesus Christ.

I wish all our members, Assembly Leaders, Pastors, Regional- and Departmental leadership, and Committees as well as all NLF members, a blessed and peaceful celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. May you experience times of togetherness and rest with family and loved ones, and may 2024 be an exceptional year of God’s grace for us all.

Friendly Regards!
Henri Weideman

Laai die PDF weergawe hier af (om maklik uit te druk of per e-pos aan te stuur):

AGS Pastorale Brief 4de Kwartaal_2023

AGS Familie,

Ons het die einde van die jaar bereik! Hierdie oomblik gee ‘n mens altyd ‘n geleentheid om terug te kyk en na te dink oor die afgelope jaar asook ‘n geleentheid om vorentoe te kyk na die nuwe jaar – dit is hoe ek hierdie laaste Pastorale Brief van 2023 benader het. Ek het my mede-Nasionale Ampsdraers gevra om ook bydraes te lewer en te deel wat tans in hulle harte en gees roer. Saam vertrou ons dat die boodskappe in hierdie Pastorale Brief tot seën vir ons AGS Familie sal wees. Ons sluit af met Kersfees wense soos ons ‘n spesiale en betekenisvolle seisoen op die Christelike kalender betree.

DEEL 1: Dr Henri Weideman 
(President van die AGS van SA)

Fokus op ons Heilige Gees Fondasie

Ons is ‘n Pinksterkerk, wat beteken dat ons glo in die werking van die Heilige Gees in en deur ons daaglikse lewens as Jesus-volgelinge. Om ons doel as kerk in Suid-Afrika te vervul, moet ons die Heilige Gees vuur in ons harte en lewens laat brand.  Ek is bemoedig deur die manier waarop die meeste van ons Streke en baie gemeentes regdeur die kerk, die tema vir 2023 opgeneem het en gefokus het op die Heilige Gees se werk in en deur ons.

“Om ons doel as kerk in Suid-Afrika te vervul, moet ons die Heilige Gees vuur in ons harte en lewens laat brand.”

Leierskap Ontwikkeling

Ons praat al ‘n geruime tyd oor die ontwikkeling van leiers. Hierdie jaar het dit ‘n werklikheid geword!  Deur ‘n groep van twaalf jong leiers deur ‘n jaarlange ontwikkelingsprogram te neem, is die AGS Legacy Leadership Program daarop gemik om ‘n generasie van Godvresende, Christus geïnspireerde, Heilige Geesvervulde leiers te ontwikkel wat ‘n nalatenskap vir die kerk, die Koninkryk en die samelewing in die algemeen daar sal stel.

Die eerste in-persoon sessie van hierdie program het van 28 September tot 1 Oktober 2023 in Centurion (Gauteng) plaasgevind. Hierdie sessie het gefokus op die AGS geskiedenis en agtergrond, die ekumeniese kerkruimte in Suid-Afrika, asook op persoonlike bewustheid, selfkennis en lewensdoel. Dit word opgevolg deur aanlyn sessies, werkopdragte en nog twee in-persoon sessies vroeg in 2024. Om meer inligting oor hierdie spesifieke program in die AGS met moontlike kandidate te deel, verwys gerus na die brosjure op die AGS webwerf: https://afm-ags.org/afm-legacy-leadership-program/. Aansoeke vir die 2024-2025-inname sal binnekort open.

Ons het ook met strategiese deurlopende leierskap intervensies vir NLF (Nasionale Leierskap Forum) -lede begin. Tydens die 2023 NLF-sessies is die volgende temas behandel: “Leierskap wat interaksie bevorder”, “Proaktiewe Geestesgesondheid” en “Strategie Raamwerke wat lei tot Effektiewe Aksieplanne” – al hierdie sessies is aangebied deur die Themba Thandeka Leierskap Instituut.

Samewerkingsooreenkomste vir die Opleiding van Pastore

Die NLF het die skepping van verskeie toegang punte tot geordende bediening goedgekeur, insluitend beide die “CHO” (Akademiese) en “QCTO” (Beroepsgerigte) NQF vlak 6 en 7 kursusse. Samesprekings met die Suid-Afrikaanse Teologiese Seminarium (SATS) het gelei tot die ondertekening van ‘n RPL – “Recognition of Prior Learning” ooreenkoms vir implementering vanaf 2024. Die implementering van “QCTO”-kwalifikasies, (insluitend NQF vlak 2 en 5 kwalifikasies as toegangsroetes) sal in samewerking met die Woord en Lewe Akademie geskied. Dit is vir my ‘n hoogtepunt, want dit sal makliker en meer bekostigbare toegang tot bedienings opleiding moontlik maak vir AGS-lidmate wat ervaar dat die Here hulle roep.

Die Welsyn Departement

Die grootste prestasie in die AGS Welsyn gedurende hierdie tyd, was om hierdie bediening finansieel op ‘n meer volhoubare pad te bring. Dit is bereik deur verskeie kostebesparings aksies, insluitend besnoeiings in sommige salarisse, die kombinasie van huise vir kinders waar moontlik, die verkoop van bepaalde huise en die verrekening van die wins teen uitstaande verbande, die kombinasie van poste en die vul van vakatures op subsidie skaal. Een van die grootste uitdagings bly die transformasie van die manier waarop die welsyn bediening van die kerk gesien word en funksioneer, om toenemend ‘n opleidings- en dienste verskaffer rol te vervul. Ons het in November 2023 ‘n suksesvolle strategiese beplannings werkswinkel in hierdie verband gehad.

“Ek het weereens besef dat die bou van eenheid en die bou van verhoudings direk aan mekaar gekoppel is.”

Verdieping van die Uitdrukking van Eenheid

Die sigbare verdieping van die uitdrukking van eenheid op alle vlakke in die AGS is vir my van groot belang.  Ek gaan voort om strategies met leiers, rolspelers en lidmate in ons kerk in gesprek te tree in hierdie verband en ek sien gesonde maar stadige vordering. Ek het weereens besef dat die bou van eenheid en die bou van verhoudings direk aan mekaar gekoppel is. Ons moet meer hieroor praat en doelbewus werk aan die bou van verhoudings in ons plaaslike gemeenskappe. Dit is ook van groot belang vir die toekoms van ons land.

DEEL 2: Past. Rudi Coertzen
(Hooftesourier van die AGS van SA)

2023 was ‘n jaar waarin ek uitgedaag is om ons Meester met groter krag en intensiteit te dien. Ons tema vir die jaar, “Keep the Fire Burning”, het my gehelp om te fokus op wat belangrik is. Elke keer as ek daaroor gepraat het, het ek besef die vuur moet helder brand. Tydens die NOB-bemagtiging besoeke het ek geleentheid gehad om met al ons pastore en leiers te kommunikeer. Ek het hierdie betrokkenheid geniet asook die kans om moeilike vrae te vra en te beantwoord. Vanuit my perspektief, was die besoeke ‘n groot seën en het dit my gehelp om in my verhouding met God te groei.

Al die Departement Konferensies was goed bygewoon en die energie van die Departement leiers het my energie gegee. Die jeug was soos die jeug is, uitbundig met baie danspassies en liedjies. Die vroue het ons beïndruk met ‘n georganiseerde en kleurvolle konferensie in Durban – wat uiters goed bygewoon is. Die manne het uitstekend gevaar in hul samekoms en die Kinderbediening het ‘n opleidings geleentheid vir Opvoeders in Kaapstad aangebied. Ons kerk is besig en beweeg oor die hele land. Ons Nasionale ABLAZE Konferensie in Kaapstad het al die verskillende dele van ons kerk bymekaar gebring. Dit was ‘n wonderlike ervaring vir almal wat dit bygewoon het.

“Ons kerk is besig en beweeg oor die hele land.”

Tussen al die aktiwiteite deur het ons baie byeenkomste gehou en ek het die Hand van God en die insette van die Heilige Gees in ons byeenkomste ervaar. Ons is ‘n kerk en as ons nie die leiding van die Heilige Gees toelaat nie, sal ons werk tevergeefs wees. Iets wat nie baie lidmate weet nie, is dat ons as Nasionale Ampsdraers elke Dinsdagoggend op Zoom vergader om sake van die kerk te bespreek, maar ook om te bid. Ons het gereeld voorbidding gedoen vir ons pastore, hul gesinne en ons lidmate. Dit het dikwels gebeur dat ons gebid het vir sake wat besig was om in ons land te ontvou. Gebed is ons wapen! Ek sien uit na 2024. Ons beplan en bid vir groot dinge om te gebeur. Mag jy en jou gesin ‘n rustige feestyd beleef en weereens die seën ervaar van die groot geskenk, Jesus Christus, wat aan ons gestuur is.

DEEL 1: Dr Henri Weideman
(President van die AGS van SA)

Gebed en Vas

1 Tessalonisense 5:1 6-18 (NLV) moedig ons aan: “Wees altyd vol blydskap. Moenie ophou bid nie. Wees in alle omstandighede dankbaar, want dit is wat God van julle verwag omdat julle met Christus Jesus verenig is.”

“Gebed en die oortuiging dat God gebed verhoor, bly kern in ons geloofslewe as Pinkster gelowiges.”

Gebed en die oortuiging dat God gebed verhoor, bly kern in ons geloofslewe as Pinkster gelowiges. As die leiers van die AGS in Suid-Afrika doen ons ‘n beroep op al ons Pastore, Gemeenteleiers en lidmate om ‘n vasberade poging aan te wend om ons fokus op gebed en vas gedurende Januariemaand te vernuwe en te versterk. Ek vra elke Gemeente om tye van gebed en vas in Januarie 2024 te fasiliteer. Maandag, 15 Januarie tot Vrydag, 19 Januarie 2024 word as ‘n fokus week in hierdie verband gemerk.

Vyf videogrepe sal vanaf 12 Januarie 2024 op die AGS sosiale media beskikbaar gestel word. Hierdie videogrepe kan gebruik word in Whatsapp-kommunikasie oor die vyf dae, of as ‘n vertrekpunt tydens gebedsbyeenkomste. Die volgende onderwerpe sal behandel word:

Gebed is:

• • Ons direkte kommunikasielyn met God.
  • ‘n Uitdrukking van dankbaarheid.
  • Om ons harte met God te deel.
  • Om ons harte in lyn te bring met die hart van God.
  • Enige tyd en enige plek.

Ek erken die feit dat ons gemeentes binne verskillende omstandighede funksioneer en daarom wil ek nie voorskriftelik wees oor hoe julle hierdie maand en fokus week van gebed en vas moet struktureer nie. Ek doen egter ‘n beroep op jou om hierdie belangrike saak te oorweeg en ‘n manier te vind wat effektief in jou konteks sal werk.

Ons moet onthou dat ons oor niks besorg moet wees nie, maar in elke situasie, deur gebed en smeking, met danksegging, ons versoeke aan God moet voorlê. En die vrede van God, wat alle verstand te bowe gaan, sal oor ons harte en gedagtes die wag hou in Christus Jesus (Filippense 4: 6-7).

Fokus op Basiese Geestelike Beginsels

Wat ons ook al sê oor missionêre kerkwees kom neer op ‘n uitdaging: Ons moet ons geestelike identiteit herontdek, versterk en fokus op hoe ons as (Pinkster-) Christene leef in ‘n wêreld wat verby die waardes en beginsels van die Christendom beweeg het.

Ons plan om meer missionaal te wees in hoe ons ons boodskap versprei, moet nooit net staatmaak op konseptuele vorme van ons fokusareas (of drywers) nie, naamlik Dissipelskap, Bemagtiging, Gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid, samewerking met ander kerke (Ekumeniese Betrokkenheid) en om goed bestuur te word. Hierdie drywers moet gebaseer wees op die bou van ‘n diep verbintenis met die Heilige Gees en op praktiese aksie.

As Christene het ons aktiwiteite soos om te bid, ander te help, gereeld byeen te kom en om ons oortuigings te deel. Die doel van hierdie aktiwiteite dien nie net tot ons eie voordeel nie. Dit gaan daaroor om te wys hoe God se liefde die wêreld kan verander. Ons is bedoel om uit te gaan en hierdie liefde in aksie te betoon, deur vriendelik te wees, te vergewe en hoop aan ander te gee. Die Kerk is ‘n produk van en ook ‘n aktiewe deelnemer aan God se missie. Ons is almal sendelinge. Elke gelowige en elke plaaslike Gemeente staan sentraal in God se sending en moet onderskei waar en hoe Hy in hulle spesifieke konteks beweeg en met Hom saamwerk. Om dit effektief te kan doen, moet ons voortdurend ons geestelike identiteit vernuwe – en lewe as ‘n gemeenskap wat Jesus-volgelinge kweek.

