EmmDev 2021-10-10 [UPCSA Month of Mission 2021] Setting a good and joyful example in tough times makes an impression

Setting a good and joyful example in tough times makes an impression

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, He drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. (Acts16:25-29)

Too often we ask, why do bad things happen to good people? Paul and Silas were in jail because, by healing the young girl, they hurt someone's ability to make a living. Sometimes when you stand for a good cause you find yourself in problems. As one called and sent by God how do you react when bad things happen to you? 

From our reading today we see that the pain and suffering of Paul and Silas was used to reach out to the prisoners and the jailer. Had they not been cast in jail, the prisoners and the jailer would not have heard the gospel. Paul and Silas did not look at what was happening to them as a punishment, rather they looked at it as an opportunity to praise and worship their God. How do we respond to troubles especially when we know that we have not done anything wrong? If Paul and Silas had began to question whether God had messed up or whether they had misheard God, they would have started to complain and argue with the jailer and fellow prisoners. But Paul and Silas assumed that since God had let them there, that was still God's mission field.

The Church today is plagued with lack of commitment. Most of us have the 'me centred' attitude whose main thought about the Church is "what's in it for me?' instead of "where do you want me to serve you Lord"? God is always at work even in situations where we feel very uncomfortable. The authorities in Paul and Silas situation thought they were in control and had to put the two disciples in their place but it was God who was in control and He was reaching out to the prisoners and the jailer through His faithful disciples. Songs of praise made the jail to be shaken and the chains on the prisoners to break. The jailer probably had no idea that he was going to have an encounter with God. Paul and Silas were caused to suffer because that was the only way they could get access to the prisoners and the jailer.

Sometimes as ministers we feel not appreciated and are always complaining thus painting a very bad picture about ministry that others shun going into ministry. Paul and Silas had been beaten badly and thrown into jail, they praised and worshipped God. An opportunity was given to them to escape but they remained in jail so that the jailer who was spiritually imprisoned could be released. Friends, your pain and suffering of today could be an opportunity for someone to meet God. Give thanks to God in everything.

Have a blessed day. 

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Jane Nyirongo is serving the saints in Garden congregation. A mother and grandmother. I enjoy cooking, watching cartoons and reading.

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EmmDev 2021-10-09 [UPCSA Month of Mission 2021] Start with Prayerful Seekers

Start with Prayerful Seekers

It has been said that convenience and conviction do not live on the same street. Often our convictions will take us to places that are not the most convenient for our personal comfort. In the Scripture passage that we are reflecting on today, the believers looked for a place where they could find people praying on the Sabbath day in a city where there was no comfort of a Synagogue. 

This is particularly significant for us in this time where the covid19 pandemic has often prevented us from worshipping in our comfortable church buildings. We need to have the wisdom and conviction to find ways of connecting with people who are prayerfully seeking to connect with God.

They went outside the city gate by the river, to find a place of prayer. This was not a place of prayer for fellow Christians. These believers sought to find people who were already prayerful from this city. It is very significant that they trusted that if someone is already prayerful, then fellowship with that person provides an opportunity to share the good news of the Gospel with them.

We are challenged to trust that God is already at work as people who may not share the same faith with us are praying. Praying is at least a sign that the person acknowledges that there is God. Such a person needs fellowship from believers so that God will open hearts for belief in the good news that we proclaim. May we seek to find such people wherever they may be found and not wait for them to come to our own places of worship! Praise God when hearts are opened in unlikely places.

On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, "If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. (Acts16:13-15)

(Paul Neshangwe, husband to Lydia, father to Tadiwa (TC) and Melusi. A friend serving at a newly developing congregation of Vimridge on the outskirts of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe)  

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EmmDev 2021-10-08 [UPCSA Month of Mission 2021] The Spirit's guidance leads to planting of new churches

The Spirit's guidance leads to planting of new churches

The Lord calls Paul to the province of Macedonia Paul and his friends wanted to go to the province of Asia, but the Holy Spirit stopped them.  Therefore, they went to the province of Phrygia and Galatia, and they preached there.  7 When they came into the province of Mysia, they tried to go to the province of Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus stopped them again.  8 Then they went through Mysia and then they came to the town of Troas.  9 That night the Lord gave Paul a vision.  It was like a dream.  He saw a man from the province of Macedonia.  He was standing there, and he begged Paul and asked him: 'Please come over the sea to Macedonia and help us.' 10 After Paul had seen this vision, we immediately got ready to sail to Macedonia because we believed that God had called us to preach the Good News to those people. (English Bible for the Deaf.) (Acts16:6-10)

We have heard/read yesterday what the roles are we should play to plant good seed and new congregations.  The focus is today on the role of the Holy Spirit's guidance to plant new churches.  Let us reflect of two perspectives.

