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Yaweh Shamma Cape Town, 7 Gloucester Road, Table View, 7441, Cape Town (2026)

25/07/2015

Hebrews 10:25

"Not forsaking our assembly, as some are accustomed; but comforting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching ".

In the passage we are studying today, the word "congregation" can think of the word "church", but this is not the case. Rather, it is the word "episunagoge"; the word "Church" is "Ekklesia" in Greek.
The word "episunagoge" is only used 2 times in the New Testament. The second passage is in:
2 Thessalonians 2: 1: “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering (episunagoge) with Him, we beseech you, brethren,”

It is well spoken here about our meeting with Jesus. The moment we will be with Him.
There is not a matter of a place but of an event: a meeting with someone, who is Jesus Himself.
If we understand it like this, then all the scripture takes its true meaning: We must care for each other and encourage us to love (God and neighbor) and practice good works (the one prepared beforehand by God). We must not abandon our union with Jesus and be constant in our love for Him.

If we abandon this union (episunagoge) with the Son of God after we have experienced His love and power in our lives, there will be no other "Jesus" (or "sacrifice") that will save us. This "disconnection" must be taken seriously and not lightly as is too often the case today. He who has seen the Son of God, born again, but who denies this "unity of the Spirit" loses communion with Jesus. If he lives as if he had never been saved, this one tramples the Son of God, despises the blood of the covenant and insult the Spirit of Grace.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice and the grace to live in fellowship with you and the Church. Today, I commit my self to you, to live for your glory and to serve your Church. In your precious name. Amen.

10/07/2015

STEPPING STONES TO AN ANXIETY FREE LIFE

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him."
Psalm 37:3-7, NIV

According to statistics, anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health problems in the world today, yet it is still under-reported, under-diagnosed and under-treated. Anxiety disorders have surpassed depression and alcoholism as the number one mental health problem in many cultures. Though it can have physical, emotional and spiritual impact on a person’s life there is not usually any guarantee of a cure. However, the Bible offers hope and the possibility of an anxiety free life. Psalm 37 gives a number stepping stones to this.

Firstly, trust in the Lord. We are exhorted well over one hundred times to do this. To trust God simply means what it says - trust Him - lean on Him, rely on Him and have confidence in Him. If your trust is not in Him it will be in yourself or someone else or something else and that kind of trust cannot bring security. God is a trustworthy Guide and Friend; He cannot fail. Real security cannot be found anywhere else. Make it your life’s aim to truly know God for when you understand His character you cannot help but trust Him.

Secondly, delight yourself in the Lord. We might say this means put God first in your life. Concern yourself with His ways, familiarize yourself with His thoughts, His flawless character and His unfailing promises. When you delight yourself in the Lord He will shape the desires of your heart so that they fit in with His desires. He will give you the desires of your heart and you will be satisfied.

Thirdly, commit your way to the Lord. Don’t plan your own way. Commit everything to Him. The idea is that of rolling a heavy burden from yourself to another so that He can carry it. We are exhorted to roll or cast on to God every care and concern. He has a perfect plan for your life and He will protect and vindicate you even when you go through times of trouble which may seem to overwhelm you. Our God is a God of justice.

Fourthly, be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. The Hebrew definition is to stop striving, to let go, to surrender. It means to have an inner quietness so that God can speak to us. To be still is to stop trying to work things out, to cease doing things in your own way and in confident trust wait for God to act on your behalf. The world is a noisy anxious place. Our hearts can be so filled with the clutter around us that we cannot hear the still small voice of the One who has said, “Is anything too hard for the Lord? Trust in Him.”

Anxieties are intended to be cast not carried, to be hurled not hoarded. They are meant to be cast or hurled on to the One who said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29) His name is Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Father, Please forgive me for the times I have failed to trust in You. Forgive me for the times I have gone my own way, seeking to make myself feel better, instead of coming to You for true freedom, found in Jesus and what He accomplished on the cross. I cast today’s anxieties upon Him, choosing to believe Your word is true. I approach today with the knowledge I am Your child and the evil one cannot harm me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

30/06/2015

Seek His face

"My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face Lord, I will seek."
Psalm 27:8, NIV

Perhaps a good question for us to ask ourselves is, “what is it that I seek?”

Do we seek a higher education to further our career, so we can earn more money to buy a house and a nice car? Will that make us feel secure?

While these things in themselves aren’t wrong, they won’t ultimately fulfil the deepest desire of the human heart. Our deepest desire is to have a relationship with our Creator.

