When Jesus Is There — Erlo Stegen

We invite you, Lord Jesus, to be with us, to be in our midst, by your grace. Amen. The bridegroom, Daniel, sent me a verse. He says that even though I'm free to preach on any verse I'd like to, but he does have this verse on his heart, which is from 1 Corinthians chapter 3, and it starts from verse 11.

It is the text is verse 11, 1 Corinthians chapter 3. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now the bride also sent me a verse, which is found in the book of Joshua, which is chapter 24.

Jesus Christ as the Only Foundation

Verse 16. Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods. It is wonderful how these two verses are so united and so together and mean so much together. I'd like to use these texts together with something else which is on my heart, regarding the marriage in Cana.

We find that in the gospel according to John chapter 2, from verse 1. On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding.

And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, they have no wine. Jesus said to her, woman, what does your concern have to do with me? My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servants, whatever he says to you, do it.

Now they were set there six water pots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing 20 or 30 gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, fill the water pots with water, and they filled them up to the brim.

And he said to them, draw some out now and take it to the master of the feast, and they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and did not know where it came from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew, the master of the feast called the bridegroom.

And he said to him, every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now. This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

We'll read thus far. To this wedding, Jesus had been invited together with his disciples. It is a marriage today. The bride is going to leave where she is from and go to her new home in Chauteng. Now we do know that the lifestyle up there in Chauteng is not the same as the lifestyle here at the mission.

One person even informed me that we need to give more space to them, and we need to understand their position, that they've got more of the Joburg spirit now, being up there in Chauteng, and we can't expect them to be like it is down here at Kwasi Zabantu.

Actually, whether you are here or in England, or wherever you might live, it doesn't matter. As long as you invite Jesus to be with you, that you walk with him. This wedding in Cana, was a wedding with a difference because Jesus had been invited.

The bridegroom's text that he has chosen is this one, upon this foundation, and there is no other. This foundation which is Jesus Christ, and this is the beginning of his marriage. That is what can assure a blessed marriage.

The bride's text was that, let it be far from us that we should ever serve any other gods. I was so gladdened by the fact that even though they have been from completely different areas, one right up there, the other down here, but their desire has been the same.

The bride's text is this one, upon this foundation, and there is no other.

It is a refreshing thing to me, some might find that they get used to it. But I am so happy, and it is new to me every time when I see a couple, when I see a man who has walked in purity before the Lord, right till marriage, and the bride the same.

And I say, blessed are parents to have children like these. After all, there are hordes of young people who do the opposite, and do not treat their vessels with respect. They do not treat these vessels in purity, and being careful, and to make sure that they are completely holy unto the Lord.

And remember, you do not reap immediately, with some it is a short while, but with some it is 5, 10, 20 years, with some it takes a lifetime before they reap the consequences of their action.

And I say, blessed are parents to have children like these, and to make sure that they are completely holy unto the Lord.

Sin, Consequences, and the False Promise of the Present

Some people are deceived by the present circumstances. They say, but I do not see any sign of reaping now, and I do not see any bad signs, and they bound to the present. They are similar to the communist theme, where they said, forget about the future, we do not want cake in the sky by and by, we want bread now.

And in effect though, what happened was in countries like Russia, all communist countries, not only did they not have cake, they even lacked bread.

They did not have bread, they did not have bread, they did not have bread. They did not have bread, they did not have bread.

Take for instance the matter of AIDS, people do not commit sexual immorality and then get AIDS and die immediately. No, it can just infect them 5 years later when you see the evidence of it, or 10 years, or 12 years later, till they are so weak that they need to be nursed and helped, and they are incontinent.

What we rejoice about in this story we have read is that these people of Cana invited Jesus to be with them at the wedding. We are not told how the marriage continued, but we can be assured that it started in this blessed way, and of till today, all over the world, this wedding at Cana, it must have been blessed.

They were embarrassed by the fact that refreshments ran out, the wine came to an end in the middle of the ceremony, and they, whether they were too poor or what it was, but they were blessed by the fact that Jesus was there to correct the situation.

That is the first point, that they invited Jesus. And in the same way, this bridal couple have said, no other foundation, our marriage will be built on the foundation which is Jesus Christ, and also the text.

Let it be far from us to serve any other gods. Now the second point, Jesus was invited together with his disciples. Biblically, you could not separate Jesus from his disciples. Those who were his true, genuine disciples, not just speaking about any disciples, just following any person, but those who were his genuine, called disciples.

And for eternity, it will be the case that you will never separate Jesus from his disciples. It is a common saying among Christians to say, well, we just serve the Lord, we are not interested in people, we don't serve man.

And I also say, yes, we mustn't serve man, we must serve the Lord Jesus, remembering though, that the Lord is not separated from his disciples. The Lord also said, he who receives you, receives me. And as the Father has sent me, so send I you.

