Newsletter January 2025 Part 1

Lifted up

      The start of a new year is both a time of reflection and a time of planning.  We consider the events of the previous twelve months, our achievements and disappointments, and we resolve what we will do differently.  However, no matter how good our intentions may be, all too often we find that our resolutions don’t last, and we revert to the same patterns of behaviour that have kept us from becoming what we know God wants us to be – beacons of His light in a world of darkness.  All our efforts to rise to a higher level seem doomed to failure.

     The desire for spiritual elevation is something common to all humanity.  Throughout the ages, people have strived to reach heaven (Genesis 11:4) and become like God (Genesis 3:5).  Whether through science and technology or spiritual practices such as magic and divination, there seems to be a desire within us to elevate ourselves and take our destiny into our own hands rather than put our trust in our Creator.  Every great civilisation in history has practised some form of religion to connect with the divine with the ultimate aim of becoming divine.  This is no different today; while scientific knowledge increases, so does the desire to advance into spiritual realms with the hope of finding a way to fix the issues of the world in which we live.  ‘Elevation’ has become the buzz word not only in the world but also in church circles.  But how do we achieve elevation?  What can we do? What must we do to become better and more successful in our endeavours?

     In the Book of Exodus, we see the Hebrews, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, residing in the most advanced society of their time.  However, rather than benefiting from the wealth of the Egyptians, this wealth was accumulated on their backs.  As slaves, they had lost all hope of a better life and even the knowledge of the God of their fathers.   Yet God had not forgotten them – He chose and preserved Moses, one of their own, to be raised in the palace of Pharaoh and eventually to become their deliverer.  When Moses encountered God in the burning bush and God revealed His purpose to him, Moses questioned God’s purpose, saying, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ ” (Exodus 4:1). God then told him to cast his rod to the ground after which it turned into a serpent.  Later, Moses and his brother Aaron did the same before Pharaoh and his magicians and, when they replicated this sign with their own rods, Aaron’s’ serpent swallowed up theirs, showing God’s power over the gods of Egypt.

     Serpents, or snakes, are widely known in pagan religions all over the world.  They are associated with wisdom and spiritual elevation.  We find them in the traditional religions of the Americas and the Indian subcontinent as well as in ancient Egypt and Babylon – and, of course, in the Bible.  The tempter in Genesis is a serpent, and he entices Adam and Eve that, if they ate of the forbidden fruit their ‘eyes would be opened and they would be like God, knowing good and evil.’  

     The Hebrew word for serpent (נָּחָ֖שׁ – nachash) used both in this passage and in Exodus 4 and 7 also means ‘one who practises divination/magic’.  The same word also appears in the Book of Numbers, where the Israelites speak against Moses and Aaron for having taken them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness. … So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died (Numbers 21:5-6).  God then instructs Moses to make a fiery serpent of bronze and to set it on a pole.  When those who were bitten looked at that serpent, they were healed.

     In John 3, Jesus explains to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and teacher of Israel, that the only way to enter God’s kingdom is by being reborn from above, of the Spirit.  No one can elevate themselves to God – only He can raise us up.  Jesus says to Nicodemus (and to us all), No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven (v. 13).  He then refers Nicodemus to the scripture which he had studied and taught for many years without truly spiritual (heavenly) wisdom and understanding.  That account in Numbers of Moses and the serpent pointed to the coming of the Saviour (v. 14).  He, the Son of Man who came from heaven, being one with the Father (John 10:30), would be lifted up (or elevated) on a Roman cross to die as God’s perfect sacrifice for sin, and all who would look to Him in faith would be delivered from the bondage of sin.  As He would be lifted up from the earth, He would draw all peoples to Himself.  This He said, signifying by what death He would die. (John 12:33)

     As we enter 2025 with all our good intentions, let us always remember not to look to our own strength and ability to elevate our lives but rather surrender in simple trust in our Creator, our loving heavenly Father.  Let us present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God (Romans12:1).  As we take up our cross and lay down our lives, denying self and seeking His purpose, we will rise with Him to a new life of victory over sin and death.  Let us humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, confident that He will lift us up (James 4:10).

Newsletter December 2024

What child is this?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. … He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-5; 10; 14)

     As we enter another Christmas season, we focus on the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  We are well acquainted with the scene of the Nativity: baby Jesus lying in the manger, Mary, His mother, and Joseph standing next to Him, and shepherds bowing down in adoration.  Yet there were many people in Bethlehem that night, who do not feature in this scene: people who were in the vicinity, maybe had even seen this newborn child, yet did not recognise Him and therefore missed that miraculous moment, when the Eternal God stepped into time, when the heavenly Creator took on human flesh.  

     Some had come from far to Bethlehem, like Mary and Joseph, to be counted.  There were Roman officials around, who may have registered the couple upon their arrival, ticking off their names on seemingly unending census lists.  Inn keepers had sent them away, until finally one of them - be it out of compassion or simply to make an extra shekel from their misery - had offered the couple a place with his livestock.  Then there were neighbours, passers-by, people who were simply getting on with their lives in the midst of all the commotion.  None of these people are found in the Nativity scene, because none of them recognised who He was.      

     Instead we see a group of shepherds come to see baby Jesus.  They had been watching their flocks at night, just as they did every night.  Nothing had suggested that this night would be different until suddenly angels appeared to them, telling them to leave their flocks and go to Bethlehem, where they would find the Saviour wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger (Luke 2:10-12).  They believed the message of the angels and hurried to Bethlehem where they were able to behold the glory of the Son of God (John 1:14), come as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)   

     Do you recognise who He is?  When you look at the baby in the manger, do you see the image of the invisible God?  (Colossians 1:15)  When you read of His miracles, do you see the Almighty Creator?  When you think of the cross, do see the One who took your guilt upon Himself?  When you consider the empty tomb, do you see the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25) who conquered death for you?  As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, let us pray that God would give us a deeper revelation of His Son, so that we can see Him for who He really is.   

     And what about those around you?  Your family and friends, your neighbours and colleagues?  What about all those you meet in the shops, when you buy your Christmas gifts, or at the post office when you post your Christmas parcels and cards?  Do they know who He is?  Let us pray this Christmas that God would reveal His Son to them as well.  Let us ask Him to give us opportunities to point them to Jesus.  How will they know if no one tells them?  How will they perceive if no one shows them?  (Romans 10:14) Will you be that signpost?  

Bishop Konrad   

Newsletter November 2024 Part 2

What’s the time?

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.   But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.  (Luke 12:29-31)

     Most of us tend to spend a considerable portion of our time worrying, probably even more so now that we see the world around us changing at a stunning pace.  We are experiencing huge shifts in politics and the economy as well as in the fabric of our society.  The rapid advances in technology are affecting every aspect of our lives, and it seems like nothing is predictable anymore.  Many are fearing for their future and their livelihoods and, as a result, are getting ever busier, trying to make ends meet.

