Monthly Archives: March 2018

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

What is the Church Part 03: What Does the Church Do?

This is the third part of our series ‘What is the Church?’
In Part 01, we focused on the Founder and Head of the Church, who is Jesus Christ.
In Part 02, we defined what Church is – the ekklesia or ‘called out’ assembly of people who believe that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah, the Son of the living God. The universal church consists of these born-again believers from the Day of Pentecost until the Lord’s return.
In Part 03, we will look at what does the church actually do?
Acts 2:42-47 (KJV) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
On the surface, a church gatherings could resemble a variety of other kinds of gathering: community picnic, sporting club, a fun day out. From all appearances, church people dress and act can look like others: laughing, talking, eating, and listening.
Yet, the church is distinct from any other type of human gathering. Using the above text of Acts 2, here are some of the main things that churches can do:
1.     Apostles’ doctrine (teaching, Bible study, etc.). In Acts, the church was instructed in the things that the apostles of Jesus learned while He was with them – as well as what the Holy Spirit taught since the Day of Pentecost. For us today, ‘apostles’ doctrine’ means the teachings of Scripture, practically applied to our lives today. When people don’t know or understand the Word of God, they will go into error (Psalm 119:105; Matt. 22:29).
2.     Fellowship (koinonia): Sharing, caring, communication, communion, fellowship, association, participation. Christian fellowship is far more than ‘a few mates’ spending time together. It means deep sharing spawned out of deep caring (see point 6). The church should be inclusive, not exclusive. Unfriendliness, cliques, and snobbery have a no place in a Biblical, Spirit-filled church;
3.     Breaking of bread: can mean the breaking of a large, oblong loaf a bread. It can mean food of any kind, like a normal meal. We often associate this with the Church ’ordinance’ of holy communion, also known as the Eucharist. Protestant/Evangelical/Pentecostal Christianity has two ordinances. Water baptism and holy communion. One ordinance we do once; the other we do regularly. There were probably meals eaten ‘at church,’ not just taking communion.
4.     Prayers: The Greek word proseuchē can mean a simple prayer aimed to Almighty God. It can also speak of a place of prayer, like a synagogue or the open air. Regardless of the venue, the power of corporate prayer is undeniable.
5.     Acts of power (V. 43): The church is a place where the ‘supernatural’ is ‘natural’ or normal. They were clearly a Spirit-filled community (Acts 2:4) and acts of power were the result. While many churches treat the supernatural aspects of Christian living as belonging only to the First Century AD, the century-old outpouring the of the Holy Spirit is meant to enhance our connection to the supernatural.
6.     Community (V. 44-45): Believers were together and shared in common. This means they took care of each others needs. It is like a family. Some people look at this as a ancient form of communism; but it was not. Communism was coercive, the church voluntary; communism was atheistic, the church totally God-centred; communism failed, the church thrives. In the western world, we would do well to recapture the sense of community where ‘caring and sharing’ are normative; the Christian Church is the best place to do it.
7.     Praise and worship (V. 47; Hebrews 13:15): We are called to be a Spirit-filled (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16; Jude 20), in order to function powerfully and properly. Praising God, along with prayer and the other things mentioned, truly set the church apart. The born-again, Spirit-filled church is a church that praises God continually and whole-heartedly. God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3) and miracles occur in the atmosphere of praise and faith. Other items not directly mentioned in Acts 2:42-47 include:
8.     Pastoral care: (I Peter 5:1-3). Contrary to popular opinion, the church does not exist to ‘meet my needs.’ It exists to honour, worship, and serve God. Yet, because of the spirit of koinonia and love, the church is meant to be a place that truly cares for its own. Pastoral care is important but it need not be limited to full-time pastors. The members of the caring sharing community can all provide care for its members. That’s one of the benefits of home groups; it spreads the pastoral care load around.
9.     Obedience: attending church is in obedience to God’s command (Hebrews 10:25); yet church is not just a duty, but a delight.
10. Discipline: (Matthew 18:15-17; II Corinthians 13:1-10). Church gives us not just fellowship, but accountability. It allows good, Godly, mature people to speak into our lives. Without discipline, we will go astray. It is for our good.
When the church properly functions properly, Acts 2:47 is fulfilled:
1.     Praising God;
2.     Favour with the people;
3.     The LORD will add to the church those who are being saved.
Next time: what is the mission of the church?

