Burry Stander ~ Obituary

BURRY WILLIE STANDER, son to Charles and Mandie Stander, brother, husband to Cherise Stander (nee Taylor), friend, competitor, entrepreneur, champion MTB rider, a double South African Olympian, was born September 16,  1987 – died January 3, 2013 aged 25.

It was saddening news that greeted many the world over that Burry Stander had been tragically killed by a collision with a mini-taxi on a training ride, cut down in what many determine to be the prime of his life, in his prowess. From learning of the news of his death much has been written in way of condolences that have steadily poured in from here at home and from abroad, and there has been many memorial rides organised at various places around South Africa in memory of his passing. Whilst many convey words of sympathy to his parents and Cherise, wife of Burry, it is heart rending that parents should be burying their son, and a married life was cut so tragically short after just six months – are there any words that can be spoken to ease the pain and heartache at this time? The bereavement of the loss of this life is painful just as many others have also experienced the loss of a family member, or a close friend at some other time before!

Whilst many messages pour in through the social networks and the public media, many obituaries have been written from specific points of view, most noticeably from the point of view celebrating Burry Stander – “humble celebrity, gentleman, world champion mountain-bike legend, athlete, icon, hero” – whilst these accolades describe this South African son known affectionately as Africanmtbkid, not much has been written about the normal man – the mortal man Burry Stander.

While people the world over give much praise and homage to this celebrated life, many do not pause to ponder what lies ahead after one dies. If Burry could now speak from eternity, for death is not the end of a soul, what would he tell you? If he could speak to you, dear reader – the words would most probably be: “Repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ!” While many people live life fast, hard and large, they fail to examine themselves and see where they are ultimately headed. The question that should be posted to you, dear reader, is: “Are YOU Ready?” (Gospel tract). People tend to downplay what awaits them after death. Many truly believe that they will “go to a better place”, “go to heaven”, and many will even say in sympathy statements: “My prayers are with the family” and “God bless!” But what do these sentiments really mean? Do all believe in a Creator God? Do all believe in salvation through Jesus Christ alone? Are all living truly Christ-centred lives? Or, are people just trying to soften the impact of death – as they do not really want to offend people by speaking the Truth. Is it that they don’t want to deal with the real issues of the after-life, eternity? Jesus said what is in the abundance of the heart is what a man really is.

I do pray and hope that the pastors conducting the church service on Thursday January 10, 2013 will be faithful to Almighty God, YHWH, and proclaim the unadulterated Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (not the ear-tickling gospel of today in the Ecumenical system), and will not withhold the real TRUTH of what awaits a person once they die. There is bound to be many in attendance, some professing believers who need to be reminded of the surrendered life we are to live for our Lord Jesus Christ and many others who are unbelievers who need an urgent wake-up call to the frailty of life. Funerals are not for the deceased. The deceased’s soul has already departed and moved into eternity and the corpse is an empty shell that is lying there lifeless. Funerals are there for the family and friends that are left behind, who have been tardy or who have neglected to make preparation for the day when they too will die and meet their Creator. For God tells us in His Holy Word, the Bible, in Hebrews 9:27 ~

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

If God says there is a judgment after death, are you prepared to meet the Creator of all the universe at that judgment?

Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (see Genesis 18:25)

We are also reminded ~

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

So: Are you ready? Are you prepared? And are you making preparation? Scripture warns that we are to prepare to meet our God (see Amos 4:12). Jesus said: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (see John 3:3). If any person dies outside the covering of our Lord Jesus Christ they will not enter heaven. So then what happens to them?  So what do you think will happen to YOU when you die and stand naked before your Creator? Do you think God would find you innocent or guilty before His Judgment Seat? God tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 to examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith and whether we will pass the test, which is the judgment. You can examine yourself to see your condition before God Almighty by looking into the ‘mirror’ of God’s Holy and Moral Law, which are the Ten Commandments (the full version can be read at Exodus 20:1-17):

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me (v3)
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image [idols](vv4-6)
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain [blasphemy](v7)
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy (vv8-11)
5. Honour thy father and thy mother (v12)
6. Thou shalt not kill (v13)
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery (v14)
8. Thou shalt not steal (v15)
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour [lie](v16)
10. Thou shalt not covet (v17)

Now that you know God’s standard of holiness and perfection, “we know that the law is good, if a man  use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient” (see 1 Timothy 1:8-11) and we are reminded in Romans 3:23 that:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

So let us take a quick test to see your true condition. If you should die today, what will be your condition before God on Judgment Day? Listen to your conscience and answer honestly. The ninth commandment says you shall not tell lies (bear false witness) (Exodus 20:16). How many lies have you told in your lifetime? Fibs, half-truths, white lies – they are all lies. A lie is deception and someone always gets hurt by lying. Jesus tells us that if a person speaks lies he speaks the language of the devil, Satan, “for he is a liar, and the father of it” (see John 8:44). The eighth commandment says you shall not steal (Exodus 20:15). Irrespective of the size or value of the object, have you ever stolen something – taken it without someone’s permission. This also includes piracy which is buying, downloading or copying CDs and DVDs that belong to other people without their permission.

Then there is the seventh commandment that says you shall not commit adultery. Have you cheated on your spouse? But listen, you do not have to be married to commit adultery. Jesus said:

Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Have you looked with lust? Roving eyes, lustful intent, leering at pornography; have you broken this command? This command would also include fornication (sexual relations outside the bounds of marriage) either heterosexual (mf) or homosexual (mm / ff) sex. Are you ‘living together’ out of wedlock as partners?

What about murder? Have you broken the sixth commandment? Have you murdered anyone? You do not have to pick up a gun, or knife or rope to kill someone to commit murder. If you hate someone you have committed murder in the heart:

1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Gossip is also considered murder of the heart by God’s standard.

The second commandment deals with idols and idolatry. Do you worship and bow down to things made of wood, stone, plastic, gold, silver and any other material? God has warned that no person is to fashion or make any idols or “any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:” (Exodus 20:4). God also warns that those who worship and make these idols are just like them – DEAD! It also includes people who make a god to suite themselves in their own image, a god they are more comfortable with, someone who won’t punish sin. Idols can also be placing your love, devotion and worship in things of this world – money, material possessions, sports and their athletes, celebrities in the film and music industry, family members, sex and pornography, alcohol and drugs, your work, studies and all other manner of activities, even your religious practices including your idolised favourite pastor / teacher – these are all idolatries. Vanities of vanities.

