As I have already said, I chose to be a Christian and follower of Jesus.
I am a Christian because I believe that Jesus is the Messiah of whom the entire Old Testament prophesied, and I believe that He also died for me and certainly rose from the dead as the King of all kings.
I am also a believing follower of Jesus because I have discovered how much I need God’s grace and forgiveness, which Jesus has also made possible for me.
Here is another reason: I am a Christian because it works. I chose to follow Jesus, to believe and obey His Word, because what God promises and says works!
Our neighbours next door, when we still lived in Potchefstroom, were not Christians. They were Muslims. To them, we were their “neighbours from heaven.”
If someone on our street were sick, they would call us and ask us to go with them to pray for those people in Jesus’ Name.
I have been a follower of Jesus since 1969. That is why I have wonderful stories to tell about how the Lord intervened in miserable emergencies and changed everything.
I can talk about people for whom we prayed, whom the Lord then healed. Yes, I can even talk about people with stage 4 cancer, whom He healed instantly.
I can also talk about people with serious vision problems whom He healed.
Then I can also talk about so many times in my and others' lives, where it was so necessary that the Lord intervened supernaturally and gave abundance.
So, I can talk about how He came to heal me when I was dying for 3 years from a disease for which there was no solution at the time.
So, I can also talk about how He has financially cared for and provided for us as a family every month for the past 33 years, without us ever receiving a fixed salary during this time.
Yes, we are just ordinary people living among other ordinary people. The world and its people around us are also just ordinary and sometimes very broken and sick.
Yes, there are days when we certainly do not understand everything and do not have all the answers. However, we have never doubted one thing: We have always known God is there. God is in control. He is good, and I will never doubt His love, because I know He cares.
Maybe you are worried about your finances today, or about your or a loved one's health.
We are going to pray for that, because Jesus is here. He is the Caregiver and Provider. He takes care of us in all aspects of our being, in spirit, soul, and body.
Therefore, we are going to ask and trust Him to bring restoration, bring healing, and provide what is needed.
I know He hears.
Before I ask you to be quiet and pray for what you want to ask Jesus for today, can I just summarize once again everything that I have stated as the reasons why you and I can be so sure about what we believe as followers of Jesus:
The reason why I am a believing follower is that…
I am sure He is exactly who He told us in His Word. He is.
Because I know and believe that Jesus is the Messiah, God who became man, to give His life for you and me and to bear the full punishment that we deserve.
This Jesus was crucified and did not only die. No, He certainly rose from the dead, and He is here as the Living, resurrected Lord and King of all kings.
Yes, I know I need forgiveness, but I also know for sure that He became man and also came to die on the cross for me. So that the Father can forgive me and so that His grace can also be enough for me.
Yes, I am a follower of Jesus because what God promises and says to us in His Word works!
These are some of the most important reasons why I am a Christian.
With all this in mind, let us bow before Him as King and Lord, and ask Him in prayer for what we need from Him.
Let us also thank Him in advance that He has heard our prayers.