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

What is the Church Part 03: What Does the Church Do?

This is the third part of our series ‘What is the Church?’
In Part 01, we focused on the Founder and Head of the Church, who is Jesus Christ.
In Part 02, we defined what Church is – the ekklesia or ‘called out’ assembly of people who believe that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah, the Son of the living God. The universal church consists of these born-again believers from the Day of Pentecost until the Lord’s return.
In Part 03, we will look at what does the church actually do?
Acts 2:42-47 (KJV) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
On the surface, a church gatherings could resemble a variety of other kinds of gathering: community picnic, sporting club, a fun day out. From all appearances, church people dress and act can look like others: laughing, talking, eating, and listening.
Yet, the church is distinct from any other type of human gathering. Using the above text of Acts 2, here are some of the main things that churches can do:
1.     Apostles’ doctrine (teaching, Bible study, etc.). In Acts, the church was instructed in the things that the apostles of Jesus learned while He was with them – as well as what the Holy Spirit taught since the Day of Pentecost. For us today, ‘apostles’ doctrine’ means the teachings of Scripture, practically applied to our lives today. When people don’t know or understand the Word of God, they will go into error (Psalm 119:105; Matt. 22:29).
2.     Fellowship (koinonia): Sharing, caring, communication, communion, fellowship, association, participation. Christian fellowship is far more than ‘a few mates’ spending time together. It means deep sharing spawned out of deep caring (see point 6). The church should be inclusive, not exclusive. Unfriendliness, cliques, and snobbery have a no place in a Biblical, Spirit-filled church;
3.     Breaking of bread: can mean the breaking of a large, oblong loaf a bread. It can mean food of any kind, like a normal meal. We often associate this with the Church ’ordinance’ of holy communion, also known as the Eucharist. Protestant/Evangelical/Pentecostal Christianity has two ordinances. Water baptism and holy communion. One ordinance we do once; the other we do regularly. There were probably meals eaten ‘at church,’ not just taking communion.
4.     Prayers: The Greek word proseuchē can mean a simple prayer aimed to Almighty God. It can also speak of a place of prayer, like a synagogue or the open air. Regardless of the venue, the power of corporate prayer is undeniable.
5.     Acts of power (V. 43): The church is a place where the ‘supernatural’ is ‘natural’ or normal. They were clearly a Spirit-filled community (Acts 2:4) and acts of power were the result. While many churches treat the supernatural aspects of Christian living as belonging only to the First Century AD, the century-old outpouring the of the Holy Spirit is meant to enhance our connection to the supernatural.
6.     Community (V. 44-45): Believers were together and shared in common. This means they took care of each others needs. It is like a family. Some people look at this as a ancient form of communism; but it was not. Communism was coercive, the church voluntary; communism was atheistic, the church totally God-centred; communism failed, the church thrives. In the western world, we would do well to recapture the sense of community where ‘caring and sharing’ are normative; the Christian Church is the best place to do it.
7.     Praise and worship (V. 47; Hebrews 13:15): We are called to be a Spirit-filled (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16; Jude 20), in order to function powerfully and properly. Praising God, along with prayer and the other things mentioned, truly set the church apart. The born-again, Spirit-filled church is a church that praises God continually and whole-heartedly. God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3) and miracles occur in the atmosphere of praise and faith. Other items not directly mentioned in Acts 2:42-47 include:
8.     Pastoral care: (I Peter 5:1-3). Contrary to popular opinion, the church does not exist to ‘meet my needs.’ It exists to honour, worship, and serve God. Yet, because of the spirit of koinonia and love, the church is meant to be a place that truly cares for its own. Pastoral care is important but it need not be limited to full-time pastors. The members of the caring sharing community can all provide care for its members. That’s one of the benefits of home groups; it spreads the pastoral care load around.
9.     Obedience: attending church is in obedience to God’s command (Hebrews 10:25); yet church is not just a duty, but a delight.
10. Discipline: (Matthew 18:15-17; II Corinthians 13:1-10). Church gives us not just fellowship, but accountability. It allows good, Godly, mature people to speak into our lives. Without discipline, we will go astray. It is for our good.
When the church properly functions properly, Acts 2:47 is fulfilled:
1.     Praising God;
2.     Favour with the people;
3.     The LORD will add to the church those who are being saved.
Next time: what is the mission of the church?

