We will see Him

Goodmorning, 1 Joh 3:3 Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. - If a believer saw what he or she would be like when Christ returns - if we saw ourselves morally purified from sinfulness, intellectually from falsehood and physically from disabilities or illness - we would be tempted to worship ourselves. - Believers will be like him - not identical to him. He is after all fully God while being fully man. - He is already at work in believers, making them more and more to be people that will be fit for heaven. - His strategy is unsurprising giving the life he led on earth - it is as we put our hope and trust in Him that we change, rather than putting our hope and trust in our own abilities to change. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that the process of becoming...

Goodmorning, When we look at Jesus Christ, we realize that there is a twofold strangeness about him. There is, first, the strangeness of his deity... But there is also the strangeness of his humanity. Though genuinely human, he is unique in his humanity. He is totally sinless. His obedience to the Father is perfect, his prayer life is unexcelled, his love for people is fathomless. And when we realize that this strangeness makes us ashamed, because it tells us what we all should be like . The strangeness of the human Jesus holds a mirror before us; it is an exemplary strangeness, for it tells us what God’s intentions are for each of us. — Anthony A. Hoekema, Created in God's Image 1 Cor 16:49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven . Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that you came in the flesh, showing us what it looks like when the Gospel dwells in a human. Please help me to follow the l...

Goodmorning, In order to grow in Christlikeness , we’ve got to intentionally apply the gospel to everything we are and everything we long to do... We’ve got to understand ourselves in the light of our new identity , seeing ourselves as we truly are: sinful and flawed, loved and welcomed. Only these gospel realities have enough power to engender faith, kill idolatry, produce character change, and motivate faithful obedience. — Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me Rom 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I must admit that there is a lot of pressure on me to conform to the identity this world gives me. Please help me to see who I am in you - and help me to be transformed to be more like you. Amen Regards Rev. Kruger de Kock You are receiving these emails because you have visited or supported Canada Water Church or Surrey Docks Church, Lo...

Goodmorning, It is no good giving me a play like Hamlet or King Lear, and telling me to write a play like that. Shakespeare could do it — I can’t. And it is no good showing me a life like the life of Jesus and telling me to live a life like that. Jesus could do it — I can’t. But if the genius of Shakespeare could come and live in me, then I could write plays like this. And if the Spirit could come into me, then I could live a life like his. — William Temple 2 Cor 3:18 - And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever‑increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the Spirit living in me - making me more and more like you. Holy Spirit, please don't stop until your work is done. Amen. Regards Rev. Kruger de Kock You are receiving these emails because you have visited or supported Canada Water Church or...

Goodmorning, The word Angel in both the Hebrew and Greek means messenger. In the Old Testament we see a special messenger called the Angel of the Lord. There is plenty of evidence that this was Christ before his incarnation: “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him." Ex 23:20 This Angel of the Lord was doing the things Christ eventually did in the New Testament - revealing God (Ex. 3), redeeming sinners (1 Kings 19:35), interceding for us (Zech. 12:1-13), protecting us (Ps. 34:7) and comforting people (Gen. 16:7-13). But this fearsome Angel of the Lord, like Jesus also judged (1 Chron. 21:1, 14-15). Jesus is not the "limp-wrist hippie in a dress with a lot of product in His hair, who drank decaf and made pithy Zen statements about life while shoppin...

Hi, So, if Christ appeared in the Old Testament - what did he do there? He is the one that spoke to the Old Testament believers. Hear again John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Later (v14) we learn that this 'Word' is Jesus Christ. This means that Jesus was there, behind every divine dream, vision or voice back in Old Testament times. What did He do? He didn't only reveal to people there, their need for a Saviour but he also told them that he is this Saviour that they need. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you did not only reveal who God is back in the Old Testament - you are also doing it today through the words of Scripture. Would you please give us your Spirit to help and guide us to see you more clearly and love you more dearly. Amen Regards Rev. Kruger de Kock You are receiving these emails because you have visited or supported Canada Water Church or Surrey Docks Chur...

Goodmorning, We not only get characters in the Bible that portray elements of Christ in the Old Testament but we see Christ himself in the Old Testament. A famous piece of Scripture is where the prophet Isaiah sees God in a brilliant vision. If you read the appearance in Isaiah 6 you will see that it was a powerful but scary encounter - the temple's pillars shook, smoke filled the place and Isaiah cried out in fear. This doesn't sound like a meeting with the New Testament Jesus does it? But, to our surprise the New Testament Gospel writer John, while speaking of Jesus says this about Isaiah's encounter: "Isaiah said these things because he saw [Jesus'] glory and spoke of him." John 12:41 Let's not make the mistake to think less of Jesus than we ought to. He is and has always been equal in power and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you are God who became man. Help me to remember that although yo...

