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OM DIE LEWENDE WATER TE DRINK

OM DIE LEWENDE WATER TE DRINK

In Johannes hoofstuk 4 lees ons die verhaal van Jesus se interaksie met die Samaritaanse vrou by die put. Soos Jesus haar genadiglik nader en hulle in gesprek tree, herfokus Hy vinnig haar hart en verstand en begin praat oor haar sielsverlange – van ‘n water wat haar diepste dors en behoefte sal les en wat ‘n fontein sal word in haar wat na ander sal vloei. Sy vra vir hierdie water.

Hierdie ontmoeting bied ons die geleentheid om sommige van die Bybel se aanskouingslesse oor water te ondersoek wat ons kan leer oor wat Jesus ons aanbied:

  • Water vorm die grootste deel van ons fisiese liggaam en is noodsaaklik vir lewe.
    • Genesis 1 vertel ons dat water die oppervlak van die aarde bedek het en dat die Gees oor die water gesweef het.
    • Ons is gemaak van water, en die lewensbesielende energie, die asem van die lewe, kom van God, die Gees van God.
    • Sonder water sal ons sterf, en sonder die lewende lewensenergie, die Gees van God, sal ons sterf.
  • Ons moet gereeld water drink, anders sal ons ontwater en sterf.
    • Ons het nie lewe in onsself nie; ons moet verbind bly met God en daagliks deel hê aan Hom, anders sal ons verweer en sterf. (Dit is ook simbolies geleer deur die daaglikse offerande in die Ou Testamentiese offerstelsel.)

  • Water verfris.
    • Die Heilige Gees bring lewe in ons liggame, ons verstand en gees en verkwik ons (Romeine 8:11).

  • Water reinig en was vuil weg.
    • Die Heilige Gees reinig ons harte en gedagtes van sonde, vrees, selfsug, skuldgevoelens en skaamte (Titus 3:5).

  • Water koel ‘n koors af.
    • Die Heilige Gees verkoel ons humeure, geïrriteerdheid, jaloesie en woede, en verander ons houding van druk plaas op ander om ons eie sin te kry tot die houding om Jesus te vertrou met ons lewens en hoe dinge uitdraai (Galasiërs 5:22).

  • Water blus vuur.
    • Die water van die lewe, die reinigende teenwoordigheid van die Heilige Gees, verhoog ons geloof en blus al die vurige pyle van Satan, die vurige pyle van vrees, hartseer, wrok en verskeie versoekings (Ef 6:16).

  • Water het drie toestande: vaste stof, vloeistof en gas.
    • God het drie persone: Vader, Seun en Heilige Gees (Johannes 1:1-13; Lukas 11:13).

  • Water kan besoedel word.
    • Die lewensenergie, gees, lewensasem wat God in Adam ingeblaas het, was suiwer liefde, maar Adam het sy lewe, sy gees, besmet met vrees en selfsug, en ons is nou almal in sonde gebore, verwek in ongeregtigheid (Psalm 51:5), gebore met ‘n wese wat besmet is met vrees en selfsug omdat dit die enigste lewe is, die enigste gees, waarmee Adam en Eva lewe moes voortplant (2 Timoteus 1:7).
    • Jesus het gekom om die fonteine van die lewe te reinig deur vrees en selfsug uit te roei en die suiwer lewe van liefde en vertroue in die mensdom te herstel. En deur Jesus kan ons die ou lewe van vrees en selfsug afsterf en wedergebore word en die nuwe lewe, die nuwe gees van liefde en vertroue, met sy lewendige en motiverende energie ontvang. Dit is die water van die lewe wat aan die vrou en aan jou en my geoffer word (Galasiërs 2:20).
  • Nadat die aarde met sonde besoedel is, is water gebruik om dit te reinig – en aan die einde sal die Gees van God, Sy ongesluierde heerlikheid, oor die aarde spoel en dit van alle sonde reinig (Jesaja 33:14, 15; 2 Petrus 3:6, 7).

  • Water simboliseer die reiniging van harte en gedagtes in die doop – maar die H2O reinig nie die siel van sonde nie; dit verteenwoordig die Heilige Gees wat die hart en verstand reinig wanneer ons ons onderwerp en oorgee en in hart en verstand verdiep word in die reinigende krag en teenwoordigheid van die Heilige Gees; d.w.s. die doop van die Gees ervaar (1 Korinthiërs 12:13).

  • Water wat uit die rots in die woestyn kom, verteenwoordig die suiwer Gees van God wat deur en van Jesus na die mensdom kom, die Gees wat genees, reinig, ons herskep in geregtigheid en vir ons die ewige lewe gee (1 Korinthiërs 10:1-4).