“Dit gaan daaroor om te wys hoe God se liefde die wêreld kan verander.”

2024 NOB Bemagtiging Besoeke

Die Nasionale Ampsdraers het gelei gevoel om voort te gaan met die fokus op wie ons is en hoe ons in 2024 as Heilige Geesvervulde mense en Kerk moet leef. Hierdie keer met die fokus op die gawes van die Heilige Gees. Tydens die 2024 NOB bemagtiging besoeke sal ons fokus op die tema:

FAN INTO FLAME – the gift of God, which is in you.

Dit is gebaseer op 2 Timoteus 1:6 (AFR’83) “Om hierdie rede herinner ek jou daaraan dat jy die genadegawe wat God jou gegee het toe ek jou die hande opgelê het, soos ‘n vuur moet aanblaas.”  2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV) “…Fan into flame the git of God, which is in you…” Ons sal deel oor die geestelike gawes, gesonde lering, ons getuienis en eenheid. Ter ondersteuning van ons tema gee ek oor aan Past. Selby Khumalo (Hoofsekretaris van die AGS van SA) om te deel wat in sy hart roer oor ons 2024 tema:

DEEL 2: Past. Selby Khumalo
(Hoofsekretaris van die AGS van SA)

Die Onderhouding van ons Geestelike Vuur

Ons is ‘n gemeenskap en mense van die Gees en Vuur, nadat ons gedoop is “…met die Heilige Gees en met vuur” Lukas 3:16 (AFR83). Hierdie vuur van God is ‘n teken van geestelike vernuwing, toewyding en bemagtiging. Ons moet verseker dat hierdie geestelike vuur in ons en in ons geestelike familie aan die brand gehou word. Dit is God se vuur en nie ‘n vervaardigde vuur nie – om hierdie vuur aan die brand te hou is ons verpligting en dit vereis ons toewyding. Laat ons voortgaan om die gawes van God wat in ons is, aan te blaas en aan te wakker:

“…Die boodskap van die Here brand in my binneste soos ’n vuur. Dit is soos vuur wat in my liggaam ingehok is. Ek probeer so hard as wat ek kan om dit binne te hou, maar ek kan nie.” (Jeremia 20:9 DB)

“Moenie julle doof hou wanneer die Gees met julle praat nie. Luister fyn na sy stem.” (1 Tessalonisense 5:19 DB)

“Ja, moenie God se Heilige Gees hartseer maak nie…” (Efesiërs 4:30 NLV)

Ons is opgewonde om tyd saam met ons AGS Familie te spandeer oor hierdie belangrike tema. Neem asseblief kennis dat die datums en lokale van die 2024 NOB-bemagtiging besoeke bevestig is en ek deel graag hierdie inligting met jou:

DEEL 1: Past. Barend Petersen
(Adjunkpresident van die AGS van SA)

Goeie Nuus met Groot Blydskap!

“Toe hulle die ster sien, was hulle baie bly.” (Matteus 2:10). “…maar die engel het hulle gerusgestel: “Moenie bang wees nie!” het hy gesê. “Ek bring vir julle goeie nuus wat groot blydskap vir almal inhou!” (Lukas 2:10 NLV).

Jesus het as die lig in hierdie donker wêreld gekom. Dit was die ster van Betlehem wat die wysemanne na Hom in die krip in Bethlehem gelei het en hulle was vervul met blydskap toe hulle Jesus sien. Die ster van Bethlehem herinner ons daaraan dat al die pogings van die Bose om die lig van die Here te verduister of uit te doof, sal misluk en dat Hy ons deur hierdie donker en gebroke wêreld sal lei.

Daar is iets uniek aan Kersfees wat vreugde, vrede en welwillendheid in ons harte bring. Deur die eeue heen en deur mense regoor die wêreld, word die wonder van Kersfees en Jesus se geboorte ervaar. Die magnetiese krag van die liefde van God, verpersoonlik deur die geboorte van sy Seun, gaan voort om mense na Hom toe te trek en hul lewens te verander. Sy geboorte herinner ons daaraan dat ons ook die vreugde van verlossing, genesing en voorsiening kan ervaar.

Dawid verklaar met selfvertroue in Psalm 33:14: “U wys vir my die lewenspad; in u teenwoordigheid is vreugde, en aan u regterhand is daar blydskap vir altyd” terwyl Nehemia in hoofstuk 8:10 verkondig “…want die blydskap wat die HERE gee, sal julle krag wees!” (Nehemia 8:10 NLV). Die meeste van ons het dit ervaar: “Wanneer twyfel my oorweldig, het u troos my verbly.” (Psalm 94:19 NLV). Mag ons werklik die vreugde van die geboorte van Jesus Christus ervaar hierdie Kersfees en die jaar wat voorlê!

DEEL 2: Dr Henri Weideman
(President van die AGS van SA)

Jesus, die Lig van die wêreld!

Deur die jare is verskillende vorme van lig gebruik as deel van Kersfees vieringe en versierings. Op ‘n klein manier beeld hulle die manjifieke Lig uit wat Jesus in hierdie wêreld skyn – vanaf die dag waarop Hy gebore is, tot vandag toe. Net soos die ster die wyse manne na die nuutgebore Koning gelei het, het Jesus, die ware lig van die wêreld gekom om die duisternis in ons lewens te verdryf.

Kom ons herinner ons geliefdes daaraan dat:

Jesus die Lig van die Wêreld is: In Johannes 1: 4-5 (NLV) lees ons: “In Hom was daar lewe en díe lewe het gedien as die lig vir die mense. Die lig skyn in die duisternis, ja – die duisternis het dit nie uitgedoof nie.”

Jesus is die gawe van God se liefde: Johannes 3:16 (NLV) sê vir ons: “God het die mensdom só liefgehad dat Hy sy enigste Seun gegee het, sodat elkeen wat in Hom glo, nie verlore sal gaan nie, maar die ewige lewe sal hê.” Kersfees is ‘n bewys van God se ongelooflike liefde vir die mensdom. Hy het sy Seun Jesus Christus aan ons gegee as die geskenk van Verlossing aan die hele mensdom – die grootste geskenk wat ons ooit kon ontvang.

Ek het grootgeword in ‘n huis waar net die jong kinders op Kersdag geskenke ontvang het, en waar verduidelik is dat die geskenke wat hulle ontvang, ‘n herinnering is aan die geboorte en ewige geskenk van Jesus Christus.

Ek wens al ons lidmate, Gemeenteleiers, Pastore, streeks- en departementele leierskap en komitees sowel as alle NLF-lede en gesinne ‘n geseënde en vreedsame viering van die geboorte van Jesus Christus toe. Mag jy tye van samesyn beleef en rus saam met jou familie en geliefdes, en mag 2024 ‘n uitsonderlike jaar van God se genade vir ons almal wees.

Vriendelike Groete!
Henri Weideman

AFM Pastoral Letter 3rd Quarter 2023_

Dear AFM Family,

I am very thankful that our National Conference (7-9 September 2023) was indeed not just another meeting, but a time of refreshment, fellowship and real upliftment. We have been reminded that we are the light of the world. That this light should never be hidden but must be like a lamp on a lamp stand, and a city on a hill – a light visible to everybody.

“We have been reminded that we are the light of the world. “

Our light must shine in such a way that people will see our good deeds and glorify the true God in heaven. Our light must so shine so that it will have a generational impact, passing on our faith and our DNA as Pentecostal believers to our young people and children. We, like many others, used to be in the darkness, but since we became the Lord’s people, we are people of the Light and must live purposefully like people who belong to the Light. Our light must never reflect the changing cultures and circumstances around us, instead, just like the moon, which has no light of itself but only reflects the sun, we must always reflect Jesus.

Several people described the conference as “powerful and memorable”, “a supernatural encounter” and “full of the power of the Holy Spirit.” I especially noted the comment of someone who said: “Our identity has been reaffirmed.” My prayer is that we will not just move on to the next, or another conference and experience, but that we will take the time to reflect on what God through His Holy Spirit shared with us during this conference. May we then not be like the person who sees him/herself in a mirror, go away and forget but may we really do in practice what we have heard.

During the PCD (Pastors Continuous Development) sessions which were well attended, two very relevant subjects were presented. One was on mental health and how we can proactively address it, and the other on a Pentecostal perspective on the phenomenon of “fake” prophets. For this Pastoral Letter, I have requested our PCD speakers at the conference – Hermann du Plessis and Dr Daniel Andrew – to each write an article that will further develop our understanding of these two topics. I trust that it will be a blessing to you.

Ten years ago, “The Institute for the Future” made a statement that the biggest challenge for leaders in the next decade will be to stay healthy. Many frowned, but today the reality is that we are facing a challenge to keep leaders in businesses and churches from derailing. The facts have stacked up and are screaming at us to pay attention to the current mental health of our leaders. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has conducted recent studies to figure out how to deal with the current mental health pandemic, because quite frankly it could have a catastrophic impact on the global workforce and economy – especially leaders who deal with high levels of stress.

Since 2016 we have seen the rise of “diseases of despair” as coined by Princeton academics. In the United States (US) the life expectancy has declined for 6 straight years due to the rise in suicide, drug and alcohol related illnesses. People have lost meaning and hope in the US. People have lost their ability to cope with high levels of stress and anxiety and as some would acknowledge – the American dream has become the American nightmare. Placing the individual at the centre of life and personal fulfilment leads to Narcissism and eventually high levels of competition and selfishness. But not only in the US, across the world levels of anxiety have risen consistently. Commentary on the latest anxiety statistics is concerning and the reality is that 17-year-old kids in high school have the same level of anxiety than people admitted to mental institutions during the 1960’s.

“People have lost their ability to cope with high levels of stress and anxiety…”

In South Africa, one-third of our workforce suffers from severe anxiety and/or depression. That also means that one-third of leaders struggle with mental health. The impact of this one-third on the other two-thirds of your leaders and workforce could be severe. They (the healthy two-thirds) will usually pick up the additional work not performed by the one-third suffering from mental illness. Over the long term, this will lead to burnout and the mental deterioration of the two-thirds of your workforce doing additional work to help your business succeed. This is a vicious cycle that needs to be managed proactively.

How do you go about doing this? Here are some practical steps for local congregations:

Break the stigma. Talk about mental health. Inform people about it. Give them the facts. Understand that there are various causes and that we need to be open about it.

Preach about it. What does the Bible teach about our mental health? If we look at Elijah in 1 Kings 19, what do we see and what do we learn? How do we offer Biblical wisdom and assistance to people on how to develop their mental strength? Talk about lifestyle issues that severely impact mental health.

“How do we offer Biblical wisdom and assistance to people on how to develop their mental strength?”

Learn with your people. Speak to people in your congregation who struggle with mental health and try to learn and understand how they feel. Listen to them!

Deliver courses. Get wise, pastoral psychologists to teach your congregation how to build their mental strength. Help people to pro-actively take care of their mental health.

Invite people to get assistance. Encourage people to seek counselling. Pastors should guide people to find good therapy if needed.

Build a network of professional people. Work hard to meet therapists and counsellors and find out what their methodology is to assist people in sessions. Find good counsellors that you can refer to, who will make sure your people get the right and appropriate help they need.

“May God use us to be a light that drives away the darkness of all these mental health challenges.”

As a church, we can reach out to people in this challenging time. May God use us to be a light that drives away the darkness of all these mental health challenges. In addition to this article, also make sure to access the following resources as presented and live-streamed from the ABLAZE AFM National Conference:

A PowerPoint Presentation:
http://www.events.afm-ags.org/

A Live Stream Recording: 
https://www.youtube.com/live/Yx5SNK7CGEw?si=YrMUMHXjTNBJU95M

Fake Prophets Phenomenon and Other Related Issues

The Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa forms part of the Classical Pentecostal Movement that originated at the beginning of the 20th Century and includes several Pentecostal churches that trace their roots to this group. Prophecy and prophetic ministry were never difficult or strange to this group of believers, because they believed the church is built on the foundations laid by the apostles and prophets. Some of the so-called Neo-Pentecostal prophet movements in independent Pentecostal Churches embraced certain elements of the “prosperity gospel” or “wealth and health gospel” which led to profiteering – meaning that the “prophet” has now become a “profiteer”.

Madzokere (2018: 281) divides the pastor as profiteer into five major categories: (1) as empire builder and not builders of the kingdom; (2) as profiteers based on anointing gimmicks – whereby items like oil, clothes, pencils, etc. are anointed; (3) the disguise of religious tourism – whereby people travel as individuals or groups for pilgrimage, missionary or leisure purposes; (4) the nepotism argument – whereby relatives and friends are employed without regard for merit in the ministry; (5) the blind nationalistic personalities of pastors that preach peace while there is unrest – becoming catalysts to the impoverishment of the people.