     If we added up all the time we spend wondering what to do next, the result would probably come as a shock to us – and hopefully as a wakeup call.  Countless hours are wasted through worry; hours that could have been utilised in a more productive way.  But how do we as believers overcome worry?  What do we do when the future seems bleak, and we don’t know what tomorrow will bring?

     Jesus challenges us regarding our worries.  As His followers, we are to be different to the ‘pagan world’, to those who do not know God.  We have a loving Father who cares for us.  He knows our needs and He is well able to supply them – even in the midst of trouble and instability.  All we have to do is ask – and trust that He will take care of us.  If we would only trust our Heavenly Father instead of being overwhelmed by cares, we could spend our time seeking God for guidance, thanking Him for keeping us safe and for providing for us, and encouraging others. 

     Trust has little to do with knowing the future and figuring out how things will work out and how our needs will be met; it is all about the One in whom we put our confidence.  To trust, we do not need to know what lies ahead or even comprehend our present situation.  All we need to know is that the One whom we trust is trustworthy. 

     Jesus addresses this issue of focus – seek the kingdom of God, set your minds on His purpose.  And as you do so, your loving Father will take care of everything else.  God’s plans for us are plans to prosper [us] and not to harm [us], plans to give [us] hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

So then we each need to ask ourselves the question: What is it that dominates my thoughts?  Where do I invest my time and effort?  Is it in His kingdom, or am I so preoccupied with my apparent needs that I have lost sight of His purpose for my life?  Am I missing out on His peace while I focus all my attention on what is happening around me and how it may affect me?

     One day this life will be over, and we will have to give account for the way we have used the resources God has given us: our gifts and talents, our material resources, our physical strength, and our time.  Then there will be no opportunity to go back and do things differently.  Every day, every minute, every second that has gone by has passed forever; we will never get it back.  Whatever we have done with our time will remain our legacy - eternally.  That is why Paul warns us (Ephesians 5:15): Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

     Time can be our greatest enemy, as it quietly ticks away; but it can also be our greatest gift – an opportunity to live a life of purpose, to make a difference.  God has given us this life so we can honour Him: through our actions and through our worship.  Let us resolve to live every day, every minute for His kingdom and His purpose.  Whether we currently have more time or less, God will reward those who trust in Him and utilise the time they have for His glory.

Newsletter November 2024 Part 1

The Community of God

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,  and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?  Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.  The Lord delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 10:12-15)

     Moses spoke these words to the Israelites after reminding them of their fathers’ deliverance from Egypt and the covenant He had established with them at Mount Horeb.  Moses had warned them not to fall into the sin of idolatry as their fathers had while he was on the mountain receiving the tables of stone on which God wrote the Ten Commandments.  Now these tables lay in the Ark of the Covenant as a reminder of God’s purpose – to live in loving relationship with Him and with one another.

     So far this second generation of the Exodus had known nothing apart from their seemingly endless journey in the wilderness, but now they were finally on the verge of entering the Land of Promise.  Aaron had just died and Moses himself would soon follow.  Without these leaders, it would be easy for them to enjoy the blessings of the land while failing to remember the God who had delivered their fathers and brought them into their inheritance.  Moses therefore reminded them that it was not because of their merit that God had chosen them, but purely because of His love.  All He was now requiring of them was to love Him in return and live their lives to please Him.

     In Egypt, the Israelites had been strangers without rights, oppressed and exploited for the benefit of that powerful nation.  The new existence that God intended for them in the Land of Promise was to be different.  As God Himself is just and does not show partiality, the new community was to be governed by love and justice. (Deut. 10:17-19)  As He had delivered them from oppression and made them into a people as numerous as the stars of heaven, they too were to show kindness to the weak – the fatherless, the widow and the stranger.  Their love for Him and for one another was to be a sign to the nations of the world that He alone is God, the almighty Creator, who loves and cares for His creation.

     Sadly, as we follow the story of God’s people, we see them turn time and again to the ways of the world, worshipping other gods and oppressing and exploiting the weak among them.  God therefore sends them prophets who warn them of the consequences of their disobedience.  Rejecting God by practising idolatry and injustice would ultimately lead to their expulsion from the land and their scattering among the nations whose ways they had chosen to follow.  God would hide His face from them (Deut. 31:17-18) until they recognised their sin and turned back to Him with all their heart.  Then He would bring them back to the land and restore them. (Jeremiah 3:14-18)  In that day there would be no more need for an ark nor for tables of stone, for God would rule over them and write His laws in their hearts so that they all would know Him and live in obedience to His will. (Jer. 31:33) 

     When the eternal Word became flesh (John 1:14), God’s heart was ultimately revealed.  In Jesus we see the expressed image of God’s person, the brightness of His glory. (Hebrews 1:3)  He left the place of glory He had with the Father to share in our humanity and live in complete obedience to the Father’s will even to the point of giving His life on the cross. (Philippians 2:8)  

     In His last words to the disciples before the crucifixion, Jesus gave them a new commandment (John 13:34) … that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  While the commandment to love one’s neighbour was already part of the Mosaic Law, Jesus was taking this to a deeper level: This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13)  He calls us to lay down our lives for one another, and for those who do not yet know Him.  God’s presence now dwells in us, by the Holy Spirit, making us a shining light of love in a dark world of conflict and injustice.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14).  Are we allowing God’s light to shine within us, His body, so others will see and come to it and there find His salvation?

Newsletter October 2024 Part 2

The Lamb’s book of life

 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it.  The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into it.  Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there)  And they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it.  But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  (Revelation 21:22-27)

     Earlier this month Jews all over the world celebrated their New Year, Rosh Hashanah.  Actually, however, the year according to the Bible (Exodus 12:2) begins in the spring when Israel’s liberation and departure from Egypt is commemorated with the celebration of the Passover (Pesach).  The first day of the 7th month (Tishrei) according to the Bible (Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 29:1) is a memorial of blowing of trumpets (Yom Teruah). Although the passages in Leviticus and Numbers do not give any explanation to the purpose of this blowing of trumpets (or shofrot – rams horns), in the prophetic scriptures the sound of the trumpet announces the Lord’s Day, when He will sit on His throne to judge the world in righteousness. (e.g. Joel 2).  Then books will be opened to reveal all the deeds of every person who ever lived.  Those whose names are found in the Book of Life will receive eternal life, while those whose names are missing will receive eternal punishment. (Revelation 20:15; Matt. 25:46).  This is why Rosh Hashanah, is also a time of reflection followed by 8 days of repentance (Teshuvah – lit. turning) leading to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement, lit. covering).

