Nabeel Qureshi - A Journey From Islam
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Minha Graça Te Basta!”
http://anchor.tfionline.com/pt/post/minha-graca-te-basta/
D. Brandt Berg
Submeter todo o nosso ser ao Senhor talvez não seja a coisa mais fácil, poder orar sinceramente em cada tomada de decisão: "Não se faça a minha vontade, mas a Tua!" Mas lembre-se que Jesus prome“teu que faria com que a Sua vontade fosse fácil. Ele disse: "Vinde a Mim todos os que estais cansados e oprimidos e Eu vos aliviarei. Tomai sobre vós o Meu jugo, e aprendei de Mim, que sou manso e humilde de coração, e encontrareis descanso para as vossas almas. Porque o Meu jugo é suave e o Meu fardo é leve.”[1]
Ele promete que o Seu jugo nunca será difícil demais, nem seu fardo pesado demais. Então se você aceitar como sendo do Senhor e fizer a Sua vontade, não vai ser nem muito difícil nem muito pesado. E se não puder fazer mais nada, aceite só por fé, porque Jesus assim o disse — até mesmo quando parece que pode ser difícil e pesado demais.
Deus prometeu que Ele jamais colocará nos seus ombros um fardo que seja mais do que você consegue carregar. Ele diz: "Não veio sobre vós tentação, senão humana; mas, fiel é Deus, que vos não vos deixará tentar acima do que podeis. Antes, com a tentação, dará também o escape, para que a possais suportar.”[2]
Ele nunca permitirá que você enfrente mais do que consegue suportar. Então, se você se encontra enfrentando um momento difícil de provação, peça-Lhe para ajudá-lo a aguentar como um bom soldado de Jesus Cristo.[3]
Então se você um dia pensar que os testes, as batalhas e as provas são mais do que você consegue suportar, e que simplesmente não dá para aguentar, que são difíceis demais para a sua força, maiores do que você, lembre-se que o Senhor é maior do que eles! — Então, entregue-os a Ele! Chegue-se a Jesus e fique desesperado com Ele e apoie-se nEle.
Dê-me uma tarefa grande demais para mim,
Difícil demais para mãos humanas,
E no final eu me apoiarei em Ti,
E me apoiando, encontrarei a minha força.[4]
Quando o fardo e a carga parecem ser pesados demais para você, lembre-se da história do menininho que estava se esforçando muito para levantar um móvel bem pesado. O pai dele entrou e ao notar o esforço que o filho estava fazendo, perguntou: "Você está usando toda a sua força?" "É claro que estou." exclamou o menino impacientemente. "Não está não," respondeu o pai. "Você ainda não me pediu para ajudar!”
Quando você é fraco, então pode ser forte, pois a força dEle pode entrar em cena e se manifestar na sua fraqueza. Se você se apoiar nEle! Ele diz: "A Minha graça te basta, porque o Meu poder se aperfeiçoa na tua fraqueza.”[5] Eu já reparei que muitas vezes, quando estava mais fraco na carne, estava mais forte no espírito, porque tinha que ficar totalmente à mercê do Senhor. Você não sabe como vai conseguir, mas Ele pode fazê-lo! Deus sabe que você sozinho nunca conseguirá. Mas se você simplesmente se submeter e sujeitar a Ele, então o poder dEle poderá agir através de você! "Porque Deus é o que opera em vós, tanto o querer como o efetuar, segundo a Sua boa vontade.”[6]
Então, Senhor, nós simplesmente Lhe pedimos que seja feita a Sua vontade na vida de cada um de nós, para extrair de nossas vidas o que Você quer, e colocar em cada vida o que Você quer, para que possamos fazer a Sua vontade de modo a trazer muito mais vidas para o Seu Reino, para a Sua glória. Você nos disse que só pode usar pessoas quebradas, para que sejamos apenas pó e não sejamos nada, e depois Você possa nos remodelar e usar da maneira que achar melhor.
Jesus, nós queremos estar dispostos e submissos, porque só Você pode encher vasos vazios que têm fome e sede da água da vida e do Seu Espírito.[7] Então, por favor, ajude-nos a sermos como vasos vazios, com fome e sede da Sua justiça, dispostos a receber o que Você tem para nós, a sermos o que Você quiser que sejamos, Senhor, seja o que for. Ajude-nos a todos, Jesus!
Por favor, nos mantenha perto de Você e na Sua vontade, submetendo-nos a Você em cada aspect, em nome de Jesus, amém!
Você está deixando o Senhor guiar a sua vida? Está pronto para qualquer coisa? Qualquer coisa que Deus queira que você faça? Você está se estiver disposto! Se quiser sinceramente agradar e seguir Jesus, e ser o que Ele quer que você seja. Deus abençoe e ajude você a submeter-se a Jesus e seguir o caminho de Deus. Amém.
Ser somente o que Ele quer que eu seja,
Cada momento de cada dia!
Ser só todo submisso a Jesus, o Senhor,
A cada passo peregrino desta vida!
Ser somente o barro na mão do Oleiro,
Obedecer somente, pôr a Sua vontade primeiro!
Ser somente o que Ele quer que eu seja,
A cada momento de cada dia.[8]
Compilado dos escritos de David Brandt Berg, publicado originalmente em abril de 1987. Adaptado e republicado em outubro de 2014. Tradução Denise Oliveira. Revisão H.R.Flandoli.
Footnotes
[1] Mateus 11:28–30.
[2] 1 Coríntios 10:13.
[3] 2 Timóteo 2:3.
[4] W. H. Fowler.
[5] 2 Coríntios 12:9.
[6] Filipenses 2:13.
[7] Mateus 5:6.
[8] Adaptação de “Every Moment of Every Day,” de Norman J. Clayton (1903–1992).
D. Brandt Berg
Submeter todo o nosso ser ao Senhor talvez não seja a coisa mais fácil, poder orar sinceramente em cada tomada de decisão: "Não se faça a minha vontade, mas a Tua!" Mas lembre-se que Jesus prome“teu que faria com que a Sua vontade fosse fácil. Ele disse: "Vinde a Mim todos os que estais cansados e oprimidos e Eu vos aliviarei. Tomai sobre vós o Meu jugo, e aprendei de Mim, que sou manso e humilde de coração, e encontrareis descanso para as vossas almas. Porque o Meu jugo é suave e o Meu fardo é leve.”[1]
Ele promete que o Seu jugo nunca será difícil demais, nem seu fardo pesado demais. Então se você aceitar como sendo do Senhor e fizer a Sua vontade, não vai ser nem muito difícil nem muito pesado. E se não puder fazer mais nada, aceite só por fé, porque Jesus assim o disse — até mesmo quando parece que pode ser difícil e pesado demais.
Deus prometeu que Ele jamais colocará nos seus ombros um fardo que seja mais do que você consegue carregar. Ele diz: "Não veio sobre vós tentação, senão humana; mas, fiel é Deus, que vos não vos deixará tentar acima do que podeis. Antes, com a tentação, dará também o escape, para que a possais suportar.”[2]
Ele nunca permitirá que você enfrente mais do que consegue suportar. Então, se você se encontra enfrentando um momento difícil de provação, peça-Lhe para ajudá-lo a aguentar como um bom soldado de Jesus Cristo.[3]
Então se você um dia pensar que os testes, as batalhas e as provas são mais do que você consegue suportar, e que simplesmente não dá para aguentar, que são difíceis demais para a sua força, maiores do que você, lembre-se que o Senhor é maior do que eles! — Então, entregue-os a Ele! Chegue-se a Jesus e fique desesperado com Ele e apoie-se nEle.
