Table of contents for May 2020 in JOY! Magazine

“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”– Hebrews 4:12 There is tremendous power available to us in God’s Word – and we need to make use of this power in our daily lives. The Bible is full of extraordinary promises for every situation. While no Bible verse tells us explicitly what job or career to pursue, where to live, who to marry, or exactly what to do in every instance – it is full of exhortations, guidelines, commandments, and encouragement. This will give us very concrete and infallible insight into His Will. God’s Word is the…

Jesus, I believe that You died on the Cross for me. There You were wounded for my transgressions, You were bruised for my iniquities; and the punishment for my peace was upon You. I have been like a lost sheep, I have turned to my own way, but I believe that God laid my iniquity upon You. You died for me. Then You rose from the dead, You ascended into Heaven, and now seated on Your throne as Lord of all. Jesus, forgive me. I now turn away from my sin and put my trust in You. Fill me with Your Spirit, cleanse me, and take me as Your own. AMEN…

See how many of these you can fill in before checking the answers on page 74. After you test yourself, try reading the questions aloud to a friend or family member and see how they do! 1. Where did Jesus and His disciples go immediately after the Lord’s Supper? 2. Where did Jesus go to teach after recruiting His first disciples? 3. Near which town did Jesus ascend into heaven? 4. Name the city where Jesus met the chief tax-collector, Zacchaeus. 5. Over which territory was Pontius Pilate the governor, at the time of the birth of Jesus? 6. Where was Jesus headed when He met and healed the 10 men suffering from a skin aliment? 7. What field, referred to by the prophet Jeremiah, was purchased with the 30…

An amazing thing about the Christian faith is that it is rooted in the historical reality of a Man who lived, was crucified, and resurrected from the dead three days later. The Apostle Paul therefore insists in 1 Corinthians 15 that were the resurrection not a historical event, the entirety of the Christian faith would be futile. Charles Colson, the Richard Nixon lawyer of Watergate infamy who then became a follower of Christ, made a compelling case for the resurrection when he wrote: “I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Everyone was beaten, tortured, stoned, and put in prison.…

You’ve heard his name, you recognise his face – but you might not know his heart. Michael Mol is not a new face in the South African landscape, he is well-known and well-loved for his appearances on Top Billing, Expresso, Mr South Africa, and Hello Doctor, just to name a few. What you may not know about Michael, however, is that he is not just a charming face, but a deeply rooted Christian with an inextinguishable fire for Jesus that shines through everything that he does. I had the privilege to chat to him during lockdown (online interview, of course) and find out about his passions and where he is focussing his time and effort. Q You are a doctor, TV presenter, business man, author, husband, and a father, how…

Drugs, gangsters, robberies – these are just a few of the many challenges that 20-year-old Rafeeq Hamza grew up with in the community of Capricorn in the Western Cape. Rafeeq was brought up in a diverse family – his mother a devout Christian, and his father a devout Muslim. He always felt stuck in the middle. He didn’t know where his path was in life. From an early age, most of his friends were doing drugs, getting involved in gangsterism, and dropping out of school. Rafeeq’s older brother always looked out for him and encouraged him to live a better life. He recommended that Rafeeq join him and his sisters at one of the Living Hope afternoon clubs, a decision that changed the course of Rafeeq’s life. After growing up…

What on earth is a Reformational church? The Reformational church is God’s agent of constant change from glory to glory, conforming to the image of His Son. That’s why we are straightening and aligning the church to what Jesus intended in the first place. When did the Reformation begin, with Martin Luther? “We are redefining Reformation in the Church and what it means to change the world.” Jesus is the ultimate reformer bringing about a new covenant with the shedding of his own blood, bringing about remission of sins once and for all. His reformation has never stopped and we are continuing with that because His new covenant has been in effect since His death and resurrection. Martin Luther’s reformation started when he nailed those 95 theses to the door…

Jesus is in the business of changing lives. The moment someone decides to follow Him is not only the end of their old life, but the beginning of a whole new life. And when someone really experiences that miracle regeneration, they can’t help but tell the world. There is a powerful, exponential multiplier effect when those who have received salvation become sharers of the Good News themselves. I want to share with you a story that demonstrates just what an impact your donation to and support of Christ for all Nations (CfaN) makes for individuals and for the Kingdom of God. It’s the story of a man whose life seemed to be a lost cause – and how a CfaN conference that he didn’t even attend changed his life. A…

Many couples would put a lot of time into planning their wedding to make sure that they have the best and most unique public display of a fairy tale romance as possible. They will do whatever it takes and end up spending thousands of Rands on their wedding, and yet after marriage they will refuse to spend a few hundred Rands for a marriage seminar or a book that will help them to stay married! Character is all that will survive People spend more working on physical attributes rather than on character. Some girls want guys with big muscles and a six pack while some boys want girls who are shaped like a one litre coke bottle. What they don’t realise is that one day gravity will win! His six-pack…