Keep in mind then, remembering always that if you have concern for Jesus and love for him, you will have the same attitude towards his people. You cannot separate Jesus from his disciples. Mark those who follow the fashionable thing of saying, we have nothing to do with man, we just serve the Lord only.

Well, you mark those because they are being deceived by this deception of trying to separate Jesus from his people. In the Bible, the psalmist says, that I wish to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Now, he is not speaking there about a building, but he is speaking about his people. And so, you cannot say, I am going to dwell with the Lord, but not with his people. You are intimately going to be with his people forever.

In other words, In other words, it means the intention to be with the Lord and his people, always to be in the midst of those who have God. Of course, not those who have turned their backs on God, but those who are walking with the Lord.

But to the organizers of the wedding, that was burdensome because the Lord came with his people. He came with his disciples, so it wasn't just for the Lord that they had to prepare, but also for his disciples.

Jesus said, ever so clearly, what you do to the least of mine, you have done to me. And on the day of judgment, that will be looked at, how you treated those who are the least. Can I continue to another point?

Have you grasped that? Don't let these points go lost on you, because they are of greatest importance. If you cannot keep these truths, you will always be dead. Even if you have the name that you are alive, in fact you will be dead.

Jesus’ Rebuke of Mary and Respect for God-Given Roles

Let's go to a third point. When they ran out of wine, Jesus' mother came to him saying, they have no more wine. The Bible in Zulu says, woman.

You could even say mother. But he wasn't saying, woman.

But he did not address her as mother, instead he said, woman. What does your concern have to do with me? In Zulu it literally means, why do you interfere in this matter which is mine?

That's my business. What has that got to do with you? Why do you come into this?

There is the occurrence that a person just enters into things that are none of his business. Now, she came to him because, after all, he was her son. By this time, Joseph had probably passed away, and so she had been living with him, and in the eyes of her mother, a boy never really grows up.

And so Mary comes along to Jesus and says, now this is what's happened, they've run out of wine. And the Lord responds by saying, well, why do you enter into this business of mine which is none of yours?

And the Lord responds by saying, well, why do you enter into this business of mine which is none of yours?

Probably this was also in front of the others too, and maybe they thought, well, he's really driven by his mother, she just comes and says this without taking him to his side and very confidentially telling him, just does it in front of us.

And so Jesus also needed to rebuke her before those who were present.

And so Jesus also needed to rebuke her before those who were present. And so Jesus also needed to rebuke her before those who were present. And so Jesus also needed to rebuke her before those who were present.

And so Jesus also needed to rebuke her before those who were present. And so Jesus also needed to rebuke her before those who were present.

And so Jesus also needed to rebuke her before those who were present. And so Jesus also needed to rebuke her before those who were present. I love her. I love her purity, I love her that she was the most blessed of all women called to bear our Saviour.

But let Mary fill her position, let her not go beyond what she was called to be. In the same way you, the bride, and you the bridegroom,. You, you bride and you bridegroom too, you know your different positions, biblically speaking, which the Lord has called you to.

And so don't trespass into the domain of another person, don't be like one who just tries to rule the roost and dominate over others. That's not your calling. There are some women who try and enter into the sphere of their husbands and rule there.

If you have a wife like that, if you have a wife like that, why don't you suggest that you hand her your trousers and you wear her skirt? Just to make it clear to her that it might dawn on her. Of course she has her position and her help, what she has been called to be, but in the way that is pleasing and appropriate before the Lord.

If you have a wife like that, if you have a wife like that, you will be saved, you will be saved.

Christ’s Authority Over Marriage and Calling

Now, since Jesus has been invited as a guest to this wedding, he does his work. He's never invited into a person's life without him doing things and changing things, transforming. I cannot believe people who say that they have received Jesus, but they continue on with the old life.

There, Jesus has just become a doll of their own imagination. Women, what does your concern have to do with me? Don't interfere with that which is mine. Allow Jesus, in other words, to do what he can do.

Don't try and interfere in his business. Let him do his work.

Let him do his work. Let him do what he can do. Let him do what he can do. Let him do his work. Let him do what he can do. Let him do what he can do.

Excuse me, using myself as an illustration, but when I got married, I then confided with my wife. I said, we are now joined together. Biblically speaking, I am your head, but I want you to know that I have a head.

He is Jesus Christ, and his authority is greater than mine. Should the Lord Jesus speak to you anything else? If he sends you to China, for instance, you obey him, because he is the one who is sovereign.

He is the one who has all power. I said also, of course, if it's another spirit, I will rebuke you. But if it's of the Lord, then you obey what the Lord says to you.

But if you are a daughter, you are her daughter. But if you are a son, you are her son. And if you are a wife, you are her wife. But if you are a son, you are her son.

Your now listen carefully you husbands. You also have no authority beyond the Lord if he speaks to your wife or if he speaks to you through your wife. You need to listen. Don't ever try and interfere with the Lord's work.