In some cases, these beliefs led to harmful practices that were criticized and led to proposals by the government to regulate churches in South Africa. Most church groupings resisted this because freedom of religion is enshrined in our Constitution. Some of these practices included but were not limited to what Dube (2019:25) call “the modern-day flamboyant prophets” that propagate a kind of gospel that departs from basic Christian teachings, enriching themselves, using unorthodox means to “heal” people and conduct their businesses. The various kinds of abuses committed to followers are public knowledge – some of them included spraying insecticide on people; eating of rats, grass and drinking petrol; touching females inappropriately and even abusing and raping them; and profiteering (Dube, 2019:29).

Fake Prophets Depart from The Biblical Meaning of Prophetic Ministry

They are departing from the traditional Christian values in ministry like humility, compassion, selfless service and servant leadership. Instead, these values are replaced with a pre-occupation with image consciousness, self-aggrandizement, and the enlargement of personal ministry at any cost. It is damaging to the image of the church in the public square in Africa and although the phenomenon is not peculiar to Africa, it has become prevalent here (Owojaiye, 2019).

The English word prophet is from the Greek word “prophetes” – taking on a mediating role between the people and God. Another meaning is the Greek word “nabi” which means someone who can speak of the future or speak before things happen. “Someone who proclaims” to the people, priests and kings, “thus says the Lord” (Exodus 4:22; Isaiah 48:10; Jeremiah 12:14) Prophets were persons called by God; who acted under divine compulsion; were having personal integrity; gave prophecies that included both “forth-telling” and “fore-telling”; exposing false ideologies; truth-telling; and function alongside kings and priests.

In the New Testament, the prophetic tradition of proclamation and prediction continued in the early church (John 1:29; Acts 13:1-10). Later in the New Testament, followers are encouraged not to despise the words of the prophets (1 Thessalonians 5:20-22) and still to test the spirits to see if they are from God or false prophets (1 Peter 2:1-3; Revelations 19:20-21).

The testing of prophets and discernment of prophecy was not something new as it is often quoted in both the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 13: 1-10; Jeremiah 23:1-4, 10-14, 16-17, 25-32) and in the New Testament (Matthew 7:15-20). True prophets turn the people back from their evil ways to God (Deuteronomy 13:22), speak the truth, glorify God, benefit the community (John 16:13-15, 17:13-26; 1 Corinthians 14:3-5) and be validated by others (1 Corinthians 14:29-33). Paul encourages the believers to prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1; Romans 12:4-7; Ephesians 4:11-16).

Guidelines to Discern Prophets Today
The criteria for distinguishing between false and true prophets in biblical prophecy are as follows:

The call of the prophet. 
The call narrative of the prophet plays a definite role in the bible and normally follows a certain structural form which includes theophany, resistance from the prophet/ess, pressure from the deity, acceptance by the prophet/ess and commissioning of the prophet/ess by the deity (Madzokere and Machingura, 2015:57-58).

Ecstasy.
Called the hallmark of prophecy with some having a pro-ecstasy and others an anti-ecstasy stance. Pro-ecstasy means that the mental condition of an individual occurs in a way that consciousness is wholly or partially suspended, thought and volition cease, and the person is controlled and subjected to the Spirit of God. Anti- ecstasy on the other hand is against the suspension of your mental faculties during prophecy, seeing it as a sign of false prophecy, as seen in the clash between the Baal prophets and Elijah (1 Kings 18:2).

Professionalism.
The criterion for true prophets is that they view their call as a vocation and not a profession associated with payments or rewards. The criterion of remuneration is based on the assumption that if the prophet is paid, he/she will seek to please the client as seen in Micah 3:5.

Performance of miracles.
Contemporary prophets are associated with the performance of miracles and the title carries a sense of power with it – giving publicity, recognition, status and financial proceeds.

Prediction and fulfilment.
True prophets are distinguished from the false ones because their predictions have come to pass. Historically as understood in Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 18:21-22 the prophet should be stoned to death if it is not fulfilled. In some cases, like in Elijah’s prophecy over the house of Ahab (1 Kings 21-29) it was fulfilled after his death (2 Kings 9:14-10:36).

Morality and teaching obedience to God.
Morality is a virtue expected from prophets and religious believers, so when a prophet leads an immoral life such a prophet is branded as a false prophet.

As Pentecostals, we believe that we should strive to prophesy, that the prophetic ministry is part of the five-fold ministry that can give guidance and direction to the people of God and that a church that walks in the fire of the Holy Spirit is the best antidote against fake prophets and their “miracle gimmicks”. Let us test the spirits and see whether it is from God but let us be careful not to quench the Spirit in easily denouncing prophecy and prophetic ministry. In addition to this article, also make sure to access the following resources as presented and live-streamed from the ABLAZE AFM National Conference:

A PowerPoint Presentation:
http://www.events.afm-ags.org/

A Live Stream Recording:
https://www.youtube.com/live/p5703lIiOwg?si=N6Nk87P-f33PDHTS

References:

Madzokere, N. 2018. Prophets or Profiteers? An interrogative study of the selected contemporary Pentecostal prophets in Zimbabwe in the context of Development. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa 20 (1): 276-289.

Dube, E.E.N, 2019. Desperation in an attempt to curb modern-day prophets: Pentecostalisation and the Church in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Conspectus: The Journal of the South African Theological Seminary volume 27: 25-34.

Owojaiye, M. 2019. The problem of false prophets in Africa: Strengthening the church in the face of a troublesome trend, Lausanne Global Analysis 8(6).

Madzokere, N., Machingura, F. 2015. True and False Prophets/esses in the light of Prophets/esses and Wonders in Zimbabwe, Journal of Critical Southern Studies volume 3, Winter (2015).

During the conference, and as part of the church’s 115th Birthday Anniversary, “The Story of John G. Lake – the first General of the AFM of South Africa” was launched. Authored by Past. Linda Marx, Prof Marius Nel and Past. Johan Klopper, this book is now available from the Amazon platform in a Kindle format: https://a.co/d/gVDvqdW. The story of John G. Lake will inspire, encourage and remind people that the Promise of the Father and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, is available to every believer. I encourage you to read it and trust that you will be blessed by it!

I thank everybody who were part of the organization to make the conference possible, as well as all who were part of the daily program and every individual who made the effort to attend. Some people travelled far – and for more than one day – to be present. We experienced the diversity of our church in worship, in the program and in attendance. Many people testified about the spirit of unity and peace amongst all present.

Friendly Regards
Henri Weideman

AGS Pastorale Brief 3de Kwartaal 2023_

Liewe AGS Familie,

Ek is baie dankbaar dat ons Nasionale Konferensie (7-9 September 2023) inderdaad nie net nog ‘n byeenkoms was nie, maar ‘n tyd van verfrissing, onderlinge gemeenskap en werklike opheffing. Ons is daaraan herinner dat óns die lig van die wêreld is. Dat hierdie lig nooit weggesteek moet word nie, maar soos ‘n lamp op ‘n kandelaar moet wees, en ‘n stad op ‘n heuwel – ‘n lig wat vir almal sigbaar is.

“Ons is daaraan herinner dat óns die lig van die wêreld is.”

Ons lig moet só skyn dat mense ons goeie dade sal sien en die ware God in die hemel sal verheerlik. Ons lig moet só skyn dat dit ‘n impak op die volgende generasies sal hê en ons geloof en DNS as Pinkstergelowiges aan ons jongmense en kinders oordra. Ons was soos baie ander, vroeër in die duisternis, maar sedert ons die Here se volk geword het, is ons mense van die Lig en moet ons doelgerig lewe soos mense wat aan die Lig behoort. Ons lig mag nooit die veranderende kulture en omstandighede rondom ons weerkaats nie. Net soos die maan wat geen lig van sy eie het nie, maar net die son weerkaats – so moet ons Jesus altyd weerkaats.

Verskeie mense het die konferensie beskryf as “kragtig en onvergeetlik”, as “’n bonatuurlike ontmoeting” en “vol van die krag van die Heilige Gees”. Ek het veral kennis geneem van die opmerking van iemand wat gesê het: “Ons identiteit is herbevestig.” My gebed is dat ons nie net sal aanbeweeg na die volgende of ‘n ander konferensie en ervaring nie, maar dat ons die tyd sal neem om na te dink oor wat God deur sy Heilige Gees tydens hierdie konferensie met ons gedeel het. Mag ons dan nie soos die persoon wees wat hom/haarself in ‘n spieël sien, weggaan en vergeet nie – maar laat ons regtig in die praktyk dóen wat ons gehoor het.

Tydens die PCD-sessies – wat goed bygewoon is – is twee baie relevante onderwerpe aangebied. Die een was oor geestesgesondheid en hoe ons dit proaktief kan aanspreek, en die ander oor ‘n Pinksterperspektief op die verskynsel van “valse” profete. Vir hierdie Pastorale Brief het ek die twee ​​PCD-sprekers by die konferensie – Hermann du Plessis en Dr Daniel Andrew – versoek om elk ‘n artikel te skryf wat ons begrip van hierdie twee onderwerpe verder sal ontwikkel. Ek vertrou dat dit vir jou ‘n seën sal wees.

Tien jaar gelede het “The Institute for the Future” ’n stelling gemaak dat in die volgende dekade die grootste uitdaging vir leiers sal wees om gesond te bly. Baie het gefrons…maar vandag is dit ‘n realiteit dat ons hierdie uitdaging in die gesig staar – ‘n uitdaging om te keer dat Kerk- en besigheidsleiers ontspoor. Die feite het vermeerder en vereis ons om aandag te gee aan die huidige geestesgesondheid van ons leiers. Die Wêreldgesondheidsorganisasie (WGO) het onlangse studies gedoen om uit te vind hoe om die huidige geestesgesondheids pandemie te hanteer, want eerlikwaar kan dit ‘n katastrofiese impak op die wêreldwye arbeidsmag en ekonomie hê – veral leiers wat hoë vlakke van stres hanteer.

“Mense het hul vermoë verloor om hoë vlakke van stres en angs te hanteer…”

Sedert 2016, sien ons die ontstaan van kondisies wat beskryf word as “diseases of despair” – soos beskryf deur die Princeton-akademici. In die Verenigde State (VSA) het die lewensverwagting vir 6 agtereenvolgende jare afgeneem as gevolg van die toename in selfmoord-, dwelm- en alkoholverwante siektes. In die VSA sukkel mense om die betekenis van die lewe te verstaan en het hulle hoop verloor. Mense het hul vermoë verloor om hoë vlakke van stres en angs te hanteer en soos sommiges sal erken…die Amerikaanse droom het die Amerikaanse nagmerrie geword. Wanneer die individu sentraal staan tot ‘n persoon se lewe en persoonlike vervulling, lei dit tot narsisme (of selfliefde) en uiteindelik hoë vlakke van mededinging en selfsug. Oor die hele wêreld, nie net in die VSA nie, het vlakke van angs konsekwent gestyg. Die jongste angsstatistieke is kommerwekkend. Die realiteit is dat 17-jarige kinders op hoërskool dieselfde vlak van angs het as mense wat gedurende die 1960’s in geestesinrigtings opgeneem is.

In Suid-Afrika, ly een derde van ons arbeidsmag aan erge angs en/of depressie. Dit beteken ook dat een derde van leiers met geestesgesondheid sukkel. Die impak van hierdie een derde op die ander twee derdes van leiers en die arbeidsmag kan ernstig wees. Hulle (die gesonde twee derdes) sal gewoonlik bykomende werks verantwoordelikhede aanpak wat nie verrig word deur die een derde wat aan geestesongesteldheid ly nie. Oor die lang termyn sal dit lei tot uitbranding en die geestelike agteruitgang van die twee derdes van die arbeidsmag wat bykomende werk doen om besighede te help slaag. Dit is ‘n bose kringloop wat proaktief bestuur moet word.

Hoe gaan jy te werk om dit te doen? Hier is ‘n paar praktiese stappe vir plaaslike gemeentes:

Breek die stigma. Praat oor geestesgesondheid. Lig mense daaroor in. Gee vir hulle die feite. Verstaan ​​dat daar verskeie oorsake is en dat ons openlik daaroor moet wees.

Preek daaroor. Wat leer die Bybel ons oor geestesgesondheid? As ons na Elia kyk in 1 Konings 19, wat sien ons en wat leer ons? Hoe bied ons Bybelse wysheid en bystand aan mense oor hoe om hul geestelike krag te ontwikkel? Praat oor lewenstylkwessies wat geestesgesondheid ernstig beïnvloed.

“Hoe bied ons Bybelse wysheid en bystand aan mense oor hoe om hul geestelike krag te ontwikkel?”