God tells us in James 4:4 that any friend of the world is an enemy of God and according to His Word no enemy will R.I.P. (Rest In Peace) for any person that does not have the Son does not have life, but has the wrath of God abiding on him (see John 3:36).

Now consider that we have only looked at five of the Ten Commandments – and if God judged you by this Holy standard and sees you as a lying thief, adulterer, murderer and idolater, do you think you will be innocent? Or guilty? You see the law is a schoolmaster, a teacher that teaches us that we have transgressed God’s Holy Commandments; it shows that we are in need of a Saviour – Someone to save us from the wrath of God. Scripture tells us:

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

God’s Word tells us that transgressors of His law will be guilty and that:

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Therefore you would be guilty and God warns that all guilty persons are condemned (see John 3:18) and will end up in Hell for all eternity. This is what Hell is described as in the Holy Words of God:

• A devouring fire and everlasting burnings – Isaiah 33:14
• A place of weeping and gnashing of teeth – Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 24:51, 25:30; Luke 13:28
• Where the fire is never quenched – Mark 9:44, 46, 48
• Where they can never repent – Matthew 12:32; Mark 3:29
• Where they don’t want their loved ones to come – Luke 16:28
• A bottomless pit – Revelation 9:1, 2, 11, 11:7, 17:8, 20:1, 3
• Where they scream for mercy – Luke 16:24
• A place of sorrows – Psalm 18:5
• A place of outer darkness – Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30
• A place of torments – Luke 16:23
• And many, many more verses …

On that Great Day at the Great White Throne Judgment, this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ of Judgment Day:

Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

If you should stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ know this that transgressors will end up in God’s prison – Hell for all eternity. On that Day there will be no Court of Appeal against your sentence, there will be no Constitutional Court to appeal to for a lesser sentence or an acquittal. There also will be no extenuating circumstantial pleas heard on your behalf. No, my friend, the judgment will be final and binding. Your only hope is – will you have the Lord Jesus Christ as your advocate (see 1 John 2:1) on that Day. If God is not your Father on Judgment Day, then He will certainly be your Judge. And Scripture warns that:

Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Matthews 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

The bad news is that Hell awaits all unrepentant evil and wicked sinners who have not repented towards God. But, O yea, there is Good News. And this is what a Good and Loving God did for you about two thousand years ago. God the Father took on human form – and became flesh (John 1:14) to take upon Himself the sins of the whole world so that redemption can be granted to His people. God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (see 2 Peter 3:9). Scripture tells us of God’s great love for us:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus Christ – God in human form – became the sin offering – the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world – for you when He went to the cross to die in your place taking the wrath of the Father upon Himself:

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

If God is speaking to you, do not harden your heart in the day of His visitation.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

John 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Jesus Christ took your punishment upon Himself so that He can legally commute your death sentence upon the Day of Judgment if you would believe upon His Name and be clothed in His Righteousness.

Scripture tells us that when Jesus died He was laid in a tomb (grave) and on the third day raised to life. Jesus has overcome this world, death and sin for all those who would believe in Him.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Know this, that:

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for His mercy and grace for there is no other that can save you:

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

And Jesus said you must be born again, born of the Spirit of God, not of man or his will:

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

So this day, your repentance must be toward God and your faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (see Acts 20:21) and let God work repentance in you and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour by faith:

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Come to Jesus:

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Find a quiet place and go before the Lord God Almighty and do business with Him today, for you are not guaranteed of tomorrow. Then get yourself a KJ Bible, read and obey what is written in it. Live it out. Get into a Bible believing assembly of believers and follow Jesus. For God commands Perfection, Holiness and Obedience. What is the cost of being a disciple of Christ?

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

You never know when your time will be up and you will die. Are YOU Ready?

Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Mark 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Amen.

__________________

Related items

• MTB World Cup 2009 ~ Gospel Tract
• MTB World Cup 2009 ~ Day I, Day II & Day III

Obituary written by an evangelist who has attended at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships held in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal to reach competitors and spectators alike with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Possibly, you too, have received a Gospel Tract. Consider this – Are YOU Ready?

2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Xmas Day / Holidays’ Evangelism

Today – being the false prediction of the Mayan’s Doomsday, or whatever they call it, being December 21, 2012, as the false prophets and idolaters have done and gone before and taught falsehood – we, brother Lungisa Zondi, my grandson Cee-Jay and myself, went out along the Durban beachfront to preach our Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified, resurrected and ascended. We went and quelled the man-made rumours and preached the Truth sharing Matthew 24:36 ~

Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

We were also blessed with meeting many people today as we shared Jesus Christ with many tribes, tongues and nationalities. It was a day spent for the glory of God Almighty alone.

Please keep Bheki Nhlumayo, Sandile, Thami and many other nameless individuals that our Great King and God Jesus Christ knows who were spoken to, received Gospel tracts and were ministered to privately and through the open-air preaching of God’s Word. We also ask that you keep an Indian man who blasphemed, cursed, ranted-and-raved, and even gave a growing crowd an “ear-tickling” word as to the god he shared. We pray for his hard and defiled (dirty) heart to be changed. We say dirty for it was the condition of his Mark 7 heart that poured from his mouth:

Mark 7:20 And he [Jesus] said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Mark 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

Mark 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Today we also shared the True birth of Jesus Christ from the Holy Scriptures in Luke 1 and 2 which is in the Hebrew month of Tishri (September/October) and not the false day of December 25! It was also  our first day in Durban being the beginning of this festive season in which we will be preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified and warning people of their idolatries of celebrating Xmas that is also known as “the Profane Man’s Ranting Day, the Superstitious Man’s Idol Day, the Papist’s Massing Day, the Old Heathen’s Feasting Day, the Multitude’s Idle Day, and Satan-that Adversary’s-Working Day.”

Brethren, go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, speaking all Truth! Including the true birth of Jesus Christ! If you preach anything else – you preach a different and false jesus!

