During lunch break, a few colleagues of mine needed something at the mall, so we headed off that way. I came with but decided to hang around the car and wait till they were done. A car guard approached me and we started chatting about things and he shared with me a few of the struggles he is going through in his life. I then told him about Jesus and realised he didn't know much about Him. After a little chat about what He came to do on earth and sharing a personal testimony, the car guard asked me if I could ask Jesus to help him out with the problems in his life. I told him that he needs to ask Jesus himself to come into his life. The man did that just before the colleagues were back from shopping.
It was great to see how God creates opportunities to show love to people, even when you are not looking for them.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Story of Grace
On Monday evening, 3 of us went out to the mall to evangelise. A few cool things happened that night. One of us had a prophetic word for a woman which seemed to be what she needed to hear at that time. Soon after we chatted to a young guy sitting alone in the mall. We spoke to him about Jesus and challenged him to check where he stands. We shared a testimony about overcoming lust and how it is possible to have total freedom through Jesus, no more pornography and no more lusting after other woman. He told us that he wants to give his life to Jesus but he is not ready. We did share with him that Jesus died for his sins while he was a sinner, so he can come to Jesus as he is. It did not seem to change the fact that he was not ready to commit his life to Christ. So we prayed for him, exchanged numbers and wished him all the best.
A couple of months later, not hearing from this guy, one of us who shared the testimony about overcoming lust, could not sleep and was filled with lust and perverse thoughts. He eventually fell for the temptation and was feeling very condemned. Just then (about midnight) the guy that we met on the street contacted him feeling condemned and told him that he was struggling with an addiction to pornography and doesn't know how to overcome it. In that moment God gave him discernment of spirits and realised that this lust was a spiritual attack. The condemnation that came with it was meant to stop him from sharing with the guy on the phone. He was able to share how Jesus helped him overcome an addiction to pornography (even though he had stumbled moments ago). As he was sharing the testimony, the heaviness of the condemnation was gone and joy returned. The guy on the phone was so motivated afterwards and excited for the fact that he could also be free from addiction through Jesus.
This is simply amazing how even when we stumble, it doesn't take away from the fact that God has freed us from things of our past and He uses us even when we mess up. What amazing grace! Glory to God.
A couple of months later, not hearing from this guy, one of us who shared the testimony about overcoming lust, could not sleep and was filled with lust and perverse thoughts. He eventually fell for the temptation and was feeling very condemned. Just then (about midnight) the guy that we met on the street contacted him feeling condemned and told him that he was struggling with an addiction to pornography and doesn't know how to overcome it. In that moment God gave him discernment of spirits and realised that this lust was a spiritual attack. The condemnation that came with it was meant to stop him from sharing with the guy on the phone. He was able to share how Jesus helped him overcome an addiction to pornography (even though he had stumbled moments ago). As he was sharing the testimony, the heaviness of the condemnation was gone and joy returned. The guy on the phone was so motivated afterwards and excited for the fact that he could also be free from addiction through Jesus.
This is simply amazing how even when we stumble, it doesn't take away from the fact that God has freed us from things of our past and He uses us even when we mess up. What amazing grace! Glory to God.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Dubstep on Train in Cape Town
Two of us went to a Christian conference in Stellenbosch for a few days. While we were in the area we decided to visit Cape Town. So, the one day we were heading off to Rondebosch to visit a friend; we decided on taking the train as we weren’t use to riding train; you know, just for the experience. We had no idea how God was in all off this.
There was a train we wanted to catch round about 2pm that afternoon, but we got delayed by the people we were visiting, they made us such a nice meal - so we only got away just before 3pm.
On arrival at Cape Town train station we were literally there just, just in time – the next train was leaving in 5 min to Rondebosch, so we dashed our way from one side to the other side of the station getting to our terminal just in time. We weren’t so sure as to how everything worked so we asked this young guy sitting on a bench whether or not this is the train going to Rondebosch, he said he also was looking for the Rondebosch train and that it must be the one. We greeted him and started searching for open carriages. As we were walking down we could see the guy popping in and out of carriages behind us, then we found our spot and went in, only to see him pop in and sit opposite us moments later.