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” – James 1:22 There are so many Christians in the marketplace who remain hidden or silent, despite so much teaching available from the church, internet, TV, and other media. Why are these believers and their faith so hidden? Here are a few pointers to assist you in the marketplace: Revelation without implementation – James 1:22 The Kingdom can only be advanced when we walk out the Word, and as Christians take up the correct posture in upholding Kingdom values in our daily work life. The Word of God needs to bring transformation in our lives to see the Kingdom advanced around us. Internal victory before external victory – Romans 12:2 In the marketplace we have an opportunity to…

In Sigmund Freud’s book, Totem and Taboo, he said that in his practice as a psychiatrist he had observed that most psychological disorders are caused by guilt. Guilt, Freud said, is caused by thoughts of God. Freud’s answer to this dilemma was simply to eliminate God from the mind of man and thus from the world. This, he said, would solve all the psychological problems of society. Freud’s fatal flaw Freud’s error, of course, was that he approached life with certain false presuppositions. A presupposition is an assumption that you make before you even enter into an argument. You simply assume it to be true and argue from there. Freud’s presuppositions, of course, were first that there is no God, and second that guilt is therefore a figment of the…

Yesu, ndiyakholwa ukuba wandifela emnqamlezweni. Apho walinyazwa ngenxa yeziphoso zam, Walinyazwa ngenxa yobubi bam, ubetho loxolelo lwam lube phezu kwakho. Ndifana nemvu elahlekileyo, ndiye ndalahleka, kodwa ndiyakholwa ukuba uThixo walibeka phezu kwakho ityala lam. Wandifela, Waye wavuka ekufeni, wanyukela emazulwini, kungoku nje uhleli esihlalweni sakho njengeNkosi yako konke. Yesu, ndixolele. Ngoku ndiyaguquka esonweni sam, ndibeka ithemba lam kuwe. Ndigcwalise ngoMoya wakho, ndihlambe, undamkele njengomntwana wakho. AMEN…

We need to respect Israel I would like to congratulate Desiree Mansfield on her wonderful and insightful article in JOY’s Feb/Mar issue, “Are We Cursed Because Of Our Government’s Decision On Israel?” This is an article nearer the truth than most people will realise and sadly, our government. If we are not careful South Africa will be become a ‘goat’ nation, with all its terrible Biblical consequences. Well done Desiree. Kevin Meineke God speaks through dreams Dear Erin, I was deeply moved and inspired by your Ed’s Note in the Feb/Mar issue of JOY, the account of your dream and God’s clear guidance in it. I once had a startling dream that saved me from an imminent and serious accident. I was overwhelmed by wonder and great humility at God’s…

Matthew was the former tax-collector turned evangelist. He suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia and was killed by a halberd (combined spear and battleaxe). Simon the Zealot’s death is shrouded in uncertainty, yet early accounts record that he was either crucified in the Kingdom of Iberia, Samaria, or Persia. Peter was crucified upside down. Apparently, it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die in the same way that Jesus Christ had died. Judas (Thaddeus) was martyred in Persia on his missionary journey where he was hewed with an axe by religious leaders (Magi). Andrew was crucified in Greece. After being whipped severely, they tied his body to a cross. He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he expired. James the Great was otherwise…

You cannot water a garden with an empty watering can. You can’t expect fruit to produce and flowers to bloom if you don’t spend time nurturing them. Similarly, you can’t expect godly fruit to be evident in your life unless you fill up your spirit with God’s Word and His promises. It is impossible to pour out God’s love without first filling ourselves with His love. This is why Jesus came to earth to instate a new commandment, that we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, our souls, and our minds (Matt 22:37), and that we love our neighbours as Christ has loved us (John 13:34). His two most important commandments can be summed up as this: Love Christ and share His love with others. Love for…

With the two great evangelists who recently passed away, Billy Graham and Reinhard Bonnke, it is only natural to look to the next generation for those who will fearlessly obey God and carry the torch of the Gospel. Daniel du Toit is one such young man. For him and his girlfriend, Bea (now his wife), some of their first dates were spent sharing the love of Jesus with the drug dealers, gangsters, and prostitutes in Long Street, one of the more notorious streets in Cape Town after dark. At 21, Daniel already has more than 140 churches in South Africa and Zambia partnering with his ministry, Take the Nations. Who is this unassuming young man with a smile that just beams Jesus’ love? Q Your family has quite a rich…