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

When the Taps Run Dry: Understanding the Cape Town Water Crisis

Among the major cities of the world, this one is considered among the most beautiful. It possesses a dramatic backdrop of Table Mountain, Mediterranean-style climate, fertile vineyards in the mountainous hinterland, and sandwiched between Table Bay to the west and False Bay to the east. Equipped with world class hotels, malls, restaurants, highways, and stunning scenery, it is a top global tourist destination. This jewel of a city is called Cape Town, the mother city of South Africa.
Forty kilometres away to the south is the famous ‘Cape Point.’ Known in history as ‘The Cape of Storms,’ it was optimistically renamed ‘The Cape of Good Hope.’ This is where the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean meet the cooler waters of the Atlantic. Until the Suez Canal was built, Europe had no choice but to sail around the Cape en route to India and the East.
I have been to Cape Town 3 times and it never fails to impress. One of the most memorable experiences of my life was climbing Table Mountain with an experienced mountain-climber: high and steep, you feel like you are in a remote national park, but when you look down, there are the skyscrapers of a major metropolis below.
After three years of severe drought, Cape Town is about to get another distinction: Barring a miracle of abundant rainfall, it will be the first major city in modern times to run out of water! The city is serviced by 6 dams in arid areas. The biggest is Theewaterskloof Dam which, at present, has no more than 12% capacity of water.
Consider that the city’s population has grown 79% from 2.4 million in 1995 to 4.3 million today, yet its water storage has only increased by 15%. This in itself means the city was ill-prepared for a time of drought.
As one who teaches on Bible prophecy and the last days, if anything conjures up a poignant image of the end times, it is Cape Town running out of water. More than ballooning western debt – which at this point seems abstract; more than Middle Eastern tension, wars and jihadism – which we treat as if it is were another planet, Cape Town’s water crisis hits close to home. The reason is that if it could happen here, it can happen anywhere.
Waiting for Day Zero
Presently, the citizens of Cape Town can only use 50 litres of water a day. Remember, the average western home uses over 300 litres. If the rains don’t come, Day Zero will. This date when the city turns off the water taps (faucets). It may be in May, it maybe in June. After this date, the only way to get water in Cape Town will be from one of 200 collection points, which will be supervised by the army and police. Residents can obtain 25 litres of water, per person, per day. It will be for cooking, washing, and personal care. The maximum amount of people that can be serviced at a given collection point is 20,000.
Remember, Cape Town is no third world metropolis. Its infrastructure and setting would be the envy of any western city. Simultaneously a very European city yet increasingly African, it is also a uneven city: there are multi-million dollar homes and Babel-high skyscrapers in the inner city, inland suburbs, and the coast. This where mostly white people live. Yet, in the flat inland areas are the shanty-towns where poor people, mostly black, live. Rich or poor, white or black, the paucity of water affects all them now, and will even more so if Day Zero comes to pass.
As far back as 1990, there were predictions that Cape Town could run out of water. Desalination was deemed too cumbersome and impractical, and the one at Mossel Bay was ‘mothballed’ due to expense. Cape Town is not run by the African National Congress (ANC), but the Democratic Alliance (DA). This is considered the white-influenced opposition to the ANC. The DA has some experience and clout, yet it has not come up to speed in handling this emergency situation. The DA has encouraged big money development but with this came big water consumption, that needs to be reigned in. The ANC national government has not helped, either. Water is under local governance, however, the bulk national infrastructure is under the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Outside help was available. Modern Israel has been innovative with water conservation: despite its growing population, limited rainfall and arid climate, Israel has sufficient water for agriculture and people. It regularly offers its expertise to developing countries in Asia and Africa. In February 2016, Israel planned a Johannesburg water conference in order to share its insights. Yet, the South African government, which promotes the Palestinian cause and has excellent relations with Hamas, cancelled the conference in deference to BDS (Boycott, Disinvestment, and Sanctions Movement against Israel). It is possible that Day Zero could have been cancelled had they been willing learned the lessons.
How Should We Respond?
First, recognise that many cities worldwide could be exactly in the same situation as Cape Town. Sao Paulo, largest city in the western hemisphere, is at risk. Ten years ago Barcelona was on the brink. Australia can not be complacent at all: Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne are particularly vulnerable.

