calven blog

by Calven CelliersLast week I experienced car trouble. I was on my way to visit a lovely new couple to our congregation, when my car started losing power, and kept threatening to cut out in the traffic. I pulled over and gave my mechanic a quick call. As I explained to him what was happening, he advised me to go home and bring my car into his workshop the next morning. So, I called ahead to my appointment, explained my situation. They graciously understood my predicament and we rescheduled for this week. The next morning my mechanic checked out my vehicle and the verdict was as he suspected, contaminated fuel. Fuel contamination is, as the name suggests, fuel that becomes contaminated or tainted with water or sediment that collects towards the bottom of fuel tanks at the service station. As I reflected on this experience, it brought to mind the reality of what happens when we as believers let our ‘tanks’ run low, and our spiritual lives become contaminated. Sometimes we find ourselves running very low because we are giving out more than we are taking in, and eventually we become quite drained, less than our best and tainted because we’re cruising on the dregs of what’s left, and we start losing power. It’s impossible to continue giving out when there’s nothing left to give. Maybe you’re there right now? Maybe you feel like you’ve got nothing more to give and you’re tempted to ‘cut out’ and give up? Well, if that’s you then I want to encourage you this day.In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus said that when we’re tired, worn out, and empty we can come to Him. I like the way the late Eugene Petersen paraphrases Christ’s words in The Message saying, “28-30 Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11: 28 – 30TheMessage)The simplicity of Jesus’s invite, come to me, is so refreshing. All of us go through times where we feel spiritually empty. David likens it in Psalm 42 to a deer panting after water. Jesus doesn’t offer us a four-fold path to peace-giving enlightenment, like the Buddha did. He doesn’t give us five pillars of peace through submission as Islam does. Nor does He give us a “10 Ways to Relieve Your Weariness,” program like our pragmatic, self-help-oriented 21st century culture does. Instead, Jesus simply offers Himself as the solution.There is a danger in continually running on dregs. When we let our spiritual tank run low, our energy and inspiration disappear. Our desire to live for Christ decreases, and soon, we are just getting by.When you’re running on dregs it becomes difficult to…

by Calven Celliers"God couldn't be everywhere, so He made mothers." While not theologically accurate, this old Jewish saying describes beautifully the significant, indispensable role mothers play in our lives.Have you ever considered that Jesus’ mother Mary, was the one who nudged Him into His public ministry? In the Gospel of John 2 we read how when the wine at the wedding in Cana was finished “3…Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”” (John 2:3NIV) Initially Jesus wasn’t prepared to turn the water into wine because He said that His time had not yet come. Mary wasn’t having any of that, however, and said to the servants, “5 …Do whatever he tells you.” (John2:5NIV) And we know the rest of the story – “6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” (John 2: 6 – 10NIV)Public speaker and Christian authoress, Jill Savage, makes the comment that ‘the profession of motherhood is all about influence. Mothers have an incredible opportunity to influence the next generation. Intentionality increases influence, and influence is something God asks us to be intentional about. We cannot underestimate the power of a mother’s love.’ One of life’s greatest blessings is to have a godly mother. And, thus, one of the greatest gifts you can give your children is to be a godly influence. An awesome, biblical example of the influence of a godly mother and grandmother, is that of young Timothy. Scripture tells us that his faith came to him through his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice. The apostle Paul’s preaching and mentorship may have been used by God to impact and grow Timothy’s faith, but the foundation of who Timothy became must surely be credited to the godly influence of Lois and Eunice. We cannot deny that through faith in God and by honouring His Word, godly mothers have great influence as they train their children in the way they should go.Charles Spurgeon made the following observation as he testified to the influence his own godly mother had upon his life, “Never could it be possible for any man [or woman] to estimate what he [she] owes to a godly mother … I have not the powers of speech with which to set forth my valuation of the choice blessing which the Lord bestowed on me in making me the son of one…

by Calven Celliers“Don’t say God is silent when your Bible is closed.”(Matt Brown)These ten words speak directly to the heart of any believer who fears that God might be inactive or uncaring in the brokenness and messiness of our lives, and reminds us that He cares, He sees, and He speaks. But too often, we’re just not listening.God is always ready to speak into our lives. We simply need to listen, tuning our ears and hearts to what He is saying in the book He inspired. When we open the Bible, we find more than 780,000 words (783 ,137 to be exact – well according to Google that is) breathed by God himself for us. In his second letter to young Timothy, the apostle Paul wrote that “16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16 & 17NIV)As part of his teaching at New Harvest last Sunday, guest preacher Arnold Groenewald (Open Doors Organisation) shared how a young man of the world confronted Christian missionary brother Andrew, and mockingly suggested that the Bible was outdated, and insignificant in todays world. Arnold shared the story about how this young man told brother Andrew that it was ‘an ancient book with little or no relevance for his life today.’ In my forty-four years, and more specifically my thirty-two years as a born-again believer, I have consistently experienced the Bible’s ability to speak the right word, at the right time. In fact, I fully relate to Charles Spurgeon’s words when he says that “No one ever outgrows the Scriptures. The Book just widens and deepens with our years.” God is always speaking to us through His Word. But numerous times in the Bible it makes reference to the fact that we need ‘ears to hear’ Him. “He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying” is one of Jesus’ favourite expressions. It’s the punch line to each of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation, as well as several of His parables. In other words, He’s saying, “Don’t just hear my words; receive the Spirit of revelation.” What does that mean? It would seem that it’s possible to hear the words of Jesus and not hear what the Holy Spirit is saying. Some hear the Word, yet they do not allow it to take root; they do not open themselves to understand and accept it so that it transforms them. Those who have ‘ears to hear’ allow the Word to bear fruit in their lives for the glory of God.It’s no use complaining about God being silent when your Bible is closed. It’s like grumbling about not getting text messages or WhatsApp’s when your phone is turned off. Whilst God can, and does, speak into our lives through other people – this is the value of surrounding yourself with godly people who will speak into your life and build you up –…