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…

Yes, it’s me again, Midgey! I would like to tell you about my very best (four-legged) friend, Jack. I first met him when I was a teenager and we just hit it off! He was older and wiser, and taught me all the boy dog stuff, like marking my territory and receiving and sending pee-mails. Jack was always at his house or out walking in the park, but suddenly one day he wasn’t there. My Arnie (Aunty Trish) says that he had guardian angels looking after him because he would walk across the road without looking and would stay safe. She says that he has gone to live with them. We still go to look at his house, even after a year and a half, just in case. For me,…

As a former gym junkie, I am reminded of the ‘101’ of building a great physique – the first rule is to burn more calories than you consume. The second rule is to ensure that the fuel (food) that you feed your body is healthy, so that you can see growth. The final rule is to get enough rest. Be mindful of what you consume For the last few weeks, the Holy Spirit has been using this concept to remind me of how important it is to strengthen our Spirit Man. We tend to neglect this part of our Christian walk and are then surprised when we are not ‘strong’ enough to stand in difficult times. Philippians 4:8 reminds us to be mindful of what we put into our bodies…

Mothers’ Day has been celebrated all over the world for centuries. It has been recorded that the sales of Mothers’ Day cards each year outnumber those of Fathers’ Day cards by tens of thousands. Intrinsically nurturing comes from our mothers. A mom provides a caring, soothing environment that feels safe and warm, in which her children can grow. However, this experience is not the same for all. Mothers’ Day causes different triggers for different people… “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa What is a healthy home? There are many who remember their mothers in a very warm and special way. They go down memory lane and are reminded of the good times. There are also many…

Ingredients:  Serves 6 • rashers bacon, rind removed, chopped • tbs olive oil • g button mushrooms, chopped • cups plain our • ts.p.bking powder • cup grated cheese • tbs chopped chives • g butter, melted • Nulaid eggs, lightly whisked • cu.pmilk • salt and ground black pepper Method: 1. Place bacon into a nonstick frying pan over mediumhigh heat. ook, stirring often, for minutes until light golden. Remove to a plate. 2. Increase heat to high. Add oil and mushrooms to frying pan. ook for minutes until tender. Set aside to cool. 3. Preheat oven to . Grease x cup muffin pans. 4. Sift our, baking powder, and salt and pepper into a bowl. Add cheese and chives. Whisk butter, Nulaid eggs, and milk in a jug.…

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. As we have discussed in previous articles, the first wile is treachery. The second wile is conspiracy. The third wile of the enemy, which we will study in this issue, is beguilement. There are some people who enter our lives to guile or charm us. These people are sent by satan to take something valuable away from us. Sometimes people turn up with “too good to be true” investment schemes, only to beguile us of our money. Even schemes that seem to make business sense could beguile you of your money. How do I know which is of God…

Needless to say, the technical aspect of media is quite vast, but by God’s grace TWR Africa is blessed with skilled and dedicated workers that keep our ministry relevant, applying new and advancing technology as it becomes available. TWR’s international media ministry is dependent on computer networks and the people who run them. Our dedicated Technical Services Department has two teams, namely the Technical Team and the IT/IS Team. Together, they keep transmissions running smoothly. Their tasks vary from preventive and corrective maintenance on curtain antennas, maintenance of equipment and transmission lines, to support of office networks, software, and hardware and ensuring TWR Africa’s IT systems operate in a secure and stable manner. TWR has two transmitting stations that cover almost the entire sub-Saharan Africa; one in Eswatini and one…

Never miss out on breaking Christian news! Scan this QR code on your smartphone to sign up to our weekly newsletters Wycliffe helps underground churches translate Bible for millions living in oppression Wycliffe Associates, an international organisation that empowers mother-tongue Bible translators and partners with local churches in the advancement of Bible translation, aims to launch Bible translations for 600 new language groups in places of oppression and persecution for Christians. Hundreds of missionaries in these locations have been forced out. “These are places where religious militants operate like vigilantes, and governments are cracking down on Christians at the borders due to their hatred of Christianity,” says Bruce Smith, President of Wycliffe. “In some of these regions, the moment you set foot there, your life is at risk.” By training…

In many circles, prophets have become known for their celebrity status, which is so far removed from the example of Jesus in scripture. For the church, the individual, and the nation to gain the full benefit of the function of the prophet, it is necessary to understand their call and commission. Ephesians 4:11-13 describes the five-fold gift ministries. The office of prophet is one who is called to equip the Body of Christ. Therefore, God uses the prophet to bring a message of hope and encouragement. A message that will equip the Body to fulfil its function on earth today. Prophets, take up your mantles At this present time in our nation, the church does not need an influx of celebrity prophets. South Africa needs the true office of the…