     The Day of Atonement is very unusual in that it is not a time of coming together physically nor of bringing sacrifices to the Lord individually; rather, on this one day in the year, the high priest would offer one sacrifice for himself and his house and then bring one sacrifice on behalf of all the people into the Holy of Holies (the innermost part of the tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem).  However, since the temple was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70 following an uprising, there have been no more sacrifices on that day, only the period of repentance in the hope that God would forgive the sins of those who turn to Him with all their heart (Deuteronomy 4:29; Jeremiah 29:13). 

     While this has become the way of observing Yom Kippur for almost 2000 years, there are those who are still convinced that the temple needs to be rebuilt, and the sacrifices reinstituted.  This, of course, would have huge implications for the future of Jerusalem and the entire Middle East due to the political and religious status quo.

     As Christians, we are not looking for a temple with animal sacrifices.  Nor do we look to specific dates for our redemption.  Jesus told us that no one except the Father Himself knows about the day of His return, but he did give indications of the signs leading to that day.  And He told His followers then and us today to watch and pray so that we would be ready.  Every day for us should be a day of searching our hearts and turning to God so that we are found righteous in God’s sight for the day of judgment.  However, we also know that, despite our efforts to please God and walking in obedience to His will by the power of His Spirit who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13), we will always fall short of His glory (Romans 3:23).  We therefore look to the Lamb who was sacrificed once for all who put their faith in Him.

     In Hebrews 10, we read how, by His death on the cross, Jesus became the sacrifice of Yom Kippur, once for all.  No matter what we bring to God in respect of our own righteous deeds, it is ultimately Jesus who bridges the gulf between our sinfulness and God’s holiness.  He alone lived in complete obedience to the Father (Philippians 2:8) as He is the only begotten Son, who left His glory, taking on human form to bring humanity back to God.  He gave His life that we may have life in Him.  Have you put your faith in Him?  Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

Newsletter October 2024 Part 1

Once for all

 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” (Acts 4:15-16)

     The apostles Peter and John had been arrested for proclaiming Jesus as the Saviour of Israel.  They had healed a lame man in the name of Jesus and, when a crowd gathered in amazement, they had declared that it was not by any power of their own but through faith in the name of Jesus that this man had received healing.  The same Jesus who had been crucified as a false Messiah had risen from the dead and was now working through His followers by the Spirit.

     When the religious leaders heard of it, they had them arrested and brought before their council.  The healing as such was not a problem to them; and hardly deniable.  It was the name of Jesus that offended them - the One whom they thought they had got rid of once and for all, but whom God had vindicated by raising Him from the dead.  Those who proclaimed His name needed to be silenced.  So they decided to threaten them and send them away, hoping that that would be the end.  However, Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”  (Acts 4:19-20) 

     When they were let go, the two apostles immediately went to their companions who shared their faith in the risen Lord.  And together they raised their voices to God, declaring His sovereignty and purpose (Acts 4:25-28): “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.’  For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 

     They understood that God, in His wisdom and power, had allowed normally opposing worldly forces to gather together in unison to kill Jesus, not realising that, in doing so, they were fulfilling God’s plan to provide a sacrifice for sin that only He Himself could give – His beloved Son.  The One they wanted to get rid of once and for all became the ultimate sacrifice – giving His life once, for all.

     And they also understood their role in God’s purpose: to proclaim His name, beginning in Jerusalem and continuing until all the world would hear the message of salvation through Jesus.  Their prayer therefore was not for relief from the threats of the religious leaders but for boldness to continue what they knew they were called to do, knowing that God would continue to confirm His word through the power of His Spirit, not their own power and ability (Acts 4:29-30): “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”  And God heard their prayer and granted their request (v.31): And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

     As our world is becoming increasingly hostile to the gospel message of salvation through Jesus alone, and normally opposing forces are joining together against His people, what will our response llbe?  Will we be silenced through fear?  Or will we, like these early disciples, recognise that we are on the side of the sovereign God, called to play our part in the fulfilment of His purpose – that all will hear and receive salvation through faith in the One who died – once, for all.    

Newsletter September 2024 Part 2

By His power

 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.  And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”  (Genesis 25:22-23)

     From before the birth of Jacob and Esau, God told their mother Rebekah that Jacob was to become the heir of His promise.  Yet instead of waiting patiently for God’s purpose to unfold, Jacob seized the first opportunity to take advantage of Esau’s impulsive character buy getting his brother to sell to him what God had already determined was his by promise.  Then, adding insult to injury, Rebekah conspired with Jacob to trick Isaac into pronouncing the blessing of the firstborn on him instead of Esau.  As a result of taking matters into his own hands, Jacob ended up having to flee from his furious brother to save his life. 

     Jacob seemed to have lost everything, but it was at this point, while he was all alone in the wilderness, that God appeared to him.  In a dream, he saw a ladder set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. (Genesis 28:12) And above it stood the LORD and spoke to him, reaffirming to Jacob the promise He had made to Abraham and his descendants to give them the land.

     How often do we take things into our own hands rather than simply trusting in God’s promise, waiting patiently for His purpose to unfold?  How often do we end up outside of God’s place of blessing because we try to manage our destiny ourselves?  In Jacob’s case, this resulted in more than two decades in His uncle Laban’s service, at the end of which he found himself fleeing yet again for outwitting his uncle, as he had once outwitted his brother and father. 

     How long can a person be on the run?  And what does one do when there remains nowhere to go?  The only option left for Jacob was head back to his homeland with the family God had given him during his exile and hope that somehow his brother would forgive him and receive him back.  However, news came to Jacob that Esau was still determined to kill him, so he tried one more time to work things out himself: he sent his family and servants ahead in groups, with gifts, hoping to appease his brother.  Yet again, as he was all alone, God appeared to Jacob. (Genesis 32:24-29)

     … a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.  Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.  And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”  But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”  So He said to him, “What is your name?”

He said, “Jacob.”  And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”   Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”  And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.

     It was after this divine encounter, that Esau’s attitude towards his brother suddenly changed.  Jacob had to come to the realisation that his only hope was to trust entirely in God’s grace.  And the injury he received during this struggle was to serve as a constant reminder that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

     Therefore, in all our trouble and our fragility, let us remember that God’s grace is sufficient.  Let us be confident that He will make a way by His power, for when we are weak we are strong.  

Bishop konrad

Newsletter September 2024 Part 1

The glory of His name

 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.  And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.  Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar.  And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:1-4)

     This story of the Tower of Babel reveals to us humankind’s desire to be one.  The people in the story are able to communicate with each other and therefore to agree with each other and make plans as a group.  Their concern is that they might be scattered abroad and lose their sense of community.