We started chatting to him and he told us how he was in a band a while back and how he was doing dubstep DJing in the Cape Town area. Also being musicians we clicked immediately and started chatting the whole way to Rondebosch. We started mentioning the things of God, to which he reacted sternly at first, but as we continued and kept on testifying, he started listening. We also prayed a whole lot while all of this was going on. We got to a point where he opened up and shared a bit out of his own life and struggles. We encouraged him and told him a few things we felt were laid on our hearts.
The time flew by so fast and Rondebosch was around the corner. He thanked us for the time we spent and we hugged him goodbye. As we got off the train we were quite, thinking on all that had happened. We prayed and rejoiced, because we could feel the weight of that moment.
We never should have been there… the timing, getting in and out of train carriages, sitting right there in front of us. Yup, it was a God moment! The best of all we had a captive audience (hehe, they couldn’t go anywhere on a moving train). All the people sitting around us were listening.
Wherever you are my man – May God work mightily in you and through you!
Allow God to take even your seemingly mundane, normal everyday life and make something spectacular of it!
There was a train we wanted to catch round about 2pm that afternoon, but we got delayed by the people we were visiting, they made us such a nice meal - so we only got away just before 3pm.
On arrival at Cape Town train station we were literally there just, just in time – the next train was leaving in 5 min to Rondebosch, so we dashed our way from one side to the other side of the station getting to our terminal just in time. We weren’t so sure as to how everything worked so we asked this young guy sitting on a bench whether or not this is the train going to Rondebosch, he said he also was looking for the Rondebosch train and that it must be the one. We greeted him and started searching for open carriages. As we were walking down we could see the guy popping in and out of carriages behind us, then we found our spot and went in, only to see him pop in and sit opposite us moments later.
We started chatting to him and he told us how he was in a band a while back and how he was doing dubstep DJing in the Cape Town area. Also being musicians we clicked immediately and started chatting the whole way to Rondebosch. We started mentioning the things of God, to which he reacted sternly at first, but as we continued and kept on testifying, he started listening. We also prayed a whole lot while all of this was going on. We got to a point where he opened up and shared a bit out of his own life and struggles. We encouraged him and told him a few things we felt were laid on our hearts.
The time flew by so fast and Rondebosch was around the corner. He thanked us for the time we spent and we hugged him goodbye. As we got off the train we were quite, thinking on all that had happened. We prayed and rejoiced, because we could feel the weight of that moment.
We never should have been there… the timing, getting in and out of train carriages, sitting right there in front of us. Yup, it was a God moment! The best of all we had a captive audience (hehe, they couldn’t go anywhere on a moving train). All the people sitting around us were listening.
Wherever you are my man – May God work mightily in you and through you!
Allow God to take even your seemingly mundane, normal everyday life and make something spectacular of it!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Murderer from Mozambique
Monday afternoon, we all got together ready to go out and do
what God tells us. After praying together, one person felt that we should speak
to people in the streets, whilst someone else thought of KFC (After a few
laughs and jokes about this person being hungry) we went to the streets near
KFC. The 4 of us split up and all went different ways looking for people to
talk to. One of us headed off a bit further and because they saw 2 people alone
in the dark shadows up the street and felt a conviction to go. When they
overcame the fear and trusted God for protection, they boldly head off to these
guys.
On the people got nervous and stepped away into the
darkness, whilst the other man (very big guy) stayed seated. This big guy was
from Mozambique and after being challenged about his life, where he stands
according to the God’s law, he shared the story that he had been in and out of jail
twice already for murder. After about 25 minutes of sharing the Gospel and what
Jesus Christ came to do. This big man was humbled by the message and in a soft
cracking voice and tear filled eyes he called out to Jesus and asked that Jesus
would forgive him for the lives that he took and that Jesus would help him through
this tough time in his life.
