Sunday, June 30, 2019

What is Your Foundation as a Christian?

Titus 3:3-7
3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of rebirth and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of everlasting life.


2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Timothy 2:19
However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."



Merciful

Not quick to point out, criticize, be upset, irritated or enraged by, the faults, imperfections, weaknesses and shortcomings of others.

Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.


Luke 6:36
Be you therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.


James 2:13
For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.




Saturday, June 29, 2019

Legliz Jezi Bati A

Anpil moun ki rele tèt yo kretyen e ki mache legliz idantifye tèt yo ak yon relijyon. Lè yon kretyen konsa di li se yon manm legliz kote li mache a, kèlkeswa relijyon li idantifye ak li a, sa pa vle di li fè pati Legliz Jezi bati a (Matye 16:18). 

Se pa kote moun reyini kòm "legliz" (yon batiman) ki petèt fè pati yon òganizasyon ki fè yo se Legliz Jezi a, men se ki moun moun yo ye. Yo dwe moun ki fè eksperyans yon nouvo lavi nan Jezi. Labib la pale ak yo konsa:

Ròm 6:4
Se sak fè, avèk batèm nou an nou te antere ansanm avè l' [ak Jezi], nou te mouri ansanm avè l' tou. Men, menm jan Papa a te fè l' leve soti nan lanmò avèk gwo fòs pouvwa li, konsa tou nou menm nou ka mennen yon lòt lavi.

An franse:
Romains 6:4
Nous avons donc été ensevelis avec lui par le baptême en sa mort, afin que, comme Christ est ressuscité des morts par la gloire du Père, de même nous aussi nous marchions en nouveauté de vie.

Legliz Jezi a se tout moun toupatou ki gen Jezi kòm mèt lavi yo. Yo gen yon relasyon pèsonèl ak Jezi. Se pa avèk legliz X oubyen legliz Y yo gen rapò ki fè yo se kretyen. Kretyen yo kretyen an baze sou relasyon yo genyen ak Jezi ki se Sovè yo.

Kisa nou rele relijyon nou? Ki sa ki di nou nan Jezi e fè pati sèl Legliz li bati a?

Map envite nou reflechi sou sa. Pou nou fè sa, an nou gade kèk pasaj nan labib la.

1) Travay 2:37-47 (prete atansyon ak vèsè 41 ansanm ak 47):

Travay 2:37-47
37 Lè pèp la* tande pawòl sa yo, yo santi kè yo boulvèse. Yo mande Pyè ansanm ak lòt apòt yo: Frè nou yo, kisa pou nou fè? 38 Pyè reponn yo: Tounen vin jwenn Bondye, epi yonn apre lòt vin resevwa batèm nan non Jezikri, pou Bondye padonnen tout peche nou yo. Apre sa, n'a resevwa Sentespri, kado Bondye a.39 Paske pwomès la, Bondye fè l' pou nou, pou pitit nou yo, pou tout moun ki byen lwen, pou tout moun Bondye, Mèt nou, va rele vin jwenn li. 40 Pyè t'ap di yo anpil lòt pawòl ankò pou l' te fè yo kwè, pou l' te ankouraje yo. Li t'ap di yo konsa: Sove tèt nou. Wete kò nou nan mitan moun pèvèti sa yo. 41 Anpil ladan yo te kwè sa Pyè t'ap di a, yo te resevwa batèm. Jou sa a, te gen twamil (3.000) moun konsa ki te mete tèt yo ansanm ak disip yo. 42 Yo pase tout tan yo ap koute sa apòt yo t'ap moutre yo, yo t'ap viv ansanm tankou frè yonn ak lòt, yo reyini pou separe pen an bay tout moun, epi yo t'ap lapriyè. 43 Tout moun te gen krentif devan kantite mirak ak bèl bagay apòt yo t'ap fè. 44 Tout moun ki te kwè yo t'ap viv ansanm yonn ak lòt. Yo te mete tou sa yo te genyen ansanm. 45 Yo vann tè yo ak tout byen yo, yo separe lajan an pami yo tout, dapre nesesite chak moun. 46 Toulejou, yo tout reyini ansanm nan tanp lan; yo te konn separe pen an bay tout moun nan kay yo, yo te manje ansanm avèk kè kontan san okenn pretansyon. 47 Yo t'ap fè lwanj Bondye. Tout moun te renmen yo. Chak jou Bondye t'ap mete lòt moun li t'ap delivre yo nan gwoup la.**