Dê-me uma tarefa grande demais para mim,
Difícil demais para mãos humanas,
E no final eu me apoiarei em Ti,
E me apoiando, encontrarei a minha força.[4]
Quando o fardo e a carga parecem ser pesados demais para você, lembre-se da história do menininho que estava se esforçando muito para levantar um móvel bem pesado. O pai dele entrou e ao notar o esforço que o filho estava fazendo, perguntou: "Você está usando toda a sua força?" "É claro que estou." exclamou o menino impacientemente. "Não está não," respondeu o pai. "Você ainda não me pediu para ajudar!”
Quando você é fraco, então pode ser forte, pois a força dEle pode entrar em cena e se manifestar na sua fraqueza. Se você se apoiar nEle! Ele diz: "A Minha graça te basta, porque o Meu poder se aperfeiçoa na tua fraqueza.”[5] Eu já reparei que muitas vezes, quando estava mais fraco na carne, estava mais forte no espírito, porque tinha que ficar totalmente à mercê do Senhor. Você não sabe como vai conseguir, mas Ele pode fazê-lo! Deus sabe que você sozinho nunca conseguirá. Mas se você simplesmente se submeter e sujeitar a Ele, então o poder dEle poderá agir através de você! "Porque Deus é o que opera em vós, tanto o querer como o efetuar, segundo a Sua boa vontade.”[6]
Então, Senhor, nós simplesmente Lhe pedimos que seja feita a Sua vontade na vida de cada um de nós, para extrair de nossas vidas o que Você quer, e colocar em cada vida o que Você quer, para que possamos fazer a Sua vontade de modo a trazer muito mais vidas para o Seu Reino, para a Sua glória. Você nos disse que só pode usar pessoas quebradas, para que sejamos apenas pó e não sejamos nada, e depois Você possa nos remodelar e usar da maneira que achar melhor.
Jesus, nós queremos estar dispostos e submissos, porque só Você pode encher vasos vazios que têm fome e sede da água da vida e do Seu Espírito.[7] Então, por favor, ajude-nos a sermos como vasos vazios, com fome e sede da Sua justiça, dispostos a receber o que Você tem para nós, a sermos o que Você quiser que sejamos, Senhor, seja o que for. Ajude-nos a todos, Jesus!
Por favor, nos mantenha perto de Você e na Sua vontade, submetendo-nos a Você em cada aspect, em nome de Jesus, amém!
Você está deixando o Senhor guiar a sua vida? Está pronto para qualquer coisa? Qualquer coisa que Deus queira que você faça? Você está se estiver disposto! Se quiser sinceramente agradar e seguir Jesus, e ser o que Ele quer que você seja. Deus abençoe e ajude você a submeter-se a Jesus e seguir o caminho de Deus. Amém.
Ser somente o que Ele quer que eu seja,
Cada momento de cada dia!
Ser só todo submisso a Jesus, o Senhor,
A cada passo peregrino desta vida!
Ser somente o barro na mão do Oleiro,
Obedecer somente, pôr a Sua vontade primeiro!
Ser somente o que Ele quer que eu seja,
A cada momento de cada dia.[8]
Compilado dos escritos de David Brandt Berg, publicado originalmente em abril de 1987. Adaptado e republicado em outubro de 2014. Tradução Denise Oliveira. Revisão H.R.Flandoli.
Footnotes
[1] Mateus 11:28–30.
[2] 1 Coríntios 10:13.
[3] 2 Timóteo 2:3.
[4] W. H. Fowler.
[5] 2 Coríntios 12:9.
[6] Filipenses 2:13.
[7] Mateus 5:6.
[8] Adaptação de “Every Moment of Every Day,” de Norman J. Clayton (1903–1992).
Choose Love
http://anchor.tfionline.com/post/choose-love/
A compilation
Audio length: 8:12
Download Audio (7.5MB)
Above all that is happening to you today, choose love. Love embraces. Love assumes the best. Love dares to hold to truth even when it’s hard. Love is a good gift to offer. Love is a decision we make because it so beautifully reflects what Jesus has told us to do. To be. To exude. To those who love us and to those who don’t. Love tilts her head in the direction of grace when she hears the whisper,“Let’s dance.” And then even when her soul is tired and her feet hurt from all the places she’s been instructed to go—a woman of love whispers back, “Yes.”—Lysa TerKeurst
*
We say that grace is “unmerited favor.” And we are instructed to love as Christ loves us. He shows us grace; we are to show each other grace. That means we are to be kinder to people than what we think they deserve.—Author unknown
*
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.—Henry Drummond
*
When it comes to love for others, those who have My Spirit have a great advantage because My Spirit works in them to rewire their minds and hearts to love others. I told some of My first followers, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”1 In that day, the love My followers had for one another caused the world to sit up and take notice. Such love is even more noticeable in this day and age when people are often so consumed with themselves. Many people have closed themselves off from loving sacrificially. But this lack of love only serves to make My love shine more brightly! Every time you put My love into action, you also become a little more like Me, so people can see more of Me and less of you.
I am the source of love. I am love, and you can have more of My Spirit of love than you’ve ever had before. “Ask and you will receive.”2 If you pray for the love you need and are then willing to put it into action, I will give you My love in such tremendous volume and power that you will know you are part of a miracle!—Jesus, speaking in prophecy
*
Everyone needs and wants true unconditional love, but many people in the world never find it. Eternal love, the kind that overcomes all things, only comes through receiving Jesus, and our job is to show people His love, and help them to receive Jesus and enjoy the fruit of His love in their lives. To do this, we need to show people an example of Jesus’ love in our interactions with one another. When our daily lives manifest genuine love for one another, people are attracted to want to know more about Jesus and the Word.—Maria Fontaine
*
Lee Iacocca once asked legendary football coach Vince Lombardi what it took to make a winning team. The book entitled Iacocca records Lombardi’s answer.
“There are a lot of coaches with good ball clubs who know the fundamentals and have plenty of discipline but still don’t win the game. Then you come to the third ingredient: if you’re going to play together as a team, you have got to care for one another. You have got to love each other. Each player has to be thinking about the next guy and saying to himself: If I don’t block that man, Paul is going to get his legs broken. I have to do my job well in order that he can do his.
“The difference between mediocrity and greatness,” Lombardi said that night, “is the feeling those guys have for each other.”
In the healthy church, each Christian learns to care for others. As we take seriously Jesus’ command to love one another, we contribute to a winning team.—Author unknown
*
Above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.—Colossians 3:143
*
Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. … Care for those around you. Look past your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices no more easily made. And give, give in any way you can, of whatever you possess. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less for your harvest than for how it is shared and your life will have meaning and your heart will have peace.—Kent Nerburn
*
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.—Romans 12:104
*
Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Why do you think He said that? Wouldn’t it have been enough for you to simply tell others about the love of Jesus? Couldn’t the Lord just as well have said, “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you preach My message”? Wouldn’t that have been enough?
Evidently not, because the Lord said that all men would know that you are His if youhave love one for another. And if you have love one for another, you’re certainly going to show it throughout the day in obvious, tangible ways that others can see. It’s not good enough to just talk about love. Jesus said you have to have love, you have to live love. The Lord knew that there would be no denying that example.
Pray and ask the Lord to help you follow His great commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. This is the reason Jesus came to earth in the first place—so we could have life eternal, yes, but also to teach us to love, so we could turn around and give that life to others.—D. Brandt Berg
Published on Anchor December 2014. Read by Jon Marc. Music by Michael Dooley.
