CityLight Church

I wonder how many of us have ever asked God for something and seen nothing happen? We get to that point that we need an answer, and God seems a million miles away. Have you been there? How do you feel when that happens? How do you respond?

In those moments, we might ask, “Has God rejected us?” Deep down we know that the answer is a “No” but when we need an answer, it can be hard to respond positively. What we need to remember is that God is our Heavenly Father, and knows just a little more than we do. How many times have our children asked us for things that they thought were good, and important for their well being, and yet as a parent, we know that what they are asking for is in fact not good for them. Our “no’ answer is not a reflection of our desire to punish them, but is in fact a reflection of our love. 

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” No matter how much we try and tell God that we know what is best for our lives, He is God and He knows more about the situation than we do. 

Sometimes the outcome might just be delayed. We need to realise that God’s delays aren’t always His denials. God’s timing is perfect. Sometimes we just need to exercise our faith and P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens). Keep exercising the faith muscle.  

The question can be asked, what if God doesn’t answer you in the way you want? Will you spit the dummy, or will you continue to trust that He loves you unconditionally and has promised to lead you all the days of your life. Let Him be God. He’s pretty good at it. 

Adrian Nyhuis

Do you know how to make a whale sick? I’m sure that sounds like a strange question, but I’m serious - do you? Of course I’m referring to the story of Jonah and the whale (Jon 1-4). We read in Jonah 1:2 that the Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah however didn’t want to do what God wanted him to do, but rather found something he thought was better. Jonah 1:3 says that Jonah went to Tarshish in order to flee from the presence of the Lord - duh!! 

If we read further, we see that he found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it. He paid a price to flee from the presence of the Lord. What we really see is that Jonah paid more than the fare. When the storm arose he was thrown overboard, and then eaten by a whale. This wasn’t the kind of whale that had enough room in it’s stomach for him to sit comfortable - he would have been squashed inside it and had his skin burned by the acids in its stomach. It was a place that gave him time to think. I’m sure he asked  himself, “Am I having fun yet? Am I where God wants me to be?” When Jonah said “Yes” to God, God made the fish vomit him out on dry land.

I suppose we could also look at this and ask ourselves, “Am I doing what God wants me to do?” That can be a really bold question, because it could mean that we need to change some things - going back to study, selling some possessions or even changing some friends… The reality is that we are better doing what God wants us to, rather than what we want to. 

The awesome news is that God is a God of second chances. If you need to make your whale sick, then it’s time for you to say “Yes” to God. 

Adrian Nyhuis

How solid is our Christian Foundation? Is it Biblical or have we learned knowledge? Maybe not firmly founded on God’s Word, maybe even have a zeal for what we believe in, but is it really founded on God’s Word - The Bible?

Listen to what the Apostle Paul says of his own country men in Rom 1:1-4. He says that they have zeal but not according to knowledge, for they are ignorant of God’s righteousness. They seek to establish their own righteousness and have not submitted to the righteousness of God. He then goes on to say that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. If we couple that with John 15:14, “We are His friends if we do whatever He commands us to do” we are then in right standing with Him. It is good to be able to say with all honesty and integrity that Jesus is my friend, but even better than that - when Jesus says to all the hosts of heaven, “John, Pete, Maree, Susie (and all the other names) they are My friends”. And that is according to God’s Word.

It would be good if we could be known as (the Barean Christians) of Kingston (Acts 17:11,12) searching the Scriptures to see and explore that what we believe in is truly God’s Word, for that will judge us at the judgement seat of Christ ( John 12:48, 2 Cor 5:10, Rom 14:10).

We can do not greater thing in life but to love Jesus Christ and to be doers of His Word, for there is blessing (James 1:25).

With much love,  

Ps Bernie

Last week I wrote about the amazing love and courage of soldiers who fought and died for the love of country, family and friends. I then contrasted that with the love of Jesus Who had laid down His life for the world even though the world without realising it was utterly helpless with no way of escape [Rom 5:6 TLB] and we had no use for Him. I want to point you to Father God and Who knowing all that would happen, still sent His Son. 