Leer saam met jou mense. Praat met mense in jou gemeente wat sukkel met geestesgesondheid en probeer om te leer en te verstaan ​​hoe hulle voel. Luister na hulle!

Bied kursusse aan. Kry wyse, pastorale sielkundiges om jou gemeente te leer hoe om hul geestelike krag op te bou. Help mense om pro-aktief na hul geestesgesondheid om te sien.

Nooi mense om hulp te kry. Moedig mense aan om berading te soek. Pastore moet mense lei om goeie terapie te vind indien nodig.

Bou ‘n netwerk van professionele mense. Werk hard om terapeute en beraders te ontmoet en uit te vind wat hul metodologie is om mense in sessies by te staan. Kry goeie beraders na wie jy kan verwys, en wat sal seker maak dat jou mense die regte en toepaslike hulp kry wat hulle nodig het.

As kerk kan ons uitreik na mense in hierdie uitdagende tyd. Mag God ons gebruik om ‘n lig te wees wat die duisternis van al hierdie geestesgesondheidsuitdagings verdryf. Benewens hierdie artikel, maak ook seker dat jy toegang tot die volgende hulpbronne het soos aangebied en regstreeks gestroom vanaf die ABLAZE AGS Nasionale Konferensie:

‘n PowerPoint-aanbieding:
http://www.events.afm-ags.org/

‘n Regstreekse stroomopname:
https://www.youtube.com/live/Yx5SNK7CGEw?si=YrMUMHXjTNBJU95M

Die Verskynsel van Valse Profete en ander Verwante Kwessies

Die Apostoliese Geloofsending van Suid-Afrika vorm deel van die Klassieke Pinksterbeweging wat in die begin van die 20ste eeu ontstaan het en sluit verskeie Pinksterkerke in wat hul wortels na hierdie groep herlei. Profesie en profetiese bediening was nooit vir hierdie groep gelowiges moeilik of vreemd nie, omdat hulle glo dat die kerk gebou is op die fondamente wat deur die Bybelse apostels en profete gelê is. Sommige van die sogenaamde Neo-Pinkster “profeetbewegings” in onafhanklike Pinksterkerke het sekere elemente van die “voorspoedevangelie” of “rykdom en gesondheidsevangelie” omhels wat tot winsbejag gelei het – wat beteken dat die “profeet” in baie gevalle ‘n “winsbejagter” geword het.

Madzokere (2018:281) verdeel hierdie winsbejag aspek in vyf hoofkategorieë: (1) as ryksbouers en nie bouers van die Koninkryk nie; (2) as winsbejag gebaseer op salwingsfoefies – waardeur items soos olie, klere, potlode, ens. “gesalf” word; (3) die vermomming van godsdienstige toerisme – waardeur mense as individue of groepe reis vir pelgrimstogte-, sending- of ontspanningsdoeleindes met ‘n winsmotief; (4) die element van nepotisme – waardeur familielede en vriende in diens geneem word sonder inagneming van meriete of bedieningsvaardighede; (5) die blinde nasionalisties gefokusde persoonlikhede van “profete” wat vrede verkondig terwyl daar onrus is – en dan eintlik katalisators word vir die verarming van die mense.

In sommige gevalle het hierdie oortuigings gelei tot skadelike praktyke wat gekritiseer is en gelei het tot voorstelle van die regering om kerke in Suid-Afrika te reguleer. Die meeste kerkgroeperings het hulle hierteen verset omdat godsdiensvryheid in ons Grondwet verskans is. Sommige van hierdie praktyke sluit in, maar is nie beperk tot wat Dube (2019:25) noem “die hedendaagse flambojante profete” nie wat ‘n soort evangelie propageer wat afwyk van die basiese Christelike leerstellings, wat hulself verryk deur onortodokse middele te gebruik om mense te “genees” en hul besighede te bedryf. Die verskillende soorte vergrype wat gepleeg word, is openbare kennis – dit sluit in die spuit van insekdoder op mense; die eet van rotte, gras en die drink van petrol; vroue wat onvanpas aangeraak en selfs mishandel en verkrag word; en winsbejag (Dube, 2019:29).

Valse Profete Wyk af van die Bybelse Betekenis van die Profetiese Bediening

Hulle wyk af van die tradisionele Christelike waardes van die bediening soos nederigheid, deernis, onbaatsugtige diens en dienskneg-leierskap. In plaas daarvan word hierdie waardes vervang met ‘n beheptheid oor publiekebeeld, selfverheerliking, grootheidswaan en ‘n fokus op die persoon in bediening. Dit is skadelik vir die beeld van die kerk in die publiekeoog in Afrika en hoewel die verskynsel nie eie aan Afrika is nie, het dit hier redelik algemeen geword (Owojaiye, 2019).

Die Engelse woord “prophet” is van die Griekse woord “prophetes” – wat ‘n bemiddelende rol tussen die volk en God daarstel. Nog ‘n betekenis is die Griekse woord “nabi” wat iemand beteken wat van die toekoms kan praat of kan praat voordat dinge gebeur. Iemand wat aan die volk, priesters en konings verkondig, “so sê die Here” (Eksodus 4:22; Jesaja 48:10; Jeremia 12:14). Profete was persone wat deur God geroep is; wat onder goddelike dwang opgetree het; persoonlike integriteit gehad het; profesieë gegee het wat beide “vooruitwysing” en “voorverteling” ingesluit het; valse ideologieë blootgelê het; die waarheid oor kwessies geopenbaar het; en saam met konings en priesters gefunksioneer het.

In die Nuwe Testament het die profetiese tradisie van verkondiging en voorspelling in die vroeë kerk voortgeduur (Johannes 1:29; Handelinge 13:1-10). Later in die Nuwe Testament word volgelinge aangemoedig om nie die woorde van die profete te verag nie (1 Tessalonisense 5:20-22) en steeds die geeste op die proef te stel om te sien of hulle van God of valse profete afkomstig is (1 Petrus 2:1-3; Openbaring 19:20-21).

Die toetsing van profete en onderskeiding van profesie, soos dit dikwels in beide die Ou en Nuwe Testamente aangehaal word, was nie iets nuuts nie (Ou Testament: Deuteronomium 13: 1-10; Jeremia 23:1-4, 10-14, 16-17, 25-32) (Nuwe Testament: Matteus 7:15-20). Ware profete poog om die volk van God terug te draai van hulle bose weë na God toe (Deuteronomium 13:22). Ware profete praat die waarheid, verheerlik God, bevoordeel die gemeenskap (Johannes 16:13-15, 17:13-26; 1 Korintiërs 14:3-5) en hulle woord word deur ander bekragtig (1 Korintiërs 14:29-33). Paulus moedig die gelowiges aan om te profeteer (1 Korintiërs 14:1; Romeine 12:4-7; Efesiërs 4:11-16).

Riglyne om Vandag Tussen Ware en Valse Profete te Onderskei
Die kriteria om in Bybelse profesieë tussen valse en ware profete te onderskei, is soos volg:

Die roeping van die profeet.
Die roepingsverhaal van ‘n profeet speel ‘n definitiewe rol in die Bybel en volg gewoonlik ‘n sekere strukturele vorm wat teofanie (‘n roepingsmanifestasie van God), weerstand van die profeet/es, druk van die Here, aanvaarding deur die profeet/es en ‘n ingebruikneming van die profeet/es deur die Here (Madzokere en Machingura, 2015:57-58).

Ekstase.
Word soms ‘n kenmerk van profesie genoem, met sommige mense wat ‘n pro-ekstase benadering het, en ander ‘n anti-ekstase standpunt. Pro-ekstase beteken dat in die geestelike toestand van ‘n individu wat profeteer, sy/haar bewussyn op ‘n manier geheel of gedeeltelik opgeskort word. Eie denke en wil hou op, en die persoon word beheer en is onderworpe aan die Gees van God. Anti-ekstase aan die ander kant is gekant teen die opskorting van die verstandelike fakulteite tydens profesie, en sien dit as ‘n teken van valse profesie, soos gesien in die botsing tussen die Baälprofete en Elia (1 Konings 18: 2).

Professionaliteit.
Die maatstaf vir ware profete is dat hulle hul taak as ‘n roeping beskou en nie ‘n beroep wat verband hou met betalings of belonings nie. Die kriterium van vergoeding is gebaseer op die aanname dat indien die profeet betaal word, hy/sy sal poog om die kliënt tevrede te stel soos gesien in Miga 3:5.

Uitvoering van wonderwerke.
Hedendaagse profete word geassosieer met die uitvoering van wonderwerke en die titel dra ‘n gevoel van mag daarmee saam – wat publisiteit, erkenning, status en finansiële opbrengs tot gevolg het.

Voorspelling en vervulling.
Ware profete word onderskei van die valses omdat hulle voorspellings waar geword het. Histories soos verstaan in Deuteronomium 13:1-5; 18:21-22, moet die profeet met klippe doodgegooi word as die profesie nie vervul word nie. In sommige gevalle, soos in Elia se profesie oor die huis van Agab (1 Konings 21-29), is dit eers na sy dood vervul (2 Konings 9:14-10:36).

Moraliteit en onderrig van gehoorsaamheid aan God.
Moraliteit is ‘n deug wat van profete en godsdienstige gelowiges verwag word, dus wanneer ‘n profeet ‘n immorele lewe lei, word so ‘n profeet as ‘n valse profeet gebrandmerk.

As Pinkstergelowiges, glo ons dat ons daarna moet streef om te profeteer, dat die profetiese bediening deel is van die vyfvoudige bediening wat leiding aan die volk van God kan gee en dat ‘n kerk wat in die vuur van die Heilige Gees wandel, die beste teenmiddel teen valse profete en hulle “wonderfoefies” is. Kom ons toets die geeste en kyk of dit van God af kom, maar laat ons versigtig wees om nie die Heilige Gees te blus deur profesie en profetiese bediening maklik as vals af te maak nie.

Benewens hierdie artikel, maak ook seker dat jy toegang het tot die volgende bronne soos aangebied en regstreeks gestroom vanaf die ABLAZE AGS Nasionale Konferensie:

‘n PowerPoint-aanbieding:
http://www.events.afm-ags.org/

‘n Regstreekse stroomopname:
https://www.youtube.com/live/p5703lIiOwg?si=N6Nk87P-f33PDHTS

Verwysings:

Madzokere, N. 2018. Prophets or Profiteers? An interrogative study of the selected contemporary Pentecostal prophets in Zimbabwe in the context of Development. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa 20 (1): 276-289.

Dube, E.E.N, 2019. Desperation in an attempt to curb modern-day prophets: Pentecostalisation and the Church in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Conspectus: The Journal of the South African Theological Seminary volume 27: 25-34.

Owojaiye, M. 2019. The problem of false prophets in Africa: Strengthening the church in the face of a troublesome trend, Lausanne Global Analysis 8(6).

Madzokere, N., Machingura, F. 2015. True and False Prophets/esses in the light of Prophets/esses and Wonders in Zimbabwe, Journal of Critical Southern Studies volume 3, Winter (2015).

Tydens die konferensie, en as deel van die kerk se 115de Verjaarsdagherdenking, is “The Story of John G. Lake – the first General of the AFM of South Africa” bekendgestel. Geskryf deur Past. Linda Marx, prof. Marius Nel en Past. Johan Klopper, is hierdie boek nou beskikbaar vanaf die Amazon-platform in ‘n Kindle-formaat: https://a.co/d/gVDvqdW. Die verhaal van John G. Lake sal mense inspireer, bemoedig en herinner dat die belofte van die Vader en die inwonende teenwoordigheid van die Heilige Gees vir elke gelowige beskikbaar is. Ek moedig jou aan om dit te lees en vertrou dat jy daardeur geseën sal word!

Ek bedank almal wat deel was van die organisasie om die konferensie moontlik te maak, sowel as almal wat deel was van die daaglikse program en elke individu wat die moeite gedoen het om dit by te woon. Sommige mense het ver gereis – selfs vir meer as een dag – om teenwoordig te wees. Ons het die diversiteit van ons kerk ervaar in aanbidding, in die program en in die bywoning. Baie mense het getuig oor die gees van eenheid en vrede onder almal wat teenwoordig was.

Vriendelike Groete
Henri Weideman

Download the PDF version below (e-mail & printer-friendly):

AFM of SA Pastoral Letter 2nd Quarter_2023

Dear AFM Family,

On Thursday, 25 May 2023 the AFM of SA celebrated its 115th birthday anniversary. AFM assemblies and members nationwide proudly shared and showcased the AFM logo on all social media platforms. The “cross and the crown” was shared as a symbol of our deep held belief that it is only because of the cross that there is a crown. AFM Logo Day was once again a highly successful action that mobilised the whole church. This year the birthday celebrations grew to include another action – a call to every AFM member to share Christ with at least one other person.

