Call Us: 423 661-4734 | Email: requests@comeandreason.com      
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!

 

Donate online, securely via PayPal using your credit or debit card (no PayPal account needed, unless you want to set up a monthly, recurring payment).


cancel recurring payment

 

Want to use zelle instead?
See how on our
Support and Donations page.

Upcoming Events

calendar

Testimonial Post Slider

Testimony 72

I am blown away by the truth that you present. God’s Design Law makes so much sense! You have validated my impression that, if God is love, He would not kill those who don’t want to know him. If God gives us choice, then how can He destroy us if our choice is not to follow him. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to the pure love of God seen through Jesus. The love I now have for Jesus is deeper and free from condemnation. My heart has been opened to love others as Jesus loves me. May God continue to bless your God-given insight into His word and your ministry. The truth has set me free!

H. Miller, Centereach, NY

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 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

I am from Central America. Most of my family is scattered in different parts of the world and all have the same view of God that I had growing up; a distant, exacting, and ready-to-punish-us-with-tragedy type of God. So, I have been translating lessons for my family and, to my surprise, they have also been sharing them with others! I can already see the difference. My brother has often said, “Thank you for sharing, I have never heard it this way!” My other family members are taking an amazing turn from a message of “repent or burn” towards a loving God, pleading to us that we won’t reject him because he loves us eternally.

Bless you for all you do.

Sofia S., Ashfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 43

Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, 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 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 65

I have been tuning into your weekly study classes for a while now and wanted express my appreciation for the teachings that ha been a huge blessing in opening up the true message of the word. Viewing scripture under an imposed law theory always, without fail, raised more questions, concerns, and conflicting scripture interpretations that were discouraging at the very least. Looking at scripture through the design law lens has brought more truth to light for me personally and an understanding of our Heavenly Father that places Him “above all others,” where I am now more than thrilled to witness and serve Him.  I “stumbled” across this ministry a year or so ago and would only watch a few minutes at a time. But the more I listened and the longer I paid attention, the more my spiritual eyes were opened to the ever present truths of scripture. The comprehension of the great controversy and it’s origin by the lies perpetrated and perpetuated throughout the Bible on the attack of God’s character and government is truly priceless. Keep up the Good Work! Your servanthood is desperately needed in such a time as this!

Jeff D., Reading, MA, USA

 

Testimony 47

I can’t even begin to thank you and your ministry enough for introducing me to the Truth about a loving and merciful God! I have my daughter and her in-laws to thank for sharing with me “The God-Shaped Brain” as well as your website. I listen to the Bible study class lessons on my daily walk. May God continue to bless your thirst-quenching ministry!

Liz H., Port Angeles, WA, USA

 

 

Testimony 26

Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 51

I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

Testimony 8

Thank you for the ministry you are sharing with us, it is a real blessing to us and especially to my husband and myself! You are encouraging us to think for ourselves and not just to except everything, without thinking it through, with God’s word!

M.K., USA

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

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 60

Just watched watched lesson 10 in the 1st quarter 2021 bible study classs on Isaiah. I want to thank you for your intellectual spirituality; it’s not an oxymoron! From the point of view of a teacher I also enjoy seeing how much personal pleasure you clearly take in not just tasting, but feasting on God’s word – it reminds me of Jeremiah not being able to hold it in! It makes me smile that your cup is so full and overflowing that you make it to Tuesday’s lesson (on a good day). It just goes to show the richness of God’s Word.

God bless the Come and Reason Team from our church here in Great Britain.

Andrew H., Great Britain