Purge the leaven …

Church, the Xmas issue will not go away and will not rest until the leaven is purged from among us. Please read the Holy Scriptures first and then view the Chart below (magnify the same in the window that opens).

1Cor 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1Cor 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1Cor 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

1Cor 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

1Cor 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

1Cor 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

1Cor 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

1Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

2Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

2Cor 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

2Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Cor 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

1Cor 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Please read more at this link below and remember:

Proverb 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

You are commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ:

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Luke 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

1Cor 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

1Cor 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

1Cor 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it,in remembrance of me.

1Cor 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

It is idolatry to put the Son of God Jesus Christ in a ‘celebration‘ He does NOT belong in. Aaron’s sons, priests Nadab and Abihu were killed by God for what offence?

Numbers 26:61 And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

Do Not do likewise.

All Glory to GOD alone!

NEW – Jim Staley -Truth or Tradition – Should Christians Celebrate Christmas and Easter

It is not just about a molten calf any more …

The Face of Evil and Wicked South Africa

This is the sad face of evil and wicked South Africa. When a nation is sold out to the devil and serves no longer the Creator God exclusively, this is what you get – interfaith debauchery. On 28th November 2012 the President of South Africa met with the National Interfaith Council of South Africa (NICSA) which has been dissolved and is now known as the National Religious Leaders’ Council (NRLC). Here are two news articles for the NRLC meeting [(1) and (2)] that took place. They want to resolve ”poverty and general social upliftment” together with other issues through an ecumenical system by bringing all faiths together – it will never work! God will not be mocked by having His Son Jesus Christ riduculed with such blasphemy! This is the type of debauchery that we are talking about. Look at some of the other websites here in South Africa that make a mockery of the One True Creator:

• Church Supports Interfaith Memorial Service for Marikana Deaths (24 August 2012)
• Cape Town Interfaith Initiative

I wonder if the “reverend” Ray McCauley seazed the opportunity at the Union Buildings in Pretoria and actually preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the unbelievers who were present at that meeting – or is that possibly asking too much? This is what our Lord Jesus Christ said:

John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

It is an abomination in the sight of a Holy God that man can blaspheme the One True God who revealed Himself as the Lord Jesus Christ who is LORD of all:

Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Act 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Act 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Act 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Act 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Act 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Act 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

Act 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Here are the other blogposts (and a few historical posts) that have called on our President and peoples of South Africa to Repent and Believe the one and only Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ – the ONLY WAY God our Creator has given us:

• Mandela Day – 67 minutes (July 23, 2009)
• Open Letter to the South African President: Mr Jacob Zuma (February 26, 2010)
• Doctrines of Demons (September 1, 2010)
• The Ancestors Will Get You ~ Satan’s Lie (May 17, 2011)
• Serving Ancestral Spirits (June 6, 2011)
• Youth Day ~ June 16 (June 16, 2011)
• Nelson Mandela Day 2011 (July 16, 2011)
• 16th December The Day of The Vow (December 16, 2011)
• Are You Ready? (May 25, 2012)
• “Christian bias on calendar” - The Witness (June 13, 2012)
• Eastern Cape Mission (July 24, 2012)
• A Gospel Tract for Catholics (August 2, 2012)
• South Africa: Hillary Clinton pops in on Nelson Mandela for lunch (August 9, 2012)
• Ingabe Wena Usukulungele? (August 9, 2012)
• The Twelve Apostles’ Church in Christ Heresies (August 15, 2012)
• South Africa Oppressed (October 7, 2012)
• Anarchy (October 17, 2012)

Scripture warns us:

Proverb 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

And South Africa can learn from the Ugandan President who Publicly Repented! He did not just say he is sorry to the people – his prayer was directed to GOD!

Anarchy

On September 12, 2012, an article appeared in The Mercury newspaper titled “Tutu decries SA’s ‘moral decline’”. This South African article can be read in its entirety at the link provided. This all came about during a tribute at a funeral for the reverend Khoza Mgojo in Port Shepstone on Tuesday September 11, 2012. The late Mgojo was described as a “church leader, freedom fighter and community leader” – which is a contradiction of terms. The titles of “church leader and freedom fighter” (the latter term is a fancy non-offensive way of saying “terrorist”) cannot be used collectively, for if any person is called and elected into the Body of Christ, how can he be found to propagate man’s ideologies, which in this case includes Marxist’s and Stalinist’s  communism and socialistic ideologies, atheism and terrorism?

The archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu painted a gloomy picture of South Africa’s decline in its moral standards and the fact that the nation is tearing itself apart. During Tutu’s funeral address, he is quoted as saying [Quote]:

“When we voted in 1994, it was so peaceful and we thought we had crossed river Jordan to the Promised Land. What has happened to us and what do we think of our police force?

“How do we explain to people who want us to prosper that our police shot and killed our own people? What has happened to us?” he said, breaking into an anti-apartheid song Senzeni na? (What have we done?) [Why break out into an anti-apartheid song? What has apartheid got to do with the funeral or the speech, Tutu?]

“What has happened to us when a grown-up man rapes a child? What has happened to us that three orphans were stoned to death? What have we done? God, tell us. We thought you had given us freedom. What have we done? Every day we see different forms of violence. We see people protesting and demonstrating.” [End quote]

The ANC-lead government president Jacob Zuma shared the same platform, this on a rare occasion because of their personal issues with each other, and echoed [Quote]:

“Archbishop Tutu’s concerns are pertinent and fundamental. What has happened to us as people? This is a challenge to all of us. What we should do is go beyond asking the question. I think we should do something because we are all concerned that killing has become so easy.