The first is the role of the called man/woman of God.  They wanted to go to Asia, but the Holy Spirit stopped them -- we do not know how/why He did it.  They tried to go to Bithynia, but they could not go there -- two closed doors for Paul, Silas, and Timothy.  We do not know how they reacted, but we know that they were not idle.  They shared the Gospel in the provinces of Phrygia and Galatia.  We may conclude that they started a congregation in Troas before they left for Europe (Acts 20:6-7). 

It is important that, when we wait upon the guidance of the Lord, we should continue with what God called us to do.  We should reach out to where we are now and make use of opportunities to be effective in our service to God.

The second important focus is on how God speaks even today.  The Lord spoke to Paul is a vision (also in 18:4).  A vision is a religious experience of a supernatural appearance, much more than an imagination.  Paul saw a man and the man begged him to Macedonia in Greece.  This happened at night, where it was quiet without any interruptions.  There were of specific directions; the Holy Spirit would guide them on their way.

Bill Hybels authored a book about the power of a whisper.  He shared in the book how often God spoke when there was silence -- Elijah at Mount Horeb heard God in a whisper.  It is in our noise-polluted world often in the middle of the night when there is silence.  It might be the time when we can hear God the best without the interruptions of even calls or messages.

God does not call everybody to plant a new church; He calls everybody to go and share the Gospel -- and that might lead to the planting of a new church!  The Bible defines church as a group of believers

"God's call does not come by any stereotyped method," wrote J. Oswald Sanders.  "It will vary with the individual."

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Rev Hein Barnard has been seconded to the Bible Society of South Africa since 2014 and is married to Elna with three daughters, one son-in-law and two granddaughters.  He lives his passion!

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EmmDev 2021-10-07 [UPCSA Month of Mission 2021] Sower, Waterer and Reaper -- the roles we might play...

Sower, Waterer and Reaper -- the roles we might play...

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. (1Corinthians3:6-15)

Farming takes a lot of planning, choice making, hard work, patience and faith for good rains and harvest. Paul considers himself as one that planted the seed. He was the pioneer of the new church in Corinth. He planted (preached the unadulterated word of God) good seeds. He was the one who introduced these people to Christ. 

The second person who came along was Apollos. He is the waterer. He brings the ministry of mentorship. He natures the plants and encourages the work. In this vein we see continuity in God's work. His work was to build on top of the work which was started by someone else. Paul says each one who participates in this great work of God must be committed to do their best. The work of Apollos was that of nurturing, pastorally caring for this church and the believers and grounding them in doctrine. Paul calls this ministry as that of Waterer. 

 

Paul quickly draws our attention to the Grower and the Reaper. As much as the sower and the waterer are important he acknowledges the third Being in the whole panorama. God is the one who brings about Growth. He is the one who causes the seed to grow. The Sower and the Waterer count themselves blessed that they can join the God of the universe to contribute by planting and watering the seed which God brings to the level of productivity. God in his mercy and grace will reward each of the persons (this is the Reaping) who participate in this great work of changing lives for God.

As believers today we may have similar opportunities like that of a Sower or a Waterer. The opportunity of doing the pioneer's work or that of establishing the work that was started by other people. We need to remember that God is the one who brings about increase. We must do our work properly so that we don't lack rewards at the end of our work. There is a reward that shall be given to those who use their opportunity to be the Sower or the Waterer.
May God richly bless you as you play your part in God's vineyard.

Amen      

Rev. Dr. Christopher M'kandawire, minister of the UPCSA serving at David Livingstone Memorial Presbyterian Church within the bounds of Munali Presbytery, Synod of Zambia. Husband to Rhoda and father of three, Wanangwa, Kondwani and Wongani. Loves reading and adventure.