In the early days and to this day, AFM members are powerful witnesses because of openness to the work of the Holy Spirit and a strong missionary focus. Sharing Christ with others is part of who we are as Pentecostals – it is in our Pentecostal DNA. As a missional church, it is our calling to share Christ with others.

As National Office Bearers, and as part of the 115th Birthday Anniversary of our church, we decided to focus on a specific discipleship tool to equip (and teach) AFM members to share the Gospel with another person. This tool is known as “The Bridge Illustration” – showing and guiding a believer step-by-step on how to share the Gospel with another person. There are four sections to “The Bridge Illustration” namely:

God’s Love

Man’s Problem

God’s Remedy

Man’s Response

In this Pastoral Letter of the 2nd Quarter, we will focus more on each of the sections. Each one has appropriate scripture and an illustration to be memorised to ensure that when you share the Gospel it will be full of the powerful Word of God. As you learn and practice presenting “The Bridge Illustration” it will become easy. Remember, this is only a tool to help tell the Good News of Jesus Christ – it is the Holy Spirit who moves hearts and gives understanding. For each section, there is an explanatory video clip available (for which the YouTube links will be shared). As part of the conclusion, I will also tell you more about the available “Pocket Guide” which is a useful synopsis of “The Bridge Illustration”.

Watch supporting Video Clips for Introductory Remarks:

Draw two horizontal lines. On the left write “MAN” on the line and on the right write“GOD” on the line.

Genesis 1:27 says “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” We were created by God whose unconditional divine love has revealed Himself to be self-giving, self-sharing, and self-communicating. His love is personal and relational. God who comes near to his creatures, seeking fellowship with them. In the Garden of Eden, we see God at peace with man, man at peace with his family, and man at peace with nature. God’s abundant love is demonstrated in His goodness, mercy, grace, compassion, and faithfulness, but also in His holiness, justice, jealousy, and wrath. His love is holy, just as His holiness is loving. Write Genesis 1:27.

John 10:10 says: “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” God wants us to live life to the full. We were created to spend time in a close relationship with God. We were created to experience God’s love. Paul prays in Ephesians 3:18-19 that we “…may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Write John 10:10 and the word “ETERNAL LIFE”.

God loves, as James would say, not only in word but in deed. His love is His divine disposition to be for His creatures and to act on behalf of their good, even at great cost to Himself. David in Psalm 145:8-9 says “The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: And his tender mercies are over all His works.”

Watch the supporting Video Clip for “God’s Love”:

God loves us but it does not matter how “good” we are, we have all fallen short of God’s standard and have sinned. For some or other reason we think that we can, through our good deeds, impress God and get Him to change the rules and accept us. If I regularly go to church or give money to good charities, I will be fine. The evil one sometimes wants to trick us to think we can do it, that we can solve this problem – but God says nothing that you can do, is good enough. Write Romans 3:23.

We have a sin problem and out of ourselves, we will never be able to solve it. Write “SIN”. The result of man’s sin is eternal death and separation from God. That is why many people fear death because they have no hope. Just a dark and lonely future forever lost and hopeless. Write Romans 6:23. Since God created Adam and Eve, His only agenda was to love us and spoil us with His love. We as the masterpiece of His creation, crave acceptance and intimacy. We search for it all over, but we can never find that deep and intimate closeness we long for. Our sin prevents that relationship. Our sin stands in the way like a brick wall, preventing us from intimacy with God. God is Holy, and only what is holy can come in His presence. This means that eternal death is our future. Draw two vertical lines indicating the separation between “GOD” and “MAN” and write the word “DEATH”.

Each one of us is destined to die. When we die, we will be judged. The Bible speaks of a judgement day that each one of us will face. We will appear before God’s throne. If God does not provide for a Saviour, we will end up in separation from God. We will end up in a place without GOD for eternity. Write Hebrews 9:27 and the word “JUDGEMENT”.

Watch the supporting Video Clip for “Man’s Problem”:

God is a righteous and loving God and man is a sinner – they are therefore apart and separated from each other. But God provided a solution or remedy to bridge this gap. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This life is in His Son. Draw the cross and write John 3:16 on it.

Jesus is the only way to the Father. John 14:6 says “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” When Christ died voluntarily on the cross, He took our place. He paid the penalty for our sins, and He bridged the gap for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says: “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Watch the supporting Video Clip for “God’s Remedy”:

In sharing what God our heavenly Father has done for us out of love, we need to make it clear that we as human beings, are the recipients of God’s gift of salvation through the death of His only Son Jesus Christ. We are receiving undeserved grace and forgiveness. Jesus made it possible for us to cross the gap between us and God, but we must take decisive action.

We are all somewhere on the journey towards God. The gift of grace and forgiveness is not automatically applied to our lives. Jesus died on the cross for everybody, but we must make His sacrifice our own. We must receive it and act on it. In doing so, we need to cross the bridge of faith by making a decision that demonstrates that we believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and accept what He has done for us. This is an individual and personal decision. No one can accept the gift of God’s grace and forgiveness on our behalf.

John 1:12-13 says: “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” Write “BELIEVE” and John 1:12-13. Every person must accept for him-/herself what Jesus did on the cross and decide to follow Him.

Believing in Christ means accepting and trusting in what Jesus did on the cross, to enable you to be forgiven and come into the right relationship with God. By expressing faith in Jesus as the son of God and excepting His sacrifice, we become children of God.  We will then not be condemned for our sins but have passed from death into life. John 5:24 says: “…truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” Write John 5:24.  

To cross the bridge of faith, “from death to life”, we need to pray a prayer of repentance of our wrongdoing and acceptance of Jesus’ grace and forgiveness. Pray together.

Watch the supporting Video Clip for “Man’s Response”:

1 Peter 3:15 says: “…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” In discussing and explaining all of this to a colleague, friend, or family member, we must make sure to do so humbly and lovingly. Not condescending or judgemental. We are called to share the Gospel with everyone. It is God’s Holy Spirit that convicts people, we cannot force them to decide, but we must give them an opportunity.

Part of this respect would be to ask the person with whom you are in conversation, whether what you have explained to them makes sense. If there is anything that this person does not understand, take the time and explain to the best of your ability. If you do not have an answer right away, get the information as soon as possible and pass it on to them.

It is good to ask the person where they would place themself on the diagram. This ensures that you are not “judging” or deciding on the person’s behalf but allowing them to decide for themselves where they are on their journey towards God. If the person has not yet decided to accept God’s gift of grace and forgiveness in Jesus, you should ask if anything is stopping them from making the decision. Again, be prudent and ask God for His wisdom in explaining and guiding the person to decide to accept Jesus.

It is very important to pray with the person and assist them to pray a prayer of repentance and acceptance. If the person is not yet ready to decide to follow Jesus, pray with them for God’s guidance, wisdom and courage. You can also tell them that you will be talking to them about this again. “You can be sure that whoever brings a sinner back from wandering, will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.” – James 5:20 (NLT).

For a quick and easy reference of “The Bridge Illustration” you are welcome to make use of the “Pocket Guide” that was developed for this purpose:

https://afm-ags.org/share-christ-with-another-person-pocket-guide/

Friendly Regards
Henri Weideman

Laai die PDF weergawe hier af (om maklik te e-pos of uit te druk):

AGS van SA Pastorale Brief 2de Kwartaal_2023_Finale Weergawe

AGS Familie,

Ons het op Donderdag, 25 Mei 2023 die AGS van SA se 115de verjaardag herdenking gevier. AGS Gemeentes en lidmate landswyd het met trots die AGS-embleem op sosiale media-platforms geplaas en ten toon gestel. Die “kruis en die kroon” (the cross and the crown) was gedeel as ‘n simbool van ons diepgewortelde oortuiging dat dit slegs as gevolg van die kruis is dat daar ‘n kroon is. Die AGS Logo Dag was weereens ‘n uiters suksesvolle aksie wat die hele kerk gemobiliseer het. Hierdie jaar het die verjaarsdagvieringe gegroei en is nog ‘n aksie bygevoeg – ‘n versoek aan elke AGS lidmaat om Christus met ten minste een ander persoon te deel.

In die vroeë Kerk en tot vandag toe nog, is AGS lidmate kragtige getuies as gevolg van die openheid vir die werk van die Heilige Gees en ‘n sterk sendinggerigtheid. Om ‘n ander persoon te vertel van Christus se liefde is deel van wie ons as Pinkstermense is – dit is opgevat in ons Pinkster-DNS. As ‘n missionêre Kerk is dit ons roeping om Christus met ander te deel.

As deel van die 115de Verjaarsdagherdenking van ons Kerk, het die Nasionale Ampsdraers besluit om ‘n spesifieke dissipelskap-instrument te kies en so AGS lidmate toe te rus (en te leer) om die Evangelie met ‘n ander persoon te deel. Hierdie hulpmiddel staan bekend as “Die Brug-illustrasie” en neem ‘n gelowige stap-vir-stap deur ‘n proses om die Evangelie te deel. Daar is vier afdelings in “Die Brug-illustrasie” naamlik:

God se Liefde

Die Mens se Probleem

God se Oplossing

Die Mens se Reaksie

In hierdie Pastorale Brief van die 2de Kwartaal, fokus ons in diepte op elke afdeling. Elke afdeling het gepaste skrif en ‘n illustrasie wat gememoriseer moet word om te verseker dat wanneer jy die Evangelie deel, dit vol van die kragtige Woord van God sal wees. Soos jy leer en oefen om “Die Brug-illustrasie” aan te bied, sal dit makliker word. Onthou, dit is slegs ‘n hulpmiddel om die Goeie Nuus van Jesus Christus te help vertel – dit is die Heilige Gees wat in harte beweeg en begrip bring. Vir elke afdeling is daar ‘n verduidelikende videogreep beskikbaar (die YouTube-skakels word verskaf). As deel van die slot verwys ek ook na ‘n opsommende “Sakgids” wat as ‘n nuttige samevatting van “Die Brug-illustrasie” dien.

Kyk ondersteunende videogrepe vir inleidende opmerkings:

Trek twee horisontale lyne. Skryf aan die linkerkant “DIE MENS” op die reël en aan die regterkant skryf “GOD” op die reël.

Genesis 1:27 (AFR83) sê: “God het die mens geskep as sy verteenwoordiger, as beeld van God het Hy die mens geskep, man en vrou het Hy hulle geskep.” Ons is geskape deur God wat deur Sy liefde Homself openbaar aan ons as ‘n God wat van Homself gee, deel en kommunikeer. God se liefde is persoonlik en vind betekenis binne ‘n verhouding. God wil graag naby en in verhouding met sy skepsels wees. In die tuin van Eden sien ons God in vrede met die mens, die mens in vrede met sy familie, en die mens in vrede met die natuur. God se oorvloedige liefde word gedemonstreer in Sy goedheid, barmhartigheid, genade, deernis en getrouheid, maar ook in Sy heiligheid, geregtigheid, jaloesie en toorn. Sy liefde is heilig, net soos Sy heiligheid vol liefde is. Skryf Genesis 1:27.

Johannes 10:10 (AFR83) sê: “Ek het gekom sodat hulle die lewe kan hê, en dit in oorvloed.” God wil hê ons moet voluit lewe. Ons is geskep om tyd in ‘n hegte verhouding met God deur te bring. Ons is geskep om God se liefde te ervaar. Paulus bid in Efesiërs 3:18-19 (AFR 83): “Mag julle in staat wees om saam met al die gelowiges te begryp hoe wyd en ver en hoog en diep die liefde van Christus strek. Mag julle sy liefde ken, liefde wat ons verstand te bowe gaan, en mag julle heeltemal vervul word met die volheid van God.” Skryf Johannes 10:10 en die woord “EWIGE LEWE” neer.

God het lief soos Jakobus sou sê, nie net in woord nie, maar in daad. Sy liefde is Sy Goddelike ingesteldheid om die mens (Sy skepsels) te bevorder en om op te tree tot hul voordeel selfs teen groot koste vir Homself. Dawid sê in Psalm 145:8-9 (AFR83): “Genadig en barmhartig is die Here, lankmoedig en vol liefde. Die Here is vir almal goed en barmhartig oor alles wat Hy geskep het.”

Kyk na die ondersteunende videogreep vir “God’s Love”:

Al het God ons lief maak dit nie saak hoe “goed” ons is nie – almal van ons het gesondig en skiet tekort aan God se standaard. Om een of ander rede dink ons dat ons deur ons goeie dade God kan beïndruk en Hom kan kry om die reëls te verander en ons te aanvaar. As ek gereeld kerk toe gaan of donasies skenk aan goeie liefdadigheidsorganisasies, is God tevrede met my. Die bose wil ons soms mislei deur ons te laat glo dat ons deur ons eie dade hierdie probleem kan oplos – maar God sê niks wat jy doen gaan goed genoeg wees nie. Skryf Romeine 3:23.