  • In Elia se tyd het dit 3,5 jaar lank nie gereën nie. Dit was ‘n aanskouingsles vir die gebrek aan die Heilige Gees omdat God se volk hulle harte van Hom af na Baäl afgekeer het. Reën is simbolies van die uitstorting van die Heilige Gees op harte en gedagtes, wat die oes van geestelike vrug bring. En hoewel ons die laasgenoemde reën vandag meer as ooit nodig het, sal God nie Sy Gees uitstort om mense te bemagtig om oor Hom te lieg of om vrugte van ‘n sataniese karakter voort te bring nie. Wat nodig is vir die finale uitstorting van die Heilige Gees, is dat mense die waarheid omhels oor God as ons Ontwerper, ons Skepper, wat gebaseer is op die verwerping van die opgelegde wetsleuen en die begrip dat God se wette ontwerpwette is. Dan sal die Heilige Gees uitgestort word om die werk te voltooi en mense te bemagtig om die waarheid oor God te vertel, want die uur in die menslike geskiedenis het aangebreek vir mense om ‘n regte oordeel oor God te vertel en terug te keer na die aanbidding van Hom as Skepper en om op te hou om Hom voor te stel as ‘n kosmiese diktator en bron van toegediende pyn, lyding en dood (Openbaring 14:7).

  • Toe Jesus by die troue die water in wyn verander het, het Hy ‘n kragtige en pragtige aanskouingsles gegee. Die troue is simbolies van Jesus wat met Sy bruid, die kerk, verenig word, maar slegs wanneer die kerk gewas en gereinig is.

“Christus het die gemeente liefgehad en Homself vir haar oorgegee om haar heilig te maak, en haar te reinig deur die was met water deur die woord, en om haar aan Homself voor te stel as ‘n stralende kerk, sonder vlek of rimpel of enige ander gebrek, maar heilig en onberispelik” (Ef 5:25-27 NIV 84).

Die water in die klei kanne verteenwoordig die reinigende teenwoordigheid van die Heilige Gees, die reinigende krag van God. Die wyn verteenwoordig die sondelose regverdige lewe van Jesus. Die klei kanne verteenwoordig mense wat van die klei of die stof van die aarde gemaak is. Om water in wyn in die klei kanne te verander, verteenwoordig die water, die Gees van God, wat binne-in ons werk, ons oortuig van sonde en die waarheid in liefde openbaar, wat ons tot bekering bring. In bekering maak ons ons harte en gedagtes oop vir God, en die reinigende water van die Heilige Gees verwyder ons skuld, verwyder ons skaamte, verwyder ons vrees en selfsug, en ons ontvang die wyn, wat simbolies is van die bloed, wat simbolies is van die lewe van Christus. So ervaar ons ‘n nuwe lewe, met nuwe motiewe, die lewe van Jesus; dit is nie meer ons ou self wat leef nie, maar Christus woon in ons (Galasiërs 2:20). Ons word deelgenote van die goddelike natuur (2 Petrus 1:4).

Dit is nie genoeg om bloot die skuld en skaamte weg te spoel nie; ons moet wedergebore word met ‘n nuwe lewe, ‘n nuwe gees, wat die wyn is, die lewe van Christus wat in ons besiel en leef.

Die lewende water is die suiwer reinigende, lewendige, besielende teenwoordigheid van God, die ewige waarheid, liefde en teenwoordigheid van God wat in en deur Jesus Christus in die mensdom herstel is. Hy bied vir ons dieselfde lewende water aan as wat Hy aan die vrou by die put gedoen het. Drink van die water van waarheid en liefde, en wanneer jy dit doen, sal jy nie net gereinig word van die skuld en skande van jou verlede nie, maar jy sal ophou om ‘n vreesgebaseerde lewe te lei, altyd na jou eiebelang te soek, en in plaas daarvan sal jy wedergebore word met die regverdige lewe van Christus, ‘n lewe van liefde en vertroue wat ‘n bron van liefde en waarheid sal word wat uit jou na ander sal vloei.

Drink die lewende water! Drink diep en drink gereeld!

 

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Testimony 10

I personally download and listen to each of Come And Reason Ministries Bible study class lessons and PDF study notes to use when teaching my class. Really appreciate the class especially when Dr. Jennings is teaching. Thank God there are persons like him doing His work and traveling to share His beliefs.

B. L.M., North Plains, OR, USA

 

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I got the book “Could It Be This Simple?” a few months ago and the reading was wonderful and I was fascinated. I lent the book to a friend at work. She is having a difficult time and the book is helping her to find Jesus and I found this very exciting. She has asked me questions and I can see her life changing.