     We were created for community.  When God made Adam, He said, “It is not good for man to be alone” and gave him woman, made of his own flesh and bone. (Gen. 2:23) Adam and Eve were one, as they enjoyed God’s presence and the blessings that issued from it.  There was no lack in the garden and life could have continued eternally in that way.  However, Adam and Eve were also united in their disobedience, as they succumbed to the temptation (Gen. 3:5) to be like God, knowing good and evil – i.e. making their own decisions independent of God.  Consequently, they lost their fellowship with God and the resulting blessings, and before long envy and selfish desire led to the first murder in history (Genesis 4:8).  The first family community was destroyed.

     In the story of the Tower of Babel, we see humankind’s innate desire for unity and community, but we also see the original sin of Adam repeated.  Instead of turning to God, they wanted to reach heaven themselves and make a name for themselves.  They had the resources required for this task and they were of one mind and one language, so they could work together to accomplish it.  However, they left God out of the picture, and He came down to confound their plans by confusing their language.

     As a result of original sin, our society is dominated by human ambitions.  Like in this story, the quest for our own greatness manifests itself through celebrity culture and a one-sided focus on personal achievement and material success at the expense of a living relationship with God.  Even religious endeavours are far too often motivated by a desire to make a name for ourselves by being the most popular church, having the greatest ministry, rather than by a desire to glorify God.  In the value system of this world, prominence and recognition seem more important than faithful service to God and others.  Yet when things fall apart, as they did in Babel, because we have left God out of the picture, we find ourselves in the very place that we had tried to avoid – scattered and left with nothing but a pile of rubble.

     As we consider history, we find that human efforts to create unity have usually been based on oppression.  Strong leaders unite a group of people at the expense of others.  Nations conquer and rule over other nations.  Political ideologies dominate and oppress those who oppose their ideas.  Today the world seems more divided than ever before and many are crying out for strong leadership – and it will come, as the Bible foretells, in the form of the Antichrist.  Yet, one final time, God will confound human attempts to create a unity without His presence.  While humanity endeavours to make a name for itself, JESUS will return to confound its efforts and establish His everlasting kingdom of peace.  In that day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:10-11)

     Meanwhile we, as Christ’s body on earth, are called to be a community that declares His name and reflects His glory.  Jesus is the Head, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Eph. 4:11-15).  Therefore let us be different to the world; let us not strive for our own individual greatness but rather, as living stones, be built up together into a spiritual house (1 Pet. 2:5) – a dwelling place of God’s presence (Eph. 2:22) to the glory of His name.

Newsletter August 2024

Beloved Son and Suffering Servant

 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and

went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.  While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

(Luke 9:28-36)

     When Jesus went about teaching about the kingdom of God and doing miracles large crowds gathered to hear Him and to be healed of illnesses and delivered from demonic oppression.  They came because they had needs and Jesus met their needs.  However, He also challenged them regarding their commitment.  He knew that He posed a threat to the religious and political establishment and that they would conspire to kill Him; and He knew that this was the purpose for which He had left His place in glory and taken on human form (Phil. 2:6-8).  He knew that many who were celebrating His miracles now would soon be discouraged and lose faith as they could not see beyond His humanity. 

     Jesus had just warned that following Him would mean giving up all; that, to receive the true life He was offering, they would have to give up the life they knew.  For many, He knew, the cost of discipleship would prove too much; once pressure came, such people would turn away.  Yes, some of the disciples would live to see His kingdom come with power, but not without sharing in His suffering.

     Alone on the mountain top with Peter, James and John, Jesus allowed these three disciples to catch a glimpse of who He really was.  As the Father drew back the veil of humanity that concealed His divinity, they were able to see Him in all His glory.  Peter recalls this encounter when He writes (2 Peter 1:18) we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.  What a privilege to be present at this moment of revelation!  What an experience!  Surely having seen Him transfigured and having heard the voice from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” they would never doubt again.  And yet these three, like the rest of the disciples, were overcome by fear and unbelief when they saw Jesus arrested and taken away to be crucified.  It was as if He had never told them that He would rise again to overcome the power of death – once for all.

     Fortunately, the story does not end there.  After His resurrection Jesus showed Himself to many and they believed (1 Cor. 15:5-8).  These witnesses then proclaimed the message of His resurrection everywhere and many more came to faith in the risen Christ (1 Cor. 15:3-4).  And as they proclaimed His kingdom, His power was manifested and many miracles were done in His name.  Jesus is still on the throne; He still rules supremely, and His power is still at work.  Yes, those early disciples suffered persecution, and some even died, but their eyes remained firmly fixed on the risen Lord, now seated in glory (Acts 7:55-56). 

     Therefore let us, like them, not be discouraged because of what we see happening around us.  Let us continue to trust in God.  Let us believe that He is still able to do the impossible – to stretch forth His hand to heal and protect.  And let us remember that we have an eternal hope beyond this life.  Let us find comfort in the assurance that those who have died in Christ have merely gone before us and are now forever in His glorious presence (1 Thess. 4:13-18).  Let us look to the day when there will be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain (Rev. 21:4) as all things are gathered together in Christ (Eph. 1:10).  

Bishop Konrad

Newsletter July 2024 Part 2

Faithful

 After the death of Moses, Joshua was to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land.  In Deuteronomy 34:9 we read that he was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.  Although Joshua’s role, on the surface, appears to be one of military conquest, in actual fact he follows Moses as a spiritual leader who is to remind the people of their calling to be God’s people.  The rest which the Israelites are to receive in the land God has given them in fulfilment of His promise to Abraham depends not on their own strength and ability but on their faith in and their faithfulness to God.  God’s promise is for His people – those who answer His call and commit themselves to His purpose that He may be glorified among the nations.  His Law (Hebrew: Torah – instruction) must therefore be at the centre of their lives. 

     God tells Joshua as the leader of His people that this Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8).  He commands Joshua to be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

     As humans, we tend to associate strength and courage/boldness with our ability to stand up for ourselves and our interests.  Even as Christians, we insist on our rights and make demands, believing that somehow we can achieve justice that way, forgetting that God’s ways are higher than man’s ways.  (Isaiah 55:9)  Everything comes from Him, the eternal Creator and sovereign Ruler of the universe.  Vengeance is His and true justice comes from Him.  He is able to prosper those who walk in His ways and commit their cause to Him.  He rewards those who seek His kingdom and make His righteousness their priority.  God’s blessing is always tied to obedience to His will revealed in His word.  He will send His rain on those who put their confidence in Him and follow His instruction.

     When the Israelites reach the river Jordan and are about to cross over into the Land of Canaan, Joshua admonishes them to sanctify themselves, for the LORD will do wonders among them.  (Joshua 3:5) They are to turn their eyes on God and to follow the Ark of His presence as it is carried ahead by the priests.  They are to keep a space between the Ark and themselves to ensure that they see where God is leading them so they do not end up running ahead of Him and thus into destruction.  He alone knows the way and He will guide them and fight for them.  All they need to do is to follow.