1 John 13:35.
2 Matthew 7:7.
3 ISV.
4 KJV.
A compilation
Audio length: 8:12
Download Audio (7.5MB)
Above all that is happening to you today, choose love. Love embraces. Love assumes the best. Love dares to hold to truth even when it’s hard. Love is a good gift to offer. Love is a decision we make because it so beautifully reflects what Jesus has told us to do. To be. To exude. To those who love us and to those who don’t. Love tilts her head in the direction of grace when she hears the whisper,“Let’s dance.” And then even when her soul is tired and her feet hurt from all the places she’s been instructed to go—a woman of love whispers back, “Yes.”—Lysa TerKeurst
*
We say that grace is “unmerited favor.” And we are instructed to love as Christ loves us. He shows us grace; we are to show each other grace. That means we are to be kinder to people than what we think they deserve.—Author unknown
*
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.—Henry Drummond
*
When it comes to love for others, those who have My Spirit have a great advantage because My Spirit works in them to rewire their minds and hearts to love others. I told some of My first followers, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”1 In that day, the love My followers had for one another caused the world to sit up and take notice. Such love is even more noticeable in this day and age when people are often so consumed with themselves. Many people have closed themselves off from loving sacrificially. But this lack of love only serves to make My love shine more brightly! Every time you put My love into action, you also become a little more like Me, so people can see more of Me and less of you.
I am the source of love. I am love, and you can have more of My Spirit of love than you’ve ever had before. “Ask and you will receive.”2 If you pray for the love you need and are then willing to put it into action, I will give you My love in such tremendous volume and power that you will know you are part of a miracle!—Jesus, speaking in prophecy
*
Everyone needs and wants true unconditional love, but many people in the world never find it. Eternal love, the kind that overcomes all things, only comes through receiving Jesus, and our job is to show people His love, and help them to receive Jesus and enjoy the fruit of His love in their lives. To do this, we need to show people an example of Jesus’ love in our interactions with one another. When our daily lives manifest genuine love for one another, people are attracted to want to know more about Jesus and the Word.—Maria Fontaine
*
Lee Iacocca once asked legendary football coach Vince Lombardi what it took to make a winning team. The book entitled Iacocca records Lombardi’s answer.
“There are a lot of coaches with good ball clubs who know the fundamentals and have plenty of discipline but still don’t win the game. Then you come to the third ingredient: if you’re going to play together as a team, you have got to care for one another. You have got to love each other. Each player has to be thinking about the next guy and saying to himself: If I don’t block that man, Paul is going to get his legs broken. I have to do my job well in order that he can do his.
“The difference between mediocrity and greatness,” Lombardi said that night, “is the feeling those guys have for each other.”
In the healthy church, each Christian learns to care for others. As we take seriously Jesus’ command to love one another, we contribute to a winning team.—Author unknown
*
Above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.—Colossians 3:143
*
Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. … Care for those around you. Look past your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices no more easily made. And give, give in any way you can, of whatever you possess. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less for your harvest than for how it is shared and your life will have meaning and your heart will have peace.—Kent Nerburn
*
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.—Romans 12:104
*
Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Why do you think He said that? Wouldn’t it have been enough for you to simply tell others about the love of Jesus? Couldn’t the Lord just as well have said, “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you preach My message”? Wouldn’t that have been enough?
Evidently not, because the Lord said that all men would know that you are His if youhave love one for another. And if you have love one for another, you’re certainly going to show it throughout the day in obvious, tangible ways that others can see. It’s not good enough to just talk about love. Jesus said you have to have love, you have to live love. The Lord knew that there would be no denying that example.
Pray and ask the Lord to help you follow His great commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. This is the reason Jesus came to earth in the first place—so we could have life eternal, yes, but also to teach us to love, so we could turn around and give that life to others.—D. Brandt Berg
Published on Anchor December 2014. Read by Jon Marc. Music by Michael Dooley.
1 John 13:35.
2 Matthew 7:7.
3 ISV.
4 KJV.
Homens da Montanha
http://anchor.tfionline.com/pt/post/homens-da-montanha/
Introdução por Peter Amsterdam
David apresenta quatro princípios que se aplicam à nossa vida espiritual no simbolismo que usa ao falar de passarmos tempo na montanha, mas que também podem ser aplicados à nossa vida prática.
1. O princípio de estar a sós com Deus, em oração e meditação, estando quieto e permitindo ao Senhor Se comunicar com você. O simbolismo de conseguir ver a luz por muito mais tempo na montanha do que estando no vale. O custo pessoal de tomar este tempo, o esforço necessário, simbolizado pelo frio e o vento na montanha, mas também a recompensa, as coisas que você ouve ou vê enquanto está na montanha com Deus e que é excitante.
2. O princípio de retirar-se do barulho e agitação da vida, simbolizado pelo vale. A importância de não ficar demasiadamente envolvido nas atividades da vida, a ponto de esquecer o seu tempo na montanha, seu tempo com Deus, de se renovar e revigorar em espírito.
3. O princípio de perseverar em seguir o seu sonho, ou o seu chamado, ou qualquer coisa que ache que Deus está lhe mostrando que valha a pena fazer. -- Perceber o custo de escalar a montanha de seus sonhos, os sacrifícios que se faz muitas vezes para alcançar essas metas, o custo pessoal, mas também as recompensas de se lutar para consegui-las.
4. O princípio de pioneirar. Ter uma visão de fazer algo novo, fé para acreditar que pode ser feito, iniciativa para ir em frente e tentar, e a coragem, o ânimo e a dedicação para levar tal visão a cabo.
Ao longo da história, muitas coisas importantes aconteceram nas montanhas físicas. Acontecimentos importantes podem acontecer na sua história se você aprender os princípios de passar tempo na montanha do espírito. Seja um homem da montanha!
*
Homens da Montanha
D. Brandt Berg
Picos das montanhas nunca têm muita gente. Escalei muitas montanhas e estava quase sempre sozinho. Por quê?
É trabalho duro
Não são muitas as pessoas que desejam escalar montanhas.
É solitário.
Tem de se renunciar a tudo para o fazer.
Pode lhe custar a vida.
Você ganha muitos arranhões e machucados.
Muito depois do vale se encontrar na escuridão, eu ainda conseguia ver o sol. Na montanha há mais luz. O vale está cheio de pessoas e coisas, mas geralmente na escuridão. A montanha é ventosa e fria, mas emocionante.
Você tem que sentir que realmente vale a pena morrer por aquilo! Qualquer montanha -- a montanha desta vida, das realizações, dos obstáculos, das dificuldades -- se for escalá-las, elas terão que valer a pena dar sua vida, encarar o vento, o frio e a tempestade, que simbolizam as adversidades.
Mas na montanha, sozinhos, sentimo-nos tão perto do Senhor! Aí a voz do Seu Espírito é tão alta, que é quase como se trovejasse! No vale, a voz da multidão é tão ruidosa que não se consegue ouvir a voz de Deus. O silêncio no pico da montanha é ensurdecedor! Fica-se realmente "eufórico" no cume de uma montanha! É emocionante! É quase aterrador!
Apenas pioneiros sobem montanhas -- pessoas que querem fazer algo que nunca ninguém fez -- pessoas que querem ultrapassar a multidão -- para além do que já foi feito e realizado. Os pioneiros têm de ter visão -- para verem o que mais ninguém vê; fé -- para acreditarem no que mais ninguém acredita; iniciativa -- para serem os primeiros a tentar; coragem -- estômago para o conseguirem!
