HearHim.

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Today, when you hear His voice, …

Featuring:
• Entering the Rest of God
By Tanswell Davidse

• The Mystery in the Seed

By Francois Du Toit

• Time and Eternity

By Andre Rabe

• How Much are You Worth

By Mary-Anne Rabe

• Value Beyond Information

By Dawie Blake

Date: Timeless
2

Dear Reader

This is the first edition of this magazine, so a short introduction would

be appropriate.

The first and foremost motivation for this publication is the content
itself. The success of what God achieved in Christ on our behalf, the
unprecedented significance of that once-and-for-all event, is what
compels us to make known, by every possible means, the character of
God and His relation to man.

We have so enjoyed the rich conversations on our website, hearhim.

net, over a number of years. As we travelled through areas where
the internet is not readily available, we have realised the need for a
publication such as this in which we can extend this conversation. You
will notice comments after some of the articles - these are only a small
sample of the many coversations that have so enriched us.

We pray that God would prepare you to receive insight and

understanding that will transform you into that which He always
knew was true of you. As you behold Him and see Him for who He
truly is, your own identity and place in Him will become clear as well.

In His grip

Andre & Mary-Anne Rabe


Time and Eternity
Time is often experienced as an
inescapable vehicle that carries us
from birth to death; a relentless force
that propels us from the present to the
future. But what is ‘time’? We’ve become
so familiar with our measure of time -
seconds, hours, days, years - that it is
easy to confuse our measures of time
with time itself. Our experience of time
and our measures of time might be far
too narrow because they are limited by
our specific point of view.
There are many interesting philosophies
about time and even more interesting
speculations about what the possibilities
might be, if such philosophies were true.
I won’t explore all these philosophies in
depth in this writing - only enough to
help us appreciate what the Word has
to say about time. For that purpose I’ll
adopt one of the most basic and helpful
definitions of time, namely: a sequence
of events.
How we relate to this sequence of
events and how God relates to it is very
different. Some of the statements in
scripture seem at first to contain some
grammatical errors: the tenses are all
wrong! For instance: “Before Abraham
was, I am”. In other instances the Word
speaks about future events as if they
By Andre Rabe
had happened in the past. Hundreds of
years before the birth and death of Jesus,
Isaiah speaks of His suffering on the cross
as a past event: “…but He was wounded
for our transgressions, he was bruised for
our iniquities: the chastisement of our
peace was upon him, and by his stripes
we are healed.” Is 53:5
I was bemused by an article I read about
Tachyons. This is a scientific name for
a theoretical particle that travels faster
or at the speed of light. The nature of
such a particle is truly astounding. For
instance, let’s imagine one could build a
fax machine based on the laws covering
tachyons and we call it our tachyons
fax machine. If one was to send a fax at
3pm it would arrive at 2pm! The effect
precedes the cause. I immediately
thought of Mat 8:16, 17 in which Jesus
heals the sick who were brought to him.
Verse 17 states that this was in fulfillment
of what was prophesied by Isaiah. It’s
again the passage in Isaiah 53 that we
looked at earlier. We know that this
passage refers to the suffering & death of
Christ, but here again the effect (healing)
of what He accomplished on the cross is
experienced by people long before the
cause. Another example of this inversion
of time is found in Isaiah 65:24 “Before
they call I answer”.
3
These statements draw us into a
dimension beyond our normal experience
of time. A dimension in which time is a
radically different entity from our normal
experience of it. The use of the words:
“before Abraham was, I am” seems to
indicate two different dimensions. One
in which there is a past, present and
future, and one in which there is simply
a present. However, it might say more
about the nature of God than about the
nature of time.
Let’s start by looking at the Hebrew
understanding of time as found in the Old
Testament. We don’t find philosophical
or abstract debates about the nature of
time, as we do in the Greek philosophies
of that period. Time is not described as
a separate force or an extra dimension,
but in rather more concrete terms.
Events occurred and these events stood
in relation to other events and this was
in effect, time. Time has no substance
apart from these events. Whereas the
Greeks saw time as a separate dimension
in which events happened, the Hebrews
simply saw events happening and these
‘happenings’ were time. As such, eternity
is never described as timeless, for there
could be no events, no experience, no life
without time. To be timeless would be
lifeless.
The quality of events are given greater
significance than the order in which
they happened or the duration it took.
In some instances events and persons
were arranged according to the impact
of their occurrence, rather than their
chronological sequence. The weightiness
and significance of people and events
were regarded more important than the
exact date of the occurrence. People did
things. God did things. Time is the story
of these events and has no existence
beyond these events.
One of the reasons why eternity is often
thought of as timeless is because of our
understanding of time. Time is seen as
temporal, subject to change whereas
eternity is seen as changeless. However,
it is the nature of change that is different
in the eternal realm. There is ‘change’ that
decays and there is ‘change’ that renews.
2 Cor 4:16: Therefore we do not become
discouraged. Though our outer man is
[progressively] decaying and wasting
4
away, yet our inner self is being
[progressively] renewed day after
day. A blooming flower undergoes
change, but every change just further
establishes its beauty and essential
reality. Proverbs speaks of the life of
the righteous being like the rising
sun, shining brighter and brighter. The
eternal realm does have events and
does have change, but every change
further confirms the essential reality
of this realm and consequently it is not
temporal.
There is an event that took place
in eternity of such importance and
magnitude that it overflowed into
our time! This mystery was hidden for
ages and generations … but then it
happened: the infinite filled the finite;
the eternal filled the temporal, the
unknowable God revealed Himself
in a way we can all understand. God
became man! His mind was made
known; His character unveiled; His
opinion of you made clear. Like an
ocean emptied into a pond, it filled and
changed all time - out of all proportion
to the fall of man, is the redemption of
man. The Lamb, who was slain from the
foundation of the world, was born and
walked amongst us.
It is this singular event that gives
meaning to all other time. It is only
within this one event that all other
Comments
Hi Andre, Great stuff . The Lord seems to
be be giving you much depth of insight
into the mystery of Christ before creation,
which is always Paul’s starting point for
the believers: an understanding of who
they are in Christ. Paul, with consummate
ease, knew the believer had the ability
to grasp the incomprehensible eternal
dimensions of being in Christ. Eph 3v3-
4 Paul confidently assumes that in read-
ing his account of the mystery of Christ,
made known by revelation, we would be
able to understand his insight into the
mystery of Christ . 1John 2v21 expresses
the same idea that the believer has an in-
nate knowledge of the truth built into his
spirit. 1John 5v11 The testimony of God
is in our hearts. This is Gods testimony in
You don’t
have to wait any longer
events can find purpose. This event
is God’s reference within our time by
which all other events are judged. Only
in relationship to this event can the
temporal, changing, time-bound events
find eternal value. Although this single
event was concentrated in one individual,
Jesus, it included all men. And although
it happened before you were born, it has
a greater claim on you than your own
personal past.
Whether you are aware of it or not, this
event affects you … in fact it is all about
you. Paul refers to it as the ‘fullness of
time’ (Eph 1:10). He describes it as a
singular event that has consequences for
our hearts that he has given us the Life
of his Son that is eternal, able to grasp
the eternal dimensions of our true exis-
tence in Christ. Declare it boldly …Love
- Roddy.
I really enjoyed your post on time and
eternity. First I’ve ever heard, but wow
thought provoking ..big time!!! - Suzy
Beautiful, wonderful, glorious truths you
have explored and so clearly conveyed in
writing! May God continue to reveal more
and more of Himself and His perspectives
to you who so faithfully share with others
seeking to know Him more deeply. I have
often contemplated that what we, in our
human existance, sense with our five
physical senses hints at some things we
all mankind in all ages; an achievement
that occurred once and included all
without exception. The fullness of
time … so much can be said about it,
where does one begin. The fullness of
time means:
No time to come can add to what
was given in this event;Our sense of
satisfaction, completeness, fullness
has everything to do with appreciating
the event that filled all of time, and
nothing to do with any future event;
We can never exhaust the wealth of
understanding and insight that was
lavished upon us in this event. Further
on in this letter of Paul, he writes
that all of eternity will be a further
revelation of the exceeding greatness
of God’s kindness toward us in this
event - in Christ.
Jesus said on a number of occasions:
” …the time is coming, and now is …”.
He tapped into eternity in such a way
that the present contained everything
that the future had to offer! After
speaking to the Samaritan woman at
the well (John 4) about living water
- water that not only satisfies but
overflows, He ends off by saying: “I am
he,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait
any longer or look any further.” All that
eternity has to offer is in Christ and He
is present in this very moment.
have yet to discover about God. Such as
the mention in scripture that our praises
rise up to God as a sweet smelling savor.
He “smells” our praises? The mention of
him spewing the lukewarm out of His
mouth . . . He “tastes” the sincere passion
or the indifference of men’s hearts? There
are other such references and I don’t
mean to anthropomorphize nor to over-
analyze. These are just interesting things
I have pondered. Maybe they don’t really
matter much, but in digging around in the
rich soil of God’s Word, it is fun to ponder
the meaning of such things. Of course, as
we read in I Corinthians 13, all we know
now is partial and will be replaced with
full understanding when we see Him who
loved us first - face to face. Glory to God.
God bless. - Jeanie
 5
The Word Eternal
Long before the first line of scripture
was penned on papyrus scroll,
the Word, unwritten,
existed as the mind of God.