Whether we realise it or not God has created us to live in relationship with Him, and those around us. The psalmist understood this when he said, ‘my heart says of you – “Seek his face”’ (Psalm 27:8).

Do we seek the face of the Lord, to be in His presence and to be in communion or fellowship with Him?

While the world offers many things to try to fill our hearts, there’s only one thing that will truly satisfy - that deep intimate relationship with God the Father through His precious Son Jesus.

Let’s seek His face today.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, my heart’s desire is to seek Your face and to sit in Your presence. Help me put time aside today to seek You, as You are my help and strength, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

17/06/2015

STAND YOUR GROUND

"Therefore put on God’s complete armour, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]…Stand therefore [hold your ground]"
Ephesians 6:13-14, Amplified

Putting on the full armour of God is something I remember learning at a young age. I was taught the importance of each part of the soldier’s armour and how it applies to me as a child of God in my daily walk. Each part of the spiritual armour serves to equip us to fight and to protect us against our enemy.

We have all the equipment to fight and to defend ourselves. And yet, we are not always sure what to do when we are faced with the enemy, who comes like a roaring lion to kill, steal and destroy. And yet the Word encourages us, “having done all [the crisis demands], to ‘STAND FIRMLY IN YOUR PLACE’ and to ‘hold your ground’.

James 4:7 says, ‘So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you’. All the armour in the world is rendered completely useless, unless the soldier is willing to stand his ground and resist the enemy.

Fear causes even the best soldier to doubt his training and his ability to conquer his enemy. In Judges 7 we read the account of Gideon getting ready to fight the Midianites: ‘The Lord said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands…Now announce to the army, “Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.”’ So twenty two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.’ Fear reduced Gideon’s army instantly by more than two thirds! Yet each one of them must have been trained soldiers, armed with all they needed for battle, and well able to fight. But fear caused them to tremble, and lose out being part of an amazing victory God gave Gideon and his men.

My encouragement to you is to STAND your ground. See your enemy like God sees him – already defeated. Wield your Sword of the Spirit and keep your Shield of Faith raised high. Trust God’s Helmet of Salvation, His Breastplate of Righteousness, His Belt of Truth and the Shoes of Peace to cover you and protect you and establish you. But having done all…STAND YOUR GROUND!

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You did not leave me without support and defence against my enemy. Thank You that You have given me everything I need for life and godliness. Help me to stand firm when adversity comes, to hold my ground and to remember who I am in You! Amen.

09/06/2015

We are having our Monthly Couple Meeting on Sunday 14th June 2015 from 16H30 at 67 Manhattan Complex, Parklands, Cape Town. All couples are invited.
Any inquiries, please call: +(27)760777612. Be blessed!

06/06/2015

THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

"On one occasion, while He (Jesus) was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”"
Luke 1:4-5, NIV

On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came as the sound of a mighty wind. Small flames of fire separated and settled on each of the disciples in the upper room. They became on fire for Jesus and changed their world. Are we on fire for Jesus? Has the fire of Pentecost transformed us?
Wind is powerful, and there’s no way of controlling its power or direction. When we try to control the Spirit, He leaves us to our own devices – never forcing or cajoling us. Without the living presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our midst, we’re powerless, even if we go through the motions and seem to have results.

The Holy Spirit is, of course, a person just like Jesus and the Father. He waits for us to invite Him to direct and inspire our lives, to know Him, love Him and trust Him as a friend. He is the presence of Jesus in the world today. We can welcome Him or resist Him. We resist Him when we go our own way instead of His way, whether through self-centredness, ignorance or fear. We grieve Him when we are desensitised to sin so that He can’t convict us and bring us to repentance. We quench His work in our lives when we’re so busy doing our own thing that we can get on without Him.

We can’t live on past experiences, wonderful as they may have been. Today, are you leaning into the wind of the Spirit? Are you abandoned to utterly and completely obey Jesus, in ways that the Spirit will lead, or are you so comfortable where and as you are that you have no sense of your need of the Comforter?

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving us Your Son, the Lord Jesus. And thank You for sending the Holy Spirit into the world until Jesus comes again. Please renew in me a sense of my need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, of my need to be radical and abandoned to do Your will, whatever that may be for my life. Give me a thirst that can only be quenched by the living water of Your Spirit in my inner being, so that my life will count for You in a new way. Amen.

30/05/2015

STRENGTH IN HIS PRESENCE

"And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth?"
Exodus 33:15-16, AMP

Moses had a huge responsibility in leading the Israelites from Egypt into the Promised Land. There were daily challenges and obstacles during this journey and the people complained and looked to him to solve their problems. It must have been emotionally draining and physically exhausting. In Exodus 33:3 the Lord says to Moses: ‘Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I destroy you on the way’.