“For police to shoot and kill people and for the people to protest with pangas and spears meant there was a problem. [This is in reference to the Marikana mine strikes]

“We need a gathering for us all to ask the question on what has happened to us, particularly the Africans,” said Zuma. [End quote]

In stead of Messrs Tutu and Zuma having a meeting to try sort out the “national approach” to these problems caused here in South Africa, which for the record has nothing to do with apartheid, before the ‘comrades’ use the ‘apartheid-race-card’ again, it would be best that they repent of their wicked and wretched sins before God. This blog will show what the leaders of this country post-1994 have done by selling this country to the devil. For Tutu to ask:  “What have we done? God, tell us. We thought you had given us freedom. What have we done?” God’s Word will tell you what the nation of South Africa has done! No, the rainbow nation is not free under the democracy of a man-centred, idolatrise, God-hating government and society that has been brought about and implemented by the ANC government. God has not given South Africa freedom. True freedom only comes through God’s Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ said ~

³²And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ~ John 8:32

³⁶If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. ~ John 8:36

If Tutu would have preached the True Gospel of Jesus Christ and not been a puppet where he has allowed state and church to be joined instead of speaking up for separation during the “struggle”, where he should have been calling for the ANC / SACP / COSATU alliance to repent towards God and not have agreed with their ungodly laws that were passed by Nelson Mandela and the corruption that has flowed from a leadership that is corrupt in all their ways, he has had a platform to preach God’s True Word, but he has neglected to fulfil his mandate before God, that is, if he was ever called. His failure to do so, but to be a propagator for the terrorists has left much wanting! When such laws were passed that allows abortion (murder of the unborn child), homosexual freedom and same-sex marriages that go against God’s commands, customary polygamy which is bigamy and adultery, encouraging of fornication (sex outside the bounds of marriage) with the “condomise-and-be-wise” HIV/AIDS campaign instead of encouraging abstinence, striking of a greed-driven populace, inefficient legal and justice system that allows criminals more rights than ‘law-abiding’ citizens, and even customary practices of ancestral worship, consulting of witchdoctors, sorcerers and traditional healers, ‘kingdoms’ of African cultures which allow the carrying of traditional weapons, the lawless practices of nepotism, bribery, corruption, fraud, mismanagement and theft of taxpayers’ monies, striking that cripples our economy and unemployment and poverty and the killing fields where innocent blood is shed, genocide, and racism in reverse (black-on-white) and the heinous list goes on, and on … have you ever considered how God sees these abominations before His eyes? This is the real problem – YOU have turned from your Creator and committed evil and wicked sin against Him!

When the ANC government signed into law the freedom of religions, they sold out this nation to the devil – the true enemy – as the freedom given by men is the same as not believing – that is atheism, which is godlessness. God gave commandment that you shall have no other gods before Him or idol worship (see Exodus 20:3-6), but the practiced religions have made a mockery of God. Do not think God is happy with the ANC for their devilish practices of selling out to the devil. We learn much from God’s Holy Word, when we see how God blessed and even battled on for His chosen people, on Israel’s behalf. Yes, the very people Israel, that many hate and speak out against – the very people from where salvation comes from, for salvation is of the Jews (see John 4:22). But when God’s chosen people rebelled against God He handed His people over to an oppressor. We read in Judges 10:6-16 ~

⁶And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. ⁷And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. ⁸And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. ⁹Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed. ¹⁰And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. ¹¹And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? ¹²The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. ¹³Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. ¹⁴Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. ¹⁵And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. ¹⁶And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

When God’s people turned back to Him, He delivered them from the oppressors. You have been warned South Africa – you are oppressed by the ANC / SACP / COSATU alliance, for God tells us ~

²When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. ~ Proverbs 29:2

The righteous are not in authority therefore the people are not rejoicing. We have wicked rulers and therefore the people – this nation, South Africa – are mourning. When we see the plight of the poor and those in poverty getting worse and we see little service delivery and the municipalities that are to serve the people are mostly bankrupt from the thieving politicians – the very wicked rule the proverb speaks about! It doesn’t take a rocket-scientist to be able to join the dots and see what is happening here! Be warned, YOU will have your Day in Court before the Judge of the entire Universe. No Court of Appeal, No Constitutional Court, and No comrades to help you out of the fix you are in!

We also see such corruption like the R203 million plus payments of taxpayers’ monies through the Department of Works for the improvements of Jacob Zuma’s “personal residence” in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal. No wonder the “ruling” party wants the “Secrecy Bill” passed so their evil and wretched practices will be hidden from the knowledge of the populace. Ah! God sees it all and the charge sheet is getting longer, and longer, with each passing day. You think you can crook the books this side of eternity, but you will not escape True Justice come Judgment Day! The culprits are warned that they will one day stand before the Judgment Seat of Jesus Christ, as we read:

¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:10

¹⁴For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. ~ Ecclesiastes 12:14

And God has a prison called Hell. It is hot, it is a lake of fire, it is wrath filled, and there will be anguish, gnashing of teeth, torment, pain, grief, sorrow and suffering. This is no joking matter, you have been warned again!

To God alone be the Glory in and through His Son Jesus Christ the Righteous. Messrs Tutu and Zuma and citizens of South Africa – when you Ukuphenduka (repent) and turn back to God and have your faith towards Jesus Christ (and that means the True Jesus Christ), we pray that He will have mercy upon your souls and save you from the wrath of God. If not, God will still be glorified!

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

Another Response Received

Here is another response received to the post titled Doctrines of Demons, and whilst every effort is made to address each point raised, failure to deal specifically with a portion or body of text must not be construed that the writer, Gary Crous, agrees with in part or in entirety with what has been commented by one Zandile, in that part or entirety of text.

Due to the lengthy response to the initial posting, we have decided to address the issues put forward in a posting of its own to canvass the points made. The format will be as follows:

• Ø  The comment text by Zandile will be in the ordinary form of text; and
• Ø  The Repent and Believe South Africa ministry’s responses will be in the shaded boxes to differentiate between the two parties.

Here is the response:

Zandile commented on Doctrines of Demons

Gary

This information might help you in understanding Shembe’s gospel.

The word ubuNazaretha derives from the word Nazarite, which comes from Hebrew language, Nazir. Nazir is a person whose whole life is dedicated to God and separates him or herself for a holy lifestyle.

In the olden days Nazaritism was not accepted as a religion, but was rather a particular lifestyle under Moses’ religion. It was not expected for everyone to be the Nazarite, reason being that, it was a vow between God and a person for a specific period of time. This vow together with other certain laws formed integral part to Mosaic law. People who took a vow of being the Nazarite were not governed by peculiar laws from those of the children of Israel, but it was merely an additional Mosaic law.

These laws were given to Moses by God, read Numbers 6:1-20. As time goes on, there born people who were the Nazarites from womb, their whole life was dedicated to God and their tenacious grip on this vow meant that they were going to separate themselves for God.