Before the books were gathered

collated as sacred text,
the Word, intangible; invisible,
was planning, was ordering
the ages that were to come.

This Word predates the Bible,

this Word predates creation,
this Word is alive and active
and speaking still today.

“Heaven is my throne room;

I rest my feet on earth.
So what kind of house
will you build me?” says God.

What kind of doctrine could enfold Him,

What kind of information could define Him,
What kind of book could contain Him?
Yet, despite His boundless nature,
within His infinite wisdom,
He devised a crafty plan, by which
His thoughts, His intents
would fit themselves into
the form of a humble seed:
The DNA of His own life,
encrypted within the written Word.
His plan foresaw the day
in which this seed would blossom
no longer encrypted; no longer disguised
but fully expressed in the person
of Jesus - the Christ - the Son
The One who was in the beginning
revealed within our midst
Immanuel - God with us -
the Word became flesh.

And so began the writing His desire is still the same:

of that which we now call:
the Bible - the Scriptures.
Within the limitations; imperfections
of human words and human authors
God placed His eternal perfect seed.
for His Word to break free of the boundaries
of letters and text and theories
and yet again, became flesh,
and yet again find expression in a person:
you - the chosen - the offspring of God.

A seed is not a tree; So as we approach the Scriptures,

the Scriptures are not our God,
Yet a seed is the beginning, the start -
provided with fruitful soil,
encouraged by water and light,
a seed gives birth to a being
much greater than itself.
do more than read what is written -
listen to what is spoken.
So once again we can encounter
the mind, the voice, the person
who spoke long before
pen or paper were born.
6
Entering the Rest of God
A good friend of mine made a very
interesting statement the other day, she
said: “We are called human beings and
not human doings”. This is a profound
truth concerning how God intended for
us to live. We spend our lives trying to do
things instead of being. We were created
for His pleasure, to be all God intended
for us to be. We accommodate the wrong
idea or thinking about ourselves, due to
all our own experiences in life. We often
make the mistake of judging ourselves in
the flesh and as a result we try our best
to become better people. So we work and
labour more. We are busy and we can’t
seem to relax in His opinion of our lives.
We need to live in His rest.
“And God saw all that He had made, and
behold, it was very good. And there was
evening and there was morning, the sixth
day. Thus the heavens and the earth were
completed, and all the hosts. And by the
seventh day God completed His work
which He had done; and He rested on the
seventh day from all His work which He
had done. Then God blessed the seventh
day and sanctified it, because in it He
rested from all His work which God had
created and made.” Gen 1:31, 2:1-3
“I know that everything that God does
will remain forever, there is nothing to
add to it and there is nothing to take from
by Tanswell Davidse
it, for God so worked that men should
fear Him.” Eccl 3:14
We need to realise that man was not
created on the first day, to give God a
hand. In fact, the first day man woke up
to was the seventh day of creation, the
Sabbath rest. Man awoke in the provision
of God. He awoke in the satisfaction of
His Father, because God was pleased
with everything He had created and
completed. God rested from all His works,
because He was satisfied. Man realised he
could not add to anything or take away
from what He had created.
“Therefore, let us fear, lest while a promise
remains of entering His rest, any one of
you should seem to have come short of
it. For indeed we have had good news
preached to us, just as they also; but
the word they heard did not profit them
because it was not united by faith in those
who heard. For we who have believed
enter that rest…” Heb 4:1-3
“There remains therefore a Sabbath rest
for the people of God. For the one who
enters His rest has himself also rested
from his works as God did from His” Heb
4:9,10
God designed and purposed for us to live
in His rest.
“For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath”
Matt 12:8. Jesus declared himself to be
Lord of the Sabbath. For Him to be Lord
of the Sabbath He had to rest from all His
works. This would have been impossible
unless He had finished or completed his
work.
What work did Jesus come to do? Jesus
came to restore man back to His rest.
For we are His workmanship created in
Christ Jesus unto good works which God
prepared beforehand that we should
walk in them.” Eph 2:10 “Ascribe greatness
to our God the Rock His work is perfect”
Deut 32:3,4 “Look to the Rock from which
you were hewn and the quarry from
which you were dug”.
God is not a panel beater, but a master
craftsman who completed a perfect
work in us through Christ Jesus. He didn’t
need our help in the process. We are His
workmanship, His masterpiece. If I should
add a stroke of paint to a painting of Van
Gogh, I would depreciate the value of the
painting. Likewise my contribution is not
to feel I have to add to His work, but to
simply adore and appreciate His finished
work.
“While the house was built there was
no sound of a hammer or axe or tool” 1
Kings 6:7 God encourages us not to find
our confidence in our own labour, but His
labour on our behalf. Our own strength
only leads to us being heavy laden. He
desires us to soar like eagles, like those
who wait on the Lord. Eagles soar in the
slipstream of the wind and rely on the
strength of the wind to take them higher
and faster.
“Come to me all you who labour and
are heavy laden and I will give you rest”
Matt 11:28 God desires that we find the
unforced rhythms of grace to propel us in
life. His grace is more than enough.
“Now I make known to you, brethren, the
gospel which I preached to you, which
also you received, in which also you
stand”

“But by the grace of God I am what I am
and His grace towards me did not prove
vain; but I laboured more than all of them,
yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” 1
Cor15:10
The Sabbath rest is not the absence
of work but it is an inward attitude of
confidence in the finished work of Christ
on my behalf.
received in the finished work of Christ. It
is like someone being troubled by a bill
of R1000 when he is oblivious to the fact
that he has millions in his bank account.
Be aware of what you manifest and carry.
You are a God container. Exodus 34;29,
Ps82:5-7
Set your mind on His goodness. Col 3:1-4
7
Be still
This is more than just being quiet, but a
ceasing from all effort to try and gain His
favour or approval, a knowing that He has
made up His mind about us, before we
could ever do anything to influence it. It
is futile to seek to obtain something you
already have! Rest, be still…and know.

Grace is all God did in Christ on my behalf.
By grace we have been saved through
faith and not by our own works. His grace
is sufficient for us. God does not want us
to work harder but rest harder. The most
active state we can be in is to live in the
rest of God. (Inward attitude)
We need to rest in God’s goodness and
enjoy the “God factor”. “Return to your
rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt
bountifully with you.” Ps116.7
Don’t worry that things will not happen if
you don’t make them happen.
He became sin so that you might
become…………
He became poor so that you might
become…………
He became sick so that you might
become…………
He became a curse so that you might
become…………
He became all that you were so that you
can be all that He is.
Refuse to doubt, being swayed by
different opinions. A double-minded man
is unstable in all His ways.. James1:7-9,
1Kings18:20, 21.
God’s Sabbath is no longer a particular
day of the week.
“He again fixes a certain day, “Today”,
saying through David after so long a
time, just as has been said before, Today
if you hear His voice, do not harden your
hearts. For if Joshua had given them rest,
He would not have spoken of another day
after that.” Heb 4:7-8
God so desires for us to enter His rest. We
are the celebration of His love, the reason
for His satisfaction. We are the product of
His labour and what He saw pleased Him
so much that He entered into His rest.
God’s rest is not another day; it is YOU.
“Jehovah has chosen Zion; He has desired
it for His dwelling-place. This is My rest
forever; here I will dwell; for I have desired
it”. PS 132:13: 14 (MKJV)
Be still and know that I am God, be still
and truly know that I am God
Quiet your mind and your thoughts in
Me
Let me reveal the depth of My word to
you
Let me show you how it will meet your
need
Rest completely in what I’ve promised
and
Be still and know that I am God, be still
and truly know that I am God
Perceive with certainty and
understanding
Remove all doubt and fear and trust in
Me
Let me touch you with my intimacy
Know completely, rest securely and
Be still and know that I am God, be still
and truly know that I am God
by Mary-Anne Rabe ©2000
Download this song at:
http://hearhim.net/wordpress/music/