Na montanha somos os primeiros a ver o sol nascer e os últimos a vê-lo pôr-se! Vemos o círculo completo da gloriosa criação de Deus! Vemos o mundo na sua perspectiva correta, com cordilheira após cordilheira para ser conquistada e um mundo para além do horizonte do homem vulgar. Vemos cumes distantes ainda por escalar! Vemos vales distantes ainda por atravessar. Vemos coisas que os homens nos vales nunca podem ver. -- Não podem sequer compreendê-las, porque não as conseguem ver. E podemos ver a circunferência de 360° do horizonte inteiro -- tudo! É como ver a vida na sua totalidade desde o principio ao fim e compreender. Sentimos que se vive na eternidade.
O terreno do vale e o domínio do homem -- as terras altas são o domínio de Deus. O homem domina o vale -- só Deus domina a montanha, e os homens que lá habitam sabem disso. Mas os das montanhas vivem tão perto de Deus e de coisas tão assustadoras, terríveis e perigosas, que têm de viver próximos do Senhor.
*
Não há muitos lugares onde se possa viver na montanha -- pequenos abrigos toscos, choças. Não há muito que comer, é frio e ventoso, mas lá até morrer é emocionante. É melhor morrer na montanha do que viver no vale. Porque quem é que já leu no jornal a notícia do homem que escorregou e caiu numa rua da cidade? Contudo a notícia do homem que morre na montanha mesmo na longínqua Suíça -- pode ler-se nos jornais daqui! Porque, pelo menos, ousou tentar.
Caminhos batidos são para homens vencidos, mas os cumes das montanhas são para os valentes.
Nunca se ouve falar das pessoas que esperam para ver se é possível fazê-lo. Só se ouve falar das que conseguiram. Só se ouve falar das pessoas que ou fizeram ou morreram tentando. Nunca se ouve falar desses turistas esnobes, em algum lugar numa luxuosa pista de esqui. Só se ouve falar daqueles que ou conseguiram ou tentaram. Mas, quando conseguirmos, a boca de Deus vai se abrir para nós. Falará conosco cara-a-cara. Ele Próprio nos ensinará e revelará os Seus maiores segredos.
As maiores leis alguma vez dadas ao homem, pelas quais ainda se rege a maior parte do mundo civilizado, foram entregues a um homem que estava só numa montanha. O maior dos sermões jamais pregado foi dado a um punhado de homens da montanha pelo maior de todos os alpinistas, que finalmente subiu a Sua última montanha -- o monte Calvário -- o Gólgata, e morreu sozinho pelos pecados do mundo.2 Aquela era uma montanha que só Ele podia subir por você e por mim -- mas Ele foi!
O que ouvimos então na montanha? Coisas que vão ecoar por todo o mundo. O que ouvimos na quietude? Murmúrios que vão mudar o curso da história.
Oito pessoas desceram de uma montanha -- Noé e a sua família, da arca, no Monte Ararat -- e eles nunca mais foram os mesmos e o mundo também não.3 Um homem, Moisés, desceu de uma montanha, e uma nação inteira nunca mais foi a mesma, tendo mudado o mundo! Jesus e os Seus discípulos desceram daquela montanha e mudaram o mundo! Nunca mais foram os mesmos. E você? é um homem da montanha?
Originalmente publicado em dezembro de 1969. Compilado e republicado em novembro de 2010.
Lido por Peter Amsterdam.
1 Êxodo 24:12.
2 Capítulos de Mateus 5–7, 27:33–35.
3 Gênesis 8:1–17.
Introdução por Peter Amsterdam
David apresenta quatro princípios que se aplicam à nossa vida espiritual no simbolismo que usa ao falar de passarmos tempo na montanha, mas que também podem ser aplicados à nossa vida prática.
1. O princípio de estar a sós com Deus, em oração e meditação, estando quieto e permitindo ao Senhor Se comunicar com você. O simbolismo de conseguir ver a luz por muito mais tempo na montanha do que estando no vale. O custo pessoal de tomar este tempo, o esforço necessário, simbolizado pelo frio e o vento na montanha, mas também a recompensa, as coisas que você ouve ou vê enquanto está na montanha com Deus e que é excitante.
2. O princípio de retirar-se do barulho e agitação da vida, simbolizado pelo vale. A importância de não ficar demasiadamente envolvido nas atividades da vida, a ponto de esquecer o seu tempo na montanha, seu tempo com Deus, de se renovar e revigorar em espírito.
3. O princípio de perseverar em seguir o seu sonho, ou o seu chamado, ou qualquer coisa que ache que Deus está lhe mostrando que valha a pena fazer. -- Perceber o custo de escalar a montanha de seus sonhos, os sacrifícios que se faz muitas vezes para alcançar essas metas, o custo pessoal, mas também as recompensas de se lutar para consegui-las.
4. O princípio de pioneirar. Ter uma visão de fazer algo novo, fé para acreditar que pode ser feito, iniciativa para ir em frente e tentar, e a coragem, o ânimo e a dedicação para levar tal visão a cabo.
Ao longo da história, muitas coisas importantes aconteceram nas montanhas físicas. Acontecimentos importantes podem acontecer na sua história se você aprender os princípios de passar tempo na montanha do espírito. Seja um homem da montanha!
*
Homens da Montanha
D. Brandt Berg
Picos das montanhas nunca têm muita gente. Escalei muitas montanhas e estava quase sempre sozinho. Por quê?
É trabalho duro
Não são muitas as pessoas que desejam escalar montanhas.
É solitário.
Tem de se renunciar a tudo para o fazer.
Pode lhe custar a vida.
Você ganha muitos arranhões e machucados.
Muito depois do vale se encontrar na escuridão, eu ainda conseguia ver o sol. Na montanha há mais luz. O vale está cheio de pessoas e coisas, mas geralmente na escuridão. A montanha é ventosa e fria, mas emocionante.
Você tem que sentir que realmente vale a pena morrer por aquilo! Qualquer montanha -- a montanha desta vida, das realizações, dos obstáculos, das dificuldades -- se for escalá-las, elas terão que valer a pena dar sua vida, encarar o vento, o frio e a tempestade, que simbolizam as adversidades.
Mas na montanha, sozinhos, sentimo-nos tão perto do Senhor! Aí a voz do Seu Espírito é tão alta, que é quase como se trovejasse! No vale, a voz da multidão é tão ruidosa que não se consegue ouvir a voz de Deus. O silêncio no pico da montanha é ensurdecedor! Fica-se realmente "eufórico" no cume de uma montanha! É emocionante! É quase aterrador!
Apenas pioneiros sobem montanhas -- pessoas que querem fazer algo que nunca ninguém fez -- pessoas que querem ultrapassar a multidão -- para além do que já foi feito e realizado. Os pioneiros têm de ter visão -- para verem o que mais ninguém vê; fé -- para acreditarem no que mais ninguém acredita; iniciativa -- para serem os primeiros a tentar; coragem -- estômago para o conseguirem!
Na montanha somos os primeiros a ver o sol nascer e os últimos a vê-lo pôr-se! Vemos o círculo completo da gloriosa criação de Deus! Vemos o mundo na sua perspectiva correta, com cordilheira após cordilheira para ser conquistada e um mundo para além do horizonte do homem vulgar. Vemos cumes distantes ainda por escalar! Vemos vales distantes ainda por atravessar. Vemos coisas que os homens nos vales nunca podem ver. -- Não podem sequer compreendê-las, porque não as conseguem ver. E podemos ver a circunferência de 360° do horizonte inteiro -- tudo! É como ver a vida na sua totalidade desde o principio ao fim e compreender. Sentimos que se vive na eternidade.
O terreno do vale e o domínio do homem -- as terras altas são o domínio de Deus. O homem domina o vale -- só Deus domina a montanha, e os homens que lá habitam sabem disso. Mas os das montanhas vivem tão perto de Deus e de coisas tão assustadoras, terríveis e perigosas, que têm de viver próximos do Senhor.