     We may not be at the boundary of a physical land waiting to enter in, but like the Israelites we are going a way that we have not gone before.  (Joshua 3:4)  Like them, we need to keep our eyes firmly on God.  His word needs to be at the centre of our lives.  It is only by following His leading at His pace – not running ahead according to our own understanding – that we will be able to remain faithful to Him, fulfil His purpose, and ultimately enter into His rest.

     Like everything in the Old Testament, the story of Joshua points to Jesus.  Everything is fulfilled in Him.  Joshua led the people into the land of Canaan, but they never entered into His rest.  (Hebrews 4:8-10)  Their story is one of falling away from God and being scattered, but also of God’s redemption and restoration as they return to Him with their whole heart. 

     God is faithful; He never forgets His promises.  Therefore He sent His Son, the One by whom He created the universe, the brightness of His glory and expressed image of His person (Hebrews 1:2-3) clothed in human flesh to live in the midst of a rebellious humanity in complete obedience to His Father’s purpose – even to the point of death on the cross.  Through His faithfulness, He purged our sin.  What we could not do in our own strength He accomplished by taking on humanity Himself, and by His Spirit in us He now calls us to take up our cross and follow Him.  Whatever the future may bring, God knows the way.  He will lead those who commit themselves to Him and remain faithful as Jesus was faithful.  Nothing will separate them from the love of God. (Romans 8:35-39) 

     Is your mind made up?  Have you put your trust entirely in Jesus?  Will you remain faithful to Him no matter what may come?  Will you keep your eyes on Him and follow His leading until you enter into His rest? Are you one of those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes? (Revelation 14:4)

Bishop Konrad

Newsletter July 2024

A heart to know God

  Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,  “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans.  For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up.  Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:4-7)

     At the time when God spoke these words through His prophet Jeremiah, Judah had been conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and many had been carried away into captivity while others were allowed to remain in Judah under Zedekiah, the new vassal king appointed by Nebuchadnezzar.  It would seem at this point that those who were in captivity were in a worse place than those who had been allowed to remain.  However, in this vision of the good and bad figs, God says that He has carried them away for their own good.  It is precisely in their captivity that God would set His eyes on them for good.

     As we experience both economic hardship and a fundamental change in values, many of the comforts we have known seem to be evaporating.  In the face of such trouble and uncertainty, it is easy to become discouraged and complain.  We might even feel that God has forgotten us.  Yet it is precisely in our apparent ‘captivity’ in an increasingly hostile world that God wants to reveal Himself to His people in a deeper way.  While the Covid lockdown was a time of adjusting and learning new ways of doing church services, we are now facing new challenges which require new adjustments.  We therefore need to be still and seek God in order to hear what He is saying to us by His Spirit. 

     In this word to the prophet, God promises to give the captives of Judah a heart to know Him and to make them truly into His people.  This transformation is God’s doing, His initiative.  Yet there is, as always, a condition to His promise: they must return to Him, not half-heartedly, but with their whole heart.  As it was then with Judah, it is now with us.  God’s purpose is that we draw near to Him, give ourselves completely over to His Spirit, so that He can restore His image in us. 

     While God was working among the captives, raising up a new generation who would be faithful to His calling even in the face of death, the people left in Jerusalem continued to drift away from God’s presence.  Instead of submitting to the Babylonians as Jeremiah urged them to do by the word of the LORD, they followed the advice of false prophets, took matters into their own hands and rebelled.  As a result of their rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar, and ultimately against the purpose of God, they lost everything: their homes, their city and even their temple where they had worshipped God.

     God is not limited by our circumstances.  Let us therefore not be discouraged when we experience hardship.  Rather let us like Paul glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, 

because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)  Let us seek God’s face in every situation, remembering that He promised to be with those who love Him and put their trust in Him, working all things together for good.  His divine purpose is to shape us into the image of His Son Jesus. (Romans 8:28-29) 

Bishop Konrad

Newsletter June 2024

God’s kingdom come

 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by [the apostles] during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:1-3)

     Luke begins his Acts of the Apostles by reiterating that Jesus who had been crucified rose from the dead and that those whom He had chosen were eyewitnesses to His resurrection, not just once but over a period of 40 days.  During this time He instructed them from the prophetic scriptures concerning the arrival of God’s kingdom on earth and sent them to proclaim this good news not only among their own people but to all nations.  Yet despite all that Jesus had explained to them, their focus was still on times and seasons.  They wanted to know when God would restore the kingdom to Israel, but Jesus pointed them to the immediate task He had for them:  you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

     Yes, Jesus had come into the world as the promised Messiah, the King of Israel, but for now He would return to His heavenly home.  Nonetheless, God’s reign would be manifested through the presence of the Holy Spirit who would work in them to transform first them and then through them the whole world.  Their witness would not merely be an account of what they had seen and heard, but a demonstration of their daily experience of God’s life-transforming presence.  This is why they had to wait for the Holy Spirit.

     As humans, we often struggle to wait for God’s timing and instruction.  We see that something needs to be done and we look for solutions.  This is true both in our own personal affairs and in our wider society.  Whatever the problem may be, we focus on what we can do to fix it.  Sadly, this is also true of the church.  We, who know God and have His Spirit in us, all too often revert to our own ideas and come up with our own solutions rather than wait patiently on God for His direction.

     Even during the short period of 10 days following His ascension, these followers of Jesus identified a need and came up with a solution of their own.  Jesus had appointed twelve apostles and now, following Judas’ betrayal and death, there were only eleven.  They determined what to do and decided to select two from among those others who had also been with Jesus from the beginning and had witnessed His resurrection, and then to allow God to choose between the two proposed candidates to fill the vacancy. (Acts 1:23) They cast lots to determine God’s will, and Matthias was chosen.  Interestingly we never hear of Matthias again.  While this does not imply that he lost his faith and abandoned the group of disciples, we hear in the course of the narrative about other individuals who suddenly appear on the scene as God raises them up and empowers them by His Spirit to proclaim His message and perform miracles in His name.  The most prominent and at the same time unlikely of these individuals chosen by God is Paul.  His encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus where he was heading to persecute the believers (Acts 9:3-4) resulted in him becoming an apostle to the Gentiles and the author of much of what we know today as the New Testament scriptures.

     God is always looking for those who are available to be used by Him, often not the ones we have on our radar.  He will enlist those who recognise that they are nothing but empty vessels without Him and fill them with His Spirit.  Are you such a person?  Is He perhaps calling you to something new?  Are you ready to receive His anointing and serve in His kingdom, not in your own strength and ability but by the power of His Spirit?  Will you seek His face and wait patiently for His instruction? 