* Tout moun ki tap tande yo.
** Gwoup moun ki vin tounen pèp Bondye a nan Jezi akòz delivrans yo jwenn anba esklavaj peche e Sentespri yo resevwa a; se yo menm ki Legliz Jezi bati a.

Gen yon pawòl ki pou preche pou moun tande, aksepte e aplike pou yo ka vin fè pati Legliz Jezi a ki se pèp Bondye a (moun sou latè kap sèvi Bondye jan l vle yo sèvi l la).

An franse:
Actes 2:37-47
37 Après avoir entendu ce discours, ils eurent le coeur vivement touché, et ils dirent à Pierre et aux autres apôtres: Hommes frères, que ferons-nous? 38 Pierre leur dit: Repentez-vous, et que chacun de vous soit baptisé au nom de Jésus Christ, pour le pardon de vos péchés; et vous recevrez le don du Saint Esprit. 39 Car la promesse est pour vous, pour vos enfants, et pour tous ceux qui sont au loin, en aussi grand nombre que le Seigneur notre Dieu les appellera.40 Et, par plusieurs autres paroles, il les conjurait et les exhortait, disant: Sauvez-vous de cette génération perverse. 41 Ceux qui acceptèrent sa parole furent baptisés; et, en ce jour-là, le nombre des disciples s'augmenta d'environ trois mille âmes. 42 Ils persévéraient dans l'enseignement des apôtres, dans la communion fraternelle, dans la fraction du pain, et dans les prières. 43 La crainte s'emparait de chacun, et il se faisait beaucoup de prodiges et de miracles par les apôtres. 44 Tous ceux qui croyaient étaient dans le même lieu, et ils avaient tout en commun. 45 Ils vendaient leurs propriétés et leurs biens, et ils en partageaient le produit entre tous, selon les besoins de chacun. 46 Ils étaient chaque jour tous ensemble assidus au temple, ils rompaient le pain dans les maisons, et prenaient leur nourriture avec joie et simplicité de coeur, 47 louant Dieu, et trouvant grâce auprès de tout le peuple. Et le Seigneur ajoutait chaque jour à l'Église ceux qui étaient sauvés.

2) Travay 11:26
26 Lè l' jwenn li, li mennen l' lavil Antiòch. Yo pase yon lanne ansanm ap fè reyinyon ak legliz la. Yo t'ap moutre anpil moun sa pou yo fè. Se nan lavil Antiòch sa a premyè fwa yo te rele disip yo kretyen.

An franse:
Actes 11:26
et, l'ayant trouvé, il l'amena à Antioche. Pendant toute une année, ils se réunirent aux assemblées de l'Église, et ils enseignèrent beaucoup de personnes. Ce fut à Antioche que, pour la première fois, les disciples furent appelés chrétiens.

Sa nou aprann laa se ke yon kretyen se yon disip Jezi li dwe ye toudabò.

3) Jan 8:31-32
31 Jezi di jwif ki te kwè nan li yo: Si nou kenbe pawòl mwen yo nan kè nou, nou se disip mwen vre. 32 N'a konnen verite a, lè sa a verite a va ban nou libète nou.***

***Libète soti aba esklavaj peche. Li Jan 8:31-36 pou pran kontèks la byen.

An franse:
Jean 8:31-32
31 Et il dit aux Juifs qui avaient cru en lui: Si vous demeurez dans ma parole, vous êtes vraiment mes disciples; 32 vous connaîtrez la vérité, et la vérité vous affranchira.

4) Jak 1:27
Men jan pou nou sèvi Bondye Papa a, si nou vle sèvi l' yon jan ki dakò ak volonte Bondye, yon jan ki bon tout bon devan li: Se pòte sekou bay timoun ki san papa. Se bay vèv yo lasistans lè yo nan lafliksyon. Se pa mele nan move bagay k'ap fèt sou latè pou nou pa pèdi kondisyon nou.

