Table of contents for April 2020 in JOY! Magazine

“Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”– Deuteronomy 5:33 I was having a discussion with fellow believers recently and was declaring my gratitude to God for saving me and for protecting me from sickness and so forth. At some point I was challenged by one of the participants as to why some Christians do not get healed. I answered as best I could, but then I went away and prayed about this and asked the Lord to give me the correct answer to this very real question, and help me to answer it accurately. This is what I believe the Lord revealed to me: God doesn’t…

Did you know that in the history of anthropology they have never discovered an atheistic tribe? Man is inherently religious. Here are some explanations for why: ‘An opiate of the masses’ The German philosopher Karl Marx said that religion is the “opiate of the masses.” It’s like a drug that the ruling class give to the masses to keep them submissive and easy to rule. But of course, that doesn’t answer the question! The very fact that religion does have such power over the masses is a testimony to how universally powerful this religious urge in man is. ‘A psychological wish-projection’ Ludwig Feuerbach, another German philosopher, said religion must be explained as a psychological wish-projection of an ideal father figure, a cry for help in our fears and insecurities. We…

Work really is worship My working environment is non-Christian and I work very hard with long hours every day. After a few months, through the mighty and powerful work of the Holy Spirit, I started a prayer group at our workplace, but I have been doubting if this is the place where Jesus wants me to be. I prayed to God asking for direction. I believe that through reading Gillian Fraser’s article “Work Is Worship” in the January issue of JOY! Magazine, God has answered my prayer. Thank you. De Wet De Kock JOY creates a hunger in my soul Blessings to the JOY! team. I love your amazing magazine. It is very enlightening. I thank you all – it inspires me to be a better Christian as I believe…

Jesus’greatest commandment to all believers is to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, and our minds. Many Christians get this part right. The second greatest commandment, according to Jesus, is to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. This is unfortunately where many of us fail. The Bible is a love story Reading the Bible from cover to cover, the most evident and important message is that of love. Why did God send His Son to earth to die for us? Because of how much He loves us (John 3:16). What is the first and most important fruit of the spirit? Love. God’s love is freely poured out upon us, and it is our responsibility to share this love with others. What are you known for?…

From the makers of I Can Only Imagine comes the true life story of Christian music mega star Jeremy Camp and his remarkable journey of love and loss that proves there is always hope in midst of tragedy, and that faith tested is the only faith worth sharing. I had the opportunity to watch I Still Believe and interview KJ Apa, the lead actor playing Jeremy. I was blown away by this movie. It is really an amazing film that has the potential to touch many lives. It brought me to tears. Q Now KJ, this is something very different to the usual shows that you act in. What made you want to do this movie? As soon as I read the script for the first time, I was immediately…

To be subject to the wiles of the enemy means to be deceived. The Hebrew word for wiles is nekel. It basically refers to five things that often happen to us. The first, as discussed in the previous article, is treachery – betrayal of trust, behaviour that deceives or is not loyal when trusted by someone. Conspiracy is never good God has not called us to judge anyone or gossip / slander. The second thing is conspiracy – a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful. The action of plotting or conspiring. Almost everyone is aware of cliques that gossip and slander. Many of us have determined to stay away from these. When a group of people get together and they plan or plot something that…

“ I want to thank God for today. All my life I could never hear His voice, but today I heard the true message and it changed my life. From childhood, I followed the prophet Muhammad’s teachings and never knew how to find the right path to God. But now that I have found Jesus Christ, I am full of joy. I also told my friends about Jesus and they have accepted Him as Lord and Saviour. I am very grateful to FEBA Radio for sharing the Word of God with us. We will continue to listen to your programmes and read the Bible…” This is how a listener, formerly a devout Muslim, testified about his new faith in Jesus Christ after listening to our broadcasts. God’s great love for…

As a parent, you may want to guide your child through a spiritual journey and strengthen their relationship with God. Teaching prayer to young kids can be difficult and complicated since they(re just forming their ideas of Hod. Muckily, you can show them how to pray for their own happiness and that of others by acting as a model and giving them examples. It’s easy to lead your child in prayer once you incorporate it into their routine. Teaching the Basics of Prayer 1 Discuss what it means to pray and talk to God Explain that prayer is a form of spiritual communication between a person and God, and it can help them strengthen their relationship with God. Teach them that they can pray in times of happiness, trouble, or…