It is simply awesome to see how the hardest of hearts can be
humbled by God and how all of us were also humbled by the amazing way in which God works.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Self righteousness in Menlyn
Saturday evening.
Saturday evening, some people invited us to watch a movie. Two of us had been chatting to each other about evangelism and decided to put our talk into action that night and go out to Menlyn to evangelise. We sat in the car in the parking lot for quite some time praying before going out. So off we went into Menlyn. Walking through the mall, we were chatting and keeping our eyes open for someone to speak to. Near the food court on the top floor of the shopping centre, there was a young guy sitting with an Arsenal shirt. So we chatted a bit about football. The guy seemed very outspoken and was very keen to chat to us. Soon we switched over to the things of God and challenged him where he stands according to God’s law. He did not however want to admit his guilt and kept saying that on the Day of Judgement he would be able to justify all he did wrong by the good deeds he has done. After about 10 minutes of debating and arguing trying to let this guy realise that his own works will never make him righteous before God, things seemed to not be going anywhere. Not long after that he hung his head, gave up justifying himself and admitted that he would be found guilty before a Holy God on the Day of Judgement. When he came to this conclusion, we explained what Jesus came to do, taking on our sins so that we become righteous on Judgement Day through Him. With a heavy heart he looked down and said that he’d been going to church for many years and never has he understood what Jesus came to do for us on the cross. He asked whether we could pray for him that he could partake in the gift of Salvation that Jesus gave on the cross. We told him that it was his life and his choice and that he should ask Jesus to come into his life. He repented from his sins and asked Jesus to come into his life.
Saturday evening, some people invited us to watch a movie. Two of us had been chatting to each other about evangelism and decided to put our talk into action that night and go out to Menlyn to evangelise. We sat in the car in the parking lot for quite some time praying before going out. So off we went into Menlyn. Walking through the mall, we were chatting and keeping our eyes open for someone to speak to. Near the food court on the top floor of the shopping centre, there was a young guy sitting with an Arsenal shirt. So we chatted a bit about football. The guy seemed very outspoken and was very keen to chat to us. Soon we switched over to the things of God and challenged him where he stands according to God’s law. He did not however want to admit his guilt and kept saying that on the Day of Judgement he would be able to justify all he did wrong by the good deeds he has done. After about 10 minutes of debating and arguing trying to let this guy realise that his own works will never make him righteous before God, things seemed to not be going anywhere. Not long after that he hung his head, gave up justifying himself and admitted that he would be found guilty before a Holy God on the Day of Judgement. When he came to this conclusion, we explained what Jesus came to do, taking on our sins so that we become righteous on Judgement Day through Him. With a heavy heart he looked down and said that he’d been going to church for many years and never has he understood what Jesus came to do for us on the cross. He asked whether we could pray for him that he could partake in the gift of Salvation that Jesus gave on the cross. We told him that it was his life and his choice and that he should ask Jesus to come into his life. He repented from his sins and asked Jesus to come into his life.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Demonic possession in Rustenburg
A bit of background
The story
15But [one] evil spirit retorted, Jesus I know, and Paul I know [a]about, but who are you?
16Then the man in whom the evil spirit dwelt leaped upon them, mastering [b]two of them, and was so violent against them that they dashed out of that house [in fear], stripped naked and wounded.
When we arrived at her house the air was electric, we were praying like crazy! After speaking to her we realized she had a very open, spiritual, mystic upbringing, being introduced to things like tarot cards from a young age. Even signing a covenant document she could not read, because the symbols are in a strange symbolic language, with her own blood. We knew it was going down, so one of us started reading a bible verse that was laid on his hart. At this point the demon starting getting very aggravated. We called her back and asked if she wanted to be free and accept Jesus Christ into her life. She struggled to get that yes out… so after a rather lengthy struggle and two broken beds she was free. We prayed with her to accept Jesus and we baptised her in her bathtub. We kept contact with her, she is still going strong and reading bible to her daughters every night. God set her free that night and called her into His kingdom!
