Fathers, Mothers, Brothers and Sisters, I greet you all in the name our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The theme of this year´s General Assembly is taken from the old Testament reading Mt 7:15 “Watchout of false Prophets, they come to you in sheep´s clothing, but inwardly they are fericious wolves”. – In short I want to say – So near but miles away.
Beloved in Christ, this year is not like other previous years to me. Things have changed dramatically. I am fast becoming old, with my heart problems as well. I am working under strict precautionary measures from my Doctors who said I must not exceed ten (10) minutes when preaching. After an operation performed on 24th April and a reviewal on 11th instant, again I was instructed not to talk for a long time. So my friends in Christ, I´ll try to be very short today,
God being my helper.
SO NEAR BUT MILES AWAY
There are quite a number of chapters and verses in the bible that deal with people whose characters resemble what is embodied in my address, and to mention a few, read Gen 4:3-9, Judges 16:4, Lk. 15:11-31, Mt.7:15 and many more. All the people mentioned in these scripture readings with those not mentioned, failed to mantain the required standard. With this address I want to alert those who intend building the church of Jesus Christ. Gen4:3-9 tells us about young men, Cain and Abel trying to please God by their offerings. Abel´s offering was accepted but Cain´s offering displeased God. Cain instead of listening to all warnings from God, he became angry and killed his brother Abel. Cain and Abel, born of the same parents, worshipping the same God of their parents, it transpired that Cain was “SO
NEAR BUT MILES AWAY”.
HOW FAR ARE YOU?
Again in Judges 16:4 Samson sported a beautiful girl in the Valley Sorek, right in the land of the Philistines. Yes, the girl was beautiful but with an ugly and filthy heart. She was also greedy in that she accepted bribe for Samson´s head. If you read this chapter you can discover what this cruel lady did, to subdue Samson, and how Samson tried not to speak the truth. This wolf clad in sheep´s skin completely defeated Samson and that led him to die a blind man.
SO NEAR BUT MILES AWAY
Now Jesus alerted His people to open their minds and check within the flock in order to detect the devil´s tricks. I once said in my sermons, the devil does not come with horns and tail to us, but comes in our church garments. He even comes to us in clerical attire. That is why Jesus said”unaware we felt right in that trap, because we ran short of church workers when we started rebuilding the walls of our Jerusalem”, the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (RPCSA), accepted a number of religious ministers from other denominations. In no time we heard them whining for positions whilst serving their probation period. I remember one saying, I qoute, “Why am I not a member of the Business Committee, because I am old?” I did not answer him because I noticed that this man is ´SO NEAR BUT MILES AWAY”. They did not finish their probation and left trying to divide us, but failed and went back into the bushes.
ARE YOU NEAR OR FAR AWAY?
ARE YOU WITH US OR WITH OUR ENEMIES?
ARE WE ALL IN THIS CHURCH?
We cannot build a church whilst scattered. Beloved in Christ let us be one and ONE IN CHRIST, then we´ll build this church. It is quite clear that Jesus wants His church to grow big but His worry is the wolves in sheep´s clothing. Oneness will help us, and it will be difficult for anyone who is trying to divide us, to succeed. That is why Jesus prayed that His disciples
might be one, as He is one with His father. Stop back biting each other, it´s a shame when a minister back bites another minister in full view of of his congregation and children. We have to love one another. The very person you seem to dislike is very important to our Lord, and Jesus wants him or her here in His House. Jesus said”I have other sheep that are not of this
pen (kraal), I must bring them also (Jn10:16). Brothers and sisters it is time for us to collect the flock. Fathers, Mothers, Brothers and Sisters let me give another piece of advice to my to my fellow ministers. Brothers and Sisters let us live for the flock. It is said that leaders are both born and made. They are born with physical and mental abilities,and if born again they possess spiritual gifts in addition to their natural abilities. This is a gift of leadership, and if we possess that gift we must use it diligently. (see Rom 12:8) If you are a leader, please exert yourself to lead. Ministers must not just occupy the manse or the study. They must use these places for the
good of the church and the glory of God.
ARE YOU HERE OR MILES AWAY?
If we do not forget this and cling to this no matter what, then we will be able to rebuke everyone in this country. We will rebuke even those who come so near to us when campaigning for votes but when they are elected they become miles away, enjoying the riches of our country, forgetting thousands and thousands of our children who after obtaining their
highest qualifications stay with their parents with nothing to put on the table.
SO NEAR BUT MILES AWAY
Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters,Sons and Daughters, I now declare this year, the year of Great Revival Service. There was time during the late 70´s (seventees) when this declaration was passed by the General Assembly of the then BANTU PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH now the R.P.C.S.A. Each and every member of the church was charged to bring one person as a convert into fellowship of the believers and that worked, the statistics increased dramatically. So, I charge you all as our Lord Jesus did – Go forth into the world, preach the good news, baptize the converts in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen, Amen, Amen.
HOW FAR ARE YOU?
Last but not least. It has been my sincere prayer that this church should be led in a way that our forefathers would rejoice where they are, and our God should keep good words for us when we enter the gates of heaven,- “well done my good and faithful servant”, enter into the joy of your Master.
This has been a marathon to me, leading the church for so long a period of time. But now I hope and trust that the man to pull the strings after me is more than being ready to take the baton. I do not want to die on this chair. I believe you have gained a lot. I have witnessed leaders of the outside world having problems with their subjects, some killed mercilessly and some seeking refuge from nearby countries. But all said and done, I thank you brothers and sisters for your support. Again let us hope that this is the last lap of this marathon. I now come to you on my knees, let us be one and build a strong church of our Lord Jesus Christ.
SO NEAR BUT MILES AWAY
Let us come closer or nearer to God as well. This reminds me when I was in hospital in Durban for a heart operation. We were six in the I.C.U., all for heart operation. We were in great pains, everyone with a nurse sitting next to him/her. There was a white woman in this ward who in that silence in the ward sang in a very soft voice ´NEARER MY GOD TO THEE etc”. There was dead silence in the ward and she came back for the second time ´NEARER MY GOD TO THEE”. Again another silence. During that time I heard a voice whispering in my ears – “Why are you silent Rev Tyani?” The lady started again ´NEARER MY GOD TO THEE” I joined her with a soft tenor and we sang together until she stopped singing and she was gone and no more. I knew that, that Christian woman was with the Lord and in the Lord, and Jesus took her to Paradise. Beloved in Christ please come closer and nearer to God. Do not forget – “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep´s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.