H. S., Australia

 

Testimony 28

I have been following your Bible study class for about a year now. I must say I am impressed with how your ministry has grown. I took it upon myself to listen to all your lesson podcasts from the past and they have both enriched me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have learnt a lot from this class. I have also noticed how the class has grown in spiritual strength. One of the things that benefited me is that now I am not afraid of God. I use to be, but now it has melted away. The second thing is that you helped me to have a real life relationship with God. Now He is my friend that was always there and I love having him with me all the time. Thirdly, because of this class, it inspired me to take over and lead a class. I have called it “Let Us Reason Together,” adapting your inquisitive style and creating a class of free thinkers.

T. Banda, Malawi, Africa

 

Testimony 9

I really enjoy with you the view of a gracious God. Thank you for sharing the work you are allowing the Lord to do in you.

L., Queensland, Australia

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 55

I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

Dean P., Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

Testimony 52

Your unique way in spreading the truth is what we all need today. Most of us don’t recognize the contamination coming from all the lies and selfishness in the world. Because of our fear of death, we forgot how to live. Lies left and right. I was losing hope and faith, because of so many ideas that are always contradicting each other – so many questions answered by other, more complicated, questions – until I found your channel on YouTube.

You did not just give me answers, you also taught me how to answer new questions that arise in my mind. Now I see things differently. I see God’s mercy, grace, and Love everywhere, in spite of all the chaos that we all have done as humans. I don’t fear death anymore. Accepting the Truth and Love about God is truly a genuine Freedom from all the confusions, sufferings, selfishness, pain, and death.

I just wanted to say, thank you, sooooo much for revealing the real Remedy for our infected life. I have a new hope and now see the world in a different perspective!

Wheinny P., University Place, WA, USA

 

Testimony 30

God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

Kessy B., Australia

 

Testimony 46

Over the past couple of years God has been expanding my view of Himself and His character. Along my approximately 40-year journey, I have often had questions, but was hesitant to voice these and step outside the traditionally accepted thinking, for fear of admitting that I may in fact be eternally lost. In the recesses of my thinking has been the thought – if one blindly accepts (which is widely regarded as “real faith”) and does not question, is this really ‘truth?’ I often find it challenging to grapple with very theological ‘speak,’ but Dr. Jennings has a real gift of explaining spiritual concepts with clear practical examples. The weekly discussions are growing my Christian experience and slowly changing my view of how to live as a child of God in today’s complex world. Finally the whole Old Testament sanctuary teaching moved in my mind from fantasy to reality!

Beverly S., South Africa

 

Testimony 21

I am absolutly on fire with the message at Come and Reason! I can’t get enough! I’ve read your book, blog, and articles. I’ve listened to your Bible study podcasts, your radio show, and your series – all excellent! It wasn’t until the past couple of years that I have I like I’m becoming “healthy,” with more to share with others than just beasts and commandments! I used to be a Bible worker and preached when the pastors were gone until I had had enough. I didnt realize at the time what the problem was, but i know now… the message wasn’t properly focused. Now my flame is rekindled. All of your little examples are so perfect in explaining something “complicated” and making it easily understood! Now I’m trying to shape it into a life changing evangelistic series! Thank you!

M.T., USA

 

Testimony 4

I’m a youth leader in South Africa. We as a youth group are currently using a lot of the material on the Come and Reason site. Since we’ve started using the material, our youth group has grown.

R. V. N., South Africa

 

Testimony 54

I had a lot of pressure, as a pastor’s kid, to conform and be “good.” I was good at being “good.” I thought my life was going along well until it all started falling apart and I could not figure out why! In my search for “why is this happening to me, God?” I came across your book, “Could it be this Simple,” and God started revealing to me the many distortions I held about His character, His principles, and how He has designed His universe to operate. I remember thinking, “Wow, I have had this all backwards.” I was happy and angry all at the same time. Happy to have the light of truth break through the darkness, revealing a wonderful, beautiful way of understanding God and His plan for His children, and angry, because I felt deceived and cheated by the church, my family, and myself!

My heart thrills when I listen to your bible study lessons. Literally I have gone from death to life. It is a journey I look forward to every day, as God reveals areas this distortion affects. Praise GOD! I will ever be grateful to God for this ministry and your cooperation with the Spirit!

Karen S., Portal, AZ, USA

 

Testimony 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA

 

Testimony 45

I have been confused for years about what [christianity] calls [its] most disgusting teaching. It has never made much sense to me and for that reason has been evermore empty. I have listened to your class off and on and have struggled determining what is truth, because of the resistance design law encounters in the church. So, I thank God for your ministry. What you teach makes sense. It’s logical and backed up by the power of love. I have never seen that in Christ until now. I am astounded by the insight that is found when we look at God’s ministry through design law. All strength to this message, as I believe it to be the power of God.

Brendon S.