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The power of the Spirit - 22 August 2025

Ben Fourie
 
For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7, GNT
 
The winter season has been exceptionally cold here on the Highveld, where I live. When the temperature dropped to a single digit during the early evening, it felt good to be sitting at home cosily, with a mug of hot soup and a thick jersey. With such biting temperatures, I felt like never going outside again.
 
The spiritual home we have been reflecting on over the past few days can also become so comfortable that we hesitate to venture into the “cold” world outside of our own congregation, circle of friends, family or cultural group. In a sense, we may become afraid to expose ourselves to “strangers”.
 
Despite the cold winter, I realised that we will stagnate if we do not venture outside. We cannot confine ourselves to our cosy, warm homes. We need to maintain contact with people outside of our circle.
 
Timothy also became afraid. He likely faced significant opposition from a group of Jewish people in the congregation, which made his situation very difficult. Paul used a strong word when he wrote to Timothy: “For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid.” This word can also be translated as “afraid”. Paul continues, saying that the Spirit we have received fills us with power. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength to navigate a challenging, cold world, where we may face opposition, yet we are called to share the message of Jesus Christ. The Greek word for power that Paul used is the root of our words “dynamic” and “dynamite”.
 
Instead of being afraid of what people might think or say when we openly confess our faith in Jesus, we should use the dynamite of the Holy Spirit to bring change to our world.
 

Prayer: Lord, we pray that you will help us to be free of fear and ridicule when we witness about you. Please help us to be fearless witnesses. Amen.

Krag van die Gees - 22 Augustus 2025

Ben Fourie
 
God het ons tog nie 'n gees van vreesagtigheid gegee nie, maar van krag en liefde en selfbeheersing. 2 Timoteus 1:7, 2020-vertaling
 
Die afgelope winter was maar bra koud hier op die Hoëveld waar ons nou woon. Wanneer die temperatuur saans sommer vroeg al 'n enkelsyfer is, was dit heerlik om knus in ons huis te sit met 'n lekker beker warm sop in die hand en 'n dik trui aan die lyf. Dan het 'n mens gevoel jy wil glad nie weer buite in die koue rondloop nie. Jy was skoon bang vir die byt van die winter.
 
Die geestelike huis waarvan ons die afgelope paar dae gepraat het, kan ook mettertyd so lekker knus voel dat 'n mens glad nie lus het om weer in die “koue” van die wêreld buite jou gemeente, jou vriendekring, jou familie, jou kultuurgroep, te gaan rondloop nie. Jy raak half bang om jouself bloot te stel aan “vreemdelinge”.
 
Nou weet ons egter dat hoe lekker dit ook al in jou eie huis mag wees, jy selfs in die winter nodig het om gereeld uit jou huis uit te kom. 'n Mens sal gou-gou stagneer as jy nie gereeld ook buite jou huis in die samelewing rondbeweeg nie.
 
Timoteus het ook “bang” geraak. Heel waarskynlik het hy groot teenstand van 'n groep Jode gekry wat dit vir hom in die gemeente baie moeilik gemaak het. Paulus gebruik 'n nogal sterk woord wanneer hy met Timoteus praat. Hy sê: “God het ons tog nie 'n gees van vreesagtigheid gegee nie”, inteendeel dit wat hy van God ontvang het, is krag. Die Heilige Gees gee ook aan ons die krag om in die koue wêreld, waar jy dikwels teenstand te wagte kan wees, die boodskap van Jesus Christus uit te dra. Die Griekse woord wat Paulus hier vir krag gebruik, is die woord waarvan ons woorde dinamies en dinamiet afgelei is.
 
In plaas daarvan om bang te wees vir wat mense mag dink of sê wanneer ons openlik van Jesus getuig, moet ons liewers die plofkrag van die Heilige Gees gebruik om 'n verskil in die wêreld te maak.
 
Gebed: Ons bid dat U ons elke dag sal vrymaak van die vrees dat mense dalk vir ons sal lag as ons van U getuig. Help ons om onverskrokke getuies vir U te wees. Amen

The Holy Spirit trains us to serve - 21 August 2025

Ben Fourie
 
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them.  1 Corinthians 12:4, GNT
 
At any construction site, there is a diverse group of workers, each trained for specific tasks. You will find essential workers digging trenches and pouring concrete for the foundations – their role is crucial for the overall stability of the entire building.
 
You will also find skilled bricklayers who are responsible for laying the bricks with precision, ensuring that the walls are straight. If the walls are not straight, the entire building will be rendered useless. Those tasked with plastering must work carefully, as their work will significantly impact the overall aesthetic of the building. Installing the roof is a highly specialised job; if it’s done poorly, the roof may leak at the first sign of rain.
 
Similarly, everyone who is involved in building the spiritual home or body of Christ must be properly trained for their work. This training comes from the Holy Spirit, who blesses us with different spiritual gifts. According to 1 Corinthians 12:8 and following, these gifts include a message of wisdom, a message full of knowledge, faith, the power to heal, the power to work miracles and the gift of seeking God’s message. We can compare these gifts to the various roles involved in construction: those who dig the foundations, lay the bricks, apply plaster, paint and install the roof.
 
The most important aspect is not the number or type of spiritual gifts we receive, but how we actively use the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit. These gifts come with a specific purpose: to contribute to building the body of Christ on Earth. We do not receive these gifts to boast about them, but to help strengthen the church of Christ for the spiritual benefit of all people.
 
The home that we are building is meant to give us a place of refuge where we can live and work for Christ, even when life’s storms are raging all around us.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for training us to help build your church and for providing a refuge where we can work for your glory. Amen.
 

The Holy Spirit is given as our Teacher - 20 August 2025

Ben Fourie
 
Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God’s gift, the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38, GNT
 
We can refer to the Holy Spirit as the Master Builder. If we want to understand the role we, as believers, play in the world each day, we must remember that the Holy Spirit was given to us to guide us in fulfilling our calling as builders of the church of Christ. Do I need to be an exceptionally special person living at a high spiritual level to receive the Holy Spirit as a mentor?
 
Yes, we have to be very special, but not in the way many people typically understand it. To be truly special means being a part of God’s family – specifically, being his child. What could be more special than that? Knowing that on the very day that you become a child of God, you are filled with the Holy Spirit.
 
Why are we filled with the Holy Spirit? First and foremost, it is to help us deepen our understanding of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit was sent to teach us everything about him. Although Jesus was a Rabbi and Teacher to his followers, there were still many things that his disciples needed to learn and understand. For example, after the resurrection and just before the ascension, they were still asking, “Lord will you at this time give the Kingdom back to Israel?” (Acts 1:6b). Due to their lack of knowledge about many aspects of Christ, the Holy Spirit was given to us as Teacher, or as I like to say, the Master Builder.
 
Without understanding who Jesus is and what he came to do, no one would be able to take the gospel into the world. Only when we truly understand who Jesus is, can the Holy Spirit guide us.
 
Prayer: Lord, how can we ever adequately thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit? Please help us to hear his voice clearly every day. Amen.

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