It was after this, that Moses once again went into the tent of meeting where the Lord spoke to him face to face, as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11). He poured his heart out to the Lord, stated his case and beseeched the Lord to go with Him and the people of Israel – God’s people. Moses knew that this task would be impossible without the Lord’s presence. It would determine the outcome of their journey. The Lord answers Moses then with a promise: ‘I will do this thing also that you have asked, for you have found favour, loving-kindness, and mercy in My sight and I know you personally and by name’ (Exodus 33:17).

We have one of two choices when faced with challenges and difficulties that come along our paths. We can choose to walk the road with the Lord’s presence, or we can try to do it in our own strength. Sometimes traumatic things happen to us and we go through phases of shock, rebellion, self-pity, anger and negativity. We even question the Lord and wonder why we have to go through such difficult times. Even within these emotions, we can hold on to the Lord and pour our hearts out to Him. He wants us to be real and open with Him. We too can have a relationship with the Lord like we would with a friend. He is closer than the best friend we could ever have. He understands exactly what we’re battling with and He has mercy with our weaknesses. When we share our hurts, fears and anxieties with Him, we open ourselves up to allow Him to bring direction, strength and healing.

The other option is to become stiff-necked, as the Israelites are described in the verse for today. We can openly refuse the Lord’s help, presence and advice. We can allow our anger and self-pity to push the Lord away from us and consequently fill our minds with lies about who God actually is. Sometimes pride also comes in the way of us seeking help and advice. This option will only end up postponing the Lord’s plan for our lives and cause us to become bitter and angry. Worship and praise will no longer have a place in our lives. It becomes a very lonely way of dealing with challenges.

By choosing to trust the Lord, we actually notice His daily encouragement as we battle through the challenge we’re facing. He’s closer than we’ll ever imagine when we’re hurting. He sends people along our paths to encourage and uplift us. He speaks to us in so many different ways; if only we choose to walk the road with His presence as our main focus. It’s a choice to focus on the Lord’s promises and presence. This brings His peace into our lives. Every time our situation becomes overwhelming, we can shift our focus on to His provision and care; not on to the details that seem to have no hope of an outcome. He’ll never let us down.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know the challenge I’m currently facing, and the fears I have. Sometimes it feels too hard to bear, and I don’t know how to get through the day. But I choose today to walk this road with You. Even when my emotions fail me I still choose to hold on to You. I trust You to bring me through this and to work all things for good. Your presence brings hope into my life and I thank You for that. Amen.

16/05/2015

Choices

"Choose today whom you will serve."
Joshua 24:15, NLT

Every day we all make many decisions. Admittedly not all decisions are as significant, but they nevertheless all have their consequences to a greater or lesser extent. Which shirt or skirt we choose to wear or which cereal we choose to have for breakfast or which TV channel to watch will not be life-changing, but other decisions are.

Choices of employment, marriage partner, where to live, where to worship, where to go on holiday, and what car to buy all have an impact on our lives. The consequences of a wrong decision can be significant, far reaching and costly in terms of relationships and finance.

God has created each of us with a free will - that ability to choose and make decisions. The verse above comes from the account of the time when Joshua gave the children of Israel a choice to either follow after foreign gods or to follow the true God. As leader his decision was quite clear. He said ‘But as for me and my family we will serve the Lord’ (Joshua 24:15). How much we need men and women like that these days, who have the courage of their convictions, and speak and act accordingly.

Daniel was such a person. He made the choice between whether to be politically correct and pray to the king, or remain true to his convictions and pray to the true God, and face the consequences. His decision had significant consequences. He was thrown into a den of lions! But the end of the story is that Daniel was saved and God was glorified (see Daniel 6:1-28).

God chooses us, and calls us to come to Him (Romans 8:30). When we do He’s promised the help of His Spirit as our guide (John 16:13). So the Apostle Paul instructs the Church at Galatia, ‘Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives’ (Galatians 5:16). As believers we have the person of the Holy Spirit to help us with our decision making, in both large and small decisions. Not only can He help us make decisions, but He strengthens us, and helps us to live with the consequence of those decisions, however easy or challenging they might be.

Every day we have a choice whether to speak, walk and act in ways which are pleasing to God, or not. The choice is ours!

‘The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand’ (Psalm 37:23-24).

Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to choose only to do the things which please You. Amen.

08/05/2015

Unconditional Love

"We love because he first loved us."
1 John 4:19, NIV

God is a perfect loving, heavenly Father. He loves us before we’re born. He loves us all the days of our life, and beyond that, into eternity.

