Conversation with One Another and with God

By Lucas Come and Rev. Siviwe Waqu

Spiritual maturity should manifest (Translate, reflect) in ones day-to-day
Social life. This opening line by Lucas Come sets the tone for the pages
ahead. It sets the tone for the journey you are about to embark on. It may
sound as if the book is about an inward journey in which we are to absorb
and yet the book is about sharing and giving as we receive. The life of the
disciples is exactly about this. Jesus took time to have conversations with
his disciples and with the people he encountered. In this book Lucas seeks
to take us to the basics and the basis of life. We are people who are created
to be in community and to be a community. This is a concept that has been
lost in the 21st Century. Even though our faith calls us to be a people, we
have instead chosen to be influenced by the world.
The virtue today is to be the best at the expense of others. It is an isolating
and lonely way of doing life. Conversations with one another and with
God is carefully designed to call us out of our shell to share our stories
and maybe only then will we have meaningful connections. This is the
first thing that I want to bring forth as you begin to read this enriching
bookbeing called out.
The book itself is realistic as it tackles some of the issues that we deal with
in life as ordinary believers who seek to be faithful disciples.
Have you ever pondered the question of focusing on God? Is this not
something we struggle to do most of the time? Richard J. Foster knows
this truth as he reminds us that the world is always screaming trying to
draw our attention. He says, In a culture where the landscape is dotted
with shrines to the Golden Arches and an assortment of Pizza Temples,
fasting seems out of place, out of step with the times. (Foster R.J.: 1978:
Celebration of Discipline: The path to spiritual growth: 41) And yet on the
other hand Jesus is this gentle voice that does not nag; this voice that is
often drowned by consumerism, selfish promises, momentary success and
many other things that offer us false hope.
14 Foreword
Lucas invites us to focus on positive things. Those things that enable life
not just for us, but others as well. This is another profound lesson for us
especially in the Southern Africa today. For us to grow deeper in love with
God we need to grow deeper in love for others as well. This way of doing
life helps us to wipe our tear off and begin to see other peoples tears. We
often focus on ourselves and end up drowning in our own sorrow and
misery without any sense of being aware of what we can still do; not only
for ourselves, but equally motivated to see our potential in journeying with
others.
The life of Jesus is marked by a journey that takes him to the people to
be with the people. It is marked with people being drawn to Jesus. Jesus is
receptive, embracing and loving.
I enjoy Lucas perspective of Jesus as a better place. Do we ever get to
a place of taking Jesus seriously such that our lives are founded on him?
What would our lives look like if we were to put Jesus at the centre of how
we do life? Could it be that we would begin to treat one another graciously?
Could it mean that we would allow justice to flourish and inhumane habits
shrink to almost non-existent? We often say, We are made in the image of
God. Do we really understand the depth and the breadth of this phrase?
It means God first and God last. It means living within the presence of
God. It means living not as we please, but as God would be honoured. It
means taking God seriously than wanting to see how much God takes us
seriously. We live in a culture that seeks recognition as if God sometimes
forgets about us. And yet the reality of Gods holiness comes from God not
thinking God, but you and I.
Therefore God will not promise to love us and then the next minute hurt
us. God never plays games with us. God takes us seriously all the time.
God takes us seriously even at times when we ta

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Dec 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781469141312

Lucas Come

Lucas ‘Lú’ Come, known as ‘Brother Luke’ by most of my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I am the fourth child on Mr. And Mrs. Come, both my parents are saved and servants of the Lord Jesus Christ by the grace of God, my father is an Evangelist and my mother a Preacher, I grow up in the family of worshipers. Thought at that time I didn`t know much about God, yet I developed the love for God and for one another as my parents have always been exemplary of such love as this. At the age 18, I began to see and acknowledge God`s miraculous protection and saving mighty power, having left my home village gone big cities to look for employment (since my parents could not afford to pay for my tertiary tuition fees) by the grace of God I got saved and made a bold and lifetime decision that “I will worship the living God, and Him alone I shall serve”. Having been an employee, an entrepreneur, and a long distance tertiary student by the age of 32, life was so great and every thing seemed to be going very well with me. At the age of 36 I decided quit my employment and focus only in my business. A year later, I experienced the unexpected, my business crushed down and literally, I was forced out of business. From that time, I went through a wilderness season in which (I refer to as ‘The 7 Stages of my Faith going through Blazing Furnace). Now during that time of economic wilderness season, on July 5th, during my evening prayer and meditation session, God has revealed to me my calling to the ministry of the gospel of truth. In response to God`s calling for ministry, I began to embark on various theological and ministry studies, in pursuit to serve God in sincerity and in truth, I have since then forged ahead not only with ministry studies, but also in active practice of my ministry. Though I don`t pastor a particular church yet, as an entrepreneur (Business and training consulting as well as motivated speaker) by the grace of God, I am grateful to have a multitude to followers (i.e. my customers, fellow brethren, and many more...) to whom I minister to them in various platforms, (Business and social gatherings) moreover, I am grateful to many pastors whose faith in my teachings, enables them to invite me to go and preach in their congregations as an when an opportunity arise. It was a result of this wealth of Godly wisdom (Knowledge and practical experience) that I was inspired by “The Spirit of the living God,” and motivated by many responses I get from many of those people of whom have attended my teaching sessions that, “Two years ago” I started writing this book. (Conversation with one another and with God)