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EmmDev 2021-10-06 [UPCSA Month of Mission 2021] The mustard seed - big results from small beginnings.

The mustard seed - big results from small beginnings.

I wonder if you can recall that lesson early on in your school career where you were asked to bring a paper plate or cup and some cotton wool to school. In that school day's lesson was a study about seeds, specifically bean seeds, and how out of a hard white kidney shaped seed something green, fragile, and even beautiful would emerge and grow. As a parent it's a wonderful thing to watch, as your children discover something magical. In fact, it is magical because it's not so much the cotton wool or the water that makes the seed grow...but God who gives it life.

In today's scripture we read about a mustard seed, which is one of the smallest seeds known to us. Jesus talks about how this small seed grows into a large shrub and into something that will give shelter to the birds. Yes, mustard seeds are small and yes, they do sprawl and grow into bushes, but this choice of seed and plant was surprising. The mustard seed is small and insignificant, and the bush that it grows into is short and scruffy. Why didn't Jesus choose a Cedar Tree seed, a seed that grows into something more majestic, regal, and grand and liken that to the Kingdom of God?

Well, I think that was the point! You see Jesus is speaking to the fact that small things planted with God, can grow and spread rapidly but more importantly can become something that serves others (birds of the air).

Friends, often we get caught up with how things should start and what something should look like, and the proper way to go about growing the kingdom of God that we don't do it. Instead, we are being called to trust God even with our small and possibly insignificant plans or ideas, and then to trust Him to grow that into something beautiful that will be of service to others. 

Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade." (Mark4:30-32 )

Melanie Cook, a novice thrower of seeds in and around St Giles Presbyterian Church, Gordon's wife, Josh and Becky's mom. 

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EmmDev 2021-10-05 [UPCSA Month of Mission 2021] The Power of the (gospel) seed: It grows all by itself.

The Power of the (gospel) seed: It grows all by itself.

One characteristic expected from every newly born or planted is growth. However, some of never grow. But what causes illness of not growing?? Through the scripture text Mark writes of the teachings of Jesus on the "Growing seed". Gerald Caron (2008) writes: ...once the seed is sown, the farmer does other normal business having no control over the seed into the full grown harvest. The farmer might have helped with the irrigation but the bottom line is, "it is fed and watered by the mighty hand of God".

Then what causes some to not grow if God is in control?? To understand this I will try to give meaning of farmer and seed. The farmer in the text represents servants of God who spread the Good News. The work of the servant is to spread the gospel. The seed is the word of God, and it is by the power of God's spirit that the seed germinates and develops until it gives forth the desired harvest. There is a problem when the farmer thinks of him/herself as the basic resource of growth and neglects God's presence. The church is going for growth as it embarks to become a missional church. For the growth to happen the presence of God has to be acknowledged and fully trusted. Lacking this one will not grow.

The church today is facing challenges of different forms; which hinder growth. The text today is challenging us in that God is promising a magnificent harvest because in all the process of farming He is in control. Hence, the duty of the servant is to continue witnessing in season and out of season, surrendering everything to God - even the honour of the mission.

                

Friends, our witness may be weak and our efforts may seem to influence a few, but the word of God is a powerful agent of growth. Let us keep our eyes on the great harvest to come and let us not allow bad soil or weeds to discourage us from faithful service and witness. God is able to bring wonders of small things "Bumper harvest is certain."

For Prophet Zechariah declares, "Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit" says the Lord Almighty.

He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.  As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." (Mark4:26-29)

Anna Banda, married to Moven, mother to four children blessed with six grandchildren; serving at Mhangura Congregation in the Presbytery of Zimbabwe.

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EmmDev 2021-10-04 [UPCSA Month of Mission 2021] Go make disciples

Go make disciples

For the next ten years, the UPCSA will focus, inter alia, on the programme, "Going for Growth: Sowing, Growing, Reaping", which is aligned with the strategic goal of the UPCSA being a missional church. Those who succeed in ventures of sowing, growing, and reaping, will sacrifice and leave their comfort zones and go to places and people they are not comfortable with, as in the case of Abraham. They deny themselves and put forward the interest of the gospel -- the good news of salvation.