Newsletter May 2024

God’s dwelling place

Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.  When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.  For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.  (2 Chronicles 7:12-16)

     Solomon had just completed the building of the temple in Jerusalem and had dedicated it to God as a place for His presence to dwell.  The temple of Solomon was modelled on the tabernacle of meeting, which God had instructed Moses to build – a mobile tent structure, which could be transported from place to place.  Like the tabernacle, the temple too had an outer court, where the people would offer their sacrifices and make their petitions to God.  Inside this court was the actual temple building which contained the Holy Place and, separated from it by a veil (or curtain), the Most Holy, where the high priest would meet with God and offer the annual sacrifice for the sins of the nation.  

     Yet Solomon’s temple was far more elaborate than the tabernacle of Moses’ time; it was a mighty, permanent structure, which towered high above the city for everyone to see.  Surely this building was worthy of the Almighty God!  And it was dedicated to God in a spectacular celebration with countless animal sacrifices.  God showed his approval of this new place of worship by filling it with His glory so that not even the priests were able to enter in.  However, it was after this remarkable event, when Solomon was by himself, that God appeared to him and promised that His presence would be in that place and that He would hear and answer the prayers of His people offered up there.

     Today, all that remains where the temple once stood in Jerusalem is a solitary wall where Jewish people gather to pray, as they remember the great days in their nation’s history.  Whatever happened to God’s dwelling place?  How does He manifest His presence?  God still desires to dwell with His people – with those who love and follow Him.  He is not, and never was, limited to buildings made with hands (Acts 7:48-50).  He inhabits eternity and His desire is to dwell with those who will humble themselves before His glorious presence (Isaiah 57:15). 

     God appeared to Solomon, confirming that He had accepted the place built for Him as a place of worship, and that His presence would be there.  Therefore, He would hear and answer the prayers of His people offered up in that place.  Before Jesus went to the cross and returned to heaven, He assured His disciples that they would not be left alone; the Holy Spirit would come to dwell in them (John 14:16-17).  Their bodies would be God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and in that day they would ask the Father in His name and the Father would hear and answer their prayers (John 16:26-27). 

     God is still seeking a people in whom He can dwell – and where God’s presence is manifest, where prayers are answered, where miracles take place!  Are we such a people?  Are we that spiritual temple that Paul describes in Ephesians 2:20-22, built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit with Christ as the cornerstone, who holds everything together?  Can the Almighty approve of what we present to Him as a dwelling place for His presence?                                                                 

Pastor Konrad  

Newsletter April 2024

God’s way of salvation

 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”  (Mark 15:39)

     Jesus had been brought to the governor Pilate with the accusation that he claimed to be a king, thus challenging the authority of the Roman emperor.  The Roman authorities cared little about religious disputes, but any challenge of their rule was punished with the utmost cruelty to humiliate anyone deemed to be a rebel.  For the Roman officer in charge of Jesus’ crucifixion this was most probably not the first time he had overseen this form of execution and heard the desperate cries of pain, but this time something was different.  Rather than receiving pity, this supposed king of the Jews was being mocked even in his suffering by his countrymen, who challenged Him to demonstrate His claim to be Israel’s Saviour by saving Himself.  Yet He remained silent, except when, just before His final breath, He cried out with a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

     Who was this Man who seemed so surrendered to His fate and, unlike others, showed no resentment towards those who were causing Him such suffering?  Why was His focus solely on His God, as if He knew that, through His death, He was fulfilling a greater purpose?  Truly this Man was the Son of God!” (v.34)

     The cross of Jesus is a mystery.  Why would the One who had come to save the world and had performed many miracles, even raising the dead, end His life in such a way.  Why did He not simply end all injustice and establish His rule of peace and justice on earth as the scriptures foretold? (Isaiah 2:1-4 & 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Daniel 7:13-14)  Had it all just been a dream?  Was all hope of justice and peace yet again being disappointed?  Would this world never change for good, the powerful continue exploiting the weak, the evil prospering while the righteous suffer?  No wonder the cross is foolishness to the wise of this world who maintain that change for good can only be effected through strength and force.

     God’s ways, however, are higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:9)  His power is manifest in our weakness.  Those who follow the example of His Son who came to earth to show us the way and put their trust entirely in God will be vindicated by Him.  On the cross, Jesus seemed utterly forsaken, but He knew that He would rise again and ascend to the Father, to be seated at His right hand in the place of ultimate authority.  From there He would send His Spirit to live in those who put their trust in God alone, those who take up their cross and follow after Him.  Those who are willing to deny self and lay down their lives will receive true life – eternal life in the world to come. (Mark 8:34-38)

     As we live our lives on earth trusting in Him and depending on the power of His Spirit alone, God gives us a foretaste of His blessings.  We are able to experience miracles as He worked them while He was on earth in the flesh, but, at the same time, we share in His rejection by a world that does not understand His ways nor submit to His rule. 

     What about you and me?  Have we fully surrendered to God?  Is our hope in Him alone?  Do we love as He loves and forgive as He forgives?  Or do we continue to live in rebellion while professing His lordship over our lives?  In the Roman Empire, rebels were crucified, exposed to shame so that others would submit.  In God’s purpose, the only One who ever lived in complete obedience, the Son of God, laid down His life for our forgiveness.  Therefore … let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-3)    

Newsletter March 2024

The Way of God

 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.  And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.  Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

     When Jesus had arrived at Jerusalem, He was welcomed by an expectant crowd as their Saviour (Matt. 21:8-9).  Yet immediately we read of a series of verbal exchanges with the unconvinced religious leaders.  These teachers of Israel made every possible effort to prove that this man could not be the expected Messiah by trying to catch Him out with their questions.  In this particular case, they sought to create a dilemma for Jesus.  If He answered ‘yes’ He would be perceived by the people as being complicit with their Gentile oppressors rather than being their deliverer from foreign rule.  If, however, He answered ‘no’ the Herodians would report Him to the Roman authorities as an instigator of rebellion, a crime punishable by death.  Jesus’ response was to take a coin and pose a question to his challengers: “Whose image and inscription is this?” Caesar’s? “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

     What did Jesus mean by ‘the things that are God’s’?  Clearly He was speaking of all we have received from our Creator – life itself.  Jesus was on this final journey to Jerusalem in order to give His life as a sacrifice for sin.  The only righteous One (Isaiah 59:16; Jeremiah 23:5-6), the faithful Son, was about to lay down His perfect life for a people that had strayed from their God and gone their own way.  And He called, and still calls, His followers to lay down their lives so they can find true life in Him.  Only those who will deny themselves and take up their cross will experience the new life that comes through His death and resurrection.