Ons het ‘n sondeprobleem en uit onsself sal ons dit nooit kan oplos nie. Skryf “SONDE“. Die gevolg van die mens se sonde is die ewige dood en skeiding van God. Daarom vrees baie mense die dood omdat hulle geen hoop het nie – net ‘n donker en eensame toekoms vir ewig verlore en hopeloos. Skryf Romeine 6:23. Sedert God Adam en Eva geskep het, was Sy enigste agenda om ons lief te hê en ons met Sy liefde te bederf. Ons as die meesterstuk van Sy skepping smag na aanvaarding en intimiteit. Ons soek dit oraloor, maar ons kan nooit daardie diep en intieme nabyheid vind waarna ons smag nie. Ons sonde verhoed daardie verhouding. Ons sonde staan soos ‘n baksteenmuur in die pad, wat ons verhinder om intimiteit met God te hê. God is Heilig, en slegs wat heilig is kan in Sy teenwoordigheid kom. Dit beteken dat die ewige dood ons toekoms is. Trek twee vertikale lyne wat die skeiding tussen “GOD” en “DIE MENS” aandui en skryf die woord “DOOD” neer.

Elkeen van ons is bestem om te sterf. Wanneer ons sterf, sal ons geoordeel word. Die Bybel praat van ‘n oordeelsdag wat elkeen van ons in die gesig staar. Ons sal voor God se troon verskyn. As God nie vir ‘n Verlosser voorsiening maak nie, sal ons geskei wees van God – ons sal vir ewig op ‘n plek sonder Hom beland. Skryf Hebreërs 9:27 en die woord “OORDEEL” neer.

Kyk na die ondersteunende videogreep vir “Man’s Problem”:

God is ‘n regverdige en liefdevolle God en die mens is ‘n sondaar – hulle is dus apart en geskei van mekaar. Maar God het voorsien en het ‘n oplossing om hierdie gaping te oorbrug. Johannes 3:16 (AFR83) sê: “God het die wêreld so liefgehad dat Hy sy enigste Seun gegee het, sodat dié wat in Hom glo, nie verlore sal gaan nie maar die ewige lewe sal hê.”. Hierdie lewe is in Sy Seun. Teken nou die kruis en skryf Johannes 3:16.

Jesus is die enigste weg na die Vader. Johannes 14:6 sê: “Jesus het vir hom gesê: “Ek is die weg en die waarheid en die lewe. Niemand kom na die Vader toe behalwe deur My nie.” Toe Christus vrywillig aan die kruis gesterf het, het Hy ons plek ingeneem. Hy het die straf vir ons sondes betaal, en Hy het die gaping vir ons oorbrug. 2 Korintiërs 5:21 sê: “Christus was sonder sonde, maar God het Hom in ons plek as sondaar behandel sodat ons, deur ons eenheid met Christus, deur God vrygespreek kan wees.”

Kyk na die ondersteunende videogreep vir “God’s Remedy”:

Wanneer ons met iemand deel oor wat God ons hemelse Vader uit liefde vir ons gedoen het, moet ons dit duidelik stel dat ons as mense die ontvangers is van God se gawe van verlossing deur die dood van sy enigste Seun Jesus Christus. Ons ontvang onverdiende genade en vergifnis. Jesus het dit vir ons moontlik gemaak om die gaping tussen ons en God oor te steek, maar ons moet iets doen van ons kant af.

Ons is almal iewers op die reis na God toe. Die gawe van genade en vergifnis word nie outomaties op ons lewens toegepas nie. Jesus het vir almal aan die kruis gesterf, maar ons moet Sy offer ons eie maak. Ons moet dit ontvang en daarop reageer. Ons moet die brug van geloof oorsteek deur ‘n besluit te neem wat demonstreer dat ons in Jesus Christus as die Seun van God glo en wat Hy vir ons gedoen het aan die kruis aanvaar. Dit is ‘n individuele en persoonlike besluit. Niemand kan die gawe van God se genade en vergifnis namens ons aanvaar nie.

“…Aan almal wat Hom egter aanvaar het, dié wat in sy Naam glo, het Hy die reg gegee om kinders van God te word. Hulle is nie deur ’n natuurlike proses gebore nie, en ook nie na aanleiding van die wilsbesluit van ’n man nie. Hulle is uit God gebore.” – Johannes 1:12-13 (NLV). Skryf “GLO” en Johannes 1:12-13. Elke mens moet vir hom-/haarself aanvaar wat Jesus aan die kruis gedoen het en besluit om Hom te volg.

Om in Christus te glo, beteken om te vertrou op wat Jesus aan die kruis gedoen het om jou in staat te stel om vergewe te word en in die regte verhouding met God te kom. Deur ons geloof in Jesus as die seun van God uit te druk en Sy offer aan die kruis te aanvaar, word ons kinders van God. Ons sal dan nie veroordeel word vir ons sondes nie, maar het oorgegaan uit die dood na die lewe. “Dit verseker Ek julle, wie my woorde hoor en wie vertrou op Hom wat My gestuur het, het die ewige lewe. Hy kom nie in die oordeel nie, maar het reeds oorgegaan uit die dood na die lewe..” – Johannes 5:24 (NLV). Skryf nou Johannes 5:24. 

Om die brug van geloof oor te steek, “van die dood na die lewe” – moet ons ‘n gebed bid van berou oor ons verkeerde dade en ‘n gebed van aanvaarding van Jesus se genade en vergifnis. Bid saam.

Kyk na die ondersteunende videogreep vir “Man’s Response”:

1 Petrus 3:15-16 (NLV) sê: “…As julle dit doen, en iemand vra julle uit oor die hoop wat in julle leef, wees altyd reg om te reageer. Doen dit egter taktvol en eerbiedig.” Wanneer ons “Die Brug-illustrasie” verduidelik aan ‘n kollega, vriend of familielid moet ons seker maak dat ons dit op ‘n nederige en liefdevolle manier doen. Nie arrogant of veroordelend nie. Ons is geroep om die Evangelie met almal te deel. Dit is God se Heilige Gees wat mense oortuig – ons kan hulle nie dwing om ‘n besluit te neem nie, maar ons moet hulle ‘n geleentheid gee.

Deel van hierdie respek sou wees om die persoon met wie jy in gesprek is, te vra of dit wat jy aan hulle verduidelik het, sin maak. As daar iets is wat hulle nie verstaan nie, neem die tyd en verduidelik dit na die beste van jou vermoë. As jy nie dadelik ‘n antwoord het nie, kry die inligting so gou as moontlik en gee dit aan die persoon deur.

Dit is goed om die persoon te vra waar hy/sy hulleself op die diagram sal plaas. Dit verseker dat jy nie die persoon “oordeel” of namens hulle besluit nie, maar hulle toelaat om self te besluit waar hulle op hulle reis oppad na God is. Indien dit duidelik is dat die persoon nog nie ‘n besluit geneem het om God se genadegawe en vergifnis in Jesus te aanvaar nie, moet jy vra of daar iets is wat hulle keer om wel die besluit te neem. Weereens, wees geduldig en vra God vir Sy wysheid om aan die persoon ‘n verduideliking te gee en hom/haar te begelei in hierdie geloofsbesluit.

Dit is baie belangrik om saam met die persoon te bid en hulle by te staan om ‘n gebed van bekering en aanvaarding te bid. Indien die persoon nog nie gereed is om te besluit om Jesus te volg nie, bid saam met hulle vir God se leiding, wysheid en moed.  Jy kan ook vir hulle sê dat jy weer met hulle hieroor sal praat. “Weet dan dat hy wat ’n sondaar van sy dwaalweg laat terugdraai, hom uit die dood verlos en maak dat ’n klomp sondes bedek word.” – Jakobus 5:20 (NLV).

Vir ‘n vinnige en maklike verwysing van “Die Brug-illustrasie” is jy welkom om gebruik te maak van die “Sakgids” wat vir hierdie doel ontwikkel is:
https://afm-ags.org/share-christ-with-another-person-pocket-guide/ 

Vriendelike Groete
Henri Weideman

Download the PDF version here (e-mail & printer-friendly):

AFM Pastoral Letter_1st Quarter_2023

INTRODUCTION

Dear AFM Family,

During our time of prayer and reflection at the end of 2022, the National Office Bearers felt led to focus on the strengthening and impartation of the Spiritual Foundation of Missionality in 2023. We resolved to spend time on who we are and how we live as Holy Spirit-filled people and church. During the Regional Empowerment visits, we are focusing on the theme: KEEP THE FIRE BURNING and share about our calling as believers and pastors; our spiritual discipline and ministerial faithfulness including daily time with the Word and in prayer; the character, values and norms of Holy Spirit-filled people; as well as our finances.

All the articles in this edition focus on the spiritual foundation of a missional lifestyle.

The character, values and norms of Holy Spirit-filled people are key aspects of the testimony of our movement, as well as of the lifestyle of every individual follower of Jesus.

• • Character refers to the mental, moral and ethical qualities and beliefs of an individual. It is about the way someone thinks, feels and behaves.
  • Values are about what you view as important, useful and of worth.
  • Norms refer to what an individual or group regard as the standard or acceptable way of doing something.

In the context of the world and society that we are living in, we must ask ourselves whether there should be a difference between the character, values and norms of a Holy Spirit-filled person and a person who is not filled with the Holy Spirit. In other words: Should a Holy Spirit-filled person think differently about life, about what is important and acceptable? Should a Holy Spirit-filled person behave differently? Should he/she handle emotions differently and speak differently? Or is there no difference?

If there is a difference, what should it be?

Looking at history, we see that when there was a need to appoint deacons to serve in the first church in Jerusalem, the requirements given by the twelve disciples, were recorded as follows in Acts 6:3: “…choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the (Holy) Spirit & wisdom.” (NIV)

The New King James Version (KJV) translated it as: “…men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.” The Amplified Bible refers to people with “…Godly character and moral integrity…”. It seems that there was something distinctive and noticeable about people who were full of the Holy Spirit. When you interacted with them, you observed and heard something different.

In Ephesians 3:16 Paul wrote about our spiritual nature, our emotions, our inner being, the core of who we are as human beings, being built up and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. The thoughts and behaviour of Holy Spirit-filled people are under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:9 Paul says that if the Holy Spirit lives in us, we are not controlled by a sinful nature, but by the Holy Spirit. There is a different operating system at work in Holy Spirit-filled people.

“The thoughts and behaviour of Holy Spirit-filled people are under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”

In 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Paul mentions the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. This produces behavioural qualities representative of Jesus in Holy Spirit-filled people. These traits are sometimes referred to as “The fruit of the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-23 defines it as: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

We are living in a world of many imitations. It seems that there is a counterfeit product available for everything true of value. Can it also be so with the Holy Spirit? Can people claim to be godly, but lack the true power and essence thereof? Can it be that their conduct, the way they think, live and behave nullifies the image that they have of being a Holy Spirit-filled people?

This must never be true of us. May our pastors, assembly leaders and all our members be known as men and women who are full of the Holy Spirit.

God’s “call” is an open invitation to salvation to all the lost to come to Him and be saved (Matt 9:13; Matt 9:9-13; Mark 2:17). As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

“For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). Paul’s language echoes the language prophets sometimes used in response to the sufferings they or others would experience as a result of their prophetic ministry and reflects the prophetic call on his life. His experience of preaching the gospel is like the experience of those Old Testament prophets who felt compelled to deliver the divine message entrusted to them, regardless of their own desire, or lack of desire to do so.

Once we accepted the call, the power of God is released into us. 1 Corinthians 1:24: “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor 1:9). The power of God is working in us to equip us for the task ahead to be more than conquerors in all aspects of life as we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Walk worthy of your calling. For us to stay true to our calling, we have to realise that it is not necessary to “earn our place” anymore. We have been set free from any form of inferior living and are now able to live our lives according to the standard of Jesus Christ. Paul gives the first three chapters in Ephesians to establish the truth that we are found “in Christ” and then challenges us to live according to that calling: “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:1-3, NKJV).

Impacting the lives of others. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life (2 Corinthians 2:15-16, NKJV). The life-giving follower of the call of God, whose heart is ever thirsting for God, whose soul is ever following hard after God, whose eye is single to God, and in whom by the power of God’s Spirit, the flesh and the world have been crucified. Our lives must be like the generous flood of a life-giving river.

