Table of contents for January 2022 in JOY! Magazine

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Jesus and the New Testament authors seemed to think that we can have some control over our emotions (John 14:1). In this verse, Paul deals with the problem of anxiety or worrying about some possible and uncontrollable outcome. But these situations can be dealt with by prayer. Feelings, like anxiety, can be managed by a reorientation of thoughts. Praying to God and speaking out the truth about the situation and about God’s ability to manage it can convince those parts of the brain where anxiety and fear are generated. Peace comes when God sends His Spirit to comfort us and when we truly believe that we can cast our burdens on the Lord (Psalm 55:22). Pray with gratitude When we pray, we are to present our requests with thankfulness. First,…

The Church is in a season of tribulation, and many are longing for the same quality of lifestyle and of worship that we enjoyed in past seasons. We are in a time of war – nations are in a war and the Church is in a war for her worship and for her relevance in the nations. The Church has to know her identity, rising up and assuming her Apostolic governing role for this new year. The Church will experience the following: 1. A huge shift between the seeker-sensitive churches and those with a revivalist heart will become very evident. Many will fall into apostasy, while the fires of revival – burning for His presence – will continue to grow stronger in other hearts. 2. Revivalists and reformers will begin…

Waking up in ICU Ten days later I woke up in ICU at St Augustines Hospital. Three or four nurses came to me and said that they were so happy that I was awake, as they had been praying for me since I first arrived at the hospital. I had shattered my left knee when I fell off the motorbike and that had severed the blood flow to the rest of the leg. Apparently during the first of many operations, my blood pressure had dropped so low that they had to stop operating – otherwise I would have died. Because it took them a long time “I needed to be thankful that I was alive, even though I had lost a leg.” The 16th of April 2014 started off as…

We are continuing our study on the scripture of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. In our last article, we looked at the deeper meaning of certain words used in this section of scripture. We looked at the picture of trimming our lamps – when the wick is pulled in order to trim our lamps, the depth of the oil is truly tested. Many proclaim to be believers, but when you study this scripture you see that there is a large part of the Church that will not be ready to meet the Groom when He returns. That is also 100% in line with Revelation 3, which speaks about the lukewarm condition of the Church when our Groom returns. The oil of“cheap grace”in our lamps will not be sufficient when…

The ministry of Far East Broadcasting Association (FEBA) is growing by leaps and bounds in Africa and new milestones are being reached regularly. In Malawi, the new studio, Litala FM, is well underway after broadcasts to local communities were introduced through internet broadcasting. There are now six FEBA radio stations in Africa: Radio FOT; Hope Radio Chiuanjota and Radio Nuru in Mozambique; Radio Shahada in Chad; KanuYah FM in Mali, and Litala FM in Malawi. The filters for the new radio station are already on their way from Italy and the station should be in full swing soon. Malawi has a potential target audience of between three and four million listeners. Amid persecution, FEBA radio supports new converts. Success has already been achieved in Malawi with the conversion of Yao…

A few years ago, Jacob Cherian, dean of faculty at the Centre of Global Leadership Development in Bangalore, India, received a cash gift of several thousand rupees. He gave three of those notes to a friend to use at a hospital, only to discover that the notes were fake. Our propensity for fake news reflects our propensity for fake forms of the Gospel. ‘I decided then to learn the key characteristics of a real thousand rupee note,’ says Cherian. Soon he knew how to judge a real note from a counterfeit one, despite how much they resembled each other. Cherian sees this as an analogy for being able to distinguish fake news from real news, and the true Gospel story from the many fake gospels rampant today. The sloganised gospel…

South Africa has many theological education institutions. But many lecturers in these institutions do not affirm God’s Word as true and the final authority. Most view the Bible as a book that contains words about God, not as God’s authoritative words to us today. What must be done about this problem? We should return to God’s Word for direction and instruction. We should return to God’s Word for direction and instruction about theological education. In 1 Timothy 4:11-16, the Apostle Paul gives wise advice: “Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote  yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not…

My battle with cancer started in 2009 – it is a story filled with supernatural interventions by my heavenly Father. I invite you to take a little walk through my testimony with me. Making my wishes known I know miracles still happen and they do not always come in the format we expect. Many years before I met my husband, Lou, he attended a Bible school here in South Africa and later spent another two years at one in Hawaii. One evening I shared my desire with him to attend a short discipleship course at the same Bible school. At the time we were involved in more than one business and Lou calculated what we would need to fulfil our obligations and be able to pay our staff to do…

The Blood of Jesus I cannot believe what I read sometimes! The Blood of Jesus  is the most powerful force. Nothing is impossible with God. You have to wonder how many unsaved preachers are standing on podiums every Sunday when this is what they can put on a banner outside their church? What does the Lord think about such a banner? To dare to do this is sacrilege. You just want to scream traitor. Go have your vaccination, but it’s nothing when compared to the Blood of the Lord – it’s holy. Drene Tiessen A heartfelt prayer to overcome this pandemic Dear God. It’s 2am in the morning and I cannot sleep. Lord, please hear my plea, give ear to my supplication. We as your people are faced with a…