     As we read this passage, it is interesting to note how the Pharisees address Jesus: “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth”  The way is a theme that runs through scripture from Enoch, who walked with God (Genesis 5:22), to the messenger of God who would prepare the way for God’s Anointed by calling the people to turn their hearts back to God (Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3).  In the New Testament Jesus declares “I am the Way” (John 14:6) and His followers are referred to as the Way (Acts 9:2; 19:9; 22:4).  Jesus has gone ahead by giving Himself as a perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 12:2-3), something only the Son of God could do.  But He calls us to follow Him by walking in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7).  God’s salvation does not stop at receiving forgiveness; it continues as a daily walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8), guided by God’s Spirit (Romans 8:4) and His word (Psalm 119:105).  This is the way of God that Jesus not only taught as a true teacher of Israel, but that He came into this world to exemplify through His life and death, ultimately overcoming the curse of sin and death for us through His resurrection.

     Like the scribes and Pharisees at the time Jesus’ life on earth, the leaders of Judah at the time of Jeremiah had knowledge of the scriptures.  Yet God had to remind them through His prophet and warn them of the coming judgment if they failed to follow His way.  The words of Jeremiah still stand as a call to us and as a warning: Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.  But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’  (Jeremiah 6:16-17)

     How will we respond to this admonition?  Will we truly give to God the things that are God’s?  Will we lay down our lives as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) and allow ourselves to be transformed by His Spirit into His image?  (2 Corinthians 3:16-18)  Or will we follow our own way and thus be conformed to a world (Romans 12:2) that is drifting further and further from God’s light?    

Newsletter February 2024

God’s rest for His people

 “Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord swore to give your fathers, to them and their descendants, ‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’ For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.” (Deut. 11:8-12)

Moses spoke these words to the Israelites when they were about to enter the land promised to them by God.  The LORD their God had led them out of Egyptian bondage to Mount Sinai, where He revealed Himself to them and made a covenant with them, and eventually to the border of Canaan.  The journey had not been a smooth one and, due to rebellion and unbelief, a whole generation had missed out on God’s promise of a land of their own.  Moses reminded them that some of their fathers had been destroyed by God for making themselves an idol to worship or for rebelling against him, God’s chosen leader.  Therefore he admonished the next generation to remember God’s commands, to obey them and to teach them to their children.  God’s promise was sure, and the land he was giving them was a land of plenty, but they would only be able to possess it if they depended on Him and followed His ways rather than their own.  Their allegiance had to be to Him alone; they were to worship no other gods, but to love the LORD with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their strength (Deut. 6:5).

     Moses compares Canaan, the Promised Land, with Egypt.  However, surprisingly, he does not refer to the hardship their parents and the generations before them had suffered there; instead, he describes Egypt as a garden.  There was a time, after the days of Joseph, when Israel had lived in peace in Egypt.  They had benefitted from the abundant water provided all year round by the great River Nile.  They, like the Egyptians, had dug irrigation canals to direct the Nile’s water far beyond its banks, thus turning dry wasteland into highly productive fields.  Even when there was little or no rain the Nile continued to supply water for agriculture, thus providing the basis for a great civilisation, an achievement of human endeavour.  

     In this passage, Moses contrasts this with Canaan, a land of hills with complete dependence on the annual rainfall – the former rain in the spring, and the latter rain in autumn.  This bi-annual supply of water from heaven secured the fertility of the land; when the rain ceased, so did the crops.  Therefore the worship of the Canaanites was centred on fertility cults, involving all kinds of abominable practices from ritual prostitution to child sacrifice.  God’s command to Israel was to possess the land and destroy these people and their religious practices.  Instead, they should depend entirely on the God of heaven who would send rain from above to water the land that it could bring forth abundant fruit.  The bi-annual Feasts Shavuot (Pentecost) and Sukkot (Tabernacles) were to remind the Israelites that the almighty God had given them the land and that it was He who continued to provide for them. 

     Due to their rebellious disposition, the Israelites were not able to enter into God’s rest under the leadership of Joshua (Psalm 95:10-11; Hebrews 4:3).  Despite their unfaithfulness, however, the God of the Sinai covenant remained faithful to His promise by revealing Himself in the person of His Son Jesus (Heb. 1:1-4).  In Him we who believe have been made part of God’s people and thus recipients of His promised rest, not by our human effort but by His abundant grace.  The new birth effected by the Spirit in us through faith in Jesus allows us to enter the kingdom of God, the spiritual land He has prepared for us.  However, like Israel, we need to put God at the centre of our lives.  He will not share His glory with any other gods; nothing else must take pre-eminence in our lives. 

     Like the Israelites in the days of Moses and Joshua, we are to love the LORD with all their heart, and all their soul and all their strength– not from a mere sense of duty, but because we realise that He first loved us (1 John 4:19) and delivered us from the bondage of sin.  The human desire for independence and self-reliance is rebellion against God and thus the root of all sin (Gen. 3:5).  God’s answer to our sin is His provision of forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His call to a life of dependence on Him, guided and empowered by His Spirit. As we have received life by the Spirit, let as therefore walk in the Spirit. (Gal. 5:25)

Newsletter December 2023 Part 2

The King of Kings

 Wise men came to Jerusalem, the great city, carrying precious gifts.  They were looking for the newborn King whose star they had seen in the sky.  Where else were they to look, but in the palace?  Are kings not born in palaces?

     They passed through many gates, guarded by countless sentries ...  Until they saw him, elevated on a throne.  Clothed in riches, yet so poor.  Surrounded by hosts of servants and advisors.  People who continually reassured him of his greatness, a greatness – he knew deep inside – he did not possess.

    “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?”  (Mat. 2:2)  Herod was troubled.  Had the true King come?  Would this child take his place, expose him as a mere man, an imposter?  The books predicted God’s Anointed One to be born in Bethlehem. 

    Immediately, an evil plan was conceived: ... when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.  “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning.  Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”  (Mat. 2:18)  There can be no king beside me! 

    Led by the star, the wise men arrive in Bethlehem, at a stable.  There they find Him, lying in a manger, sharing His room with animals, surrounded by worshipping shepherds.  The King of Kings became poor so we might become rich (II Cor. 8:9).  He needed no guards, because His Father’s heavenly hosts protected Him; until one day, He would lay down His life for our forgiveness.  He needed no advisors, because in Him were hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3).  He needed no servants, because He himself had come to serve. (Mar. 10:45)

    In his letter to the Philippians, Paul describes the coming of Jesus Christ into this world as follows:

 …who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

     Pastor Konrad

Newsletter January 2024

Standing together in victory

Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.  And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.”   So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.  And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.  But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.  So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. (Exodus 17:8-13)

     As the Israelites approached Mount Horeb, they suddenly encountered opposition.  Without warning and with no apparent reason, the Amalekites attacked them just before they reached the place where they are to meet with God.  Moses immediately responded to this attack by appointing Joshua, a young man who had not been mentioned in the Exodus story thus far, to lead an army of people who had neither been trained in warfare nor had ever fought a battle before.  Meanwhile, Moses himself went to the top of a hill overlooking the battlefield and raised his rod.  He knew that this battle could not be won in the natural, but he also knew that every time he raised his rod, God’s power was released to bring victory to His people.