We are living in a day and age where the prophet in the church has become something of a celebrity, rather than being a ministry to be respected. This purpose of this article is to bring understanding and revelation as to the true functioning of this wonderful office God that has given to the church. Distorting the truth Depending on the environment in which you have been raised, the prophet to some is an office that must be regularly sought for. Many today depend on the office of the prophet for their daily direction as needed, with the false hope that the word given can be some magical formula for success. For some, thousands of rands are charged for this gifting, a gift meant to bless and help mature the…

Sex is something beautiful that God gifted to His children, to be enjoyed between married couples. It is pure and the Bible encourages it, but only within God’s strict outlines. The world has tainted and perverted the Biblical understanding of sex, to the point where it is often a taboo topic within the church and amongst families. The South African Department of Basic Education (DBE) has adulterated this content and is now forcing immoral and unbiblical content into the innocent minds of our most vulnerable children. It is time for parents, and especially the church, to stand up against this brutal enforcement of Biblically-conflicting content. Scrap the CSE! There is an orchestrated agenda to sexualise our children from a young age. CSE, otherwise known as Comprehensive Sexuality Education, is currently…

If you have come to see your need for a Saviour, and you long to be reconciled with God through His Son Jesus Christ, then pray this prayer now from your heart: God, have mercy on me, a sinner. I have come to believe that You are the only God, the maker of heaven and earth. I have come to believe that Jesus is your Son, that He is the judge of the living and the dead, and the Saviour of the world. I have also come to see my own guilt before You, and I long to be made clean. I believe that if You are willing, You can make me clean. Jesus, I believe that you died on the Cross for me. There You were wounded for my…

The dictionary defines a religion as “the service and worship of God or the supernatural.” So, Christianity is obviously a religion. But what makes it different to any other religion? If the only thing separating it from other religions is a set of unique rituals, or a collection of unique buildings where Christians meet, then Christianity really does not have anything to commend itself at all. What then makes Christianity what it is, and why has it changed the lives of billions of people throughout the centuries? The answer is that Christianity is defined by its unique message. This message is called “the Gospel.” It is the good news that although all people are guilty of sinning and stand justly condemned, God – in His great love – became a…

Hello! It’s me again, Midgey! When my Arnie (Aunty Trish) takes me out, she often says “Midgey, let’s go for a pootle.” I Googled what that funny word meant and it says “move or travel in a leisurely manner,” so I do just that, sniffing as I go! We meet lots of people from all walks of life, the elderly who live at the homes around here (the ladies think I am “just too cute for my shirt”), the people who work or live around here, the commuters, the road sweepers, the homeless, and more! Most people smile and have a word or two. My Arnie says that a smile is the same in any language, and if you see someone without one, you must give them one of yours!…

Harvesters trains disciples and plants churches  in over 50 countries. Harvesters’ curriculum  is available in 43 languages. Harvesters works in closed countries and trains pastors using an App for security reasons. Harvesters plants over 70 churches daily. Harvesters currently has over 5 million  disciples in training spread across the globe. Harvesters has already planted more than  65 000 churches worldwide. Harvesters currently has  32 000 student pastors enrolled in their Bible School.…

“ Stop, take a deep breath, and meditate on My Word. Sit in My presence and be filled.” With these words, Abba Father stilled the concerns of an interesting week in the life of the De Lange clan. These encouraging words reminded me how privileged we are to have a living Father in our lives who takes the time to speak to us. The Creator of the universe and the One who knows you intimately wants to guide you to navigate the trying times in your life.Wow! His voice is like soothing water to our souls. When we open ourselves up to hear Him, it brings that peace that surpasses all understanding. Cluttered lives Many times I have heard people say that they struggle to hear His voice. Why is…