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, entrusted his disciples with an arduous task of making disciples, which is central to the ideals of the reign of God. God wants God's people back to the discipline of serving and worshiping God and of serving and respecting humanity. Jesus declared his mission in Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" and in Joh 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." Jesus moved from position to position to accomplish that great task -- from divine nature to human nature, from heaven to earth to dwell among us, and while on earth, from place to place making disciples, performing miracles and teaching. 

Jesus commissioned his disciples to GO to all nations. That task has been extended to the church. The UPCSA should be a GOING church for us to sow, grow and reap. Going to the nations involves an exposure to people that do not live, speak, and do like us. It takes us to people of other races, nationalities, ethnicity, cultures, ideologies, sexual orientations, and spiritualties. It takes us to different socio-economic environments of the rich, the poor, and the marginalised. 

The UPCSA, being a reconciled community of Christians, is called to model the way. Our diversity is a challenge to us to reflect the gospel of reconciliation internally and externally. We must GO to other brothers and sisters, other congregations, other Presbyteries, and other countries and make disciples. Our congregations should reach out to others and make disciples. Some of our congregations have not, in the recent years, witnessed services with the celebration of the sacrament of baptism and the confirmation of new members, as they do not get new and young members joining the church.  We sell church building because we are losing members. The churches that buy our buildings manage to get members. We can do things differently. Let us break the tents and GO. The Lord is with us until the end of the world. 

 

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew28:18-20)

Lungile Mpetsheni is the General Secretary of the UPCSA. He is married to Thandiswa. 

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EmmDev 2021-10-03 [UPCSA Month of Mission 2021] The Great Commission

The Great Commission

What does it mean to "go and make disciples of all nations" in these V.U.C.A. times where conditions everywhere are basically Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous?

'Volatile' mental conditions with people ready to explode, destroy and loot at any given opportunity. 'Uncertain' and unpredictable seasons that the church is undergoing organizationally, spiritually and financially. 'Complex,' multi-layered and complicated social problems in our communities. 'Ambiguous' and unclear religious messages open to multiple interpretations and misinterpretations. What does it mean to "go and make disciples" with the added layer of Covid-19 and its accompanying restrictions, limitations and lockdowns? Surely, this is a time when we can take a break from the Great Commission?

But the Great Commission is not time conditioned, place conditioned or person conditioned. It is an instruction for every follower of Christ, both the ordained and those not ordained. An instruction for every place, every context and every "nation." An instruction for every time and opportunity that is available to us individually or collectively. 

When Jesus gave this "Go!" instruction to his disciples they were facing their own V.U.C.A. conditions: governed under a 'volatile' Caesar administration, 'uncertain' about how to move forward as they waited for the promised Holy Spirit, 'complex' relational and internal issues, and 'ambiguous' secular teachings and rumours all around them. 

But they obeyed Jesus and went and made disciples. We too are called, not to come up with excuses, but to use what we have to go and make disciples. If we have Covid-19 restrictions, let us use that as an opportunity to be reflecting, recalibrating and resetting so that we do not miss the missional lessons of this unexpected but teachable moment. As restrictions are lifted, let us adapt to the new normal and get on with making disciples using whatever methods are available to us. 

Let's get creative and promote Jesus with our walk, equip church members for doing ministry, actively seeking the lost, and not waiting for them to come. Let us attract people to Christ using online methods too, taking advantage of social media, and making intentional efforts to fulfil the call of the Great Commission. And Jesus promises: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  (Matthew28:18-20)

Rev Lydia Neshangwe, our Moderator Elect, is married to Paul, mother to many, and lover of wholeness for all.

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EmmDev 2021-10-02 [UPCSA Month of Mission 2021] Israel is the Servant of the Lord

Israel is the Servant of the Lord

What is striking about the Servant Song in Isaiah 42 is that the Servant is never clearly identified.  The prophet emphasises the activity and character of the Servant and pays no attention to the identity of the Servant. Perhaps the Servant is anyone who has such a character and behaves in this way? It indicates that Yahweh is interested more in what is accomplished rather than who does so. Yahweh's main concern is for Yahweh's just and righteous purposes for the nations.