What love is this? What sacrifice is this? Can we even begin to understand how much Father God loves His creatures and His creation [1 John 3:1]? We have to go back to the Old Testament to find out just how much the Father loves His creatures [Deut 7:7-9]. God did not set His love upon Israel (the church in the wilderness) [Acts 7:38 KJV] because they were more in number than any other, because in Deut 7:7 God  refers to them as the least of all people. It was because of the promise He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and because He is faithful to keep His promise to a thousand generations of those who love Him in return.

He willingly suffered seeing His only begotten Son die with the weight of the world’s sin upon His shoulders.

Surely in the light of what I have just written, we should love Him and serve Him all of our lives in gratefulness for the cost  to our Heavenly Father and what our Lord and Saviour has purchased for us - the gift of eternal life that cannot be bought at any price save through the blood of Jesus.         

With much love,  

Ps Bernie

The Challenge of Scripture never ceases to amaze me. I am talking about 1 John 3:16 which says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” which is such a challenge in the light of Anzac Day that was remembered again this week by a minutes silence for all the ones who laid down their lives so that  we in Australia could live in peace and prosperity. 

Rom 5:7 says that perhaps for a few good men someone would even dare die. But Jesus did as declared in the previous verse, laying down His life while we were still sinners, or powerless to help ourselves as we see in Amplified Bible in verses 6 and 8. Verse 10 is even stronger, stating that, “While we were enemies…” I am astounded by that kind of love! Just for that we should love and serve Him all the days of our lives, being thankful for such wonderful gifts, including the gift of eternal life.

Having gone to the ANZAC memorial service on Wednesday morning, I heard again how through the bravery of many soldiers, we now love in a free country. These soldiers laid down their for their country and loved ones and in some cases some even laid down their lives for good men or friends in the heat of battle and instant decision. 

Jesus came from heaven to earth to die and to die with the weight of the sin of the whole world upon His shoulders so as to destroy the power of sin and death and hell that had been in force since Adam and Eve sinned.

Hallelujah!! What a Saviour!       
With much love, 
Ps Bernie

The call of Wisdom. In Proverbs 1:2-7 we can clearly see that wisdom comes from receiving instruction from those who are older and wiser in the Lord and receiving it not just hearing but it is the actual implementation of that instruction that was given.

It very clearly states in verse 5 that a wise man or woman will hear and increase learning. Strong’s Concordance defines “hear” as “to hear intelligently” (often with the implication of attention, obedience etc). When hearing becomes coupled with ‘the fear of the Lord’ as seen in verse 7 together they become the 2 sides of the same coin that will make us wise in a world where people are more educated on a year by year basis, but we actually see them making decisions that are so foolish as to make one wonder how they came to the conclusions that we see all over the world.    

Wisdom is the outworking of knowledge properly applied in a Godly environment where there are absolutes and a proper foundation on which we stand.

If we don’t have these absolutes, everything becomes relative and that is happening in all walks of life and it is very scary.

Can all of us please read the book of Proverbs all over again, with an enquiring heart and mind to understand and God and all His ways for our life in the ways of wisdom.

With much love,

Ps Bernie      

Anybody watching television today would see that  many of our sports people are referred to as champions. They work hard. They are disciplined and they understand the concept of the ‘blood sweat and tears’ that are needed to make them champions.

However, the word “champion” actually has the root of its meaning in battle. It is used only three times in the Bible - all three being found in 1 Sam 17. Verse 51 refers to him as a the champion in the sense that we understand it, but an alternative definition as seen in verses 4 & 23 both refer to a ‘job description’. 

The Nelson’s Bible Dictionary defines Goliath as “the man between the two”. In the day, it was not uncommon to have someone go between the armies and fight a solo battle as a type of final demand. It was a job usually given to one of the mighty men. To make it more simple, the job of building a house is done by a builder. The job of the “champion” was done by a champion. 

The word “champion” is only used once in the Scripture, but the term “Mighty men” is used much more frequently and has the same meaning. 

Using this definition, we can look at our own lives and see what God sees. When he looks at you He sees the real you that many people don’t even see. It doesn’t matter what you see - when God looks at you, He sees a conqueror and a champion (Rom 8:37).  God is a champion! As his son or daughter, you are a  part of His bloodline and He therefore sees you as a champion. 

Go out this week and be prepared to live in the promises of God, knowing that you are what He says you are - His Champion!  

Adrian Nyhuis