So what is it that we must do? Have faith
in His finished work on your behalf.
Just believe. Your unbelief will disqualify
you from His rest. The disciples asked
Jesus: “… what must we do, to do the
works of God?” Jesus’ reply was: “Just
believe in whom He has sent. We don’t do
in order to receive something from God in
return. We realised that grace is all that we
have already received as a result of what
Christ did, that enables and energises us
to do.
One ‘doing’ in order to receive, is one
who is untrained in the knowledge of
God and totally unaware of what he has
God is so at home in you that he came to
make his permanent abode in you. He is
comfortable in you and pleased to reveal
Himself through you.
Comments
Hi Tans. Great, you open it up so
beautifully, now I do understand: God’s
rest is not another day - it is You - He has
desired it for His dwelling-place. This is
my rest forever, here I will dwell; for I have
desired it. I’ll show you how to take a real
rest. Keep company with me and you’ll
learn to live freely and lightly - AWESOME
- Danie
8
The Face of Christ
The face of Jesus Christ embraces all
that is signified by “the Man Christ Jesus”
from eternity to eternity in relation to
God’s thought, God’s will, God’s design.
It is all behind that face. That is what we
mean when we say: Catch a glimpse of
the face of Jesus Christ, and you have the
wonder of all ages - the glory of God from
eternity to eternity in the face of Jesus
Christ: the Divine counsels; the creation,
the redemption, and the glorification of
humanity - of man - in “the Man Christ
Jesus.”
That is for those who see that Righteous
One and hear the voice of His mouth.
But for those who through disobedience
and unbelief still allow that veil to remain
which the god of this age hath cast over
the hearts of the unbelieving, God “hath
appointed a day in which He will judge
the world in righteousness by the man
whom He hath ordained…” (Acts 17:31).
For the one, the Man represents the glory
of God. For the other, the Man represents
the judgment of God. It is to be in and
through and by a Man. You see how God
has summed up all things in Christ. It is
all in the face of Jesus Christ.
I do not know what that conveys to you.
Let me make it clear that this is not the
fruit of simply sitting down and studying.
By T. Austin Sparks
I did not sit down and study this. It came
to me like the passing of something
before my heart, and I tell you I was
stirred in heart at what I saw to be the
meaning of the face of Jesus Christ.
I can understand now why Paul was
revolutionized. He saw the face of Jesus
Christ. He did not simply see a blazing
light on the way to Damascus. He saw
the significance of Jesus of Nazareth
in the glory - the Man whom he had
probably seen in Jerusalem… the Man
whom he had hated - had loathed - as a
blasphemer, as an apostate… the Man
whom he thought had been rightly
handled and given His due when He was
crucified.
He saw that Man… and what that Man
meant as installed in heaven at God’s
right hand; and there broke upon him
something of the significance of Jesus
Christ, as he saw the face of Jesus in
that eternal, universal, and spiritual
sense - that all-inclusive sense. Out from
that beholding - for he never stopped
beholding inwardly the face of Jesus -
there grew and grew the explanation of
history, the explanation of the race, the
explanation of man, the explanation of
human destiny, the explanation of the
Cross… this unveiling of things which
no man could ever know by reason or
study. There came out into the heart of
Paul the knowledge of what went on in
Divine counsels in eternity of old. It was
all seen in the face of Jesus Christ, Jesus
Christ interpreted everything - explained
everything - revealed everything.
This it was that made Paul the man he
was. It was this that gave him the power
of endurance, the power of suffering, the
power of going on. He had seen the face
of Jesus Christ… and what a realm, what
a wealth, what fullness was in that face!
He says, “We have this ministry” (2
Corinthians 4:1). What ministry? Why, this:
God hath “shined in our hearts to give the
light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.” Our ministry is
simply to tell what we have seen in that
face - the meaning of Jesus Christ - “the
Man Christ Jesus” - the amazing wonder
of a Man! Yes, not forgetting all that is
extra to that - and ever was, and ever will
be - of Godhead… but in the light of that,
the amazing wonder of a Man!
I confess to you that while I glory in Christ
as Son of God… and while I glory in Him
as very God, and in God as God… the real
wonder of it all only comes to me as I see
that wealth of glory coming down into
the face of a Man - as I see that expressed
in a Man - all taken up in a Man. Yes, Man
of my manhood, but different! Man torn
with all my passions, and yet without
sin in Himself! That is to say, a Man beset
by all my temptations, and knowing
what it is to have to battle with that
pressure which comes upon us in order
to overwhelm us.
In our case much of it arises from within;
but, oh, we do know to some extent what
it is to have that pressure come upon us
from without and to have something
evil impinging upon us. He knew the
full force of that as you and I have never
known it - the impingement of universal
evil to try to make Him think other than
He would think, act other than He would
act, and choose other than He would
choose… and that under all manner of
circumstances which would facilitate the
temptation and the tempter.
Yes, a Man has triumphed. A Man has taken
up the fight. A Man has come through. A
 9

Man has realized in humanity God’s
end in Himself and taken that perfected
humanity back into the glory… and is
installed and related. And now by the
blessed Eternal Spirit, through faith,
we are joined to that Man - joined to
Him one spirit - to be one Body, one
glorified humanity eventually, of which
we now have the earnest in the Spirit
of Jesus Christ.
It is marvelous! It is beyond our
apprehension, our power of expression!
Oh, that the Lord would open our
hearts - yea, break them open and give
us a new apprehension and grasp of
the meaning of the face of Jesus Christ!
Dwell upon that, and ask the Lord
continually to shine in, shine in, shine
in… to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ.
God’s eternal thought
The Son of Man! Do you notice where He
took that title? He asked: “Who do men
say that I am?” Elijah! One of the prophets
of old! “But who say ye that I am.” “The
Christ of God!” Then He commanded
them to tell no man but to keep that to
themselves - to keep that covered. That
was something which for the moment
was to be suspended. At that point, for
the first time, He took to Himself the title,
“Son of Man” - “The Son of Man must
suffer many things and be rejected…
and killed.”
What is the import of this? Oh, He has
leaped over the bounds of Messiahship.
“The Christ of God!” That is all right for
Israel, but He has gone beyond Israel
now. Israel is refusing their Messiah.
The title “Son of Man” passes far beyond
the bounds of Israel and is the racial
representation. Not Israel, but all men
- He is the worldwide, universal Son of
Man.
How? By the Cross. The Christ has
leaped over all the limitations of
nationality, even of Israel, and has
bounded the range of humanity. He
took the title “Son of Man” as Israel
refused their Messiah and the Cross
came into view. He saw that the Cross
was leading to a baptism of passion,
which would mean a baptism of fire
into all the earth. Not to Israel now!
Say nothing about that! This is not the
time to preach Israel’s Messiah! The
time has now come into view when
by the Cross all men are coming into
God’s eternal thought.
The Lord open our hearts to see the
face of Jesus Christ.

single grain of wheat, was to release its

The Mystery in the Seed secret and become the harvest of life,
By Francois Du Toit multiplied according to its own kind, in
mankind; the bread of life that would
feed the hunger of the nations. He was
The secret of the complex genetic detail
never meant to become a mere doctrine
of spontaneous life lies concealed within
of religious sentiment and tradition, but
the seed. The seed is in fact the mirror
a life of the highest expression of virtue
reflection of the tree that bears the fruit.
and integrity, to be revealed in every
The word mystery, musterion in Greek,
man. For this Paul labours, striving with
is only used three times in the gospels.
all the energy that God mightily inspires
Matthew, Mark and Luke use this word
within him, to present every man in the
every time in the context of the mystery
full stature of Christ! Col. 1:27-29. We
of the seed. An enormous harvest,
have always maintained that perfect
beyond any possible calculation lies
beauty is rare, like an Absalom who was
hidden within one seed.
without blemish from the soul of his
foot to the crown of his head, (2 Samuel
The mystery that was hidden for ages and 14:25) yet God preserved the perfection
generations was about to break through of beauty, the blueprint of our original
the soil of the invisible realm of Spirit- design, in Christ and through the gospel
realities, and forever transform the life- now reveals it as our life!
expression and destiny of mankind.‘Unless
the grain of wheat falls into the earth and
dies, it remains alone’. The destiny of the
10
James - the brother of Jesus
By Francois Du Toit
Lost and found identity
From the first and the last verse of
chapter one it appears that James
sets this teaching up against the
sense of a lost identity: the twelve
scattered tribes, the widows and the
orphans.
This would be the greatest and
most challenging test or temptation
anyone can face: “to forget what
manner of man you are.” (1:24,
Deut.32:18.)
As a flesh and blood brother of Jesus,
James had to discover a greater
identity to that of his physical
conception. Beyond the desire of
a natural parent, mankind shares
a common origin, the ‘boulomai’
(original Greek), the affectionate
desire and deliberate resolve of God,
the Father of lights, with whom there
is no distortion or hidden agenda,
He conceived us by the unveiled
logic of God, (truth, alethea, from a +
lanthano, not hidden) “He brought us
forth by the Word of truth.”
Man began in God
The truth about man’s genesis is that
he is God’s personal invention. We are
‘anouthen’, from above. We are perfect
and complete and lacking in nothing.
(1:4) God’s Sabbath is the celebration
of our perfection, both by design and
redemption. “Every good and perfect
gift comes from above, from the
Father of lights with whom there is
no variableness, and no shadow due
to change, He brought us forth by the
Word of truth.”
Born from above
“No one ascended into heaven, who
did not also descend from heaven,
even the son of man.” John 3:13.
John sees the same genesis. When he
writes his gospel he is already more
than 90 years old. Unlike Luke and
Matthew he skips the genealogies of
Joseph and returns to the Logos/Word
that was from the beginning, before
Adam was. The original blueprint
thought of God. The Word that was
always directed towards God, (the
Word was with God, pros, a Greek
preposition of direction, its predicted
destiny is always to return to where