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 by Lucas Come.

Graphic design copyright © by Come Consulting & Asset Finance

Text design by Come Consulting & Asset Finance

Photography by Neo S. Mahlaku

ISBN:          Softcover                                 978-1-4691-4130-5

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4691-4131-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version Bible.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

0-800-644-6988

www.xlibrispublishing.co.uk

[e-mail]

303380

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 1 John 2:18-27

. . . .

Rightly so, it is important to acknowledge the fact that, the biggest challenge many people have, it is not lack of knowledge, but rather lack of wisdom to apply the knowledge they have accumulated, in order to bring about tangible results in their everyday social lives.

It is for this reason that, Conversation with one another & with God a friendly guide was written specifically to help you attain godly wisdom with intent to enable you apply the knowledge you have accumulated, Knowledge of God’s living and powerful word in order to bring about manifestation of Spiritual blessings into tangible (Substance) results in your everyday social life. 1 Corinthians 2:6-14

303380-COME-layout.pdf

Social Growth through Spiritual Maturity

Spiritual maturity should manifest (Translate, reflect) in one’s day-to-day Social life. Your devotion to God’s work through your intimate relationship with Him, should bring about Spiritual maturity, thus reflecting through your everyday social life.

Spiritual maturity does not come naturally, nor does it happen by chance. But through sincere commitment and dedication to bible studies and other Christian resources; moreover, through practical application of God’s living and powerful word in your everyday social life, (i.e. lead a Christ-like life) in word (Speech) and in deeds (Action).

(John 8:31)

It is evident that those who are spiritual matured, have set aside and dedicated resources (i.e. time, energy, finances and otherwise) within their everyday busy scheduled, to meet with fellow believers, study the word, meditate and apply God’s word in their everyday social life.

(Acts 2:46-47)

Going to church every Sunday it’s the right thing to do, yet, attending and active participation in weekly bible study sessions and practical application of God’s living and powerful word through involvement in various ministries within your local church and community at large, it is Christ living in you, and you in Him (The gospel of truth)

(Colossians 3:17)

It’s fore this reason that Conversation with One Another and with God a friendly weekly practical fellowship and devotional Guide was written and published just for you, Your family, your fellow congregants, your neighbours and your work/business associates.

Contents

bullet.jpg   Dedications

bullet.jpg   Foreword

bullet.jpg   A Foretaste of what you are about experience

bullet.jpg   Acknowledgements

bullet.jpg   You have come to A better Place called Jesus

Your Friendly Guide for 12 months Journey

bullet.jpg   03-Incrdible Brethren’s Living Testimonies

bullet.jpg   12-Monthly (Seasonal) Fascinating & Inspiring Topics

bullet.jpg   52-Weekly (Sub-topics) Invoking Conversation Ice Breaker

bullet.jpg   52-Weekly Guides for Individual Meditation, Reflection, Introspection & Group Discussions

bullet.jpg   52-Open Note Pages for your own Discussion Records

bullet.jpg   Mid-year "Pause, Reflect, Introspect-self, Introspect-your Environment

bullet.jpg   A Guide for Individual or Group Fasting and Praying Season

bullet.jpg   A Guide for Praise & Worship Sessions

bullet.jpg   A testimony from Strengthen Our Faith group members

303380-COME-layout.pdf

Dedications

I dedicated this friendly daily/weekly devotional and practical fellowship guide to all my dear readers; and to all brothers and sisters in Christ, with whom you continues to devote your resources to the work of God’s kingdom here on earthly realm.

It is my desire that the Spirit of the living God may guide you as you read, reflect, introspect-self and meditate on God’s living and powerful word (Holy Bible) each day and week, for the forthcoming twelve calendar months, through the guide of this book (Your friendly practical weekly fellowship guide).