Good morning, Yesterday I said that the Old Testament was all about Jesus Christ. Where do I see that in the Old Testament? The one text that sets all of this in motion is Genesis 3:15 . After Adam & Eve's fall into sin God made a promise to Eve that forms the basis of the plot line of the Bible: " I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” As the Biblical story unfolds the reader is looking for this descendant of Eve that will bruise the head of satan while himself being fatally struck. As we read we encounter characters that holds the potential to slay evil... but every time they themselves fall into sin themselves. We get Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob... some of the judges, Esther, Boaz and others. But most notable was probably David, whose ministry started by slaying the mighty Goliath but fell apart when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and ...

Good morning, Wether your are a believer or not, this might be an useful answer to know. The Old Testament is the largest part of thé book that radically impacted the history of the world. What is it all about? Jesus gives us the answer in Luke 24:25-27. Appearing to two men that were really discouraged because he died so suddenly Jesus said to them: “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. If you do not believe in Christ and you use the Old Testament to back your arguments - have you read the story of the Old Testament the way you're supposed to read it - all about Christ's suffering and glory? If you are a believer and you only read the New Testament because the Old Testament is too difficult, ha...

Good morning, Psalm 131 My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. -       Life will always be chaotic. -       Either you try to be the god of your own life and concern yourself with things too high for you. -       Or you remember that you are a child of God, resting on Him like a child with his mother. -       "When you stop trying to control your life and instead allow your anxieties and problems to bring you to God in prayer, you shift from worry to watching. You watch God weave his patterns in the story of your life. Instead of trying to be out front, designing your life, you realise you are inside God's drama. As you wait, you begin to see him work, and your life begins to s...

Good morning, Luke, one of the disciples that saw how Jesus lived and ministered wrote in Luke 5:16 that Jesus "would withdraw to desolate places and pray." He was himself doing what he told his disciples to do in Matthew 6:6: "go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father". -       Praying doesn't only exist so that we can ask God for things we need, but it is primarily the way for a believer to experience and express his or her love for God. -       In our human relationships we feel disconnected with our loved ones if we don't spend quality time together. The same is true for our relationship with God. -       In the same way that we can't love people without focussing just on them, in the same way we can't love God without slowing down and spending time with Him. Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to reconnect with you in the way you constantly had to do when you were on earth. Please make ou...

Good morning, In Paul's letter to the Philippians (4:6-7) he says: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -       Don't waste your anxiousness and stress. It is supposed to get you to pray. -       If you think prayer is a waste of time and that you should get on with the job - remember Jesus' words in John 15:5: "Apart from me you can do nothing". -       And then, as you pray see how you move from anxiousness and weakness to a peace that floods your heart and mind.        Prayer: Lord Jesus, apart from you I can do nothing. I lay all my plans for this day before you and I ask that you will guide and help me to do what you would have me do. Amen Note: A great book on prayer: A Pr...

Good morning, In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul wrote how he pleaded with God to help him: "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." -       I'm sure there is a whole shed load of self-help books that will tell you to start every day reminding yourself that 'Im the best', 'I'm the man', 'I'm beautiful'. -       Admitting your weakness and need sounds like the wrong way to start every day. -       But, it is the most authentic way to live. Think about it: everything that you have and all that you are are gifts from God. You did nothing to deserve it. You are weak and in need of help. That's just the way things are. Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me not to believe the lie that I'm the shaper of my destiny. Please free me from that pressure to think ...

Good morning, Apologies for the silence the past three weeks. Stephanie and I have been on holiday and we also visited some churches in SA that continues to support the ministry here in London. Next week I will continue with the theme I'm starting today: Prayer - Jesus' strategy for life. Jesus said: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" Matt 11:28 -       This verse is normally quoted to inspire non-believers to come to God. But consider for a moment that this is actually the way believers need to come to God daily... -        Once you come to faith in God your heart may be changed but your life might still be a mess. For this mess Jesus has a strategy. -       Come to him with your mess and with your stress. Come overwhelmed with life and all that's going on. He will give you rest every time. Prayer: Almighty God, I must admit that I'm sometimes relucta...