Prayer does wonders. In the Bible, church history, and today, prayer and falling rain go hand-in-hand (I Kings 8:35-36). Remember, this is not just Cape Town’s challenge: this challenge belongs to us all. So let’s pray for a move of God and a release of rain.
From a practical point of view, water is as any other resource, like time and money. When supplies run low, there are two things we must do: reduce consumption and increase sources. Water should be treated with respect and restraint. Long showers, letting the tap run unrestrained while you brush your teeth, toilets with only full-flush capacity rather than 1/2, are bad habits that need to be broken.
In ancient Israel, Herod the Great built the hilltop fortress of Masada, which could house 1,000 people and had enough water for 1-2 years. This is in the Dead Sea region where rainfall is no more than 5 cm (2 inches) a year, at most. The ancient Nabateans built impressive cities across the arid Negev, with plenty of water, though the rainfall was the same low level. They learned how to capture and conserve every drop of rain.
We need to learn how to do the same – rather than letting the rain water go into the drains and out to sea. Avoid wastage, plug the leaks (sometimes up to 30% of water is lost due to leaky pipes). Such commonsense methods can do wonders.
The people of Cape Town, many who are Christians, have their chance to pray, show resilience, and bounce back to full strength, setting an example for us all.
Let’s give them our full prayerful support.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