We watched furious
love and finger of God (two amazing documentaries – GO watch it!) and really got
challenged on how real we are experiencing God working in and through us in miraculous
ways.
The story
We received an email from a concerned work colleague about a
family member acting strange. We read through the emails and quickly concluded
that there was definite demonic influence. So after taking a lot of faith we
decided to fast a day then drive to Rustenburg, where she was staying, to go
and visit her. The drive was just over an hour, we prayed the whole way! We all
could feel the battle taking place in the spiritual, we felt that if God does
not come through for us here we would be like those children of the priest in
acts, whom got beaten up to the point of running away naked.
Acts 19:13-16
Amplified Bible (AMP)
13Then some
of the traveling Jewish exorcists (men who adjure evil spirits) also undertook
to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, I
solemnly implore and charge you by the Jesus Whom Paul preaches!
14Seven sons of a certain Jewish chief
priest named Sceva were doing this.15But [one] evil spirit retorted, Jesus I know, and Paul I know [a]about, but who are you?
16Then the man in whom the evil spirit dwelt leaped upon them, mastering [b]two of them, and was so violent against them that they dashed out of that house [in fear], stripped naked and wounded.
When we arrived at her house the air was electric, we were praying like crazy! After speaking to her we realized she had a very open, spiritual, mystic upbringing, being introduced to things like tarot cards from a young age. Even signing a covenant document she could not read, because the symbols are in a strange symbolic language, with her own blood. We knew it was going down, so one of us started reading a bible verse that was laid on his hart. At this point the demon starting getting very aggravated. We called her back and asked if she wanted to be free and accept Jesus Christ into her life. She struggled to get that yes out… so after a rather lengthy struggle and two broken beds she was free. We prayed with her to accept Jesus and we baptised her in her bathtub. We kept contact with her, she is still going strong and reading bible to her daughters every night. God set her free that night and called her into His kingdom!
God is good! Oh yes GOD is GOOD! He loves us so much that He won't leave us where we are!
Friday, July 1, 2011
MacDonald’s Outreach
We felt we needed to reach out to a local MacDonald’s by just chatting with the youngsters that hang out there on Friday nights. So we all prayed, got in the car and went over to the MacDonald’s at “Mall at Reds”. At first it felt rather bizarre just standing around; so we focused, took a big breath and started talking to the guys.
Two of us went and sat down next to two guys probably standard eight or so. We started talking about God and the things of God. The one then confessed to being a Christiaan already and how he has been praying for his friend sitting with us. So we spoke to his friend a bit more, he then told us that he wanted to do the right thing, but that it just didn't feel ok. So we spoke some more, shared testimonies and just told him about Jesus. He soon got a smile on his face and said he would love to start over and accept Jesus. So we prayed with him right there in the MacDonald’s. We also pointed them towards a nice church in the area. May God keep and protect these youngsters and lead them in His marvelous ways!
Two of us went and sat down next to two guys probably standard eight or so. We started talking about God and the things of God. The one then confessed to being a Christiaan already and how he has been praying for his friend sitting with us. So we spoke to his friend a bit more, he then told us that he wanted to do the right thing, but that it just didn't feel ok. So we spoke some more, shared testimonies and just told him about Jesus. He soon got a smile on his face and said he would love to start over and accept Jesus. So we prayed with him right there in the MacDonald’s. We also pointed them towards a nice church in the area. May God keep and protect these youngsters and lead them in His marvelous ways!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
The Fijian Missionary
I met him in Tanzania. He moved there as a full time missionary with his wife.
His saying on the topic of temptation: "The birds will always fly over your head. It is when they want to come and make nest on your head, that you must chase them"
He grew up in Fiji. He told me that nearly the entire Fiji is Christian. A few years ago we saw how the Fijian's sevens team came running out with Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” on their jerseys.
And so, as is the call, he had to go out to preach the gospel.
For the missionary:
A story he told me, from his younger days, when he was just 21 years old...