An franse:
Jacques 1:27
La religion pure et sans tache, devant Dieu notre Père, consiste à visiter les orphelins et les veuves dans leurs afflictions, et à se préserver des souillures du monde.


=======

ADDENDA
Matye 16:18
Mwen menm, men sa m'ap di ou: Ou se yon wòch, Pyè. Se sou wòch sa a m'ap bati legliz mwen. Ata lanmò p'ap kapab fè l' anyen.

Tradiksyon kreyòl la gen yon pwoblèm. Ann etidye pou nou wè sa ki di nan vèsè saa toutbon. Jezi pa di apòt Pyè se limenm Pyè ki wòch lap bati Legliz li a sou li. Vèsè kreyòl la pa ta dwe di "Ou se yon wòch, Pyè. Se sou wòch sa a m'ap bati legliz mwen". Men li ta dwe di "Ou se Pyè. E sou wòch sa a m'ap bati legliz mwen".

Ann konpare:

franse:
Et moi, je te dis que tu es Pierre, et que sur cette pierre je bâtirai mon Église, et que les portes du séjour des morts ne prévaudront point contre elle.

angle:
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

panyòl:
Mas yo también te digo que tú eres Pedro; y sobre esta roca edificaré mi iglesia, y las puertas del Hades no prevalecerán contra ella.

Nou vle konnen toutbon kisa oubyen kiyès ki wòch Jezi te di l ta pral bati legliz li a sou li a. Pou pi sèten, li tout pasaj sa yo nan kontèks yo epi lapriyè pou Bondye montre nou sa l vle nou wè a:
Matye 7:24, Lik 6:46-49, 1 Korent 10:4, Ròm 9:33, 1 Pyè 2:8

2 Timote 2:15
Fè jefò pou ou ka resevwa lwanj nan men Bondye tankou yon travayè ki pa wont travay li fè, yon travayè ki fè konnen pawòl verite Bondye a jan l' ye a.


Ki Jan Nou Dwe Lapriyè




Ak konfyans nan Bondye (lafwa), san nou pa doute:
Mak 11:22-24

Ak pesistans, san dekouraje:
Matye 7:7-11
Lik 11:5-13
Lik 18:1-8
1 Tesalonisyen 5:17

Ak remèsiman pou Bondye:
Filipyen 4:6
1 Tesalonisyen 5:18

Ak anpil chalè, pasyon, antouzyas:
Jak 5:16b (konpare ak lòt lang)

Rèd:
Jak 5:17-18

Nan sans ki dakò ak volonte Bondye:
1 Jan 5:14-15

Fòk nap mache dwat devan Bondye, nou pa dwe nan peche kidonk ap fè sa ki mal:
Jan 9:31
Jak 5:16b
1 Jan 3:22
1 Pyè 3:12
Sòm 66:18

Fòk nou cho nan dèyè Bondye:
Lik 5:18-20
Lik 8:43-48

An prive (tout lè li ka fèt konsa) men jamè pou fè moun wè:
Matye 6:5-6

Nou pa dwe ap plede repete yon bann pawòl pou granmesi*:
Matye 6:7-8

Ak respè pou Bondye epi se li ki dwe nan premye plan:
Matye 6:9-13
-pou volonte li fèt
-pou li ban nou tout sa nou bezwen
-pou nou jwenn padon nan men li
-pou pwoteksyon nou kont tout mal ak tantasyon pou peche tou

San nou pa manke padonnen moun ki fè nou mal:
Mak 11:25-26

Pandan n ap fè jèn:

Ann akò ak lòt kretyen (disip Jezi):
Matye 18:19-20

Ak gwo rèl ak dlo nan je (nan sikonstans ki mande sa):
Ebre 5:7

Fòk nou rete klè ak Bondye Papa nou sou jan nou santi n konsènan nenpòt ki sitiyasyon epitou sou santiman n pou li.