While Israel languished in exile, they wondered about the justice of God (40:27), and Yahweh's response to his people comes in the form of a pagan king who does not know Yahweh (45:4). The people of God need to realise that they do not hold a monopoly on justice. The exile itself was testimony to the fact that, at times, Yahweh would use the foreign, pagan nations to bring justice to them. Going back to the Abrahamic Covenant, the idea was that Yahweh would bless them and that they would then be the ones through whom all nations of the earth would be blessed. As the people of God have always done, they liked the notion of being blessed, but lost sight of the obligation to be a blessing to others. Isaiah reminds the people of God to be humble since they are not God's sole agents of justice and  righteousness. 

Could Cyrus, a pagan king, be the Servant of Yahweh? Could the COVID pandemic make  us change and adapt so as to be a means by which the church brings about God's purpose for the world? The Servant of Yahweh has been called to live in relationship with Yahweh and be Yahweh's instrument for bringing righteousness to the nations. The Servant will open blind eyes and free those who are held captive, but it is clear Yahweh is not merely concerned about what is accomplished for the sake of his plan, but also the manner in which this ministry is conducted. Justice is not to be accomplished through force but through meekness. 

We need to reflect on what has been given to us in our salvation, and rejoice in that, but we need also to live out what God has done for so that we become a blessing to others. 

This is what God the Lord says--- the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,     who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,     who gives breath to its people,     and life to those who walk on it: "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;     I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you     to be a covenant for the people     and a light for the Gentiles,   to open eyes that are blind,     to free captives from prison     and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah42:5-7)

Peter Langerman is our past Moderator and is husband to Sally, father to Jaimee (and father-in-law to Tim), Natasha, Emma and Gabby. He loves to walk, cook, read, shout at the TV when the Boks are playing and serves the saints at Durbanville.

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EmmDev 2021-10-01 [UPCSA Month of Mission 2021] Abraham - Blessed to be a Blessing

Welcome to our Month of Mission!

Greetings in the lovely name of our Lord Jesus!
Since 2014 the M&D committee has been sending out daily devotions for the month of October which has been set aside as Missions Month. These have been written by various ministers and members in the denomination and have been well-received. We also supply a preaching plan with sermon outlines for October which you could use. Go to http://www.upcsa-mad.org.za/news/month-of-mission-2021 to learn more.

The proposed theme fits in with the decade long theme proposed by the Mission and Discipleship Committee to General Assembly i.e. 
            "Going for Growth: Sowing, Growing, Reaping."

The first devotion, written by our Moderator is below:

Abraham - Blessed to be a Blessing

It is God who calls people out of their comfort space into a Covenant with God. It is concomitantly the same God who blesses those people in Covenant with Him to be a blessing to others. 

Abram had to leave familiar surroundings, familiar territory, familiar faces and places, to be in Covenant with God -- in a land that God had designated. It was in this Covenant that God blessed Abram and made a promise of making Abram into a great nation. It was also in this Covenant, that God would also make Abram's name great and bless Abram to be a blessing. Once all these divine milestones had been achieved, Abram's name would change into Abraham -- the Father of Many Nations - and he would a blessing to others, to nations, to those in the end of the earth. 

A blessing for its own sake is not a blessing at all. It could qualify for personal achievement, personal success, personal growth, personal advancement. But for the blessing to be a blessing, it needs to extend to others. It needs to change the quality of my life/your life, but also the quality of life of the others. Put differently, if you have been blessed (it is really immaterial what you have been blessed with), be a blessing to others -- family, colleagues, comrades, friends, neighbours, peers, elders, those above, those below, those ahead, those behind. 

Once God has Covenanted with me and changed my life with a blessing, let me impact the lives of those around me with a blessing and impact them with positive energy, positive attitude, positive relationships. With blessings flowing from your Covenant with God, share your resources, your experience, your knowledge, your information, your strategies, your best practices with those less fortunate than yourself. Every time where you have been blessed, go ahead and be a blessing to others.

The Lord had said to Abram:  "Leave your country, your people and your father's household, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you, I will curse" (Genesis12:1-3)

The Right Rev Dr Sipho Mtetwa is the Moderator of the UPCSA. He is married to Xoli and with three kids and numerous grandkids. He resides in Pietermaritzburg and is part of the Drakensberg Presbytery. He is a poet and jazz lover.

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