*
Não há muitos lugares onde se possa viver na montanha -- pequenos abrigos toscos, choças. Não há muito que comer, é frio e ventoso, mas lá até morrer é emocionante. É melhor morrer na montanha do que viver no vale. Porque quem é que já leu no jornal a notícia do homem que escorregou e caiu numa rua da cidade? Contudo a notícia do homem que morre na montanha mesmo na longínqua Suíça -- pode ler-se nos jornais daqui! Porque, pelo menos, ousou tentar.
Caminhos batidos são para homens vencidos, mas os cumes das montanhas são para os valentes.
Nunca se ouve falar das pessoas que esperam para ver se é possível fazê-lo. Só se ouve falar das que conseguiram. Só se ouve falar das pessoas que ou fizeram ou morreram tentando. Nunca se ouve falar desses turistas esnobes, em algum lugar numa luxuosa pista de esqui. Só se ouve falar daqueles que ou conseguiram ou tentaram. Mas, quando conseguirmos, a boca de Deus vai se abrir para nós. Falará conosco cara-a-cara. Ele Próprio nos ensinará e revelará os Seus maiores segredos.
As maiores leis alguma vez dadas ao homem, pelas quais ainda se rege a maior parte do mundo civilizado, foram entregues a um homem que estava só numa montanha. O maior dos sermões jamais pregado foi dado a um punhado de homens da montanha pelo maior de todos os alpinistas, que finalmente subiu a Sua última montanha -- o monte Calvário -- o Gólgata, e morreu sozinho pelos pecados do mundo.2 Aquela era uma montanha que só Ele podia subir por você e por mim -- mas Ele foi!
O que ouvimos então na montanha? Coisas que vão ecoar por todo o mundo. O que ouvimos na quietude? Murmúrios que vão mudar o curso da história.
Oito pessoas desceram de uma montanha -- Noé e a sua família, da arca, no Monte Ararat -- e eles nunca mais foram os mesmos e o mundo também não.3 Um homem, Moisés, desceu de uma montanha, e uma nação inteira nunca mais foi a mesma, tendo mudado o mundo! Jesus e os Seus discípulos desceram daquela montanha e mudaram o mundo! Nunca mais foram os mesmos. E você? é um homem da montanha?
Originalmente publicado em dezembro de 1969. Compilado e republicado em novembro de 2010.
Lido por Peter Amsterdam.
1 Êxodo 24:12.
2 Capítulos de Mateus 5–7, 27:33–35.
3 Gênesis 8:1–17.
Monday, December 1, 2014
The Christian Doctrine of Confession
The following article was written in response to a young Muslim asking me on-line about the necessity of confessing ones sins before a priest.
The question of confessing ones faults before a priest leads to many important truths. Is it necessary to confess your sins before a priest to receive forgiveness? The simple short answer would be, no, it is not. However, the question is deeper than that. The fact the millions of people go to see psychologists every year points to a simple truth. We need to open up and confess our inner most problems and trials and even sins to someone to help us find consolation or relief from inner stress and turmoil.
Is confession a Christian belief? The answer is yes, it is. In various places in both the Old and New Testaments we see examples of confession of sins or faults as a precursor in ones path to find forgiveness and reconciliation. The Catholic Church, the biggest Christian sect, says it is necessary to confess your faults to a priest. However, we will look at the New Testament itself to see what is written there. The Protestants, or those who protested the Catholic interpretation of the scriptures, have interpreted the scriptures differently, and I believe more accurately to the context in which they were given. We will look at the Protestant way of interpreting the scriptures.
The Bible says, "Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another, that you may be healed."[1] So, obviously confession is important. As we see from the above verse, the Bible says that we should not only confess our faults and sins to God, but also to one another. Jesus, in this context, said the following: "If you bring your gift to the altar (mosque), and there remember that your brother has something against you; leave your gift at the altar (mosque), and go your way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer your gift."[2] So Jesus is saying here, that before we bring an offering to God, we should first go and get things right with that person or brother whom we know is upset with us over something.
John the Apostle of Jesus wrote, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins (or faults), He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him (Jesus) a liar, and his word is not in us.”[3] Again, here we see the importance of confessing our faults to receive forgiveness. Jesus said he had authority on earth to forgive sins. He healed the sick and raised the dead to prove his authority was from God. Let us look at the passage in Luke where Jesus heals a man and talks about the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”[4]
Jesus infuriated the self-righteous religious Jews who thought they were right with God by their often praying, their washing of hands, their doing religious service, tithing their income, etc. He said they had made the law of God of none affect through their traditions and rule keeping. Jesus came along and showed that love and mercy, forgiveness were greater than all the self-righteous religious rule keeping. Of course, the religious leadership saw that Jesus’ doctrine threatened their own control over the masses. Therefore, they decided he must be eliminated or the whole world would follow him. If that happened, they would lose their position as religious leaders and even their position with Rome as local political authorities.
It is interesting to note that Jesus continually referred to himself as “The Son of Man.” He was referring to an Old Testament prophecy by the prophet Daniel which states the following:
13“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He (the son of man) was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him (the son of man). His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”[5]
When Jesus was taken before these same religious leaders to be judged whether he was speaking blasphemy or false doctrine the following conversation took place.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward 61and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”(When Jesus said this, he was talking about the temple of his body which he would raise from the dead after three days in the tomb.)
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”[6]
Jesus was referring to himself as both the “Son of God” and “the Son of Man.” This put the nail in the coffin, so to speak, with the religious Jews. He was making himself equal with God as in the Old Testament prophecy the “Ancient of Days” (God) gives the kingdom to “the Son of Man” and all peoples worship him (the Son of Man). That’s where you get the Christian idea of the trinity, or three in one, or God with three manifestations; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Son of Man is more than a mere mortal and Jesus’ claim to be the Son of Man is probably what elicited the verdict of blasphemy from the Jewish high court, because the “Son of Man” shares sovereignty in heaven with God and is worshiped by all men with a reverence due God only. In other words, by calling himself the Son of Man, Jesus was claiming to be equal with God.[7]
Jesus is also noted as making the same declaration after having healed a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. The healing took place in the temple and on the Sabbath. John records: "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God."[8]
Jesus not only responds by saying that the Father has committed all judgment unto the Son, and he who honors not the Son, honors not the Father, but goes on to say; "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself; and has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man."[9]
So we see quite plainly that Jesus referred to himself both as the "Son of God" and also as the "Son of Man," which is in direct reference to the Daniel prophecy which the Jews would have been very familiar with.
Elsewhere in the gospels Jesus claims Godhood. In a heated conversation with the religious Jews, Jesus claims to be the great “I am” of the Old Testament who came and spoke to Moses in the burning bush. We will read from John.
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up (killed or crucified) the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30 As he spoke these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how says thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abides not in the house for ever: but the Son abides ever. 36 If the Son (Here he is referring to himself as the Son of God.) therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father.
Jesus said unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father.
Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinces me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God hears God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeks and judges. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou says, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makes thou thyself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honours me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.[10]
So here we see Jesus calling himself the God of the Old Testament who came and spoke with Abraham and later with Moses to whom he gave the Ten Commandments.
Getting back to the idea of confession, in the Old Testament we read, “He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.”[11] We also read in the Psalms David's confession after having committed adultery with his friend’s wife and sending him back to battle to “accidentally” be killed by the enemy.
David prays:
Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your loving kindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.[12]
God is more interested in us being humble and loving than in our sacrificial religious rule keeping of prayers and religious ceremonies. He wants us to give ourselves totally to Him.