it comes from, (Is.55:10,11,) “Like the
rain and the snow that come down
from heaven and returns not thither
but water the earth, making it bring
forth and sprout, so shall my Word be
that goes forth from my mouth (the
eye of the fountain) it shall not return
to me void, it shall accomplish my
purpose and prosper in my resolve!”
Jesus returned with the full harvest,
the salvation of the human race).
The Word is God; the Word equals
God in essence, that same Word
incarnated; the Word became flesh
and dwelt within us; God finding
accurate expression of Himself,
His image and likeness revealed in
human form. Genesis 1:26 lives again,
man standing tall in the stature of the
invisible God, “if you have seen me,
you have seen the Father!” Christ in
whom all the fullness of Deity dwells;
and man realizing and returning to
his own completeness only in Him.
(Col.2:9,10.)
“Unless a man is born from above,
‘anouthen’, he cannot see the
Kingdom of God. (The kingdom
of God - the reign of God’s image
and likeness, His character) is made
visible again on earth as it is in
heaven; tangible in human form.”
John 3:3. Nicodemus discovers that
his attraction to Jesus was founded
upon the fact that man is more than
the fruit of his mother’s womb. That
which is born of the flesh is flesh.
Man’s natural features and identity
reveals a glimpse of his parents’, but
there is another womb that man
comes from, the womb of the spirit;
man’s birth is not merely by the desire
of an earthly parent, (John 1:13) but
by the desire of God. Man comes from
above. “I knew you before I formed
you in your mother’s womb.” (Jer.1:5.)
If man did not come from above,
then the heavenly realm would offer
no appeal or attraction to him. In our
make-up we are the God-kind with
an appetite for more than that which
bread and the senses could satisfy us
with. We are designed to hunger for
... there is another
womb that man comes
from, the womb of the
spirit; man’s birth is not
merely by the desire
of an earthly parent,
(John 1:13) but by the
desire of God.
the Logos that comes from above.
From a dimension where the original
thought remains preserved and
intact without contamination, the
Logos that comes from His mouth,
the unveiled mirror reflection of our
authentic design.
Paul celebrates the same theme
in Galatians 1:15, “God separated
me from my mother’s womb and
revealed His son in me in order that
I may declare Him in the nations!” He
understood what Jesus said to Peter,
“flesh and blood cannot reveal to
you who the son of man is, but my
Father who is in heaven, blessed are
you Simon son of Jonah, I give you a
new name that reveals your original
identity, you are rock” (petros,
hewn out of the rock, petra, Is.51:1,
Deut.32:3,4,18.) This revelation is
the rock foundation that I will build
my identity upon, (my image and
likeness) and the strong gates of
hades, (Greek, ha + ideis, not to see)
that trapped man into the walled
city of the senses will not prevail
against the voice that surnames and
summons man again.” (Mat.16:13,17.)
(Church, eklesia, from ek, denoting
source or origin and klesia from kaleo,
to surname or identify by name.)
Therefore Paul did not immediately
consult with flesh and blood. He
deliberately avoided the opportunity
to get to know Jesus from a human
point of view by visiting the eleven
disciples who were still alive and
living in Jerusalem. They could have
11
informed him first hand about the
life, ministry, parables and miracles
of Jesus. (2Cor.5:16.) But Paul does
not make mention in any of his
writings even of a single parable
Jesus told or miracle He performed,
because his mandate and revelation
was not to reveal Christ in history,
but Christ in man. Three years later
only he returned briefly to Jerusalem
specifically to visit Peter and James,
the Lord’s brother. (Gal.1:18,19.) One
is not surprised to discover that
the first believers ever to be called
Christians were the Greeks in Antioch
who sat under Paul’s ministry.
What James, John and Paul had in
common was an understanding that
Jesus came to reveal and redeem
man’s original authentic spirit
identity.
James 1:18, 19 It was His delightful
resolve to give birth to us; we were
conceived by the unveiled logic of
God. (The Word of truth). We lead
the exhibition of His handiwork, like
first fruits introducing the rest of the
harvest He anticipates.
Consequently my beloved brethren,
(when you are faced with temptation
and contradiction) ponder the Word
that reveals your true origin, do not
ponder the problem; that is how
frustration is conceived. Rather
remain silent than to give anger your
voice. (Quick to hear, slow to speak,
slow to anger.)
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12
Does it matter what you believe?
We can do nothing against
the truth
There are truths which remain true
whether you believe them or not. Paul
understood this and wrote ‘for we can
do nothing against the truth, but only
for the truth‘ (2 Cor 13:8). In the life,
death and resurrection of Jesus, God did
something for and with mankind that is
immutable - not subject or susceptible
to change or variation in form or quality
or nature. The success of what He ac-
complished is unchallenged, unaffected
by unbelief. In Christ, God removed
every obstacle and hindrance that stood
between Himself and man. He dealt with
sin - all sin of all people. He invalidated
guilt - it has no foundation. These are
things He did for us, whether we are
aware of it or not. But He also did some-
thing with us - in His death, we died. In
His resurrection we were elevated to a
new position of blameless innocence
before God. “There’s no end to what has
happened in you—it’s beyond speech,
beyond knowledge.“ (1 Cor 1:5 MSG).
These things do not become true when
you believe them - they are true even if
you are unaware of them. Even if no-one
believed, the truth about man and God
would remain true. “What if some did not
have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify
God’s faithfulness? Not at all!” (Rom 3:3)
Fully persuaded
So if the truth remains truth no mat-
ter what I believe, does my faith really
matter? Absolutely yes, in every way.
We only experience the benefit of truth
as we embrace it. “For we also have had
the gospel preached to us, just as they
did; but the message they heard was of
no value to them, because those who
heard did not combine it with faith. Now
we who have believed enter that rest,
just as God has said” (Heb 4:2). The truth
has no value for you individually, if it
is not combined with faith. Paul wrote
about the ‘wealth’ or ‘riches’ of being fully
persuaded (Col 2:2). There is a richness of
life, a rest of satisfaction, an abundance
of contentment, that is only found in be-
ing fully persuaded.
Falling in love
Faith is so much more than correct
information … as much as falling in love
is more than knowing the facts about
another person. When I met Mary-Anne,
I did not not even know how to spell her
name, her date of birth or background,
but that did not stop my heart from re-
sponding with a ‘wow’. When a beautiful
landscape appears before me, I instantly
respond with appreciation without
needing facts and figures. Faith is such
a gift - it’s an instant response when
encountering God. Whenever He reveals
Himself we automatically respond with
awe and adoration. Seeing what He sees
causes us to believe what He believes.
It is so much more than the pathetic
‘Statements Of Faith’ that some organi-
sations publish. I’m so glad that neither
Jesus nor Paul ever wrote a ‘Statement
of Faith’ - they knew that the adoration
they had in response to the beauty of
the Father could never be reduced to a
set of principles or be neatly categorised
into a doctrine. All we could ever hope to
express is an introduction, an invitation
for others to see what we see.
For the truth
‘...for we can do nothing against the
truth, but only for the truth‘ (2 Cor 13:8).
Although we can do nothing against the
truth, we can do something for it! We can
allow it to have its full effect in us and
through us. We can draw the maximum
value and benefit from it as we combine
it with faith, allowing God to persuade us
fully, as He is persuaded. 1Cor 1: 6 speaks
about the testimony of Christ that has
been confirmed in us.
Why do you think Paul, knowing that we
can do nothing against the truth, would
still risk his life and endure agonising
persecution and torture for the sake
of making this truth known. Well, we
don’t have to guess, he wrote about his
motivation. “For Christ’s love compels us,
since we have reached this conclusion:
if One died for all, then all died. And He
died for all so that those who live should
no longer live for themselves, but for the
One who died for them and was raised.”
(2 Cor 5:14,15) Paul reached a conclusion
- the conclusion that, what Christ
accomplished, included all mankind
… yet the full implication of this truth,
the benefit of this truth still eluded the
masses because of ignorance. The desire
for others to enjoy the full benefit of these
immutable truths, drove him to make this
truth known as accurately as possible.
So what can we do for the truth? We
can allow it to have its full effect in and
through us. Allow the testimony of Christ
to be confirmed in you. We do this as we
continue to live in awe at the revelation
brought to us through Jesus Christ. We
do this as we allow our enjoyment of
Him to overflow into loving others - a
love that compels us to live for more
than just ourselves.The full value and
benefit of the truth will be realised. He is
not pressed by time or impatient to draw
all men to Himself - He has all eternity
to show us the full value and benefit of
what He accomplished on our behalf “so
that in the coming ages He might display
the immeasurable riches of His grace in
His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” until
“all created beings in heaven and on
earth—even those long ago dead and
buried—will bow in worship before this
Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he
is the Master of all, to the glorious honour
of God the Father” (Eph 2:7; Phil 2:10,11)
 13