Jesus Christ the Nazarite

In the Bible we are being told of four people who were the Nazarites: In the Old Testament is Samson (Judges 13:5), Samuel (1 Samuel 1:9-10). The New Testament has the following people: John (Luke 1:15), Jesus Christ (Matthew 2:23, Jesus’ disciples were called Nazarites (Acts 24:5). Now it’s evident that the very first congregation of the Nazarites was that of Jesus Christ (Acts 24:5).

Dear Zandile

In accordance with the Holy Scriptures, it does not appear that John the Baptist is mentioned as a “Nazarite” in Luke1:15, however there does appear to be a cross reference to Numbers 6:3 in respect of “… and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; …”. What we do know is that John the Baptist was born into the Levitical family as we read in Luke 1:5: “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.“ However it is not true that the disciples – the very first congregation were called Nazarites in Acts 24:5, but a first mention principle appears in Acts 11:26 where it says “… And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” To understand what was meant by calling Paul “… a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: …” one must understand in context the accusations brought against the apostle Paul in a derogatory fashion. To base your religion on this premise is dangerous ground as the orator Tertullus had nothing good to say about Paul as he began to accuse him. Matthew Henry does justice in explaining “the sect of the Nazarenes” more concisely as we read from his Commentary at page 308, Volume 6 by Marshall, Morgan & Scott (1959 Edition), starting at:

“[2.] Paul was a peace-maker, was a preacher of that gospel which has a direct tendency to slay all enmities, and to establish true and lasting peace; he lived peaceably and quietly himself, and taught others to do so too, and yet is here represented as a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout all the world. The Jews were disaffected to the Roman government; those of them that were most bigoted were most so. This Felix knew, and had therefore a watchful eye upon them. Now they would fain make him believe that this Paul was the man that made them so, whereas they themselves were the men that sowed the seeds of faction and sedition among them: and they knew it; and the reason why they hated Christ and his religion was because he did not go about to head them in an opposition to the Romans. The Jews were every where much set against Paul, and stirred up the people to clamour against him; they moved sedition in all places where he came, and then cast the blame unjustly upon him, as if he had been the mover of sedition; as Nero not long after set Rome on fire, and then said the Christians did it.

“[3.] Paul was a man of catholic charity, who did not affect to be singular, but made himself the servant of all for their good; and yet he is here charged as being a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, a standard-bearer of that sect, so the word signifies. When Cyprian was condemned to die for being a Christian, this was inserted in his sentence, that he was auctor iniqui nominis et signifier – The author and standard-bearer of a wicked cause. Now it was true that Paul was an active leading man in propagating Christianity. But, First, It was utterly false that this was a sect; he did not draw people to a party or private opinion, nor did he make his own opinions their rule. True Christianity establishes that which is of common concern to all mankind, publishes good-will to men, and shows us God in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and therefore cannot be thought to take its rise from such narrow opinions and private interests as sects owe their origin to. True Christianity has a direct tendency to the uniting of the children of men, and the gathering of them together in one; and, as far as it obtains its just power and influence upon the minds of men, will make them meek and quiet, and peaceable and loving, and every way easy, acceptable, and profitable one to another, and therefore is far from being a sect, which is supposed to lead to division and to sow discord. True Christianity aims at no worldly benefit or advantage, and therefore must by no means be called a sect. those that espouse a sect are governed in it by their secular interest, they aim at wealth and honour; but the professors of Christianity are so far from this that they expose themselves thereby to the loss and ruin of all that is dear to them in this world. Secondly, It is invidiously called the sect of the Nazarenes, by which Christ was represented as of Nazareth, whence no good thing was expected to arise; whereas he was of Bethlehem, where the Messiah was to be born. Yet he was pleased to call himself, Jesus of Nazareth, ch. xxii. 8. And the scripture has put an honour on the name, Matt. ii. 23. And therefore, though intended for a reproach, the Christians had no reason to be ashamed of sharing with their Master in it. Thirdly, It was false that Paul was the author or standard-bearer of this sect; for he did not draw people to himself, but to Christ – did not preach himself, but Christ Jesus.”

Now let’s move to Shembe’s story. When God sent Shembe to establish the church of Nazareth, it was not a new religion, but a revival of the old church by Jesus Christ. Shembe reinstated laws of God by initiating the Nazarites congregation as we read in Acts 24:5. It might sound odd to people when we talk of the Nazarite, but these people existed even during the time of Jesus Christ, read Numbers 6:1-20. The Nazarites congregation has no black society background whatsoever, but has a biblical history. The laws of ubuNazaretha are merely based on Moses’ law. When Shembe first established the congregation of the Nazarites, he attached all his teachings to Moses’ law, and he wrote it clearly on verse 3-4 of the Sabbath liturgy which reads as follows:

3 “Fear Jehovah generations to generations, keep his commandments that He wrote through his Servant Moses, so that your worship will gladly be acceptable by the Lord of Hosts. 4. Failure to keep his commandments, He will never answers your prayers. He will not give you the blessings if ye disobey his commandments and do not keep them.”

It becomes very clear by now that the Nazarites congregation is the reinstatement of the old church by Jesus Christ as we read in Acts 24:5. In addition to that, the church of Nazarites practices the laws of Jehovah as are precisely spelt out in the book of Numbers 6:1-6. This simply means that, even though Shembe, first established the church of the Nazarites in KwaZulu-Natal, ubuNazaretha is firmly based upon Moses’ law. It is crucial for anyone who intends to study ubuNazaretha, to forage further gathering factual theology of our religion (ubuNazaretha).

The water is still muddy and it is by no ways “clear that the Nazarites congregation is the reinstatement of the old church by Jesus Christ as we read in Acts 24:5.” No command is given by the Lord Jesus Christ to reinstate His Church. He is the Head of His Church (see Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18, 2:19; 1 Peter 2:7).

In that case, ubuNazaretha is not attached into any ethnic religions, because it is far beyond that, and it’s merely a continuation of Moses’ religion that was later recommenced by Jesus. Shembe then resumed it here in KwaZulu-Natal, read Hymn 208 of the Nazarites.

1.Thabani, thabani
Bufikile ubuNazaretha.