The Bible tells us that God loved us while we were still sinners; ‘but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8 ). This means that He prepared the way of salvation for us before we even came to be created, before we were conceived in our mother’s womb. God’s love takes the initiative, and He shows His love to us above all by allowing His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.

Our love for God is a response to His love. ‘We love because he first loved us’ (1 John 4:19). In imitation of Him we start to love others. The apostle John explains that this is what God requires of us ‘And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother’ (1 John 4:21).

Just as a baby should change and develop from a self-centred state of only receiving love, food and protection to one of giving love and affection in some way, so we must grow up as Christians and start to give love to others.

Prayer: Dear loving, heavenly Father, thank You that You first loved us and yearned for us to come to know You and love You in response. Help us to grow more and more like You and to love others when they don’t even seem to be interested in us or want to know us. Give us some of Your sacrificial, unconditional love that we can give it out to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

24/04/2015

We are having our Monthly Couple Meeting on Sunday 10th May 2015 from 16H30 in Table View, Cape Town. All couples are invited. Any inquiries, please call: +(27)760777612. Be blessed!

21/04/2015

A Place to Look Forward to

"For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come."
Hebrews 13:14, NIV

In the book of Hebrews, the writer has two locations in mind. The first is referred to as ‘the Promised Land’. Abraham and his family “by faith made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country” (Hebrews 11:9). However, Abraham didn’t regard this wonderful land as being his final destination, so he lived in tents because ‘he was looking forward to the city without foundations’ (Hebrews 11:10). However good the land which flowed with milk and honey was, it wasn’t good enough!

In the same way we’re encouraged to look forward beyond this life to the ‘city that is to come’, because ‘here we do not have an enduring city’. It’s tempting to look on places and people that have been a blessing to us as something more than they are. People and places change and fade away. They’re not enduring cities. However, the dwelling place of God in heaven, where we shall one day be with Him for ever, is a place of permanence, everlasting joy and peace. It’s somewhere to look forward to. We don’t understand where and how it will be, or even when. But we shall enter that city, and we shall have eternal blessing there.

It’s hard to look forward to something as intangible as that enduring city, but then, that’s what faith’s all about. As we pursue the things of this life that God calls us to, enjoying the temporal blessings of now, let’s keep in mind that these things will pass away, but eternal life in God is what it says – eternal. And that means there’s an eternal dwelling place for us to look forward to. Hallelujah!

Prayer: Lord, we do thank You for the blessings of this life, for the good gifts You send us and the people we enjoy relationship with. We confess it’s tempting to put our effort into building things that aren’t going to last – our houses, careers, and possessions.. Help us, we pray, to keep an eternal focus, always looking forward beyond this life to that which You’ve promised us with You in heaven, so we don’t get distracted from Kingdom living by the cares of this world. Amen.

10/03/2015

Release Your Grip and Trust God

"When she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds... put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds."
Exodus 2:3, NLT

Around the time that Moses was born, Pharaoh, King of Egypt, ordered the destruction of all male infants belonging to the Hebrews. They were to be thrown into the Nile River, where they would certainly drown or be eaten by crocodiles. This was an order that no God-fearing Hebrew would willingly obey, and the very thought would have horrified God’s chosen people. Moses’ mother had no intention of obeying this dictate either. She knew that this child of hers was special (Exodus 2:2) and she feared the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

As an act of faith (Hebrews 11:23), and when she could no longer conceal the child herself, Jochebed put Moses into a water-proofed, papyrus reed basket and placed him among the reeds, on the Nile River. Moses’ sister Miriam was left to guard him from a distance and watch what would become of him.

Jochebed was not throwing Moses to the ‘god of chance’ but rather releasing him into the hands of the Great ‘I AM’. In her heart she was saying to God, “I’ve done everything I know to protect this child, but now I’m out of options. I release him to Your care and providence”. God honoured her faith and the infant’s life was spared. How overjoyed Jochebed must have been when her little bundle of joy was returned to her aching arms (Exodus 2:7-10).

I wonder who or what you need to release to God today. The same God, who lovingly watched over Moses, also watches over all that concerns you. All He asks of you is to trust Him.

Prayer: Father God, You know what’s happening in my life right now, as nothing is hidden from Your sight. Like Jochebed I need to release … into Your loving care. Thank You that You can take much better care of them than I can. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done. In Jesus` name. Amen

Yaweh Shamma Cape Town

25/07/2015

10/07/2015

30/06/2015

17/06/2015

09/06/2015

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30/05/2015

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