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14
the Word of God is not chained
Never underestimate the effect of this Word in and through
you. Never disqualify yourself from the full benefit of what
God made available for your enjoyment. The enemy will
try anything to persuade us that we are disqualified from
both enjoying and proclaiming this relationship with God.
Distraction is His ultimate strategy.
Even what we consider ‘ministry’ could be a distraction from
God’s point of view! Let me illustrate. A couple of days ago
I casually started thinking about the ways, methods and
resources we use to ‘promote’ this gospel - everything from
the weekly fellowship, the occasional weekend function,
books, CDs and internet site came to mind. It wasn’t long
before I found myself comparing what we did, with what
I knew others were doing. The moment that happened a
sense of inadequacy came! My first reaction was: I’ve got to
do more!
But God is so faithful. He reminded me of this scripture:
“...when they measure themselves with themselves and
compare themselves with one another, they are without
understanding and behave unwisely” 2 Cor 10:12 (AMP). He
then pulled my attention off others ... and off my own efforts,
onto the one and only measure that accurately reveals me -
Christ: the revelation of my value.
...until we all attain oneness in the faith
and in the comprehension of the full
and accurate knowledge of the Son
of God, that [we might arrive] at really
mature manhood (the completeness of
personality which is nothing less than
the standard height of Christ’s own
perfection), the measure of the stature
of the fullness of the Christ and the
completeness found in Him. Eph 4:12
Seeing Him is the most captivating and
satisfying experience. It has nothing to do
with ministry in the first instance - it has
everything to do with enjoying Him and
enjoying others from this perspective.
Promoting this gospel is not the aim - it
is the natural consequence of delighting
ourselves in Him. If your understanding
of this gospel does not motivate you
to include others, then you have not
seen & enjoyed what God intended. The
love of God is not a passive force, but a
compelling force. It compelled Jesus to
offer the ultimate sacrifice - His own life.
It compelled Paul ... it compels anyone
who understands it.
Imagine the thoughts and temptations
presented to Paul, while in prison.
Prison was as shameful then as it is now.
Even though he knew his innocence,
the situation he found himself in
undoubtedly would have closed some
doors to him. And even the doors that
remained open to him were unreachable
because he was shut behind a cell door.
It must have seemed as if all opportunity
to declare this gospel was taken from
him. He had no internet access! Not
even the printing press was invented
yet. It was him alone, isolated ... with
the greatest revelation of the love of
God ever known. That revelation was
the source of his confidence - the Word
 15
unveiled in his heart could not remain hidden even Prisons do not exclude God
while He was imprisoned. In one of His letters he wrote: By Madame Guyon
“For this Gospel I am suffering affliction and even
wearing chains like a criminal. But the Word of God is
not chained or imprisoned!” 2 Tim 2:9. The integrity
of this message, not what people thought of him, is Strong are the walls around me,
what gave him unwavering boldness to speak about That hold me all the day;
that which he enjoyed - an enjoyment not hindered by
circumstance. “ ... for I have learned how to be content But they who thus have bound me,
(satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or Cannot keep God away;
disquieted) in whatever state I am ...I have learned in
any and all circumstances the secret of facing every My very dungeon walls are dear,
situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a
sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and Because the God I love is here
being in want.” Phil 4:11-12

They know, who thus oppress me,

Never ever, for whatever reason, allow your focus to be
diverted from this message that produces intimacy with ‘Tis hard to be alone;
our Creator, to any other message. For I am persuaded But know not, One can bless me,
beyond doubt that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities, nor things impending and threatening Who comes through bars and stone;
nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth,
He makes my dungeon’s darkness
nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate
us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our bright,
Lord. Nothing else is worth taking your attention off And fills my bosom with delight.
this inexhaustible truth.

Thy love, O God, restores me

From sighs and tears to praise;
And deep my soul adores thee,
Nor thinks of time or place;
I ask no more, in good or ill,
But union with thy holy will.

‘Tis that which makes my treasure,

‘Tis that which brings my gain;
Converting woe to pleasure,
And reaping joy from pain.
Oh, ’tis enough, what’er befall
To know that God is All In All
16
How Much Are You Worth
Let’s look at the birds of the air. We don’t
see them frantically storing in barns or
fretting about where their next meal will
come from.They are simply careless in
the care of God.
We can take a lesson from the flowers
too, who effortlessly display such beauty
without even holding one clothing
account.
“What I’m trying to do here is to get you
to relax, to not be so preoccupied with
getting, so you can respond to God’s
giving.” Matt 6:31
I don’t see Matthew 6:25 as a ‘how-
to-stress-less’ teaching. But, more
importantly, a beautiful lesson in the
care of God and a reminder of just how
valuable we are to Him.
“Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not
tied down to a job description, careless in
the care of God. And you count far more
to him than birds. “
...how much more are you worth!
You see, how do you not worry about
tomorrow? It’s only when you are
convinced that the One who is your
life, is already there. There is nothing
in tomorrow, or any other day for that
matter, that could in any way subtract
from your value before God. And if He
loves you, He is most certainly going to
care for you.
There was no length, breadth, width
or height that could keep God from
redeeming you and I. There was nothing
that could withhold Him from loving us...
not even death.
No matter what comes your way, He is
never going to think differently about
you or stop loving you.
“What is man that You are mindful of
Him?” Heb 2:6 His mind is filled with
thoughts concerning you! We need to
allow ourselves to be consumed with His
by Mary-Anne Rabe
thoughts.
Understanding your value, has everything
to do with understanding His thoughts
concerning you - partaking of His
knowledge.
What does He know about you?
That you are redeemed, fully reconciled
to Him, raised with Christ and seated with
Him in heavenly places...
Colossians 3:1-3 If then you were raised
with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ is, sitting at the right
hand of God. Set your mind on things
above, not on things on the earth. For
you died, and your life is hidden with
Christ in God.
The Message says it this way: So if you’re
serious about living this new resurrection
life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the
things over which Christ presides.
Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground,
absorbed with the things right in front
of you. Look up, and be alert to what is
going on around Christ—that’s where the
action is. See things from his perspective.
Your old life is dead. Your new life, which
is your real life—even though invisible to
spectators—is with Christ in God. He is
your life. Focus on that which is above...
this is our life and our true abode.
Matt 6:19 speaks of storing up for
yourselves treasures in heaven...and
where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also.
I believe that your greatest treasure is
understanding - the greatest stockpile
of wealth cannot compare to the
understanding of the treasure that lies
within you.
Your heart will be at rest and content
in the understanding of who you are in
Christ, and just who He is in you!
The wise accumulate knowledge—a true
treasure...Prov 10:14
...turning your ear to wisdom and
applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
Prov 2:2-4