There are many other examples of Old Testament and New Testament leaders confessing their faults. The idea of confessing is firmly established in both Jewish and Christian history. Because Jesus gave his disciples power to forgive sins, the Catholic Church incorporated this idea into their doctrine, In the Gospel of John we read, 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”[13]
A psychologist does not forgive sins, but helps his patience overcome the guilt that unconfessed sin weighs on our hearts and minds. Humankind has this need to talk to someone to get orientation, to get their conscience cleansed, to get things off our chest, to feel cleansed. We do have the power to forgive one another, so we do indeed have power to forgive sins. Jesus taught us if we did not forgive others the sins they commit against us, God would not forgive our sins. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”[14]
It is important to confess our sins and ask forgiveness of both God from whom we know will forgive us and others from whom we may not be so certain to receive forgiveness and mercy. But as true believers we are commanded by God to forgive and show mercy like God does himself.
All of the above is closely related to the commandments that Jesus said were now the most important and closely inter-related. The Old Testament was God’s old agreement with man until the coming of the Messiah. Now, the Messiah has brought in a new agreement which emphasizes love, forgiveness, kindness, brotherhood above religious rule keeping and ceremony. Here's a conversation Jesus had with a religious leader:
34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” [15]
Love is above and more important than the law. Jesus taught this message and later died for it. His disciples taught the same message and died for it. True Christians today will teach the same message and will be willing to die for it.
The advantage of confession is that it helps us get right with God and with others. If we are right with God and others then we can expect God to answer our prayers. We gain peace, joy and faith that God is with us. It gives us peace of mind and happiness of heart. Confession is good for the soul. So confess, get things right between you and your loved ones or work mates and try again. How many times should you forgive your brother? Seven times, asked Peter Jesus' disciple? Jesus responded, 22"I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." [16] In other words, we should continually forgive one another.
Footnotes:
[1] James 5:16
[2] Matthew 5:23,24
[3] 1John 1:8-10
[4] Luke 5:17-23
[5] Daniel 7:13.14
[6] Matthew 26:57-68
[7] Qureshi, Nabeel; Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus; Zondervan 2014; p.182-183 from Craig Bloomberg, Jesus and the Gospels, Nashville: B&H Academic, 1997; p.342-43.
[8] John 5:18
[9] John 5:25-27
[10] John 8:28-59
[11] Proverbs 28:13
[12] Psalm 51:1-19
[13] John 20:21-23
[14] Matthew 6:14,15
[15] Matthew 22:34-40
Copyright@DennisEMolinski
A Nossa Declaração de Amor
D. Brandt Berg
Acreditamos no Amor! Amor por Deus e pelos outros, porque “Deus é Amor.”[1] É essa a nossa religião - o Amor. O amor é tudo, pois sem ele nada existe! - Amigos, famílias, pais, mães, filhos, sexo, saúde, felicidade, Deus, Céu -- nada disso existiria sem amor! E nada disso é possível sem Deus, porque Ele é amor.
Eis a solução para todos os problemas do presente, assim como para todos os problemas do passado: Amor! -- Amor verdadeiro, o Amor de Deus e do próximo! - O Espírito do Amor divino de Deus, que nos ajuda a todos a cumprir o Seu Grande Mandamento de nos amaremos uns aos outros! A solução de Deus ainda é esta, mesmo numa sociedade tão complexa, confusa e altamente complicada como a do mundo atual.
É a rejeição do Amor de Deus e das Suas Leis de Amor por parte do homem que o torna egoísta, frio, perverso, cruel e duro para com os outros. É o que causa a desumanidade do homem para com o homem, tão evidente no triste mundo de hoje com toda a sua escravização pela opressão, tirania, exploração e desonestidade por parte dos ricos. A Ausência do amor de Deus traz-nos um mundo que sofre fome, subalimentação, doença, falta de saúde, excesso de trabalho, maus tratos perversos, torturas de guerra e pesadelos duma insegurança constante e assustadora.
O que causa todos estes males é a falta de amor dos homens para com Deus e para com os outros, o desafiarem as Suas leis de amor, fé, paz e harmonia em relação a Ele, aos outros e à Sua Criação. “Pois quem não ama o seu irmão, ao qual viu, como pode amar a Deus, a Quem não viu?”[2]
No fundo, é só isto: se amarmos a Deus, podemos nos amar uns aos outros! Seríamos então capazes de seguir as Suas normas de vida, de conseguir a liberdade, e alcançar a felicidade. Com Ele tudo correria bem e todos seriam felizes.
Foi por isso que Jesus disse que o primeiro e o maior dos mandamentos é amar -- “ama ao Senhor teu Deus com todo o teu coração, com toda a tua alma e com toda a tua mente... e o segundo é-lhe semelhante”, é quase igual -- quase o mesmo: “amarás ao teu próximo como a ti mesmo.”[3]
Aqueles com quem estava falando perguntaram-lhe então: “quem é o meu próximo?” E tentou mostrar-lhes, através da história do Bom Samaritano, que o próximo e qualquer pessoa que precisa da nossa ajuda, não importa a raça, credo, cor, nacionalidade ou condição. Se tivermos verdadeiro amor, não poderemos deparar com uma situação de necessidade sem fazer alguma coisa. Não podemos limitar-nos a passar de largo pelo pobre homem na estrada de Jericó! Temos de fazer alguma coisa, como o Samaritano.[4]Algumas pessoas dirão: “Oh, tenho tanta pena, que tristeza!” Mas a compaixão tem de se traduzir em ação. É essa a diferença entre piedade e compaixão: a piedade limita-se a sentir pena; a compaixão age!
Temos de demonstrar a nossa fé com as nossas obras, e o amor raramente se pode mostrar se não se traduzir numa manifestação tangível. Dizer que se ama alguém sem contudo tentar ajudá-lo fisicamente naquilo que possa precisar -- comida, roupa, abrigo, etc. - não é amor! É verdade que a necessidade de verdadeiro amor é uma necessidade espiritual, mas tem de manifestar-se fisicamente através de obras -- “a fé que atua pelo amor”[5] Porque “aquele que tiver bens deste mundo e vir o seu irmão deste mundo e vir o seu irmão sofrer necessidade mas lhe fechar o seu coração, como estará nele o amor de Deus? Meus queridos filhos, não amemos com palavras nem com a língua, mas por ações, e em verdade!” [6]
Contudo, achamos que a maior manifestação do nosso amor não consiste em compartilhar simplesmente as nossas coisas materiais e aquilo que possuímos, mas sim em dar-nos a nós próprios e o nosso esforço aos outros. É nisto que acreditamos, e as nossas obras e o compartilhar os nossos bens materiais são uma conseqüência disso. O Próprio Jesus não tinha nada de material para compartilhar com os Seus discípulos: apenas o Seu amor e a Sua vida, que deu por eles e por nós, para que também nós pudéssemos ter vida e amor para sempre.
Porque “ninguém tem maior amor do que aquele que dá a vida pelos seus amigos!”[7]Por isso consideramos que o máximo do compartilhar é o dar de nós próprios, do nosso amor e da nossa vida aos outros. É o nosso supremo objetivo, bem como o nosso presente meio para atingir esse fim. De fato, foi exatamente essa a razão por que Deus criou o homem: para amar-- amá-lo, ser feliz com Ele para sempre e tentar ajudar outros a fazer o mesmo! Foi Deus quem criou o amor e deu ao homem a necessidade de amar e ser amado, e apenas ele pode satisfazer o mais profundo desejo de cada alma humana por amor e compreensão totais.