May you and your loved ones experience tremendous social growth through spiritual maturity as you gather and fellowship with one another and with God, in your homes, church and work/business environment as well as social gathering sessions.

For it is God’s will that you be led and guided by the Spirit of truth.

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:13

Foreword

Spiritual maturity should manifest (Translate, reflect) in one’s day-to-day Social life. This opening line by Lucas Come sets the tone for the pages ahead. It sets the tone for the journey you are about to embark on. It may sound as if the book is about an inward journey in which we are to absorb and yet the book is about sharing and giving as we receive. The life of the disciples is exactly about this. Jesus took time to have conversations with his disciples and with the people he encountered. In this book Lucas seeks to take us to the basics and the basis of life. We are people who are created to be in community and to be a community. This is a concept that has been lost in the 21st Century. Even though our faith calls us to be a people, we have instead chosen to be influenced by the world.

The virtue today is to be the best at the expense of others. It is an isolating and lonely way of doing life. Conversations with one another and with God is carefully designed to call us out of our shell to share our stories and maybe only then will we have meaningful connections. This is the first thing that I want to bring forth as you begin to read this enriching book—being called out.

The book itself is realistic as it tackles some of the issues that we deal with in life as ordinary believers who seek to be faithful disciples.

Have you ever pondered the question of focusing on God? Is this not something we struggle to do most of the time? Richard J. Foster knows this truth as he reminds us that the world is always screaming trying to draw our attention. He says, In a culture where the landscape is dotted with shrines to the Golden Arches and an assortment of Pizza Temples, fasting seems out of place, out of step with the times. (Foster R.J.: 1978: Celebration of Discipline: The path to spiritual growth: 41) And yet on the other hand Jesus is this gentle voice that does not nag; this voice that is often drowned by consumerism, selfish promises, momentary success and many other things that offer us false hope.

Lucas invites us to focus on positive things. Those things that enable life not just for us, but others as well. This is another profound lesson for us especially in the Southern Africa today. For us to grow deeper in love with God we need to grow deeper in love for others as well. This way of doing life helps us to wipe our tear off and begin to see other people’s tears. We often focus on ourselves and end up drowning in our own sorrow and misery without any sense of being aware of what we can still do; not only for ourselves, but equally motivated to see our potential in journeying with others.

The life of Jesus is marked by a journey that takes him to the people to be with the people. It is marked with people being drawn to Jesus. Jesus is receptive, embracing and loving.

I enjoy Lucas’ perspective of Jesus as a ‘better place’. Do we ever get to a place of taking Jesus seriously such that our lives are founded on him? What would our lives look like if we were to put Jesus at the centre of how we do life? Could it be that we would begin to treat one another graciously? Could it mean that we would allow justice to flourish and inhumane habits shrink to almost non-existent? We often say, We are made in the image of God. Do we really understand the depth and the breadth of this phrase? It means God first and God last. It means living within the presence of God. It means living not as we please, but as God would be honoured. It means taking God seriously than wanting to see how much God takes us seriously. We live in a culture that seeks recognition as if God sometimes forgets about us. And yet the reality of God’s holiness comes from God not thinking God, but you and I.

Therefore God will not promise to love us and then the next minute hurt us. God never plays games with us. God takes us seriously all the time. God takes us seriously even at times when we take him for granted. God in Jesus is a wonderful and safe place to be as a presence that is freely and generously available to all and for all. A presence that brings healing and comfort. As you read this book you will be invited through fellowship discussions to be in fellowship with God. It is a rear opportunity in our times of discipleship.

We often hear and respond to a call to commit our lives to other things and to people. We are often called to commit our lives to things and people who disappoint us. It is time we ran to a better place, Jesus who will knit our lives together and make us whole.

Our God is a God of all times and all seasons. Our God is not present when it is convenient for God to be present. God seems to choose to be with us at the most awkward of times for anyone to choose to be around us. Throughout the year we are invited to reflect on our lives and our relationship with God. Each month of the year has a special focus, a season to reflect on. Some seasons will leave us feeling good while others will challenge and expose us. This is a wonderful balance. Comrade Raymond Mhlaba, a veteran in the South African struggle for freedom and the first Premier of the Eastern Cape once said, We have not chosen the politics because it is a romantic thing to do, but because we have seen the harsh realities under which the Black people live in South Africa. To follow Christ is not a romantic thing to do. It is not a fashionable thing to do. It is to be able to see the world as it is. It is to be in the world as it is and this can be disturbing sometimes. It is to work in the world as it is so that it can be transformed into the world that people dream of it to be and this can be challenging.