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
Prov 3:13,14
Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
Prov 8:10
How much better to get wisdom than
gold, to choose understanding rather
than silver! Prov16:16
With me(wisdom) are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
Prov 8:18
Prov 3:13 You’re blessed when you meet
Lady Wisdom, when you make friends
with Madame Insight. She’s worth far
more than money in the bank; her
friendship is better than a big salary.
Her value exceeds all the trappings of
wealth; nothing you could wish for holds
a candle to her. With one hand she gives
long life, with the other she confers
recognition. Her manner is beautiful, her
life wonderfully complete. She’s the very
Tree of Life to those who embrace her.
Hold her tight—and be blessed!
The value of investing your thoughts and
attention on the things which are above
is eternal, but the benefits of peace, joy
and contentment will be enjoyed by you
now.
You can begin to live careless in the
Father’s care.
Value Beyond Information
by Dawie Blake
The Bible points to a reality greater than
itself. Jesus said: You have your heads in
your Bibles constantly because you think
you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss
the forest for the trees. These Scriptures
are all about me! And here I am, standing
right before you, John 5:39,40. There is
value to be discovered in the scriptures
far beyond ‘right’ information. The pages
within the Bible are like a mine... as you
delve into it, you find the gold. Many
people unfortunately read the Bible as a
mere instruction book, and what should
bring life instead brings confusion,
condemnation and even things like
disunity, pride etc... in short, spiritual
death. More people have been confused
and side-tracked by the Bible than any
other book. Dearly beloved, it is not an
instruction book!
The message of the Bible stands between
the lines. Its message is very simple
and Paul warns that you should not
be deceived from it’s simplicity. As you
ponder the history and people and events
within, your eyes open to the message
that runs throughout - God’s original
thought for man restored successfully in
Christ. This is the gold the human spirit
is nourished by; the rest gives it context.
This thought of God could never perfectly
be communicated or understood, except
through the manifestation of His Son,
Jesus Christ. “Sacrifice and offering you
did not desire, but You have prepared a
body for Me, to do Your will”. In the last
days God spoke to us in His Son...
Everyone just loves the story in which He
came to earth; not with flashing lightning
and trumpets and power that would
bring all men to their knees, but he came
as a baby born in a stable so that the very
least of us (from a human point of view)
could identify with Him. He wasn’t after
awe and fear because that alone doesn’t
nurture fellowship, but distance. He was
after our identification with Him, His
original thought of likeness restored in
man’s own mind. “I came to do Your will,
O God” (Heb 10:7).
He referred to Himself as the “son of man”
– he was saying hereby “I am like you”. In
17
another instance the glory of the son of
God/man is manifested on the mountain
and God the Father refers to Him as: “... my
beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,
listen to Him”. Peter writes saying that
in this we have the message of God to
mankind confirmed, namely the son of
man is the son of God! He writes “you will
do well to heed this word as a light that
shines in a dark place until the day dawns
and the morning star rises in your own
heart!”
In the next verse he continues saying
“knowing this first, that no prophecy of
scripture is of any private interpretation”…
Jesus didn’t come to display his unique
glory, but to reveal man’s - the revelation
of the glory of the Son of God was the
revelation of the glory (doxa) of the son
of man!
Just think about it for a moment. This
amazing God with infinite ability and
love – we can only expect the most
wonderful things pertaining to Life in
great capital letters from Him! Eph 1:3,
Eph 3:19. Rom 8:32. Mat 7:11, Mark 1:40-
41. Joyful fellowship with Him, His great
desire, is restored when we see and know
ourselves as He sees and knows and
enjoys us – we are after all the product
of the success of the cross. Paul’s prayer is
that we may see as He does. Eph 1:17-18.
Jesus quotes Ps 82 to the Pharisees
who were offended by a “common” man
(Jesus) identifying himself with God. Ps
82 is a fascinating portion of scripture!
In a beautiful and sinless world of
absolute completeness and perfection
created by God and restored through the
cross, righteousness is not there to point
out the wrongs and condemn the doers,
but to restore order by making the blind
see the truth about their identity. It is a
simple but powerful gospel for it restores
the source of life. “As a man thinks in his
heart, so is he”.
Ps 82:2 – “How long will you judge
unjustly, and show partiality to the
wicked?” … in other words, how long will
18
you continue to live twisted lives, void of
righteousness?
Ps 82:3-4 “Defend the poor and fatherless;
do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy; Free them
from the hand of the wicked.” … these
are the things God desires… but why
does man not walk this way?...
Ps 82:5 – “They do not know, nor do they
understand; they walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are
unstable.”
Ps 82:6 – “I said, ‘You are gods (elohim
– the same word used in Gen 1:26: ‘And
Elohim said let us make man in our image,
after our likeness…’) and all of you are
children of the Most High. But you shall
die like mere men, and fall like one of the
princes.”
While man does not know and understand
who they are and where they come
from, they are in darkness and as rulers
they cause chaos in this world – its very
foundations are threatened by the fruit of
the lies they live. They were made vessels
of the very glory, image and likeness of
God, but without knowing this, they die
like mere men and fall like those who
strive in the strength of the flesh. So what
is God’s message to these: “I said, ‘You are
gods and all of you are children of the
Most High.’”
The gospel is a call to sanity, to share
God’s insight, to walk with our eyes open
to the truth. There is only hurt, confusion,
pride etc. etc. in darkness but as David
says (Ps 17), “I will be satisfied when I
awake in Your likeness!”
When God made this beautiful world and
everything in it, He used His boundless
creativity and intellect. But when He
made you, He looked at Himself and
made a copy… We can also say He didn’t
make you, you were born from Him to be
as He is. Therefore He is the blueprint of
you, the mirror-image.
It is the mystery that was hidden for
ages and generations but now has been
made known…. “Christ in you the hope
of glory!”
He came as the light of the world that
all may see… there is so much in this
statement!
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life –
once again, we can write books about
this statement!
In the spirit of man there is a yearning that
no earthly thing will ever satisfy - except
the knowledge of their inner identity -
the knowledge of Christ. This knowledge
bursts over into sweet fellowship with
God and man, which is His original
thought in action.
If you read the Bible in any other way,
you will miss the point. Paul says what
gain he had from his religious instruction,
he counts it all dung! Why? For the all
surpassing excellence of the knowledge
of Christ! The Gold is God’s original
thought, fully expressed in His Son, found
in your spirit identity. Read the Bible as a
mine for this Gold.
1Jo 1:2-4 For the life was manifested, and
we have seen it, and bear witness, and
shew unto you that eternal life, which was
with the Father, and was manifested unto
us; That which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you, that ye also may
have fellowship with us: and truly our
fellowship is with the Father, and with his
Son Jesus Christ. And these things write
we unto you, that your joy may be full.
Comments:
The biggest holy cow of them all, the Bible.
Yet, if one reads it with the foundation of
Truth firmly established, there is a very
clear and visible golden Thread running
through it, from Genesis, right through
to Revelation. There is so much more
beyond scriptures. Paul had revelation of
Christ before any of it was written down.
There is not one book or canon of books,
especially the Bible, that can box up
someone as infinitely great as Christ, the
Anointed, who dwells not within letters,
but within us. - Elmer
Awesome!!! 1Jn 5:19 We know that we are
of God, and the whole world lies under
the sway of the wicked one.
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son
of God has come and has given us an
understanding, that we may know Him
who is true; and we are in Him who is
true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the
true God and eternal life. - David B
The word ’spirit’ can be used in many
contexts. One can speak about the spirit
of a person, or the spirit of a meeting.
Spirit refers to the essence; the core.
For instance, a major sporting event
will have a spirit of anticipation in the
crowd. In this case spirit refers to the one
essential quality that defines the event.
In the Hebrew and Greek languages the
same word is used for ‘wind’ and ’spirit’.
Wind is an unseen influence – we can see
the effect of it, but not the wind itself. In
the French language ’spirit’ also means
‘concept’ or ‘mind’. Can you see from
these descriptions how ’spirit’ refers to
the unseen essence, motivation, concept
and influence.
Paul speaks about two types of messages
and ways of ministering or imparting a
message. Both these messages can be
based on the same Scriptures, but one
produces death while the other produces
life. - Andre Rabe
John 8:31-32 ‘Then Jesus said to those
Jews who believed on Him, if you
continue in my word, then you are my
disciples indeed.And you will know the
truth and the truth will make you free’
Hebrews 4:12 ‘ For the word of God is
alive and powerful. It is sharper than
the sharpest two-edged sword cutting
between soul and spirit, between joint
and marrow’ - Debbie
I love .... “ and you will “know” ( as in an
intimate relationship) the TRUTH - and
the TRUTH will make you FREE” For HE
writes HIS words upon the tablets of our
hearts - we should hear what he has said
and taught and follow that -.... for the
letter killeth - but the Spirit comes to give
LIFE. - Lesleanne