My name is Anthony Baatjies. My father was absent in my life. Although I did meet him from time to time, he didn’t live with my mom nor support us financially. My granny was the one who looked out for me and raised me with very little money. In my teenage years, living in Khayalitsha township, I was active in gangsterism. It made me feel as though I belonged; that I was part of a family. Everything that’s part of the gangster lifestyle was true of my experience. I would do whatever I needed to do to get my drugs or alcohol. I grew up not knowing what a good father or husband was like. Standing out from the rest When I was 16, a friend of mine at school…

“And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations…”– Matthew 24:14 Today, there is little understanding of the message of the Kingdom in the marketplace, yet we are all called as ministers to grow His Kingdom (2 Cor 3:6). Many set worldly goals for the selfish advancement and selfish rewards, where work has just become a place of never-ending survival and a place of labour. There are some practical reasons why Christians remain inactive in the marketplace, never building the Kingdom of God: • Kingdom Vision: Many never discover their Kingdom purpose and understand their assignment in the marketplace, where work can become exciting (Hab 2:2). • Lack of training in the Gospel of the Kingdom: The church generally…

1 You need forgiveness At some point in your life, you will want to be clean. You will hate guilt; you will crave purity. You have a built-in desire towards God, and you will have to address that appetite at some point in your life. 2 You need a friend You may be sitting there saying, “But, don’t I have friends?” Yes, but you have never had a friend like Jesus. Nobody can handle the information about your life as well as He can. He is the most consistent relationship you will ever know. Human friends vacillate in their reaction, depending on your mood or theirs. Jesus Christ never changes His opinion of you. Nobody can tell Him anything that will change His mind about you. You cannot enjoy His…

If ever there was a story to transform and energise you – giving you back your long-lost hope, rearranging the interior of your heart and pulling you to your knees in utter awe and amazement – it is undoubtedly the beautiful, breath-taking, ‘too-good-to-betrue’, yet real life story of Easter! A passionate love story The wild passion, the powerful love, the tender grace, and the intoxicating joy that this story brings is unmatched by any other narrative! It is an elixir, a balm, a lightning bolt, an invitation, a guarantee, an opportunity, firm ground to stand on, a breath of fresh air, a panacea of note. It is radical forgiveness for the wrong-doer, healing for the infirm, strength for the weak, and wealth for the poor. It is also peace for…

See how many of these you can fill in before checking the answers on page 95. After you test yourself, try reading the questions aloud to a friend or family member and see how they do! 1. In the Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard, who did the land owner send last of all to collect his share of the harvest? 2. What ailment did the boy, prone to falling into water and fire, have that Jesus healed because the disciples could not do so? 3. Which festival were the Jews celebrating when Jesus was handed over to be crucified? 4. In the Parable of the three Servants, how much did the servant earn who was given 1000 gold coins by his master? 5. In his vision, what was…

Something out of the norm happened on Saturday 28th September 2019. It was a beautiful day in the heart of Mitchells Plain, where Maureen and her husband Stephen live. Maureen had suffered excruciating pain in all her joints, bones, and in her spine for 38 years. Pain was normal for her. She had been diagnosed with disintegrated discs in her lower spine. Her doctor had referred her to a surgeon as she needed an urgent operation to rectify the problem. Too much pain to survive “Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”– Psalm 106:1 She was only able to move her upper arms to a certain height, but no sudden movements with any other parts of her body. She…

I was raised in an orthodox Jewish home. My father came to South Africa from Lithuania and my mother’s family from Russia. I attended Carmel school, a Jewish School in Pretoria, and I was very involved in the Pretoria Hebrew congregation where I always attended synagogue services. We always kept a kosher home and followed Orthodox Judaism, which I loved. After completing my schooling and army service, I travelled to Israel for the first time in 1974. In 1977 I immigrated to Israel where I worked on a kibbutz. My father had a stroke as a result of a car accident and, like a good Jewish boy, I returned to South Africa to go into the family Jewellery business to help my father. Always seeking more I was actively involved…