Historic roots of ubuNazaretha

There are three historic roots of ubuNazaretha. Firstly, Mosaic law. UbuNazaretha is governed by Moses’ laws as Shembe explained in verse 3-4 of the Sabbath liturgy. This serves as our scriptural evidence showing that ubuNazaretha is also based upon the teachings of the Old Testament.

Secondly, ubuNazaretha is based upon Jesus’ teachings and his Apostles. In most cases when Shembe delivers his speech at the congregation he would quote so often from the teachings of Jesus and his Apostles. Hymns of the Nazarites show that particular significance to Jesus Christ, this is our further evidence showing that ubuNazaretha is also attached into the teachings of the New Testament.

If this is truly the case that the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ are taught, why then is Isaiah Shembe known as the messiah of the black man? This is contradictory to what you have said and amounts to blasphemy. There are many motor vehicles and taxis that drive around KwaZulu-Natal that have “Shembe is the way” stickers on them, when the Lord Jesus Christ says in His Scriptures, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).

Shembe built the Nazarites congregation in accordance with the Zulu nation customs, which are not contrary to the laws of God. As we have mentioned early on, ubuNazaretha is built under the rigid laws of Jehovah that He wrote through his Servant Moses. Shembe stated very clearly in his teachings that when a person practices ubuNazaretha in contrary to Mosaic Law, God will never answers his or her prayer, and God will not pour blessings upon them. Look, when your prayers are not being answered and acceptably to God, what is the use of your faith then?

It is confusing at this point as it is unclear on a few points that you quote:

1. “When God sent Shembe to establish the church of Nazareth, it was not a new religion, but a revival of the old church by Jesus Christ.”?
2. “the Nazarites congregation is the reinstatement of the old church by Jesus Christ as we read in Acts 24:5.”?
3. “Firstly, Mosaic law. UbuNazaretha is governed by Moses’ laws”?
4. “Secondly, ubuNazaretha is based upon Jesus’ teachings and his Apostles.”?
5. “Shembe built the Nazarites congregation in accordance with the Zulu nation customs,”?

So which of the items 1-5 above are applicable? For if they are “all applicable” then it is contradictory to what God’s Holy Word teaches. You cannot also say that “the Zulu nation customs, which are not contrary to the laws of God.” This is falsehood. In Zulu nation customs there is consulting with witchdoctors, sorcerers, diviners and even necromancers (those that speak to the dead) are prevalent. See what Deuteronomy 18:10-13 says on the matter:

¹⁰There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, ¹¹Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. ¹²For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. ¹³Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

There are many Shembe followers that we address on the streets and in public and government places that clearly mix God’s Word with man’s traditions!

Thirdly, even though we are allowed to preserve and practice our customs, however we are warned not to practice those which are contrary to the laws of Jehovah. When it’s come to the laws of Jehovah, one should not for whatsoever reason compromise these laws with peoples’ customs or the teachings of any ethnic religion. People deliberately impose their customs into the Nazarine religion, which is unacceptable.

Scripture specifically tells us that we cannot speak to the dead which includes the Zulu tradition of consulting with the ancestors. For we read:

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; ~ 1 Timothy 2:5

Nowhere in Scripture does it say you can speak to one’s ancestors! The Lord Jesus Christ is your only mediator and He speaks to God on your behalf! We also see in Scripture that God warns that by man’s traditions and commandments you make the Word of God of no effect. Let us look at the Word of God as it is written:

⁶He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. ⁷Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ⁸For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. ⁹And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. ¹⁰For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: ¹¹But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. ¹²And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; ¹³Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. ~ Mark 7:6-13; and see Matthew 15:3-9

Ethnic religion enforces what is moral acceptably to those people of that particular culture and this kind of religion is built specifically on peoples’ practices which are mainly dominated by their believes, and has no instruction from God. When the time goes on, religions of this nature become a religion of the universe, because people adapt to it as their lifestyle.

The distinction between Nazaritism and any other religion is that, Nazaretism is built through the command of God, instructions from the Word of Heaven (Izwi leZulu). So the founder of Nazaritism is Isaiah Shembe who personally met with God, and God gave him laws which govern the church of Nazareth. Therefore, the will of God can’t be hindered by peoples’ beliefs, because ubuNazaretha just remains as God wants it to be, and should never be integrated to any cultural religion!

Isaiah Shembe could not have met personally with God to receive another set of laws which govern the church of Nazareth – which incidentally is the same church whose “founder of Nazaritism is Isaiah Shembe” (your quote) – as Scripture says that no man is to add to or take away from the words of the book of this prophecy (see Revelation 22:18,19). Therefore, if God gave a new revelation to the Shembe church then God cannot hold any person outside of the Shembe church accountable for their transgression of sins prior to the meeting Isaiah Shembe professes to have had with God. Even the Muslim prophet Mohammad says he received a new revelation, and so does the Mormons, and so does the Seventh-Day Adventists, and so on and so on…. This is how cults cover their tracks to make out that God has given them a “new revelation, a new book, new commands, new stories, new prophesies”, or He “is doing something new in the world”. This is a lie, because even in the Shembe church there are divisions as to who is right and who the rightful benefactor of the organisation is. It is all about money and power in man-centred religions. Another point is your e-mail address which is for a “new Nazareth baptist church”.

God said no person can see Him face to face and live. We read in Exodus 33:18-23 of the account of Moses requesting to see God’s Glory. No mere mortal can see God or meet with Him personally and live; that is why our Lord Jesus Christ said a man must be born again and receive the Holy Spirit to speak to the Father through our mediator Jesus Christ. We read the Moses account:

¹⁸And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. ¹⁹And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. ²⁰And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. ²¹And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: ²²And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: ²³And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. ~ Exodus 33:18-23

Humanistic approach

Cultural religion delves on preaching things that are totally incongruent to the teachings of Nazaritism , such as izulu lomndeni (Kinship Heaven). This means that after death, a person goes to a certain place where people are assembled in kinship groups. However, the church of Nazareth that is built through the teachings of the Bible does not teach anything of this kind, but it embraces one thing, Jehovah’s Heaven. Hymn number 10 of the Nazarites says:

1.The home of the Nazarites
Where we are going
Shines more brilliantly
Than the sun or the moon.