The Lord can and will use you for His purposes, you simply need to be obedient to His guidance, even when you don’t understand! This short testimony highlights how the Lord used a faithful prayer and a divine encounter to transform a pastor’s ministry. When I first moved to the town I currently live in, I joined a church that encouraged personal evangelism, discipleship, and Bible School attendance. I joined a Bible School and soon became very enthusiastic. I promoted the benefits to every Christian I met. We soon realised that not all the churches were teaching believers about baptism, ministry gifts, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in one’s life. Those who attended were very grateful that this information was being shared for them to pursue. Praying for…

FRANS CRONJE “Our documentary was selected as a finalist for Best Documentary under $50 000 at the 49th Annual ICVM Crown Awards.” The Crown Awards are the longest-running awards given that recognise and lift up the very best in Christian movies, documentaries, shorts, educational and church programming, foreign films, and more! Well done to the entire team who made this very important documentary possible. The documentary can be viewed free of charge on YouTube. JUSTIN BIEBER “Of all the riches, nothing is more valuable than God’s Grace!” THULI MADONSELA “Ultimately, it is what you do that tells the world who or what you are and not what you say you are.” CRAIG GROESCHEL YouVersion is celebrating record Bible engagement worldwide as its Bible App becomes the first faith-based app to…

“This is our testimony of how God used two ordinary people to inspire others, for His glory. “ I would like to introduce my wife Sylnita, a child from the soil of Ceres in the Western Cape, and myself Gérard from the Cape Flats. This is our testimony of how God used two ordinary people to inspire others. Our only wish is that others will see God in all aspects of our lives. I met Sylnita (or Syl as I affectionately refer to her) 29 years ago while we were both undergraduate Occupational Therapy students at the University of the Western Cape. Different is a relative term, but Syl was different. She was an extrovert, but in the same breath an introvert – there was something mysterious about her, but…

Hunters need to heed Proverbs 12:10, which is clearly against cruelty to animals. Hunting is a Biblically›justified practice, and in South-Africa hunting is a booming business. My son and I are living on a hunting farm in Botswana while we are building a Mission Base adjacent to the Tuli Block. I grew up here where hunting is the norm, but my dad was not a recreational hunter. It annoyed him when people were exploitative and ego›driven when they hunted. He encouraged his neighbour, an avid hunter, to protect wildlife. Today’s wildlife management Wildlife management in today’s rapidly changing world is difficult and complex. There are land›use challenges, critical farmer needs, rural poverty, population explosion, and conflict between animals and humans. In northern Botswana locals welcome an elephant hunt because they…

Daniel was a man of unwavering integrity and devotion to the Lord. Daniel is one of the few people in the Bible to not have a single negative thing recorded about him. He is larger than life, listed along with Noah and Job by the prophet Ezekiel as among the ‘most godly’ people of the Old Testament (Ezek 14:14, 20). What can we, as Christians, learn from such a flawless ‘hero’ of the faith (Heb 11:33)? served in the royal court of Babylonian kings like Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar (Dan 1:1; 5:1), and with the Persian ruler Cyrus the Great and his general Darius the Mede (Dan 6:28). While pagan rulers came and went, Daniel remained as God’s chosen man. Through the first six chapters of Daniel, we see Daniel move…

Monika, who recently went on a trip with Open Doors, shares her testimony: I’ve had the privilege to travel with Open Doors to visit my persecuted family several times in different world regions. Why do I want to go? Travelling with Open Doors is a one-of-a-kind adventure; you truly are a tourist on a secret mission. We go as tourists and do the tourist things – take pictures, go shopping and experience the local culture and cuisine… but behind the “scenes” we have another mission – to meet with our family in faith, to eat, pray, cry, laugh and learn, attend church, and maybe even take some much-needed “Bread” with us. But then, if you allow the Holy Spirit, He will remove the scales from your eyes and you will…

Facebook, Twitter, and other big tech companies actually want standardised internet speech regulations. In fact, Facebook has been spending millions of dollars on ads that openly call for more government regulation of speech on the internet. At first glance, it may seem odd that Facebook wants more government regulation of the tech industry, but it actually makes perfect sense. If the government is the one making the rules, Facebook and the other big tech companies can legally censor you into oblivion without ever having to worry about any legal consequences. Facebook, Twitter, and other big tech companies actually want standardised internet speech regulations. And then because all other social media platforms in existence will have to follow the exact same rules, there will be nowhere else for you to turn.…

