New release: Spirit of Truth

I am happy to break in to my Bible alphabet blog series with some exciting news.... I have a new book coming up! (which is about time...)

Yep, when bloggers are getting quiet, they're probably hiding behind their computer screen and working on a book :) Spirit of Truth is my sixth (English language) book and for several reasons (such as procrastination) it took me quite some time to finish it.

In this new release I am taking the reader back in time to one of the most famous questions ever asked in the history of mankind... and that is the one Pilate desperately confronted Jesus with: ‘and what is truth?’

It is the very scene where Jesus stands before Pilate that I have used to unfold the historical case truth vs. lie. I have taken Pilate's question and related it to the 9th commandment which teaches us not to accuse anyone falsely or in other words: speak truth.

Today, as in Pilate's time, we live in a world that is made up of accusations, lies and gossip. We are constantly being bombarded with stories about people cheating, lying, and accusing others of being the reason for the mess they are in. Such practices have even gotten entertainment value. Pilate's question still lingers in our courtrooms everyday. As a matter of fact, it lingers in our homes, schools, businesses and churches. What is truth? A very relevant question for today.

It will be a few more weeks before the paperback version will be available, but... you can get your Kindle edition  right now for only $2.99!

Get your e-book copy of Spirit of Truth today and be blessed and encouraged as you read through the pages! In the coming weeks I will post some give-aways and recommendations.

Give me a K

In my Bible alphabet blog series K stands for Kingdom.

And I am not talking about the Kingdom of the Netherlands (where I live), but about the Kingdom of God! Jesus spoke about it much and often.

After His resurrection from the dead, this message became more urgent. In Acts 1: 3 it is written about Jesus that He appeared to them [the apostles] over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Forty days? There is indeed much to say...

In the Bible the terms the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God are being used interchangeably and sometimes the Bible simply refers to it as the Kingdom. Let's see what the Kingdom is not:

• It is not a natural kingdom, not a place or country. It is a spiritual dimension where God's will reigns. Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) and your kingdom come, your will be done (Matthew 6:10).
• It is not a matter of our daily natural needs.  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17)
• It is not a theory or theology. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

There is this religious thought that the Kingdom is a future destination. But Jesus tells us that we must seek the kingdom first, above all else (Matthew 6:33). Why would He let us begin a search for something that cannot be found here on earth? This is a question that the scribes and theologians also struggled with. Jesus told them, The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ (Luke 17:20). So, where is it?

Jesus continues ... because the kingdom of God is in your midst. (Luke 17:21). Well, they were speechless, as are many of us today. The Kingdom of God [His will on earth as in heaven] here with us? Some translations say the Kingdom is near you or within you ... However we look at it, the kingdom is never far away. Please note: there is no kingdom without the King! The Kingdom of God is within you only if Jesus lives there.

Righteousness, peace and joy with power is within us when we are alone but also among us when we are together as believers. We can experience the kingdom from within, but it also surrounds us as we go into the world. Jesus gave us the kingdom inside so that we can go outside to spread it in a broken, tired and troubled world.

[see also my Kingdom basics blog series]

Give me a J

In my Bible alphabet blog series J stands for Jesus.

Jesus is the Son of God who came to earth as a man. His birth was announced by an angel who visited his mother Mary: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus (Luke 1:31).

Now, the angel of course did not speak to Mary in English. The name Jesus is therefore derived from the Hebrew Yeshua which means the Lord is salvation.

When Jesus was about thirty years old, he moved from Nazareth to Capernaum (the remains of that town can still be found in Israel) and from that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17).

During His earthly sojourn Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing. In John 5:19 it is written like this, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. So, what did Jesus do? He traveled around, talked about the Kingdom, testified about the truth, forgave people their sins, healed those who were sick and even raised people, who had died prematurely, from the dead.

Jesus came to earth to set mankind free from sin by giving His life, His blood (Revelation 1: 5). He was tortured, crucified and killed. After three days He rose from the grave. He not only overcame sin but also death!

If this is true, why (why, why) then is our world still so full of sin, destruction, sorrow and death? Because every human being must use his or her free will to make a conscious dicision to believe in Jesus and so receive forgiveness, victory and freedom. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5: 5).

Give me an I

In my Bible Alphabet blog series I stands for Israel.

There is no country in the world which is being criticized so much as Israel. Quite often by people, and this is really puzzling, who never had a conversation with a Jew or Arab from Israel, let alone paid a visit to the country.

Anyway, what is the deal with Christians and Israel?

The land of Israel is named after the patriarch Jacob (son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham) who had an encounter and wrestling match with God in the desert. In Genesis 32:28 it is written: Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.

In the Bible the twelve sons of Jacob and their descendants are called the people of Israel. In addition the Bible also clearly speaks about the land of Israel. For example, in Joshua 21:43, So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. [The boundaries God has in mind can be found in Ezekiel 48].

Since then, thousands of years have passed and the Israelites were scattered all over the world through oppression, persecution and exile until in 1947 a resolution was passed by a majority vote in the UN that led to the state of Israel which was proclaimed on May 15, 1948.

Israel and the Jewish people are so important because it was through them that the promised Messiah has come: Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Many Christians bless Israel (by speaking for and not against Israel in conversations, by purchasing products or booking a vacation for example) because God speaks very clearly about doing so in His Word (Genesis 12: 2-3) 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; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Give me an H

In my Bible alphabet blog series H stands for Hope.

And I am not talking about the kind of hope for a sunny day or a winning ticket, although there is nothing wrong with that. No, I am talking about the hope that sustains our very being.

The hope that keeps us going when all else stops. The hope that says YES when all other voices say NO. The hope that goes beyond this life... into eternity.

I am talking about Jesus Christ, Hope of the nations... may He fill your heart with peace and joy, so there will be no room left for fear and worry.

While the secular media pumps one hopeless message after another into society, the silent whisper of hope takes root in hearts all over the globe. Each day more. My New Year's wish is that you will experience this hope in 2016.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 15:13)