He heard of a tribe living somewhere high up in the mountains of the Solomon Islands, very remote, tropical south west pacific, a tribe completely unreached.One of the tribesmen moved to a city and lived there, this is where he met up with him; the tribesman taught him the basics of their language. They would soon go together to the tribe, with the tribesman as his translator and interpreter. He packed food for roughly 3 months not knowing what to expect. Biscuits were mentioned... After a few days’ hike they met up with the tribe. To his surprise none of the tribesmen or tribeswoman had any clothes on; they were all running around naked in the mountains! It was so much part of their culture – they thought of it as normal. It took him a while to get used to all of this.
He organized a helicopter to bring the tribe a cargo of clothes. Before the helicopter came, he told them that a silver bird will be landing soon and that they should all stay calm; no harm would come to them. After a while the blades could be heard beating the air. When the helicopter appeared in sight, the tribe fled for cover. Only after landing, followed by a few words of encouragement from him, the first tribesman came out from amongst the undergrowth. He walked up slowly and touched the silver bird, then took his finger to his mouth; trying to taste this thing in front of him. Probably didn’t’ taste like much.
The tribe got outfitted with new clothes, unfortunately by the time they had walked a few feet into the bushes; all the clothes were gone, spread over the hill side, tossed for a bad idea. He couldn't convince them otherwise.
On another occasion he was a spectacle for the entire village to witness. The village followed him walking down to the river, no-one on-board as to what he was going to do. He then took a bath in the river; none could fathom why… they had never taken a bath before.
He and the translator preached the gospel boldly from person to person amongst the tribe. After a few months the whole tribe was converted! From start to finish - a few months living in a wild mountain, in the south west pacific, amongst an unreached tribe that soon became like family. It is here that he fulfilled a part in this amazing story we call life. When he left, the whole village waved him goodbye!
Now that is a story to talk about!
Complacent?
Be bold as a lion!
His saying on the topic of temptation: "The birds will always fly over your head. It is when they want to come and make nest on your head, that you must chase them"
He grew up in Fiji. He told me that nearly the entire Fiji is Christian. A few years ago we saw how the Fijian's sevens team came running out with Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” on their jerseys.
And so, as is the call, he had to go out to preach the gospel.
For the missionary:
A story he told me, from his younger days, when he was just 21 years old...
He heard of a tribe living somewhere high up in the mountains of the Solomon Islands, very remote, tropical south west pacific, a tribe completely unreached.One of the tribesmen moved to a city and lived there, this is where he met up with him; the tribesman taught him the basics of their language. They would soon go together to the tribe, with the tribesman as his translator and interpreter. He packed food for roughly 3 months not knowing what to expect. Biscuits were mentioned... After a few days’ hike they met up with the tribe. To his surprise none of the tribesmen or tribeswoman had any clothes on; they were all running around naked in the mountains! It was so much part of their culture – they thought of it as normal. It took him a while to get used to all of this.
He organized a helicopter to bring the tribe a cargo of clothes. Before the helicopter came, he told them that a silver bird will be landing soon and that they should all stay calm; no harm would come to them. After a while the blades could be heard beating the air. When the helicopter appeared in sight, the tribe fled for cover. Only after landing, followed by a few words of encouragement from him, the first tribesman came out from amongst the undergrowth. He walked up slowly and touched the silver bird, then took his finger to his mouth; trying to taste this thing in front of him. Probably didn’t’ taste like much.
The tribe got outfitted with new clothes, unfortunately by the time they had walked a few feet into the bushes; all the clothes were gone, spread over the hill side, tossed for a bad idea. He couldn't convince them otherwise.
On another occasion he was a spectacle for the entire village to witness. The village followed him walking down to the river, no-one on-board as to what he was going to do. He then took a bath in the river; none could fathom why… they had never taken a bath before.
He and the translator preached the gospel boldly from person to person amongst the tribe. After a few months the whole tribe was converted! From start to finish - a few months living in a wild mountain, in the south west pacific, amongst an unreached tribe that soon became like family. It is here that he fulfilled a part in this amazing story we call life. When he left, the whole village waved him goodbye!