We enter each season the way we are and never come out the same. We enter into each season that Christ calls us into and never leave it the same. This book invites all those who seek to be faithful. It calls all those who want to see the world for what it is. It calls all those who want to be touched by God’s love and are willing to touch the world with God’s love. Our purpose and cause is not to exist for our sake, but for the sake of the love and grace that has been given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ to share the same through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The invitation is not only to follow the book, but also to explore your own thoughts and ponder your own convictions. After each week there is an opportunity to reflect and journal. The testimonies from other disciples shared in this book are an indication of how God is able to touch each and everyone of us. God touches us in a special way that invites us to see the greatness of God’s love. As our experiences of God are heard by others, they too begin to realise how their own journey is marked by reflectors of God’s hand that is a guide to all of us. The reflectors that cannot be erased by the harshness of this world, leaving a mark that will also guide others to have faith in God. Are you able to see your life in this way? Are you struggling to see your life in this way? No matter where you are in life, this book can help you discover and or remain in joy of conversing with others and with God.

Without these honest conversations our Spiritual journey is impaired. As we agree to the invitation to stand with God and God’s people, we discover the joy of belonging to God’s family.

It is my prayer that all those who discover this book and take the journey seriously will become faithful disciples who are transformed to transform the world.

Shalom

Rev Siviwe ‘Sva’ Waqu

Senior Resident Minister and Preacher

Calvary Methodist Church

Midrand, Gauteng, RSA

A Foretaste of what you

are about experience

Shift your Mind-focus, and Re-focus unto Jesus

Its a new year, days has gone by, many things has happened, your environment has changed, Your neighbours have move elsewhere, your friends have moved on with life, your family structure has changed, your demographics has changed, your work/business arrangements have changed, the globe has moved sideways, the planet (Earth) have shifted, in effect, the whole creation have and is continuously changing.

So you have got to shift your mind focus and re-focus unto Jesus

v2-Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

Jesus Christ during His crucifixion on the wooden cross, His mind focus (Functionality) was not on the events that took place at the time, but rather He focussed on the crown that was set before Him on the throne on heavenly realm. Even though His physical eyesight was covered with blood, His spiritual eyesight was focussing (Stirring) on the crown that was in heavenly throne where His mind focus was.

So He endured the cross and despised the shame, meaning that He persevered the physical pain of the nails on the cross, and despised the shame, in other words, He did not feel any shame of whatever harassment the Jews did to Him because His mind focus was not onto present circumstances, so was His eyesight focussed (Stirred) on a high dimension. He is risen, and now seated at the right hand of the throne of God, interceding day and night for and on our behalf.

Mind focus when used positively (i.e. focusing on positive things) it’s a very powerful tool that could enable you conquer any challenges.

Whereas, when mind focus is used negatively (i.e. focusing on negative situations) it’s a very dangerous lethal weapon that could cause harm and more damage (Destruction) to one’s life and future.

Let us consider Hagar’s use of mind focus, in both Positive and negative ways.

v14-So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. v15-And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. v16-Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, Let me not see the death of the boy. So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. (Genesis 21:8-16)

Hagar has been cast away from Abraham’s household, she is carrying her own son (Ishmael) the one with whom God had promise to multiply her descendants through him. (Refer to Genesis 16:10-11)

Hagar has forgotten God’s promise of multiplication of her descendants through her son. She has now turned her mind focus onto her present circumstances (Wilderness wanderer, no home to go, no money to buy food for her son, no water to drink, and no one to talk to and ask for help) cast out, helpless and hopeless Hagar.

The negative use of mind focus: Due to her present circumstances, Hagar’s mind focus was only picturing her son dying with thirst and hunger, her mind focus only saw the end of hers and her son’s life and future. She puts her son under the bushes, and moves across and sits down and lifts her voice and weep. She is weeping the death of her son though her son (Ishmael) still alive, Hagar’s mind focus was deeply zoomed onto her seemingly dying little child (Ishmael).

Hagar’s mind focus onto her present circumstances was her greatest enemy, she could only see the negative, (Problems) she couldn’t see any positive (Solutions) that God has already provided for her and her son. Hagar was sitting next to the well full of water, (Solutions) yet her eyesight was blinded by present circumstances, preventing (Failing) her to see God’s readily available solutions to her challenges.

v17-And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. v18-Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation. v19-Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. (Genesis 21:17-21)

Here God speaks to Hagar and reaffirms what He has promised her that He will make Ishmael a great nation regardless of the present circumstances. (Genesis 16:10-11) He says to Hagar, arise, and lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand (Reunite with the boy) figuratively dead according to Hagar’s hopelessness on verse 16.

The positive use of mind focus: Hagar hears the voice of the Lord, and she positively