     It’s no different with us.  We too have an enemy who attacks us when we least expect it.  How often do we progress in our spiritual journey and, just as we are about to enter into God’s presence, something happens that sets us back to where we were before.  Our spiritual enemy does everything in his power to stop us from reaching that place.  All of a sudden, everything appears to go wrong, problems take over at work or in our family lives, or we are struck with sudden illness.  As a result, we lose focus and regress in our spiritual journey.  We may become discouraged and begin to doubt whether we will ever experience the fullness of His presence, which we so long for.  There seems to be nothing we can do in the natural realm, but, like Moses, we have a weapon that will release the power of the Almighty God – prayer.  Rather than respond to such setbacks through natural means, we need to recognise our spiritual enemy (Ephesians 6:12).  We need to be vigilant and resist him (1 Peter 5:8-9).  We need to be aware of his devices, so he cannot take advantage of us (2 Corinthians 2:11) and, as Moses lifted up his rod, we need to lift up our voices in prayer.

     As we read on in Exodus (17:12), however, we find that Moses’ arms became weary and he struggled to hold up the rod on his own.   Aaron and Hur had to come to his assistance.  They sat him down on a stone and held up his arms, one on each side.  Like Moses, we cannot manage on our own; we all need each other.  Just as Aaron and Hur bore up the arms of Moses, so that he could continue to hold up the rod, we too need to bare one another up in prayer.  That is why we are encouraged to pray together (Matthew 18:19-20).  That is why we have corporate prayer meetings, where we pray for one another’s needs.  And that is why we begin each year with 21 days of prayer with a particular focus on our church leaders who are at the forefront of the spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:18-19; Romans 15:30), as well as the needs of all believers.  The victory is ours – but it comes only through prayer! Let us be ready for the enemy’s onslaught in 2024.  Let us pray each in our own time, but also let us stand together by attending the prayer meetings scheduled for this new season as much as possible.                                         

Bishop Konrad

Newsletter December 2023 Part 1

The King has come

      We have arrived at the end of another year and will be celebrating Christmas to remember the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ into the world.  The prophet Isaiah foretold this event more than half a millennium before it occurred (Isaiah 9:2; 6-7):

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined….

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

     Isaiah describes the condition of man before the coming of Christ as walking in darkness.  God had revealed Himself to the nation of Israel and had given them His Law and spoken to them through various prophets.  Nonetheless, they were still living in darkness, unable to discern the things of God.  Since Adam and Eve had turned from God, the intimate relationship they had previously enjoyed with their Creator had been severed.  As a result of their disobedience they lost their place in the perfect world of God’s garden and, instead of enjoying His loving presence, they now lived in the kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan, the prince of darkness.  This is the state that Isaiah was describing – until the coming of God’s Anointed. 

     The birth of Christ would usher in a completely new era, as those who would answer His call to follow Him would be born anew by the power of His Spirit and restored to the relationship God had always intended for them.  In his letter to the Colossians, the apostle Paul expresses this transformation as follows:

     He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (1:13-14)  He then goes on to explain to his readers that this man Jesus is in fact the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

     The miracle of Christmas is that God, who created the universe, came to us, his creation, became one of us.  He came in the flesh, fully man and fully God.  He lived among His people, but they did not recognise Him.  Yet those who received Him, those who believed in Him, received power to become children of God.  They were delivered from spiritual death and restored to true life through the miracle of the new birth.  (John 1:10-13) 

     What about you?  Do you recognise who He is?  Do you receive Him as your Saviour?  Do you believe that He came to die for you and to restore you to God?  As we celebrate Christmas, let us reflect on the miracle of Bethlehem, let us worship Jesus and thank Him for coming to give us new life.  And let us live the new life we have received in communion with our heavenly Father.           

Bishop Konrad

Newsletter November 2023 Part 2

Celebration time

 As Jesus sat at table with his followers, talking to them about the principles of His kingdom, one of those listening said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” (Luke 14:15) As so often, Jesus replied by telling a story: A man gives a dinner party and sends his servant out to his friends to tell them that everything is prepared for them.  However, instead of being glad to be invited, they all decline, saying they are busy with their own affairs and therefore cannot come.  

     Understandably, the host is angry.  He has put a lot of effort into preparing and evidently what he has to offer means little to his so-called friends.  But then he has an idea: he remembers the beggars he sees every day as he walks through the town.  They may not have the appropriate clothes for a dinner party and they may not know anything about table manners, but surely they’ll appreciate being invited.  So he sends his servant out once more to bring in anyone he can find. 

     We can only imagine the eyes of those hungry beggars, as they enter the dining room and see the table spread with all kinds of delicacies, many of which they may never even have had an opportunity to taste.  Seeing the joy in their eyes as they celebrate together, the host would not have given those unappreciative friends a second thought.  However the servant comes to him saying, “Master, these here are all I could find in town, yet there are still seats left.”  So his master instructs him to go out once more, this time beyond the town’s boundaries, to the places where the outcasts of society live.  He tells the servant to bring them in as well, so that none of those who were initially invited would taste of his food.  So the servant goes out once more, searching everywhere until all the seats at his master’s table are taken. 

     Now, taking care of many guests means a lot of work for a servant.  After all, someone has to serve the food, and someone has to clear up after the meal.  Most servants would therefore be quite happy for a few empty seats and for a few clean plates that don’t need to be washed.  And more leftovers could mean more food to take home for the family.  This particular servant, however, doesn’t think that way.  He knows his master’s heart.  It is he who notices that there is still room, and it is he who makes his master aware of this fact, knowing full well that he is the one who will have to do the extra work.

     What kind of servants are we?  Are we quite comfortable with things just as they are?  Or do we, like the servant in the parable, see room at our Master’s table?  Do we think of those who are lost in spiritual depravation.  As we see God’s rich spread, do we notice the empty seats?  Do we envisage a house filled with celebrating guests, no matter who they are and where the come from?  Do we come to our Master saying, “Lord, shall I go out once more to see if I can find anyone else to share in what you have provided?” 

     The hungry are somewhere out there, but are we willing to find them and call them in?  And are we ready to receive them and look after them, spiritually and, if need be, materially?  Will we go that extra mile to bring hope to the lost and joy to our heavenly Master. 

Pastor Konrad