Now that is a story to talk about!
Complacent?
Be bold as a lion!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Healing
A bit of background
We watched furious love and finger of God (two amazing documentaries – GO watch it!) and really got challenged on how real we are experiencing God working in and through us in miraculous ways.
The story
In finger of God we see testimonies of how ordinary people are taking faith and expecting God to heal and work through them. The results are astounding…
Three of us decided to take a big step with God by taking up a big challenge. It was a Monday morning that we were supposed to be there. We all woke up that Monday morning with the same sickness and felt we could not make it the day. So we decided to start praying and pray for healing, all three of us were healed and completely free of any signs of sickness in a moment. The following day we even heard that one of the guy’s sisters also had these symptoms, which also got healed the same day.
After that one of us went on a mission trip to Tanzania (with local church) with the expectation of seeing God heal even more. On this trip the whole team saw healings and amazing things, with the friend healing one guy’s foot and another guy’s eye.
God truly is good!
We watched furious love and finger of God (two amazing documentaries – GO watch it!) and really got challenged on how real we are experiencing God working in and through us in miraculous ways.
The story
In finger of God we see testimonies of how ordinary people are taking faith and expecting God to heal and work through them. The results are astounding…
Three of us decided to take a big step with God by taking up a big challenge. It was a Monday morning that we were supposed to be there. We all woke up that Monday morning with the same sickness and felt we could not make it the day. So we decided to start praying and pray for healing, all three of us were healed and completely free of any signs of sickness in a moment. The following day we even heard that one of the guy’s sisters also had these symptoms, which also got healed the same day.
After that one of us went on a mission trip to Tanzania (with local church) with the expectation of seeing God heal even more. On this trip the whole team saw healings and amazing things, with the friend healing one guy’s foot and another guy’s eye.
God truly is good!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Victory in Baptism
I had been wondering about the early church in Acts. I was struggling to figure out why my life is so powerless and why I have never been
filled by the Holy Spirit. So I decided to get baptized and had a huge
hope that the baptism would be as epic as that of Jesus' baptism, with the Holy Spirit
falling from the sky onto me, or I would speak in tongues as we see in the
bible or something as amazing as that, but nothing seemed to have happened. 3 Weeks down the line, I realised that I
didn’t have any need to watch pornography anymore.
A few weeks later, feeling very free about not having the
struggle with porn anymore, I was dreaming that I was in a small room full of
people all around me. Everyone was worshiping God in their own way. Some were quietly praying, some were shouting out to God, others danced, a few
were filled with tears, some speaking in strange tongues, while others were lying with
their face to the floor. I was standing in the middle of the room, looking
around and I got the feeling that I must pray. As I started praying, weird
words were coming out that I couldn’t understand and I felt like a wind hit me and filled me through my chest. That very moment I passed out and woke up from the dream.
I thought to myself, what a weird dream!? It felt so real and I still had a
warm feeling in my chest. I had been praying that the Holy Spirit would fill me
for a long time and I started wondering, was this real, was this what I had been praying for? Am I now filled with
the Holy Spirit or was this just a wacky dream? While I was in the shower I asked God,
“If this was real and I am now filled with the Holy Spirit, confirm it today through
someone else.”
The day went on and there were no confirmations and I had
already forgotten all about the dream, when later during the day a lady said that she wanted to
share a piece from the bible. I immediately thought, maybe this is God confirming the
dream. Being quite a skeptic, I said to God in my thoughts, if this is Your confirmation for the dream, then make it so clear that I can’t doubt it. The woman started
reading from Isaiah 61 and read:
The Spirit of the
Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
...
I was so excited about this amazing confirmation and it
helped show me what I need to now go do, since I have been filled with the Holy
Spirit. I learnt that we can ask and we will receive and that when we are willing and ready to work for God's Kingdom He WILL give us the Holy Spirit.
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