2. The Receiver of dues who is there
Is one alone,
It is Jehovah alone
The powerful King

Now, this hymn poses a challenge to anyone to take the Hymns of the Nazarites where we find Shembe’s teachings about one Heaven. Cultural religion says nothing about repenting from our sins and being judged by God. According to the cultural religion when people die, they go to a certain place whereby they will be grouped according to their clans and that place turns to be their heaven, where their forefathers judge them. According to God’s word, after death people get judged according to their wickedness. In Heaven the Nazarites stay with one another, wizards with one another, drunkard by drunkard etc.

Failure to draw a distinction between ethnic religion and ubuNazaretha and make the pair look the same impairs the true feathers of Nazaritism.

In Levi 19:31 Jehovah says: “Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead..” Therefore any person whose whole life is dedicated to God must not practice anything related to wizards and mediums. One cannot integrate Nazaritism with ethnic religion because the two are not the same. The ethnic religion is governed by its laws, so as ubuNazaretha is strictly governed by the laws of Jehovah.

Having said that the Nazarite should be someone who leaves holy lifestyle. The Nazaritism is for Jehovah as Shembe says in Hymn 73 of the Nazarites:

3.The beautiful rock
For the Nazarites,
That Jehovah elected for himself,
Because he loved it

4. He even adorned himself three times in a year
In this Nazarites,
Before all the Heavens
In One year.

In figurative terms the Nazarite can be described as the lovely and lavish apparel that Jehovah adorns himself in Heaven. Nazarite is one who is holy, and is very special before Jehovah and is expected to remain holy, and must not practice things that are totally against the teachings of Jehovah. These words are spelt out in Levi 20:26 “And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.” These words should always ring a bell to all the Nazarites, because they are the cornerstone of our faith.
God bless you. Amen

Email: newnazarethbaptistchurch@gmail.com

Fax: 086 528 1956. Find us on Facebook- New Nazareth Baptist Church

In closing kindly note that God has not commanded any body of believers to still continue under the old covenant of “running a church” according to the Mosaic Law. What you need to do is examine Hebrews 8 and 9 that sets out the new covenant that is through the Lord Jesus Christ who is our only High Priest after the order of but superior to Melchisedec (see Hebrews 7:1-10) and our Lord Jesus Christ is also superior to the imperfection of the Aaronic Priesthood that fell under the Mosaic Law (see Hebrews 7:11-28). Please read this body of Scripture text:

Heb 8:1  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

Heb 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Heb 8:3  For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

Heb 8:4  For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

Heb 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Heb 8:6  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Heb 8:7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

Heb 8:8  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

Heb 8:9  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

Heb 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Heb 8:11  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Heb 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Heb 8:13  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Heb 9:1  Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

Heb 9:2  For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

Heb 9:3  And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

Heb 9:4  Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

Heb 9:5  And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

Heb 9:6  Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

Heb 9:7  But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

Heb 9:8  The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

Heb 9:9  Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

Heb 9:10  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Heb 9:11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Heb 9:12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Heb 9:13  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Heb 9:15  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Heb 9:16  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Heb 9:17  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Heb 9:18  Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

Heb 9:19  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

Heb 9:20  Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

Heb 9:21  Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Heb 9:25  Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

Heb 9:26  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Olympians in Pietermaritzburg

Chad le Clos

With the London Olympics 2012 a thing of the past, the South African Short Course Championships took place at the G.C. Jolliffe Swimming Pool, the home of Seals Swimming, from 16-19 August 2012 in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. On the Thursday during the morning heats, I went to the event to stand outside and hand out Gospel literature, engage some people in conversation dealing with eternity and also hoped to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to South Africa’s two Gold Medal Olympians, Chad le Clos (Gold in the 200m Butterfly (Phelps 2^nd) and Silver in the 100m Butterfly (Phelps 1^st)) and Cameron van der Burgh (*World Record* Gold in the 100m Breaststroke).

 

Cameron van der Burgh

Prayers were answered as both Chad and Cameron were presented with an “Are You Ready?” Gospel Tract and Chad said he would read it, and Cameron took it and placed it in his new Audi (and do drive this vehicle responsibly – it is not “Hectic! Hectic!” when it handles in corners at speed on public roads in PMB!). I do pray that these two young men would indeed read the message and if God in His Sovereignty speaks to them that they would respond and repent toward God and have their faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Scriptures that come to mind that were also placed on their “fan” pages on Facebook are:

⁶Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. ~ Acts 3:6

²⁴Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. ²⁵And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. ²⁶I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: ²⁷But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Whilst these two young men are seen as icons and idolised, what they must understand is that though they are revered and worshipped to some degree by the South African public, not by all though, but yet they do have a large female contingent according to their FB-pages, this is idolatry in the sight of a holy, perfect and righteous God who will judge this sin on the Day of Judgment. While the sport’s administrators, politicians and citizens of South Africa might see our Olympians as drawing the people together and uniting this nation, as long as they do not give their Creator God all the glory for their achievements and use the platform they have been presented to make all peoples of South Africa aware that their hero-worship is idolatry, do not think for a moment that their achievements, although of great accomplishments, will unite South Africa and its people and give many followers aspirations to achieve the same. In the wake of their achievements, all who worship and idolise them as icons, heroes and idols are still in violation of God’s First and Second Commandments.

It also goes to show that all the speak of unifying this nation is still just ‘hot-air’ – talk that has no foundation: Life continues with crime, fraud, nepotism, murder, theft, rape, assaults, adulteries, fornications, pornography, drunkenness, rebellion, witchcraft, homosexuality, and the like, in government, the private sector and amongst its populace, nothing has changed. After the ‘highs’ of the Olympics, there was a recent ‘low’, more precisely an atrocity – with the ‘senseless’ deaths of all at Marikana in the North West province. Instead of trying to lay the blame with any party, SAPS or miners, know this – the evil of men’s hearts showed forth in all its wickedness. And this comes about, because the government has sold its constituencies out to the work of the Devil. This is a godless nation as much as the people try professing their religions. A vast majority, by their wicked works, are worshipping false gods. When such heinous abominations of abortion, idol worship of false gods (and the tradition of ancestor worship/prayer), consulting of sorceries and witch-doctors (including the use of entelezie which clearly does not work!) and homosexuality that encourages open debauchery by sodomites and lesbians is the order of the day, which are all contrary to the Word of God Almighty, then this nation will receive the curses of God until it turns back to God in repentance and faith alone in His Son Jesus Christ.