Por isso, embora as coisas temporais deste mundo possam satisfazer o corpo, somente Deus e o Seu amor eterno poderão encher aquele doloroso vazio do coração do homem, o qual Ele criou apenas para Si Próprio! O espírito humano, essa personalidade intangível do verdadeiro ego que habita naquele corpo, nunca poderá ficar completamente satisfeito com nada que não seja a união absoluta com o grande e amante Espírito que o criou.
Deus é o próprio espírito de amor, do verdadeiro amor, do amor eterno e real, do amor genuíno e infinito, do amor dum Amante Que nunca nos deixa, o Amante de todos os amantes, o Próprio Deus. Está retratado no seu Filho Cristo Jesus, Que veio por amor, viveu em amor e morreu por amor, para que nós pudéssemos viver e amar para sempre! “Porque Deus amou de tal modo o mundo que lhe deu o Seu Filho único, para que todo o que n’Ele crer não pereça, mas tenha vida eterna.”[8]
Para receber o amor de Deus em Jesus. Tudo o que é preciso fazer é abrir o coração, orar e pedir-Lhe que entre. Jesus prometeu: “Eis que estou à porta e bato: se alguém ouvir a Minha voz e abrir a porta, entrarei.”[9] Ele espera amorosa e docilmente à porta do nosso coração. Não obriga ninguém a aceita-lo, não força a porta: espera simplesmente que O convidem a entrar.
Quando fizer isto, toda a sua vida mudará como a de um bebê recém-nascido para um mundo completamente novo, com um novo espírito: um novo menino de Deus! O Seu Espírito, atuando em você torná-lo-á então capaz de fazer o que sem Ele é impossível: amar a Deus e aos outros!
Descobrirá a verdadeira felicidade -- não numa busca pessoal de prazer e satisfação egoístas, mas no encontrar Deus e dar a Sua vida a outros, levando-lhes felicidade! Então a felicidade persegue-nos apanha-nos e domina-nos sem sequer a procurarmos para nós próprios.
“Porque o que o homem semear, isso também ceifará.”[10] Se semear amor, colherá amor. Se semear amizade, colherá amizade. Por isso obedeça à lei do amor de Deus - amor por Ele e pelos outros. Dê esse amor que lhe é devido e lhes é devido, e recebê-lo-á também. “A medida que empregardes com os outros será usada convosco.” [11]
Descubra as maravilhas que o amor pode fazer! Descobrirá todo um novo mundo de amor com o qual apenas sonhou! Se der amor receberá amor! O amor não foi posto no seu coração para lá ficar: o amor não é amor enquanto o não começa a dar!
Originalmente publicado em Outubro de 1977. Adaptado e republicado em Março de 2011. Lido por Peter Amsterdam. Copyright@tfi
Footnotes:
[1] 1 João 4:8.
[2] 1 João 4:20.
[3] Mateus 22:36–40.
[4] Ver Lucas 10:25–37.
[5] Gálatas 5:6.
[6] 1 João 3:17, 18 NKJV.
[7] João 15:13.
[8] João 3:16.
[9] Apocalipse 3:20.
[10] Gálatas 6:7.
[11] Lucas 6:38.
The Word, the Word, the Word
By D. Brandt Berg
Audio length: 10:58
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“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.”—Matthew 24:35
The Word of God is the most powerful truth on earth.—Words that contain the very spirit and life of God Himself.1 The Word is the spiritual spark of God that ignites us with His life, light, and power.
Reading, absorbing, and following the Word of God is one of the most important things you can do to build your relationship with the Lord. It’s the Word that keeps you in tune with God and helps you to keep going God’s way. It was only when Adam and Eve quit listening to God’s Word that they got in trouble.2 When you listen to God and His Word, He always tells you the truth, and if you obey His truth, you’ll be happy and fruitful.3
Faith in the Word of God is such a vitally important principle. That’s what this entire era and age of grace is built on, faith in His Word. “For without faith, it is impossible to please God,” and “faith cometh by hearing the Word of God.”4
Although He is a “very present help in trouble” who will “never leave nor forsake us,”5He deliberately remains largely hidden and unseen behind the veil of the spirit realm. Therefore He expects us, His children, to “walk by faith, not by sight.”6
Most of the time the Lord seems to let us more or less fend for ourselves with very little direct, visible, or audible intervention from Him or His angelic agents. He does not give us a whole lot of help in the form of openly visible supernatural assistance from the spirit world. Instead, He leaves a lot up to us, and He expects us to gain the spiritual strength and faith that we need from His Word.
He wants us to eagerly absorb His Word for ourselves, and thereby gain the faith that we need to meet the needs and confront the situations which we continually face. This is why God’s Word is so important. It is the primary means by which we receive God’s communication and are made aware of His will, and thereby receive the faith and strength to carry on for Him in this life.
Where is the first place we look to find the will of God? The Word of God. His Word is the known, sure, absolute, revealed will of God. So even if you never receive a revelation, you never hear a voice, you never receive a prophecy, you never have the gift of knowledge or the gift of wisdom, you never have discernment, you never have healing, you never have miracles or any other gifts of the Spirit,7 if you will just heed and follow His Word, you’ll accomplish a whole lot for the Lord.
The Bible is the most wonderful, supernatural, miraculous, amazing, marvelous book in the whole world. It tells you where we came from, how we got here, why we’re here, how to survive while here, how to be happy while here, and how to love and have happiness, joy, and peace forever.
Regardless of all the criticism, skepticism and lies that its opponents may hurl at it, we know without a doubt that the Bible is true because we know its author. That’s something nobody can disprove. Perhaps before you were introduced to the author, before you met the Lord, you did not care much about the Bible and did not know whether it was true or not. Maybe you never read it or did not even believe in it. But now that you have found Jesus and have received Him into your own heart, you know His Word is true, because you know He would not lie to you or tell you anything that was not right.
“Treasures new and old” (Matthew 13:52)
God has given His people the major basic information that they have needed from the very beginning. Then He’s given more and more as history went on, until by and by, a few hundred years before Jesus came, He began to really tell the prophets what was going to happen. And then when Jesus came, with His apostles and the early church, He really gave more details. All the time God has been giving more information and more details needed by man.
There are a lot of folks who think, “Well, the Bible’s enough; that’s all we need. God has not spoken since then. He does not speak or talk anymore. He just shut up after He gave the book of Revelation to John, and we’re not supposed to get anything else from God anymore.”
Thank God, He’s not a silent God who shut up when the Bible was finished 2,000 years ago. He’s a living God, a talking God, and He still speaks and has been speaking ever since then.—Talking to His people and His prophets and His children down through the ages, ever since the days of Jesus and His apostles and the early church. He’s still alive and He still talks today.
Soul food
Jesus said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.”8 His Word is the very life of God. That’s what gives us spiritual life and food and nourishment and strength and health. This is why a good wholesome balanced diet of His Word is essential if you wish to grow and stay close to Him.
Jesus Himself is called “The Word” in the Bible.9 Jesus is the Word, the Spirit and the life, and you have to have a dose of Him every day, a good feeding and feasting and drinking, if you’re going to grow and stay healthy spiritually. Just as you have to eat in order to have physical strength, you have to feed from the Word, drink of the Word, to have spiritual strength.
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.”10 That’s a picture of a baby who must have its mother’s milk in order to live. Without receiving nourishment from the good, wholesome, nourishing, encouraging and feeding truth of God’s Word, you will starve and eventually die spiritually.
You have got to feed your soul or you will never grow up spiritually, you will never fully mature, and you will stay a spiritual infant or babe because you haven’t properly fed from the milk of His Word. Christians who neglect the Word grow weaker and weaker until they’re defeated by the world. They have neglected their only hope of victory—the life, light, strength and power of the Word.