Deep in financial ruin thanks to a con artist and failed business schemes, Lizl Naude was in despair. But she found within herself a creative spark that has saved the day. What has her journey been? Lizl told her story to Kat Farquharson: No child dreams of facing financial ruin, difficult family dynamics, or having to scrape to make ends meet, but this was my reality only a few years ago. Things had gone so differently from what I’d imagined to be my purpose in life. I felt worthless and more directionless than I could have thought possible. Through several bad years of business, as well as being burgled five times and swindled out of a lot of money by someone who turned out to be a scam artist, my…

“Christian millennials feel conflicted about evangelism—and, in fact, almost half believe it is wrong to share their faith.” In 2019, the Barna Research Group published a report, Reviving Evangelism, drawn from a study that looked at the experiences and expectations of Christians and non-Christians in America. What was perhaps most pertinent was the finding that “Christian millennials feel especially conflicted about evangelism—and, in fact, almost half believe it is wrong to share their faith.” How could that be – that Christians believe it is wrong to share their faith? Consider this. If we see evangelism as the forcing of a belief system on someone else, and if one belief is supposedly as valid and ‘true’ as any other, it is no surprise that Christians, especially but not only millennials, increasingly…

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made. Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after…

Do Christians believe every word of the Bible? And is the Old Testament still relevant? A. Yes, we do! And so did Jesus. He declared, “Your Word is truth” – John 17:17. He did not say it contained truth (together with error). It is truth and, therefore, wholly to be believed and trusted. He told some who were arguing about the resurrection that they were completely off track, “not knowing the scriptures...” – Matthew 22:29. 2 Timothy 3:16 declares that “all scripture” (Old and New Testament) is inspired by God Himself. Holy Men of old spoke (and wrote) as “they were moved by the Holy Spirit” – 2 Peter 1:21. The Holy Spirit, Who inspired the Word, must be depended upon to interpret that Word. Peter warns that “private interpretation”…

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” – Hebrews 6:19 Anyone who has lived with cancer will know the emotional roller coaster it takes one on. It leads you and your loved ones on a journey strewn with physical and emotional obstacles. It can be a lonely, frightening, and confusing path. I have been on both sides of the fence: first, as a caregiver to my husband for four years and latterly, as a cancer survivor of stage three melanoma. My family and I sought and found support in God and the Christian community. By placing my hope in Jesus, God’s peace has given me the emotional stability to raise my two sons single-handedly for 10 years. What sufferers need Cancer sufferers need support…

I was recently invited to attend a seminar at the House of Louis Business Academy. The Academy is a prestigious business school with a strong Christian ethos. It has been running since 2003 and has 17 years of experience through equipping and nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit of attending students. Not knowing what to expect, I eagerly showed up to the Devon Valley Hotel in Stellenbosch, which is where the Academy takes place. Never in my wildest dreams have I experienced a business venue as beautiful – with striking pink mountains as the backdrop, lush vineyards on the farm, and a breath-taking hotel. All of this painted the setting for a morning of insight and wisdom. I did not expect to be so intellectually stimulated and mentally captivated, all while sitting…

If you read the Bible cover to cover, you’ll see there is no ambiguity when it comes to extra-marital sex. Simply stated, it is forbidden. Sex before marriage is called fornication. Sex outside of marriage is called adultery. Marriage is defined as the lifelong union of a male and a female. That’s how Genesis defines it and that’s how Jesus defines it. Right is now wrong? Church standards through history would reaffirm all these points. All sexual relations outside the confines of marriage (which, to repeat, has always and only been the union of a man and a woman) are considered immoral and sinful. But in today’s morally confused society, right is now wrong and wrong is now right, to the point that the Church of England has apologised for…

Never miss out on breaking Christian news! Scan this QR code on your smartphone to sign up to our newsletters Chinese Christians boldly preach the Gospel on streets in Coronavirus-hit areas Christians in China are handing out masks and Gospel tracts on the streets in the midst of novel coronavirus outbreak and government persecutions. The risk of contracting the disease and the persecution from the government is not stopping these fervent Christians as they openly preach the Gospel. Even during the severe outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the persecution of Christians by the Communist government still continues where openly talking about Christianity is illegal under the Communist regime. However, even with all the persecution Christians in Wuhan are taking advantage of the need of surgical masks and seeing it as…