³⁶For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? ³⁷Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? ~ Mark 8:36,37, Jesus the Christ

A Response to “Idolaters Must Repent”

Here is a comment received on a blog post “Idolaters Must Repent” that I think would be fitting to deal with the same as a new blog post as opposed to just as an answer to the actual comment received. It will also help in explaining why this ministry exists, all to the Glory of God Alone.

Nonkululeko Mthembu commented on Idolaters Must Repent

I am believe in a Jesus Christ just to the clear… but i just want to know how far is too far in judging? Then where do put the boundary that very visible line dthat says now you have really made this person feel to imperfect for God.? Tell me where in hte bible does God specify a Church God judges us on sins far more then the ones you have outlined here stop targeting it really makes the Gospel look cheap.This week is Shembe next week now when you done targeting andthey feel evil enough right when do you page the bible i follow as well and speak about his love and grace?

Here is the response:

Dear Nonkululeko

Thank you for your comments. I will try best to answer your comment without misunderstanding the points you have made due to the content being fragmented in respect of the grammar and word omissions. I mention this to make sure I am not misunderstanding your comments in any way. I am thankful you have written to me in English.

Are you a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Bible? It would appear that you have defended the Shembe church with the statement: “This week is Shembe next week …” Do you believe that the Shembe church is right in their worship of Isaiah Shembe as the messiah of the African man? If you answer “yes” to this question, then you are an idolater according to God’s Word and not a Christian, nor are you a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. To believe on Him, you will accept what His Word says. And He, Jesus the Christ (Messiah), said in John 14:6: “… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The main thread of your comments appears to be centred on when one should judge and the fine line of “now you have really made this person feel to[o] imperfect for God.” It is not our intention to make a person feel imperfect before God, but it is the Holy Spirit through His Word that will convict the person of transgressions and show them that they are sinners and imperfect. We merely speak the Truth in love showing what God requires from His Word. Scripture is very clear when it speaks of judgment. Firstly, when a believer uses Scripture it is not the believer who is judging the transgressor, it is the Word of God (Scripture) that is judging – therefore God is speaking. We are told in 2 Corinthians 13:5 that we are to:

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (my emphasis underlining and in bold throughout)

The English word ‘reprobates’ is the Greek word: “G96 ἀδόκιμος adokimos ad-ok’-ee-mos From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1384; unapproved, that is, rejected; by implication worthless (literally or morally): – castaway, rejected, reprobate.” [“Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries” (e-Sword)] So, have you passed the test? Or are you unapproved, rejected, and worthless? To take the test of examining yourself against Scripture is actually having God judge you.

Secondly, we are told that:

¹⁶All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16,17

When you use Scripture it is the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God that is teaching in righteousness. If God ordained that we live according to His holy, perfect and righteous standards and we are to be obedient to His Word, then listen to God speaking to you in His Word!

And thirdly, if a brother professes to know Jesus Christ, but transgresses in his ways, then listen to what the apostle Paul, the called and elect of God, has to say:

¹¹But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. ¹²For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? ¹³But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. ~ 1 Corinthians 5:11-13

The greatest love to be shown to man is the love of Christ. When Jesus speaks in the Gospels it is to warn of impending doom, hell and the wrath of God upon the transgressor of His Father’s commandments. To not make an earnest judgment of the wicked ways of men is to leave them to their own devises and let them walk the broad way to eternal hell and to experience the holy wrath of God against their evil and wicked sin. To warn a person of their idolatry – yes, even the worshipping of false gods and prophets – is showing Christ-like love, the agape love of God to that person. Mercy and grace is offered to the person in transgression by showing them from God’s Word that they are in a very dangerous place. If at any time I am in transgression of God’s commands and His Word, I would want someone to correct me and even openly rebuke me, if necessary, if I have publicly taught a heresy. If there is reason to do so, then do it in love and back it up with God’s Holy Scriptures, and not by Scripture-twisting to fit a false doctrine! For Scripture also tells us that:

⁵Open rebuke is better than secret love. ⁶Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. ~ Proverbs 27:5,6

I would rather receive a wound from a friend in this lifetime than to have my ears tickled and be kissed by an enemy that has no care for my soul. Judas Iscariot springs to mind! And so does that ol’ serpent, Satan the devil! If your house was on fire and your loved ones where in danger of being consumed by the fierce flames and I drove past on my way to meet you for a cup of coffee at a coffee-shop, would you think I cared about you, or them, if I never stopped to help at the tragedy. The last thing on my mind would be to keep our coffee appointment when people are perishing. Likewise, I cannot enjoy the comforts of this life while millions of people are on their way to an eternity in an unquenchable fiery Hell, to receive the wrath of God.

In ending, please read the following portion of Scripture and Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary which expounds upon this selected text:

⁸But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; ⁹Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, ¹⁰For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; ¹¹According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. ¹²And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; ¹³Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. ¹⁴And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. ¹⁶Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. ¹⁷Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. ~ 1 Timothy 1:8-17

MHCC ~ vv 8-11 “Whatever tends to weaken love to God, or love to the brethren, tends to defeat the end of the commandment. The design of the gospel is answered, when sinners, through repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ, are brought to exercise Christian love. And as believers were righteous persons in God’s appointed way, the law was not against them. But unless we are made righteous by faith in Christ, really repenting and forsaking sin, we are yet under the curse of the law, even according to the gospel of the blessed God, and are unfit to share the holy happiness of heaven.”

vv 12-17 “The apostle knew that he would justly have perished, if the Lord had been extreme to mark what was amiss; and also if his grace and mercy had not been abundant to him when dead in sin, working faith and love to Christ in his heart. This is a faithful saying; these are true and faithful words, which may be depended on, That the Son of God came into the world, willingly and purposely to save sinners. No man, with Paul’s example before him, can question the love and power of Christ to save him, if he really desires to trust in him as the Son of God, who once died on the cross, and now reigns upon the throne of glory, to save all that come to God through him. Let us then admire and praise the grace of God our Saviour; and ascribe to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three Persons in the unity of the Godhead, the glory of all done in, by, and for us.”

Now you be the judge of my intentions.