I close with a prayer we use to sing: “Touch my life Lord Jesus, with thy nail scared hand, as for Thee I live and daily take my stand, let my life overflow so that others may know, Thou has touched my life with thy nail scared hand.”

As National Office Bearers we have declared this year as a season of keeping the fire of the Holy Spirit burning! Our focused commitment is to rekindle the fire through prayer, fasting and the knowledge of God’s Word. Our spiritual life is tied to devotion to prayer and the ministry of the Word of God, as indicated in Acts 6:4: “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

“The order is significant; prayer first, then the ministry of the Word. Without God, there is no ministry.”

The Apostles dedicated themselves “…to prayer and the ministry of the Word.” The order is significant; prayer first, then the ministry of the Word. Without God, there is no ministry.

Prayer (Fasting)

Spiritual work depends upon spiritual tools. No spiritual tool is as significant or influential as prayer. As Andrew Murray reminds us: “In spiritual work, everything depends upon prayer.” We should maximise spiritual impact by prioritising prayer. Effective spiritual leaders value this spiritual tool, which is prayer.

“The more we pray, the more God works.”

The more we pray, the more God works. When we pray, things begin to change, “…as he (Jesus) was praying, heaven was opened…” (Luke 3:21b, NIV). Elijah was very committed to prayer and “…was a man of like passions to us, and he prayed with prayer that it should not rain; and it did not rain upon the earth three years and six months…” (James 5:17, DARBY). We should always pray and not quit, “…pray always and not become discouraged…” (Luke 18:1, HCSB).

“Prayer is the determining factor…if we don’t, He won’t.” – Jack Hayford.

The substance and exercise of fasting and prayer are critical to our spiritual lives; note the following four reasons and benefits:

• • Fasting has the power to please God by causing righteousness to shine, healing to come, and God’s glory to surround you. It leads to answered prayer (Isaiah 58:6–14).
  • Fasting increases spiritual power and prepares for greater impact. Jesus experienced forty days of prayer and fasting. Immediately after that, we see him preaching with the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:1–14).
  • Fasting is a powerful aid in spiritual warfare. After his disciples failed to cast out a demon, Jesus did so easily. Then he explained, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21).
  • Daniel’s twenty-one days of fasting and prayer were needed to aid the angel’s assignment to deliver the answer to Daniel’s prayers (Daniel 9:3–10:3).

Ministry of the Word (Read and Reread the Text)

The former Pastor of Westminster Chapel in London, G. Campbell Morgan, would read a book of the Bible 50 times before he lifted his pen in preparation for his sermon. At that point, he began to see things in the text that he overlooked the first few times reading through. As Servants of God, we are mandated to study, teach and preach the Word of God. The relevant three-fold ministry of the Word includes:

• • The studying of God’s Word (Ezra 7:10), “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” (NIV)
  • The teaching of God’s Word for making disciples (Matt. 28:20a), “…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (NIV)
  • The preaching of God’s Word (2 Timothy 4:2), “…preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (ESV)

In conclusion, we say, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1), and as God’s servants, we should always be nourished and sustained by God’s word, as “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4, ESV).

Many of us are feeling the pressure of the financial situation in our country. Our country is not in a good spot and many decisions that were taken in the past, are having detrimental effects on all of us. But that does not mean that we have to be the victims of what is happening around us. We are children of the Mighty GOD that created heaven and earth and we are living in HIS presence and under HIS promises. He is fully aware of what is happening in our world and is working in this situation to benefit us. But we need to seek His face and follow His leading in our financial conduct.

The soft voice of the Holy Spirit and the principles of the Bible can and will lead you and me through difficult times. Our country had situations that looked unsurmountable in the past, but the men and women of GOD trusted in Him to guide us through.

Principle 1: Tithe

Some of the principles are to be faithful in your tithing. Tithing is not a money issue, but a trust and faith issue. By giving your tithe, you declare that you trust God to provide for you and help you to go much further with the remaining 90% than you would have been able with your full salary. Matt 6:21 says “…where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. Tithing tests where my heart is. I’m sure that many of you have wonderful testimonies of miracles that God did in your own life and the lives of people around you. In difficult times, the thought will come to mind to stop tithing as times are changing. Please don’t fall into this trap, because your tithe is also the seed that will come up and will be your provision of blessing in the future. If you eat your seed, you kill your future blessing.

“Tithing tests where my heart is.”

Principle 2: Spend Wisely

In times like these we should also stick to the habit of spending wisely. Be careful how you spend your money and don’t run after every new fad or flavour just to be in with your crowd. Rather be more conservative and buy things that you need and will last long. Be very careful of slick sales tactics that want to convince you that your life will not be the same without this product or service. We have the God of heaven and earth in our lives and that helps us to live content lives. Hebrews 13:5 says: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Sometimes we need to be reminded that this earthly world will one day pass, and we will take nothing with us to the grave, but our crown is waiting for us.

Principle 3: Save Diligently

Saving diligently is another good habit that we need to keep in place. If we save diligently, we will always have enough when difficult times come. For most of us, saving doesn’t come naturally. We have to plan and execute that plan, but if the habit kicks in, you get the wonderful sense that you are ready for a rainy day.

Principle 4: Live Generously

Lastly, live generously. It will kill selfishness in your life and help you to be a blessing to others. If you can help someone, help them! Don’t turn a blind eye because what you do to the least, God will reward you for. My prayer is that 2023 will be a year of abundance in your life.

On the 25th of May 2023, we will be celebrating our church’s 115th Birthday anniversary. Like the previous year, we are again planning an AFM Logo day where we would like to encourage all our assemblies and members to share, showcase and display the AFM logo everywhere! It was such a blessing last year to witness the high level of participation and response from our church.

This year we are adding a further element together with the AFM Logo day – on this day we are also requesting that every member of the AFM Family reaches out to just one other person to share the love of Christ. It can be an in-person encounter or a call over WhatsApp. It can be someone you know or a complete stranger. One can only imagine the impact when every AFM member takes up his/her calling as a messenger of Christ – sharing His love with just one other person.

The National Office Bearers will release five video clips that will provide practical guidelines on how to share Christ with another person. We are looking forward to celebrating the AFM of SA’s 115th Birthday anniversary and planning to keep the fire burning!

Friendly Regards
Henri Weideman

Laai die PDF-weergawe hier af (om maklik te e-pos of uit te druk):

AGS Pastorale Brief_1ste Kwartaal_2023

INLEIDING

AGS Familie,

Aan die einde van 2022, gedurende ons tyd van gebed en nadenke het die Nasionale Ampsdraers gelei gevoel om in 2023 te fokus op die bevestiging en versterking van die Geestelike onderbou van Missionaliteit. Ons het besluit om tyd te spandeer aan wie ons as Heilige Gees vervulde mense en kerk is en hoe ons (behoort te) leef. Tydens die Streekbemagtigingsbesoeke, fokus ons op die tema: HOU DIE VUUR AAN DIE BRAND (“Keep the Fire burning”). Ons deel meer oor ons roeping as gelowiges en pastore; ons geestelike dissipline en bedieningsgetrouheid (insluitende tyd met die Woord en in gebed); die karakter, waardes en norme van Heilige Gees vervulde mense; so wel as ons finansies.

Al die artikels in hierdie uitgawe fokus op die geestelike onderbou van ‘n missionale leefstyl.

Die karakter, waardes en norme van Heilige Gees vervulde mense is sleutelaspekte van die getuienis van ons beweging, asook van die lewenstyl van elke individuele volgeling van Jesus.

• • Karakter verwys na die geestelike, morele en etiese eienskappe en oortuigings van ‘n individu. Dit gaan oor die manier waarop iemand dink, voel en optree.
  • Waardes gaan oor wat jy as belangrik, bruikbaar en van waarde ag.
  • Norme verwys na dit wat ‘n individu of groep beskou as die standaard of aanvaarbare manier waarvolgens iets gedoen word.

In die konteks van die wêreld en die samelewing waarin ons leef, moet ons onsself vra of daar ‘n verskil moet wees tussen die karakter, waardes en norme van ‘n Heilige Gees vervulde persoon en ‘n persoon wat nie met die Heilige Gees vervul is nie. Met ander woorde: Moet ‘n Heilige Gees vervulde mens anders dink oor die lewe, oor wat belangrik en aanvaarbaar is? Moet ‘n Heilige Gees vervulde persoon anders optree? Moet hy/sy emosies anders hanteer en anders praat? Of is daar geen verskil nie?

As daar ‘n verskil is, wat behoort dit wees?

As ons na die geskiedenis kyk, sien ons dat toe daar ‘n behoefte was om diakens aan te stel om in die eerste kerk in Jerusalem te dien, die vereistes wat die twaalf dissipels gestel het, soos volg in Handelinge 6:3 opgeteken is: “…Kies sewe mans onder julle wat daarvoor bekend is dat hulle vol van die Heilige Gees is en wysheid het” (NLV). Die New King James weergawe vertaal dit as: “…men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.” Die Amplified Bible verwys na mense met “Godly character and moral integrity…”. Dit blyk dat daar iets kenmerkend en opvallend was aan mense wat vol van die Heilige Gees was. Wanneer jy met hulle omgegaan het, het jy iets anders waargeneem en gehoor.

“Die gedagtes en gedrag van Heilige Gees vervulde mense is onder leiding van die Heilige Gees.”

In Efesiërs 3:16 skryf Paulus oor ons geestelike natuur, ons emosies, ons innerlike wese, die kern van wie ons as mense is, wat deur die Heilige Gees opgebou en versterk word. Die gedagtes en gedrag van Heilige Gees vervulde mense is onder leiding van die Heilige Gees. In Romeine 8:9 sê Paulus dat as die Heilige Gees in ons woon, ons nie deur ‘n sondige natuur beheer word nie, maar deur die Heilige Gees. Daar is ‘n ander operasionele stelsel aan die werk in Heilige Gees vervulde mense.

In 2 Tessalonisense 2:13 praat Paulus oor die heiligmakende werk van die Heilige Gees. Dit produseer gedragseienskappe wat verteenwoordigend is van Jesus, in Heilige Gees vervulde mense. Daar word soms na hierdie eienskappe verwys as “Die vrug van die Gees.” Galasiërs 5:22-23 definieer dit as: Liefde, Vreugde, Vrede, Geduld, Vriendelikheid, Goedheid, Getrouheid, Sagmoedigheid en Selfbeheersing.

Ons leef in ‘n wêreld van baie nabootsings. Dit blyk dat daar ‘n vervalste produk beskikbaar is vir alles wat werklik waardevol is. Kan dit ook so wees met die Heilige Gees? Kan mense daarop aanspraak maak dat hulle geestelik is, maar nie die ware krag en wese daarvan reflekteer nie? Kan dit wees dat hulle gedrag, die manier waarop hulle dink, leef en optree – die beeld wat hulle het om Heilige Gees vervulde mense te wees, tot niet maak?

Dit mag nooit van ons waar wees nie. Mag ons pastore, gemeenteleiers en al ons lidmate bekend wees as manne en vroue wat vol van die Heilige Gees is.

God se “roeping” is ’n ope uitnodiging tot redding aan al die verlorenes om na Hom toe te kom om gered te word (Matt 9:13; Matt 9:9-13; Markus 2:17). Terwyl Jesus daarvandaan verder gaan, het Hy ‘n man met die naam Matteus by die tolhuis sien sit en vir hom gesê: “Volg My!” Hy het toe opgestaan en Hom gevolg. Jesus het by hom in sy huis gaan eet, en baie tollenaars en sondaars het saam met Jesus en sy dissipels kom eet. Toe die Fariseërs dit sien, vra hulle vir sy dissipels: “Waarom eet julle leermeester saam met tollenaars en sondaars?” Maar Jesus het dit gehoor en gesê: “Dié wat gesond is, het nie ‘n dokter nodig nie, maar dié wat siek is. Gaan leer wat dit beteken: ‘Ek verwag barmhartigheid en nie offers nie.’ Ek het nie gekom om mense te roep wat op die regte pad is nie, maar sondaars.”

“As ek die evangelie verkondig, is dit nie vir my ‘n rede om te roem nie. Ek verkondig die evangelie omdat ek móét! En wee my as ek dit nie doen nie!” (1 Korintiërs 9:16; AFR83). Paulus se taalgebruik eggo die taal wat soms deur profete gebruik was in reaksie op die lyding wat hulle of ander ervaar het as gevolg van hulle profetiese bediening, en weerspieël die profetiese roeping op sy lewe. Sy ervaring van die verkondiging van die evangelie, is soos die ervaring van daardie Ou-Testamentiese profete wat verplig gevoel het om die Goddelike boodskap wat aan hulle toevertrou is oor te dra, ongeag hul eie begeerte, of gebrek aan begeerte om dit te doen.