Words of life - letters that kill
by Andre Rabe
This morning after getting ready for work,
I walked into the lounge, picked up a
Bible that was lying on a coffee table and
started reading somewhere in the Psalms.
At some point I became aware that I was
no longer simply reading; I was no longer
a casual observer, but somehow I had
entered into a conversation. It was no
longer me taking time to read the Bible,
but ’someone else’ taking time to speak
to me! It became personal. Far from
simply reading some historic document
in which I could observe the wisdom
of people who lived thousands of years
ago, I realised that the One who originally
inspired these stories still speaks and He
had something to say to me!
The words I read were no longer static
containers of intellectual information, but
they became a clear and distinct voice –
a voice that resonated within my spirit.
These words confirmed what I sensed the
Lord had been saying to me for a while;
they gave explicit direction and inspired
me to take specific action.
“Andre, breakfast is ready” called Mary-
Anne. 20 minutes later I was in the car on
my way to work. Gratitude filled me as I
thought about the many times in which
the Lord spoke to us so clearly through the
Scriptures. The content of what the Lord
spoke to me is not relevant for anyone
else, but the process and experience
of hearing Him, is. The Scriptures have
been a constant and reliable source of
direction and inspiration for so many
years. What is it about this relationship
with the Word that makes it so … so
alive? Memories about my earliest
experiences with this living word came
back. I also remembered a time when the
Bible was simply a religious book to me
– of no real interest or value. There are so
many teachings and attitudes toward the
scriptures that rob people of this most
beautiful encounter. So in this place of
being overwhelmed with gratitude and
simultaneously disgusted at how wrong
attitudes have given the scriptures such a
bad image for many, I knew I had to write
about discovering His living voice within
these writings.
“He has made us competent to be
ministers of a new covenant, not of the
letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills,
but the Spirit produces life.” 2Cor 3:6
The word ’spirit’ can be used in many
contexts. One can speak about the spirit
of a person, or the spirit of a meeting.
Spirit refers to the essence; the core.
For instance, a major sporting event
will have a spirit of anticipation in the
19
crowd. In this case spirit refers to the one
essential quality that defines the event.
In the Hebrew and Greek languages the
same word is used for ‘wind’ and ’spirit’.
Wind is an unseen influence – we can see
the effect of it, but not the wind itself. In
the French language ’spirit’ also means
‘concept’ or ‘mind’. Can you see from
these descriptions how ’spirit’ refers to
the unseen essence, motivation, concept
and influence.
Paul speaks about two types of messages
and ways of ministering or imparting
a message. Both these messages can
be based on the same Scriptures, but
one produces death while the other
produces life. A key difference between
these messages is that one is focused
on the ‘letter’ while the other is focused
on the ’spirit’ or as we saw, the essence.
One of the trademarks of dead religion
is nitpicking the details; obsessed with
the details of the Law. Jesus once said to
the religious leaders: “There is far more at
stake here than religion. If you had any
idea what this Scripture meant—’I prefer
a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual’—
you wouldn’t be nitpicking like this.”
Let me illustrate this further: Imagine a
person who has never seen a sparrow
before, but would love to learn as much
as possible about the bird. What would
be the most effective way for us to help
this person learn about sparrows. One
way would be to supply him with a
specimen and the necessary equipment
to dissect the bird. One can gain a lot of
information about a sparrow by dissecting
it. All manner of interesting facts can be
gained by this method, such as the size of
its heart, the location of its stomach, the
weight of its lungs. Unfortunately one
kills the bird in this process.
Alternatively, we could teach this person
about sparrows by taking a live one and
setting it free. Observing this sparrow
flying and being what it’s designed to
be would impart much more accurate
knowledge about it.
Studying the Bible can so easily become
a type of dissection that kills the very
message within it. If one loses sight of
the essence; the spirit of the Word, and
carves up the message into categories,
analysing each word and letter, then
20
the end result is lots of information …
without much life. Doctrine that is based
on these dead letters does not have the
life to inspire action, rather it needs to
be enforced through rituals to have any
influence. The fact that the scriptures
were divided into chapters and verses
promotes such a segmented approach
to reading the scriptures. Such an
approach is very common partly because
of religious pressure to ‘read your Bible
often!’ The result is that people dutifully
performs this chore … but the chore is
much lighter if one can chop it up into
little parts like chapters and verses.
Much of the rhythm … or spirit of the
writing is lost through such an approach. I
have found it to be of tremendous benefit
to take a book like ‘John’ and read it in
one go. (It’s actually not that long). One
can sense the movement, the soaring,
the unseen wind of the Spirit in a way
which is not visible when dissecting the
scriptures. This approach is as different
as observing a bird in flight as opposed
to studying a feather. It is good to keep
in mind that most of the scriptures
were not written by academics, but by
ordinary people that encountered the
extraordinary God. The essence of what
they had to say is remarkably accessible!
But even more importantly: the One
who originally inspired these writings is
still active and ready to reveal Himself.
This should give you more than enough
confidence to read and understand.
The Challenge.
I can continue writing about this, but
I want you to experience for yourself
what I, rather clumsily, tried to express.
So here is the challenge: Read Matthew,
Mark, Luke, John and Acts in a week;
no academic study of single words or
sentences, rather allowing the rhythm
and spirit of this message to transport
you into this wonderful world of God’s
story. For this type of reading I suggest
the ‘Message’ translation.
One can sense the
movement, the soaring,
the unseen wind of the
Spirit in a way which
is not visible when
dissecting the scriptures.
Constrain Him!
by Andre Rabe
Based on Luke 24:
A few days after the cruxifiction of
Jesus, two disciples were walking to a
town called Emmaus. The events of the
past two days were fresh in their minds
and naturally formed the basis of their
conversation. However, the meaning
of these events eluded them – truth is
rarely found on the surface, on the mere
appearance of things.
A third traveller joined them – Jesus
Himself – but they did not recognise Him.
Jesus did not immediately reveal Himself
or offer His opinion on the subject. He
was interested in conversation, not one-
sided instruction.
Verse 17: And He said to them, What is
this discussion that you are exchanging
between yourselves as you walk along?
And they stood still, looking sad and
downcast.
Cleopas answered and gave a factually
accurate description of events. But we can
see that their perspective of these events
left them with the wrong conclusions:
they were sad and downcast. Faith lifts us
to a place where we can see from God’s
point of view.
Jesus sees the same events, but from a
different perspective:
verse 25-27 And [Jesus] said to them,
O foolish ones [sluggish in mind, dull
of perception] and slow of heart to
believe (adhere to and trust in and
rely on) everything that the prophets
have spoken! Was it not necessary and
essentially fitting that the Christ should
suffer all these things before entering
into His glory? Then beginning with
Moses and [throughout] all the Prophets,
He went on explaining and interpreting
to them in all the Scriptures the things
concerning and referring to Himself.
It is significant that at this point, Jesus
once again refrains from simply revealing
Himself. Instead He considers it important
for these disciples to understand the
scriptures … thoroughly! The journey
was about 7 miles (12 km) so they had
time for a comprehensive discussion.
Perception, understanding, insight is
obviously part of God’s strategy for us to
encounter Him – it is part and parcel of
the experience of Christ. Had He simply
revealed Himself, without engaging in
conversation, without expounding the
scriptures and without presenting to
them a completely new point of view,
their experience of Christ might well
have been more shallow, not engaging
their whole being.
 21
Verse 28-31 Then they drew near to the there … we allow the greater revelation For He was wounded for our
village where they were going, and He and encounter to pass by. Constrain Him! transgressions
indicated that He would have gone “But they urged and insisted, saying to He was bruised for our iniquities
farther. But they constrained Him, Him, Remain with us” (AMP) Push beyond In His death we have died
saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward the usual – this is not religious effort, but In His life we’re made alive
evening, and the day is far spent.” And He an energy that has its origin in the heart It is in dying that the grain of wheat
went in to stay with them.Now it came of a lover. We love Him because He first becomes a mighty field.
to pass, as He sat at the table with them, loved us. Allow His initiative to stir more
that He took bread, blessed and broke than a response – allow His initiative to
Now we walk down that same road
it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes birth initiative in you. Constrain Him to
were opened and they knew Him; and He abide, until He opens your eyes to see Our hearts rejoicing all the way
vanished from their sight. Him with a clarity that surpasses anything We speak of the One who we know as
you’ve seen before. our Saviour
Now in us, His life is revealed
Our Lord so often surprises us with
His initiative and goodness, with His Road to Emmaus For it’s no longer I, but Christ who lives
willingness to do exceedingly abundantly in me
Lyrics by Mary-Anne Rabe
above all we can ask or imagine. But there And the life I now live, is filled with
Walking down the road to Emmaus urgency
are times when He wants us to push the
As we talked, we were sad To make all men see what God sees
boundaries, to constrain Him, to seek,
that we might find, to ask, that we might Speaking of the One we hoped would be That His death was not the end, but the
receive, to knock until the door is opened, our Saviour releasing of His seed
to go further than the hour Bible study, Now He’s gone...this is not how it should
or the mid-week fellowship. He desires end. For He was wounded for our
to draw us into a place of intimacy that transgressions
exceeds the norm, the usual, the familiar.Then we met a man, oblivious to our He was bruised for our iniquities
doubts and fears In His death we have died
After He opened the scriptures, He made Who showed us how this “mystery”, in us In His life we’re made alive
as if He was going further – it was up to would be revealed! It is in dying that the grain of wheat
them to constrain Him. How often does Suddenly, the scales fell from our eyes becomes a mighty field.
the Lord open the scriptures to us, and As He broke the bread, we understood
our hearts burn within us … and we stop The meaning of His life.
22
AUTHENTIC THOUGHT
by Francois du Toit
“Man shall not live by bread alone but
by every word that proceeds from the
mouth of God.”
Man is designed to live – to be nurtured,
energised, inspired, comforted, edified
and sustained – by the original blueprint
Thought, in its most comprehensive
form, the Incarnation.
The Word that was before time was, the
Word that proceeds from the mouth of
God, not diluted by traditions of men, or
compromised to compliment, or excuse
an inferior interpretation of life.
For human life then to be reduced to feed
on bread alone, is certain suicide.
Jesus suggests that we take no thought
for what we shall eat, drink or wear! How
radical can you go! How boring can that
be?
Or does He have different information
about our make-up?
Remember, He came so that we may
have life more abundantly;
He is certainly not the thief trying to
cheat us out of our next meal!
The most successful way in which the
thief can steal life from us is to reduce our
appetite to the flesh.
Isaiah says that God’s thoughts are higher
than our thoughts, just like the heavens
are higher than the earth; often we stop
reading there thinking that it’s supposed
to be like that!
In Christ God cancelled every definition
of distance! No informed man has any
valid excuse to feel lonely, seperated,
isolated or neglected any longer.
The words that come from His mouth,
(the authentic thought, the eye of the
fountain) will impact you just like the
rain and snow that come down from
above, and return not there without
first saturating the soil, awakening the
dormant seed, causing it to sprout into a
full harvest, ready to feed and repeat the
ongoing cycle of life, “giving bread to the
eater and seed to the sower.”
Just like our daily bread, the Word comes
to us from above. Even though the seed
is already buried in the soil, without the
rain and the snow, there will be no bread!
It is amazing how rain awakens seed even
in the driest desert.
He desires to feed us with the finest of
the wheat and nourish us with honey
from the rock. He counsels us to buy
from Him wine and milk without money
and without price. Is.55:1. The only valid
currency in that realm is to pay attention
to the original Word that proceeds from
His mouth like rain.
God has never been silent; day to day
pours forth knowledge, night by night
utters wisdom; and like the sun, there
is nothing that is hid from its influence.
Ps.19. This is as 24/7, 365 days a year as
you can get.
While the universe articulates His voice
in every vibrating atom and molecule,
He spoke in many and in various ways of
old through the prophets. “Men moved
upon by the Spirit of God, spoke from
God.” 2Pet 1:21.
Inspired Words, spoken from man to man,
remain God’s ultimate language.
Hebrews1:1 “Throughout ancient times
God spoke in many fragments and
glimpses of prophetic thought to our
fathers.
1:2 Now, the sum total of His conversation
with man has finally culminated in a Son;
He is the official heir of all things, He is
after all the author of the ages. In Him
everything find their destiny. (Christ is
the crescendo of God’s conversation with
us.)
1:3 He makes the glory (intent) of God
visible in radiant reflection, He gives
stature to the character and person of
God. (Gen.1:26,27.)This final powerful
utterance of God (the incarnation) is the
vehicle that carries the weight of the
universe.
The content of His message celebrates
the fact that God took it upon Himself to
successfully purge and acquit mankind.
Jesus is now His right hand of power,
seated in the boundless measure of His
majesty. He occupies the highest seat of
authority.” The Mirror Translation
Col.1:15 “In Him the invisible God is made
visible again; in order that every one may
recognise their true origin in Him, He is
the firstborn of every creature. (In Him
we clearly see the mirror reflection of our
original image and likeness.)
1:19 The full measure of everything God
has in mind for man indwells Him.”
The Mirror Translation
The Hebrew words traditionally
translated ‘every word of God’, can better
be translated, ‘the complete word of God’.
(Hebrew, KOL, complete)
Christ is the most exhaustive and
authentic expression of God in human
form. Nothing feeds us more and
imparts life more dynamically than the
incarnation does. He is the Word that
was from the beginning, the Word that
is God and became flesh and tabernacles
in us. “Beholding His glory as in a mirror
we are awakened again in His likeness.” 2
Cor.3:18.
“I shall be satisfied when I awake,
beholding Your form.”
To study Scripture in any other context
is to become snared in a maze of dead
doctrine that leaves man striving, starving