*Pèsistans pa menm ak "plede repete yon bann pawòl pou granmesi"
Egzamp:
2 Korent 12:8
An TWA FWA mwen lapriyè Seyè a pou maladi sa a, mwen mande l' pou l' wete li sou mwen.


Divès prensip sou lafwa:
Jan 15:7-11, 16; Jan 14:13-14; Mak 11:22-24; Jan 16:23-24; Matye 21:22; Matye 9:29; Mak 9:23; Lik 1:37; Efezyen 3:20-21



Wè tou:

How to Pray
Men Bib La
Pwosesis Pou Yon Moun Sove





Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Enduring Spiritual Oppression

I want to share a bit of my experience with what I have been comfortable calling oppression. That's a state that is temporary and depends on precise circumstances that I can usually identify. It may be an instance of harassment, the receipt of a suggestion that violates my convictions (and directs me away from the obedience I know God has called me to), a perception of being disconnected from the love of God (due to a lack of hearing his voice and receiving his guidance for a while), weariness in waiting on God for sure promises of his word, etc. It's the "valley" experiences that I know by experience will be followed by a restoration. I just need to have faith that I'm going to get better and I always do, even delighting in God (Psalm 37:5) and overflowing with joy.


The process to get me "back up" is all internal. No change in my circumstances really shield me from experiencing oppression for the same reasons or others, but I come to rise above these temporary circumstances, or rather, escape their pinch, somehow. Usually, I get there after a time of prayer and hearing the word (audio Scriptures), mostly certain Psalms that actually reflect how I feel. These Psalms affirm God's promises to his people, make mention of disappointments or afflictions and usually end in praise. At those times of oppression, I am also often too weak to read, so I have some pre-recorded prayers that I can say and hear without opening my mouth. I have written prayers so I do not lose sight of certain things in my life that I want to keep bringing to God's attention like the widow of Jesus' parable in Luke 18. I update them as I receive direction to do that or when my circumstances evolve (including prayers being answered). So, after a time with God, my spiritual "dashboard" would reflect that all is well and I would no longer feel down nor irritable.

My recovery also often takes the form of sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, made easier through short songs that are my own. Singing or humming them functions like playing a spiritual instrument for the glory of God. Besides songs of thanksgiving and praise, there is a third type that I sing (or hum or listen to a recording of) in those times and it is about reminding myself of God's sovereignty over my life. I am encouraged to persevere under affliction and I progress to a place of peace. I am led by the Spirit to either praise, give thanks or remind myself of who is in control —it's not a choice I make; I just find myself in one of those three "modes" and stay in it for a while. Eventually, the atmosphere within me changes for the better. And what happens in the background, I think, is simply that my assurance of God's love and care for me rises in my heart despite trying circumstances that are speaking some lies to me. To me, that's spiritual warfare.  

I am usually more or less aware that the disturbance I have suffered in my peace has come from the way I have responded to some afflicting circumstances. And I come to think that I could have mitigated that disturbance with a more appropriate response as the sufficient grace of God is supplied to me (2 Corinthians 12:9). But in weakness, I do get down and need to rise back up. I understand I need to use God's grace to humble myself more in some areas, for instance, in my interactions with some people; I need to deny myself more to not take offense, especially when I get grieved by a repeated conversation or behavior; and I also need to be able to endure an ongoing unpleasant situation with joy and thanksgiving. 


The context for all this is that I am in a season of trials in my life where I experience spiritual highs and lows. My times of oppression are getting less frequent and are like passing dark clouds. I feel God has equipped me to navigate those circumstances better and better and I believe I am not experiencing anything random. I am even sure that I am living through answered prayers and there is a purpose in my afflictions while I walk with God in this season of my life. 

Lastly, I have not researched in depth the nuances between what I call oppression and depression, but I just know I have not experienced certain states of mind that border on despair of life and somehow that's my perception of depression at this time (before getting better informed on depression).

I pray this helps somebody in the body of Christ.


John 16:33
I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.


See also:

Anxiety and Depression Recovery  - YouTube playlist

Trusting God - playlist

Outlook in Difficult Situations


Trials and Tribulations