Sodra ons die roeping aanvaar het, word die krag van God in ons vrygestel.
1 Korintiërs 1:24 (AFR83) sê: “…maar vir dié wat deur God geroep is, Jode sowel as Grieke, is Christus die krag van God en die wysheid van God.” “God is getrou, Hy wat julle geroep het om verenig te lewe met sy Seun, Christus Jesus, ons Here.” (1 Korintiërs 1:9; AFR83). Die krag van God werk in ons om ons toe te rus vir die taak wat voorlê om meer as oorwinnaars te wees in alle aspekte van die lewe, aangesien ons alles kan doen deur Christus wat ons versterk.

Wandel waardig van jou roeping.
Vir ons om getrou te bly aan ons roeping, moet ons besef dat dit nie meer nodig is om “ons plek te verdien” nie. Ons is vrygemaak van enige vorm van ‘n minderwaardige lewe en is nou in staat om ons lewens volgens die standaard van Jesus Christus te leef. Paulus gee die eerste drie hoofstukke in Efesiërs om die waarheid vas te stel dat ons “in Christus” gevind word en daag ons dan uit om volgens daardie roeping te lewe: “Ek druk julle dit op die hart, ek wat ‘n gevangene is omdat ek die Here dien: Laat julle lewenswandel in ooreenstemming wees met die roeping wat julle van God ontvang het. Wees altyd beskeie, vriendelik en geduldig, en verdra mekaar in liefde.  Lê julle daarop toe om die eenheid wat die Gees tussen julle gesmee het, te handhaaf deur in vrede met mekaar te lewe.” (Efesiërs 4:1-3; AFR83).

Maak ‘n impak en verskil in ander se lewens.
Want ons is vir God die geur van Christus onder die wat gered word en onder die wat verlore gaan. Vir die een is ons die geur van die dood wat tot die dood lei, en vir die ander die geur van die lewe wat tot die lewe lei (2 Korintiërs 2:15-16). Die lewegewende volgeling wat luister na die roepstem van God, is die een wie se hart altyd dors is na God, wie se siel altyd smag om God te soek en te volg, wie se oog alleen op God gerig is en in wie deur die krag van God se Gees, die vlees en die wêreld gekruisig het. Ons lewens moet wees soos die vrygewige vloed van ‘n lewegewende rivier. Ek sluit af met ‘n gebed wat ons gewoonlik sing:

“Touch my life Lord Jesus, with thy nail scared hand, as for Thee I live and daily take my stand, let my life overflow so that others may know, Thou has touched my life with thy nail scared hand.”

As Nasionale Ampsdraers het ons hierdie jaar verklaar as ‘n seisoen om die vuur van die Heilige Gees aan die brand te hou deur te fokus op gebed, vas en die kennis van God se Woord. Ons geestelike lewe is gekoppel aan toewyding in gebed en die bediening van die Woord van God, soos aangedui in Handelinge 6:4 (AFR83): “Ons sal dan al ons aandag aan gebed en die bediening van die woord bly gee.” Die Apostels het hulleself gewy “…aan gebed en die bediening van die woord…”. Die volgorde is betekenisvol – eerste gebed, dan die bediening van die Woord. Sonder die Here is daar geen bediening nie.

“Sonder die Here is daar geen bediening nie.”

Gebed (en Vas)

Geestelike werk hang af van geestelike “gereedskap”. Geen geestelike hulpmiddel is so betekenisvol of invloedryk soos gebed nie. Soos Andrew Murray ons herinner: “In spiritual work, everything depends upon prayer.” Ons moet geestelike impak maksimeer deur gebed te prioritiseer. Effektiewe geestelike leiers waardeer gebed as geestelike hulpmiddel.

“Hoe meer ons bid, hoe meer werk God.”

Hoe meer ons bid, hoe meer werk God. Wanneer ons bid begin dinge verander. “…en (toe) Hy (Jesus) besig was om te bid, het die hemel oopgegaan” (Lukas 3:21; AFR83). Elia was baie toegewyd aan gebed en “…was ‘n mens net soos ons, en hy het ernstig gebid dat dit nie moes reën nie, en dit het op die aarde drie jaar en ses maande lank nie gereën nie…” (Jakobus 5:17; AFR83). Ons moet altyd bid en nie ophou nie, “…dat ‘n mens gedurig moet bid en nie moedeloos word nie…” (Lukas 18:1; AFR83).

“Prayer is the determining factor…if we don’t, He won’t.” – Jack Hayford.

Vas en gebed is van kritieke belang vir ons geestelike lewens en hou die volgende voordele in:

• • Vas het die krag om God te behaag deur geregtigheid sigbaar te maak, genesing te laat kom en jouself te omring met God se heerlikheid. Dit lei tot verhoorde gebed (Jesaja 58:6–14).
  • Vas verhoog geestelike krag en berei jou voor vir groter impak. Jesus het veertig dae van gebed en vas beleef. Onmiddellik daarna sien ons hom preek met die krag van die Heilige Gees. (Lukas 4:1–14).
  • Vas is ‘n kragtige hulpmiddel in geestelike oorlogvoering. Nadat sy dissipels nie daarin geslaag het om ‘n demoon uit te dryf nie, het Jesus dit maklik gedoen. Toe het hy verduidelik: “Maar hierdie geslag gaan nie uit behalwe deur gebed en vas nie.” (Matteus 17:21).
  • Daniël se een-en-twintig dae van vas en gebed was nodig om die engel in sy opdrag te help om die antwoord op Daniël se gebede te lewer (Daniël 9:3–10:3). 

    

    Bediening van die Woord (Lees en herlees die teks)

    Die voormalige Pastoor van Westminster Chapel in Londen, G. Campbell Morgan, sou ‘n boek van die Bybel 50 keer lees voordat hy sy pen opgelig het ter voorbereiding van sy preek. Op daardie stadium het hy dinge in die teks begin sien wat hy die eerste paar keer toe hy deurgelees het, misgekyk het. As dienaars van God is ons verplig om die Woord van God te bestudeer, te onderrig en te verkondig. Die betrokke drievoudige bediening van die Woord sluit in:

    • Die bestudering van God se Woord (Esra 7:10; AFR83), “Esra het hom gewy aan die wet van die Here. Hy wou dit in die praktyk toepas en Israel elke voorskrif en bepaling leer.”
    • Om ander te leer van God se Woord (om te onderrig) vir die maak van dissipels, “…leer hulle om alles te onderhou wat Ek julle beveel het.” (Matteus 28:20; AFR83).
    • Die prediking van God se Woord (2 Timoteus 4:2; AFR83), “…verkondig die woord; hou daarmee vol, tydig en ontydig; weerlê, bestraf, bemoedig deur met alle geduld onderrig te gee.”

     

    Ten slotte sê ons: “Here, leer ons bid…” (Lukas 11:1; AFR83), en as God se diensknegte moet ons altyd deur God se Woord gevoed en onderhou word, want “…’n Mens leef nie net van brood nie maar van elke woord wat uit die mond van God kom.” (Matteus 4:4; AFR83).

    

Baie van ons voel die druk van die finansiële situasie in ons land. Ons land is nie tans op ‘n goeie plek nie en baie besluite wat in die verlede geneem is, het ‘n nadelige uitwerking op ons almal. Maar dit beteken nie dat ons die slagoffers moet wees van wat rondom ons gebeur nie. Ons is kinders van die Magtige GOD wat hemel en aarde geskep het en ons leef in SY teenwoordigheid en onder SY beloftes. Hy is ten volle bewus van wat in ons wêreld gebeur. In hierdie situasie werk Hy nog steeds om ons te bevoordeel. Maar ons moet Sy aangesig en Sy leiding soek in ons finansies.

Die sagte stem van die Heilige Gees en die beginsels van die Bybel kan en sal jou en my deur moeilike tye lei. Ons land het situasies gehad wat in die verlede onoorkombaar gelyk het, maar die manne en vroue van GOD het op Hom vertrou om ons daardeur te lei.

Beginsel 1: Gee Jou Tiende

Een van die belangsrikste beginsels is om getrou te wees in die gee van jou tiende. Tiendes is nie ‘n geldkwessie nie, maar ‘n vertroue- en geloofskwessie. Deur jou tiende te gee, verklaar jy dat jy God vertrou om vir jou te voorsien en jou te help om met die oorblywende 90% baie verder te gaan as wat jy met jou volle salaris sou kon. Matteus 6:21 sê “…daar waar jou skat is, daar sal jou hart ook wees”. Tiendes toets waar my hart is. Ek is seker dat baie van julle wonderlike getuienisse het van wonderwerke wat God in jou eie lewe en die lewens van mense rondom jou gedoen het. In moeilike tye sal die gedagte by jou opkom om tiendes te stop. Moet asseblief nie in hierdie strik trap nie, want jou tiende is ook die saad wat sal opkom en jou voorsiening van seën in die toekoms sal wees. As jy jou saad eet, maak jy jou toekomstige seën dood.

“Tiendes toets waar my hart is.”

Beginsel 2: Spandeer Verstandig

In tye soos hierdie moet ons ook by die gewoonte hou om verstandig te bestee. Wees versigtig hoe jy jou geld spandeer en moenie agter elke nuwe gier of geur aanhardloop net om populêr te bly nie. Wees liewer meer konserwatief en koop goed wat jy nodig het en lank sal hou. Wees baie versigtig vir misleidende verkoopstaktieke wat jou wil oortuig dat jou lewe nie dieselfde sal wees sonder hierdie produk of diens nie. Ons het die God van hemel en aarde in ons lewens, en dit sy teenwoordigheid help ons om tevrede te leef. Hebreërs 13:5 sê: “Hou julle lewe vry van geldgierigheid; wees tevrede met wat julle het. God self het gesê: “Ek sal jou nooit verlaat nie, jou nooit in die steek laat nie.” Soms moet ons daaraan herinner word dat hierdie aardse wêreld eendag sal verbygaan en ons sal niks kan saamneem graf toe nie – maar ons kroon wag vir ons.

Beginsel 3: Spaar Ywerig

Om ywerig te spaar is nog ‘n goeie gewoonte wat ons in plek moet hou. As ons ywerig spaar, sal ons altyd genoeg hê wanneer moeilike tye kom. Vir die meeste van ons kom spaar nie natuurlik nie. Ons moet dit egter beplan en uitvoer, maar as die gewoonte inskop kry jy die wonderlike gevoel dat jy reg is vir ‘n reënerige dag.

Beginsel 4: Leef Vrygewig

Laastens, leef vrygewig. Dit sal selfsug in jou lewe doodmaak en jou help om ‘n seën vir ander te wees. As jy iemand kan help, help hulle! Moenie doekies omdraai nie, want wat jy aan die minste doen, sal God jou voor beloon. My gebed is dat 2023 ‘n jaar van oorvloed in jou lewe sal wees.

Op die 25ste Mei 2023 vier ons ons kerk se 115de verjaarsdag herdenking. Soos die vorige jaar beplan ons weer ‘n AGS Embleem dag waar ons graag al ons gemeentes en lidmate wil aanmoedig om die AGS embleem oral te deel en ten toon te stel! Dit was so ‘n seën verlede jaar om die hoë vlakke van deelname en reaksie van ons kerk te aanskou.

Hierdie jaar voeg ons ‘n verdere element by saam met die AGS Embleem dag – op hierdie dag versoek ons ​​ook dat elke lidmaat van die AGS Familie sal uitreik na net een ander persoon en die liefde van Christus met hulle sal deel. Dit kan ‘n persoonlike ontmoeting of ‘n oproep oor Whatsapp wees. Dit kan iemand wees wat jy ken of ‘n totale vreemdeling. Mens kan jou net indink wat die impak kan wees wanneer elke AGS-lidmaat sy/haar roeping as ‘n boodskapper van Christus opneem – om Sy liefde met net een ander persoon te deel.

Die Nasionale Ampsdraers gaan vyf videogrepe vry stel wat praktiese riglyne sal verskaf oor hoe om Christus met ‘n ander persoon te deel. Ons sien uit daarna om die AGS van SA se 115de verjaarsdag herdenking te vier en beplan om die vuur aan die brand te hou (“Keep the Fire Burning”)!

Vriendelike Groete
Henri Weideman

Download the PDF version below (e-mail and printer-friendly):

Pastoral Letter 4th Quarter 2022_2 DEC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

– INTRODUCTION
– A FOCUS ON SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION
– PRAYER & FASTING WEEK: 16-20 JANUARY 2023
– LOOKING BACK ON 2022: REFLECTIONS
– CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

Laai die PDF weergawe hier af (om maklik te e-pos of uit te druk):

Pastorale Brief 4de Kwartaal 2022_2 DES