and confused.
“Thy words were found, and I ate them,
and thy words became to me a joy and
the delight of my heart; for I am called
by thy name, O LORD, God of hosts. (His
Name, our identity.)
If you utter that which is precious and
not that which is worthless, you shall be
as My mouth.” Jer.15:16,19.
No wonder Paul’s desire was “that when
I open my mouth to speak, utterance
will be given me to speak the mystery of
Christ as I ought to.”
The word of faith, the language of the
righteousness of God, “is near unto you,
it is in your mouth and in your heart.”
Rom.10:6,8.
10:8 “Faith-righteousness announces
that every definition of distance in time,
space or hostility has been cancelled.
“The Word is near you, it is as close to
you as your voice and the conviction of
your heart.” We publicly announce this
message (because we are convinced that
it belongs to every man.)
10:9 Now your salvation is realised!
Your own words echo God’s voice. The
masterful act of Jesus forms the words in
your mouth, inspired by the conviction
in your heart that God indeed raised Him
from the dead. (Salvation is not reduced
to a recipe, or “sinners prayer” formula, it
is the spontaneous inevitable confession
of a convinced heart!)
10:10 Heart-faith confirms the fact of
man’s righteousness, and ignites the kind
of conversation consistent with salvation.
(He restored us to blameless innocence)
Mirror Translation.
THE BLUE-PRINT
The mystery that once was hidden,
for ages and generations, which God
decreed for man’s glorification, is now
revealed. 1 Cor 2:6-9.
Col.1:25 “God entrusted me with the
revelation of this mystery as a responsible
administrator of His household, so that in
my ministry to you I will make the word
known in its full consequence.
1:26 This mystery was concealed for ages
and generations but is now fully realised
in our restored innocence before Him.
In Him we clearly see
the mirror reflection
of our original image
and likeness
1:27 (God knows the mineral wealth
that He deposited in the earth on man’s
behalf ) in the same way He now eagerly
anticipates the unveiling of the riches of
the ultimate treasure in all the nations;
which is Christ in you! The revelation of
His indwelling fulfills His dream for you.
1:28 This is the essence and focus of our
message; we awaken every man’s mind
instructing every individual, bringing
them into full enlightenment in order that
we may exhibit the whole of mankind as
perfect (without shortcoming and fully
efficient) in Christ.” The Mirror Translation
Temptation has only one target, which
is to make you forget what manner of
man you are. It will seek to distract you
with any excuse to reduce you again to
a “mere man” when you are the god-kind
in your essence and design.
Thank God for the knowledge of the truth
about ourselves, as it is on exhibition in
Christ; it sets us free to be free indeed!
In 2 Cor 3 Paul says, “you are a letter,
delivered by us, written by the Spirit of
the living God on tablets, not of stone,
but human hearts, known and read by
all men”! Your life and testimony carries
universal appeal! “Even as the testimony
of Christ is confirmed in you! “ 1 Cor.1:6.
Notice that Paul says our ministry is
the job of a postman! We are simply
delivering the message! “Already you are
filled, already you are rich, without us you
have become kings!” 1Cor 4:8 “All this is
from God who has made us ministers of
a new covenant!” He has made us… we
or our ministry are not the product of our
own making.
“Of God’s doing are we in Christ, whom
God made unto us, wisdom from God!
His wisdom knows how righteous we
now are; and how holy! This is what
redemption is all about.” 1 Cor. 1:30. He is
our only boasting.
23
While we may commend ourselves to
every man’s conscience, we are not
preaching ourselves, we are proclaiming
Christ! 2 Cor 4:2, 5.
RELOCATE YOURSELF MENTALLY
“The mystery that none of the rulers of
this age understood, otherwise they
would never have crucified the Lord of
glory” is revealed in the fact that when
one died for all, all indeed died. 1Cor.2:6-
8, 2 Cor.5:14.
It further unfolds in the fact that while
we were still dead in our sins. He made
us alive together with Christ and raised
us up together with Christ and seated us
together with Christ in heavenly places.
Eph.2:5,6.
Now in Colossians 3 Paul says, that all
this may be true, but while we continue
to focus our minds on the earthly
dimension, (knowing ourselves and one
another merely from a human point of
view) all the old habits of a sinful inferior
lifestyle will continue to dictate to us and
dominate us.
To be renewed after His image and
likeness in all of our conduct and attitude
begins with a new mindset. Set your mind
upon the things that are above, where
Christ is seated in the right hand of God!
His thoughts concerning us, our joint
inclusion in Christ, remains our exclusive
reference and testimony.
Col. 3:1 “Pursue with diligence the
consequence of your co-inclusion in
Christ. Relocate yourself mentally! His
resurrection co-raised you to the same
position of authority, seated in the
strength of God’s right hand.
3:2 Becoming affectionately acquainted
with Throne Room thoughts will keep
you from being distracted again by
the earthly (soul-ruled) realm.” Mirror
Translation
Because we were raised together with
Christ, let us now engage and occupy our
thoughts with Throne Room realities and
not with the futile contradictions and
distractions of a lesser life.
“Incline your ear!” No one else can do that
for you! Is.55.
“Let the Word of Christ richly indwell you
in all wisdom.” Col.3:16.
24

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