Meet John

Earlier this week

Earlier this week I started writing a post on John and Jesus … mostly about Jesus, but also about John.

My blog post was birthed from a place of intimacy reading John 15 and 16. It touched me deeply. I was awakened to the fact that the Gospel of John was different from the others in that John is the disciple who refers to himself as the disciple that Jesus loved. John talks more about life compared to the others that talk about the kingdom (but synonymizing them). John talks more about the cloak of the Spirit Who abides as the Comforter, the Aide-memoire of Jesus instead of the mere spirit referred to by the others.

I started writing on how this is the Gospel where Jesus categorically prepared those who loved Him to what was going to happen to Him, the most significant event ever in HIS-STORY.

The unforeseen

My post was at an advanced stage, and the emotions and precious revelations that came to me spilled out on the screen until the unforeseen happened.

Power in receiving

We are mistaken

We get it wrong on so many levels when we think that life (everlasting life) and liberty can be self-attained …

by what we say,

by what we do,

by what we pay,

by what we offer,

by what we confess,

by what we give,

by what we do right,

by how well we repent,

by what we align ourselves to or how good we do these prescripts of religion.

The Gospel is straightforward

Catechism denied inheritance

My journey through the broken back roads of religion made me discover that salvation involves so much more than just redemption from eternal condemnation. In fact, it comprises every aspect of life itself (Himself), including relationship, provision, healing, authority, restoration, peace, and every other glorious, divine aspect that comes to mind. And all of this is part of the New Testament inheritance of the saints (you and me). As I walked this tiresome path, I transitioned from a totally oblivious, brainwashed churchgoer to someone who became more and more secure and content with the perfect provision of Christ.

Background please!

Goodness of God

In this post I want to do nothing more than to share to myself (and you), the lyrics of one of my all-time favourite worships songs by Bethel Music. It is sung by Jenn Johnson as part of the Victory album released in 2019. The song was written by Ed Cash, Ben Fielding, Jason Ingram, Brian Johnson and Jenn Johnson.

And the name of the song is “Goodness of God”.

It is a Grace song that flies in the face of traditional doctrine and religion alike.

Who am I

 

We prayed. We observed.

Years ago as we started the hospital ministry, we discovered that most people have a distorted and destructive self image, caused by a corrupted idea and who they really are.

The god that smiteth thee

Today I am ranting …

I am saddened by the fact that so many people still bear the scars of religion.

Some even decided to move away from any intimacy with God all together.

Yet, others have chosen to stay incarcerated, stuck in the chains and shackles of religion embracing its sorcery, the deception and defrauding of the open Truth.

Stuck.

The damage is real.

Immanuel

I sometimes wonder how the institutional church interprets Immanuel.

God with us.

God in us.

God present.

… and then, looking at what is preached, I wonder … who is this God?

Is it the same God that Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 7:14?

Is it the same God quoted in Matthew 1:23 and Luke 1:35 when the prophecy was about to be fulfilled?

Is it the same God who promised never to leave nor forsake us in Hebrews 13:5?

Pray the perfect prayer

When it comes to prayer, most people are clueless.

Let me be the 1st one to admit that I cannot pray a near perfect prayer.

In my pre-relationship days I tried. Moving from the conservative protestant to the Pentecostal and Charismatic denominations, I also moved from praying in one way as taught to praying in another way as taught by man.

Most of us do not realize that we pray according to what we were taught and the examples that we got and are still getting. Our prayers are learned behavior emanating from mostly indoctrinated and conditioned thinking and conduct.

Praying is not what we think

Violent screams and violent accusations

I live In South Africa, one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

Violent screams pierced the dark early morning

The other night we were woken at 3am in the morning by the petrified screams and shouting of a woman in the neighbourhood. On our social media groups we shortly discovered that there was an armed house robbery in the street just behind us.

We did not hear the shots fired … only the screams that went on and on for what seemed to have been several minutes.

These are some of the shocking realities when you live in a country where human rights are violated all the time and with no regard for human life, neighbourly love or well-being of others.

Why am I writing this post?

The Gospel is bâśar

What many believe to be the Gospel, is in fact not the Gospel … but rather some cooked-up message that hinges between good and evil, depending on how you feel at that specific time or point in your life … or what someone else makes you believe at the time.

But the Gospel is not that at all …

What is the Gospel?