Virtue remains to be the tool which carves desirable dispositions in every mortal who wakes up to contend with temptations that inherently come and its opposition an infectious disease which seeks to distort and cripple all manner of good. A parable is a story told to teach people a valuable lesson. The promise of peace This book serves as a herald to all of us by drawing our attention to the unpleasant scenes caused by the absence of love in the hearts of many. It holds within its pages the promise of peace. In this novel, abandonment is portrayed from the view of the victims who struggle to break loose from its shackles. Our only hope Despite the stigma associated with this heavy topic, as implied in the title, it…

If we evaluate the assumptions around which popular culture looks at a New Year, what beliefs are we likely to find? Wishful thinking is often high on the list. Underpinning this belief is often a lot of ‘feel good’ emotion and supposed intuition. This is often evidenced by statements such as: “I know this is going to be a good year, I can just feel it.”Also tagging along such beliefs is a selfcenteredness that can take on many forms. For some, it is propped up by motivational self-help and is full of positive affirmation about how this is going to be ‘my year’. For others, it is consumed with self-loathing that recounts their failures, with no hope in sight. Christians are not immune As Christians, we are not automatically immune…

It’s a new year and I wish I could also start over again. A fresh start with new beginnings. If only that were possible? A The good news is that it is possible for the Child of God! Obviously, we live with the consequences of our choices, but the Lord can give us a whole new perspective on our situation that will result in peace of mind and heart. He delights in making “all things new” (Rev 21:5). The key to a fresh start is repentance and forgiveness. Take time to meet with the Lord and deal with all your issues. “Come now, and let us reason together, Says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson.…

Happy prosperous, peaceful, and blessed 2022! With all that has happened in 2021 and all that is predicted for 2022, be encouraged with this scripture: “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” – 2 Corinthians 1:20 A certainty in Jesus All of God’s promises contained in God’s Word have been fulfilled by Christ and are “Yes” and “Amen” in Him. This promise is our certainty as we enter 2022. In the same way, Christ’s instructions remain a certainty. Our instructions from Christ Now look at the instruction Christ gave to His disciples, “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’” – Mark 16:15. “Go therefore and make…

In the early hours of Tuesday 9th November 2021, my wife Lenora fought her final battle with pain and entered eternity. It had been a long and difficult battle with cancer, but she fought it bravely. In July 2010, during Lenora’s first bout with cancer, she declared:“I want to live long enough to see my grandchildren.”She was regularly quilting for her children and future grandchildren. Daughter of Missionaries Raised in Austria by missionary parents, Lenora went on many missions with her father, Rev. Bill Bathman, energetically ministering behind the Iron Curtain where she had many friends and where she chose to be baptised, where it was actually a matter of life and death. It had been a long and difficult battle with cancer, but she fought it bravely. Bible-smuggling honeymoon…

Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) often gets asked what people can do to protect their constitutional right to religious freedom. The good news is that South Africa is a constitutional democracy, which means that Government must ask for our input on any policies or laws they wish to make. The origin of policies Most policies begin in Government departments as drafts, called“Green Papers”. A Green Paper discusses a particular issue a Department is considering and the policy position it intends to adopt. This is then published so that anyone who is interested can comment and/or make suggestions. An example is the Department of Home Affairs’ Green Paper on Marriages, which many South Africans commented on in 2020. A Green Paper is then followed by a “White Paper”, which…

While Babylon has played an important role in the history of the Middle East since 2000 BC, it rose to its greatest power around 600 BC during what is called the Neo-Babylonian Period or the Chaldean Empire. At the time of King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon was the greatest city the world had ever seen. The 5th -century Greek historian Herodotus reports that the city straddled the great river Euphrates and was 24 kilometers’ square. Upon conquering the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonian Empire became the superpower of the Middle East. However, its renaissance was short-lived as a coalition of Medes and Persians led by Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BC.…

How have you started your New Year? Sadly, for many people the only thing new is the date. They carry old ways of thinking and behaving from one year into the next. But the Bible repeatedly speaks of newness. I believe it is time to embrace this newness and break free of old destructive patterns and habits – not only in our personal lives, but as a nation. We cannot call ourselves Christians and remain stuck in old worldly ways. Created anew In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul says anyone who is in Christ has been created anew. This verse begins with “therefore” – a word that occurs more than 500 times in the New Testament. It generally marks the transition from a statement of fact to its result or consequence.…

In Matthew 5, what is commonly known as The Sermon on the Mount, Yeshua sets out a profile of God’s people. He completes this profile by stating that a true Kingdom Citizen is called to be salt and light. Let us examine the properties of salt: Salt makes a difference Let the Church rise up in this season and allow itself to be used by God to bring change in society. Salt is designed to make a difference and change the flavour of a particular dish. It is designed to influence the taste in a positive manner. The question we must ask ourselves is whether or not the Church is having a positive influence on our societies, communities, and the world we live in. We will not make a difference…