When the Taps Run Dry: Understanding the Cape Town Water Crisis

Among the major cities of the world, this one is considered among the most beautiful. It possesses a dramatic backdrop of Table Mountain, Mediterranean-style climate, fertile vineyards in the mountainous hinterland, and sandwiched between Table Bay to the west and False Bay to the east. Equipped with world class hotels, malls, restaurants, highways, and stunning scenery, it is a top global tourist destination. This jewel of a city is called Cape Town, the mother city of South Africa.
Forty kilometres away to the south is the famous ‘Cape Point.’ Known in history as ‘The Cape of Storms,’ it was optimistically renamed ‘The Cape of Good Hope.’ This is where the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean meet the cooler waters of the Atlantic. Until the Suez Canal was built, Europe had no choice but to sail around the Cape en route to India and the East.
I have been to Cape Town 3 times and it never fails to impress. One of the most memorable experiences of my life was climbing Table Mountain with an experienced mountain-climber: high and steep, you feel like you are in a remote national park, but when you look down, there are the skyscrapers of a major metropolis below.
After three years of severe drought, Cape Town is about to get another distinction: Barring a miracle of abundant rainfall, it will be the first major city in modern times to run out of water! The city is serviced by 6 dams in arid areas. The biggest is Theewaterskloof Dam which, at present, has no more than 12% capacity of water.
Consider that the city’s population has grown 79% from 2.4 million in 1995 to 4.3 million today, yet its water storage has only increased by 15%. This in itself means the city was ill-prepared for a time of drought.
As one who teaches on Bible prophecy and the last days, if anything conjures up a poignant image of the end times, it is Cape Town running out of water. More than ballooning western debt – which at this point seems abstract; more than Middle Eastern tension, wars and jihadism – which we treat as if it is were another planet, Cape Town’s water crisis hits close to home. The reason is that if it could happen here, it can happen anywhere.
Waiting for Day Zero
Presently, the citizens of Cape Town can only use 50 litres of water a day. Remember, the average western home uses over 300 litres. If the rains don’t come, Day Zero will. This date when the city turns off the water taps (faucets). It may be in May, it maybe in June. After this date, the only way to get water in Cape Town will be from one of 200 collection points, which will be supervised by the army and police. Residents can obtain 25 litres of water, per person, per day. It will be for cooking, washing, and personal care. The maximum amount of people that can be serviced at a given collection point is 20,000.
Remember, Cape Town is no third world metropolis. Its infrastructure and setting would be the envy of any western city. Simultaneously a very European city yet increasingly African, it is also a uneven city: there are multi-million dollar homes and Babel-high skyscrapers in the inner city, inland suburbs, and the coast. This where mostly white people live. Yet, in the flat inland areas are the shanty-towns where poor people, mostly black, live. Rich or poor, white or black, the paucity of water affects all them now, and will even more so if Day Zero comes to pass.
As far back as 1990, there were predictions that Cape Town could run out of water. Desalination was deemed too cumbersome and impractical, and the one at Mossel Bay was ‘mothballed’ due to expense. Cape Town is not run by the African National Congress (ANC), but the Democratic Alliance (DA). This is considered the white-influenced opposition to the ANC. The DA has some experience and clout, yet it has not come up to speed in handling this emergency situation. The DA has encouraged big money development but with this came big water consumption, that needs to be reigned in. The ANC national government has not helped, either. Water is under local governance, however, the bulk national infrastructure is under the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Outside help was available. Modern Israel has been innovative with water conservation: despite its growing population, limited rainfall and arid climate, Israel has sufficient water for agriculture and people. It regularly offers its expertise to developing countries in Asia and Africa. In February 2016, Israel planned a Johannesburg water conference in order to share its insights. Yet, the South African government, which promotes the Palestinian cause and has excellent relations with Hamas, cancelled the conference in deference to BDS (Boycott, Disinvestment, and Sanctions Movement against Israel). It is possible that Day Zero could have been cancelled had they been willing learned the lessons.
How Should We Respond?
First, recognise that many cities worldwide could be exactly in the same situation as Cape Town. Sao Paulo, largest city in the western hemisphere, is at risk. Ten years ago Barcelona was on the brink. Australia can not be complacent at all: Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne are particularly vulnerable.

Prayer does wonders. In the Bible, church history, and today, prayer and falling rain go hand-in-hand (I Kings 8:35-36). Remember, this is not just Cape Town’s challenge: this challenge belongs to us all. So let’s pray for a move of God and a release of rain.
From a practical point of view, water is as any other resource, like time and money. When supplies run low, there are two things we must do: reduce consumption and increase sources. Water should be treated with respect and restraint. Long showers, letting the tap run unrestrained while you brush your teeth, toilets with only full-flush capacity rather than 1/2, are bad habits that need to be broken.
In ancient Israel, Herod the Great built the hilltop fortress of Masada, which could house 1,000 people and had enough water for 1-2 years. This is in the Dead Sea region where rainfall is no more than 5 cm (2 inches) a year, at most. The ancient Nabateans built impressive cities across the arid Negev, with plenty of water, though the rainfall was the same low level. They learned how to capture and conserve every drop of rain.
We need to learn how to do the same – rather than letting the rain water go into the drains and out to sea. Avoid wastage, plug the leaks (sometimes up to 30% of water is lost due to leaky pipes). Such commonsense methods can do wonders.
The people of Cape Town, many who are Christians, have their chance to pray, show resilience, and bounce back to full strength, setting an example for us all.
Let’s give them our full prayerful support.