When you’re spiritually weak, it’s often because you haven’t really been strengthened by the Word, filled up with the Word, and baptized with the Word, and feasted on the Word. The Word has not been your life and strength and health as it should have been. If you get so busy with a little here and a little there that you don’t even have time for the Word of God, I’ll tell you, you can crack up that way. The minute you start crowding the Word out of your life, you are getting too busy.
You can’t just let things slide and get so busy with other things that you neglect your inspiration, the spiritual food and nourishment that you need from the Word. I know lots of times I would really get down if I didn’t feed on God’s Word.
But if you sincerely seek the Lord as you hungrily read His Word, He will speak to you through it. And the more dearly you begin to love His Word and the more you study it and feed from it, the more you will grow spiritually and the more you will find that God can speak to you loudly and clearly and directly through His written Word.
When the Holy Spirit quickens a passage or verse to you, applying it to your own personal situation, it brings the Word to life. The Lord will bring His Word to life and give you things personally, answers to your problems and prayers, as you read His Word. When He applies it to a situation, it suddenly becomes alive. It’s no longer just mere words anymore, or words that just run through your head, but all of a sudden it hits your heart and you really get the point. “The entrance of Thy Word giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple.”11
The great prophet Jeremiah said, “I found Thy Words and did eat them, and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.”12 Job said, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.”13
Jesus said, “One thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall never be taken away from her.”14 What is the “good part” that Mary chose? She sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His words. Resting in the Lord and sitting at His feet and hearing from Him and His Word is so necessary. God’s Word is just that important.
Compiled from the writings of David Brandt Berg, originally published November 1988. Adapted and republished December 2014. Read by Simon Peterson. Copyright@tfi
Footnotes:
1 John 4:24.
2 See Genesis 3.
3 See John 15:11; 13:17.
4 Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17.
5 Psalm 46:1; Hebrews 13:5.
6 2 Corinthians 5:7.
7 1 Corinthians 12:8–10.
8 John 6:63.
9 Revelation 19:13; John 1:1,14.
10 1 Peter 2:2.
11 Psalm 119:130.
12 Jeremiah 15:16.
13 Job 23:12.
14 Luke 10:42.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Boreham on Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Image: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
It is not known when the famous author F.W.Boreham commenced work on his book about famous people. The author had the idea of creating a book consisting of 365 editorials, one for every day of the year. Boreham had written weekly editorials for two leading Australian newspapers for over 47 years. Many of his editorials were prompted by the significance of a particular day. The use of an almanac allowed Boreham to know what famous person was born or died on that particular day, or other notable anniversaries.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
29 January: Boreham on Fyodor Dostoyevsky -
The Artist of the Steppes
On this day, the day after the anniversary of his death, there will steal into the hearts of every Russian, a grateful thought of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, one of the most passionate patriots and one of the most powerful novelists of all time. Dostoyevsky's influence was phenomenal. When, he passed away, he was accorded such a funeral as his country people had never before witnessed. The entire nation mourned; loftiest and lowliest alike lamented; the cities were in tears. Forty thousand men followed the body to the grave. Tolstoy declared that the death of Dostoyevsky darkened the sky of Europe. Alike by his personality and his pen, he stirred the souls of millions. He stands in a class by himself, one of the world's outstanding originals. There is nobody, in any country or in any age, with whom one can reasonably compare him. His novels are still being published in the best popular libraries. For sheer tremendousness they are without parallel. His emotional intensity is at times overpowering, his dramatic splendour terrific. For versatility of sentiment he is peerless. He can be unutterably horrible and exquisitely tender. In his own line he blazes in solitary grandeur.
Dostoyevsky cuts an uncouth and singularly unattractive figure as he shuffles across the stage of Russian history. "Just look at his countenance," exclaims Dr Georg Brandes, the Danish traveller, "Half the face of a Russian peasant and half the physiogomy of a criminal." Of small piercing eyes, flattened nose, long, thick, untidy beard, and singularly ungainly figure, he was a thing of strange fancies and weird hallucinations. He gave the impression of having been cowed by torture into a mood of indelible gloom. A being so unusual and so complex must necessarily be self-contradictory. Dostoyevsky certainly was. We catch sight of him in European drawing rooms surrounded by distinguished men and women eager to see the man who has produced such masterpieces of imagination and psychology. In such a framework Dostoyevsky is shy, taciturn, and extremely awkward, he looks half-ridiculous and half-revolting. But in another setting he appears very differently.
A Prophet Who Was Inspired By Torture
We see him, as Necrassov saw him, an exile in Siberia, surrounded by his fellow-convicts, and he appears almost sublime. He moves among the most depressed and most degraded with his New Testament in his hand, reading to them its words of comfort and grace. With a witchery and a charm that are indescribable, he recites the parable of the Prodigal Son, the story he regarded as the most perfect gem in any literature, the story he wove into most of his own novels, and that he begged his wife to read to him once more on his deathbed. In this environment Dostoyevsky seems a reincarnation of some ancient prophet, solacing his fellow-prisoners in their sufferings, eagerly encouraging their attempts at goodness, gently rebuking their excesses, and speaking earnestly to them of poetry, of science and of God. His career is as romantic as his novels; indeed, his novels are, in the main, a reflection of his adventurous career. As a small boy, he revels in historical fiction, particularly that of Sir Walter Scott, and he enters so vividly into the thrilling experiences of the various characters that he is often found in a swoon, clasping the volume in his hands.
As a young fellow he interests himself in the welfare of his country, he joins a society that meets to discuss public questions, and at the age of 28 is arrested for meddling with such high matters. With 33 others he is charged with conspiracy and sentenced to death. On a bitter morning, with the temperature many degrees below freezing point, they are led to the scaffold and compelled to stand nearly naked for half-an-hour facing the soldiers with their muskets. A pile of coffins is suggestively stacked up in the corner of the yard. At the last moment, with the muskets actually at the shoulders of the Guards, a white flag is waved and it is announced that the Tsar has commuted the sentence to 10 years' exile in Siberia. Several of the prisoners lost their reason under the strain, and several others died shortly afterwards. Dostoyevsky bravely survived the ordeal but it affected his nerves. He never recalled the experience without a shudder and he refers to it with horror in several of his books.
Dire Extremity Produces A Rich Romance
This is the most painful incident in his life story. The most pleasant is his meeting with his second wife. By the time he had reached the age of 45 he had indulged in two unhappy love affairs, one of which had led to his marrying a perfect fury. Then, through voluntarily taking over the debts of his dead brother, his finances had become involved. Moreover, he had fallen into the clutches of an unscrupulous publisher, for whom he had contracted to write a novel on the understanding that, if it was not ready by a certain date, all the author's copyrights were to fall into the publisher's hands. As the date approached the impossibility of the task became evident. As a last desperate resort, Dostoyevsky resolved to engage a stenographer, but no stenographer could be found. There was, it is true, a girl of 19 who knew shorthand, but female stenographers were then unknown and the girl doubted if her parents would consent to her taking the appointment.
Dostoyevsky's fame, however, allayed the parents' scruples, and the girl set to work. At first the novelist frightened her. Gradually, as she understood his hopeless situation, she came to pity him. Working literally day and night to get the manuscript finished, she wrote the last sheets in the very nick of time. Although he was more than twice her age, they married and lived happily. From that day the fortunes of Dostoyevsky suffered neither collapse nor eclipse. As a sincere patriot, as a brilliant novelist and as a trusted teacher, his authority steadily grew, and when he died at the age of 60 the whole world lamented his passing.
F W Boreham
