Archive for September, 2006

Paballo Ya Batho needs your help.

This organisation is doing incredible things. Operating out of Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg, the Paballo ministry team hit the city streets every Wednesday night with a mission to feed, clothe and provide health care for the homeless.

In order to raise funds for a new vehicle, they’re holding an art exhibition entitled “Night of 1000 Drawings” where donated artworks will be sold for R100 apiece. If you’re artistically inclined, please consider donating as many original pieces as you’re able. Drawings should be in A5 format, but the medium and subject matter are up to you.

The date for the exhibition hasn’t been set yet, but the drawings need to be in by the end of October. Please contact David on 082-600-0011 for more details, and keep watching this space.

Let’s get those creative juices flowing, for a fantastic cause.

(click to enlarge)

Jeremiah 23:5,6

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD,
“when I will raise up to David [a] a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land.

6 In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The LORD Our Righteousness.

Can you picture a King who reigns wisely, who would do what is just and right?

How different is that picture to the people who rule over the land today. America ? Zimbabwe? Even South Africa?

Jesus is our King and his Kingdom is on the earth, this promise is in action today, even if we cannot always see it in the physical world.

Judge your actions knowing your King is righteous.

Lord Our Righteousness, we have nothing to fear in this world, because we hold to the promise of having a King who reigns wisely. You are our righteousness.

2 Samuel 7: 12- 13

12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

This is God speaking to David. David wanted to build a temple for the ark , but God said No , he had other plans in mind.

He was to being an heir of David, a direct descendent, who would establish a new kingdom, an eternal Kingdom.

Jesus would be the one to build the temple. He is the temple that would contain the presence of God.

So we can see that Nathan prophesied a King that would be a descendent of David, and his Kingdom would reign forever.

What picture of Jesus do you get from this verse, what speaks to you/

Lord, establish your Kingdom in me, so that you will reign over me forever.

Isaiah 42 1-4

The Servant of the Lord

1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him
and he will bring justice to the nations.

2 He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.

3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his law the islands will put their hope.”

The Jews of Israel had long been hoping and looking for the King prophesied by so many of the Prophets. A David-like King who would deliver them from Roman rule.

They were not expecting the type of King, Jesus came as.

In their defense when you read scripture like the Isaiah one above and the others in the days to follow , they do paint a King who does establish his Kingdom on earth and reign over it. We know that what really happened was somewhat different. Could these verses also be pointing to the Jesus of the 2nd Coming.

Read the passage again seeing the King he is presenting!

Lord, thank-you for sending a Just King to rule over us.

A sign above the head of Jesus Christ, a sign usually carrying the charge against the person crucified read:

‘THE KING OF THE JEWS’

Matthew 27:37

Mark 15:25

Luke 23:38

John 19:19

Read through the different accounts of what Pilate wrote.

Picture yourself standing at the cross looking up at that sign.

What feelings, thoughts and emotions come to you?

Why do you think Pilate wrote that?

What is your feeling about Jesus being a King, your King?

Lord, help me to see and understand your Kingship and the implications of that for my life as I serve in your Kingdom.