And try and stop her being called of the Lord or doing things where the Lord works in her or speaks to her or through her because you'll be held accountable before God. The same way as well with you wives.

I know of one husband who felt called of the Lord and his wife went crazy. She was so resisted him so much but he faithfully follow the Lord and she then finally followed to. There was once a Zulu lady who felt called of the Lord now in the Zulu custom and that is a major affair because the husband will be told by the other Zulu men as happened in this case.

How can you let your wife serve the Lord in this way. What what type of a man are you after all. And he was also very upset. Then he was run over by bus had to have his leg amputated. He bowed before the Lord.

He said Lord you have your way.

Oh moonium. So poor lining is in Africa. Basic wheel is cool a certain women and.

Daughter has a hot watch. Rich white person here in South Africa had one.

Daughter. Yeah I'm Salif. Who was his heir or heiress.

And one day he went to a service. She went to a service.

Oh my a single zane which is a cool man I was is a new booty which is we have. Misa. Oh good I shine I'll be missionary I tell him I shine I have an army. Sanjay.

Gorgeous. When she was in the service she felt convicted by the Lord that she was called into full-time mission work to go to China. Yes to those people who have different eyes. She was felt called to go there my.

Figure type soup. One game in the government. Obama what. Baba mama laughing now. Moose on chase. A cool man. I'm a good thing. Happy Yoshuma. A leave on gay a.

Shine he's on began to chase on busy. She then went back home went into the her parents room and she said father mother I feel that the Lord has called me he has spoken to me and called me into full-time service in China.

We saw what him done. I'm good cool no cook show. Hello. I'm a plaza I'm a business I'm a boy I'm your Giovanni. When I went. Ali. For what if Pellico and.

Guadalupe Malo congenial I say X a near her father refused. He said no how would such a thing be possible. Never. Because you're our only child our soul. A all our farms and businesses will be coming to you.

How can you receive all these things if you somewhere else on the mission field in China.

We don't have time to know. He put his foot down. Ha ha yeah we can. Young and for me in Tomasana young. Lali Louise. He said no.

Never. And the daughter obeyed her father and for a two-year see in daughter has yeah fuck. Two years later she became ill and died when her father a few days later then saw her coffin going down into the grave.

His heart broke as he then remembered her calling and he said oh what a fool I've been for. He had indeed like in our text interfered in the matter of Jesus and had tried to boss around and say how things should be done and it stopped his daughter.

He said what a fool. I would have had at least a living child even if.

She was in China had I listened to the Lord. Yes you may have children that you.

Call yours but remember in actual fact they're not yours. There's one greater than you one who is sovereignly Lord over their lives. So be careful and take note always of these words. Women what have you to do with me.

Let the Lord do as he wishes in the life of your child or in the life of your wife or your husband. Don't interfere with the Lord's working in their lives for sake. So remember this always. And that was now the a part of this text this part women what have I what do you have to do with me.

But the second part of it also implies why do you try and interfere with my timing. So now I'm.

Going to another point has this point sunk in or will you go home and you try.

To rule with another rule which is not from heaven you try and overrule God. We tend to be forgetful so noted. Make a mark in your Bible if necessary write it down. Remind yourself that this is what the Lord said.

Now I leave that point. Six jars of water pots of stone. They were there for the purification ceremony of the Jews according to this cultural manner. This practice of the Jews then that they would have these jars of water that the guests who come in would be able to wash now.

And it wasn't for food or for any other liquid is just for water and also only for washing. Similar to a custom which the Zulus have. If you sit down in the traditional way they bring you a pot of water.

Here they have these jars these water pots that Jesus said my hour has not yet come. Saying this in rebuke to Mary he was saying I only hear from the father. It's not for you to to force the issue. I will do what the father says.

There were six water pots of stone symbolically in the Bible numerically to symbolize humanity. Jesus was about to perform his first miracle in his ministry on earth. And it was to be now remember that Jesus was God incarnate.

He is God incarnate coming down from heaven taking on the flesh of a human being. And so he could have made it much more sensational and gone to Jerusalem and made an announcement and an advertisement.

Come all you Pharisees Sadducees priests come and see what I'm about to do. But no he chose not to do it in that way.

But rather in a poor community to reveal his power he doesn't announce and say hey I'm the.

Messiah I am the Christ and I'm about to perform a miracle as proof. No not at all. We were once visited by a dignitary here at the mission and he said he was a very rich man. And then he made an announcement.

Christ’s Humble Revelation of Glory

He said I am about to make a donation to the mission. And so this gentleman with much pomp and ceremony called others from the mission to come and witness the event. As he signs a check for the mission and he is asking brother Alphys were you there.

He said yes. He was one of those present and he then signed over this check of a hundred rand. Rich people can't give gifts. It's the poor that give. The poor people they've got the money. The rich the money has got them.

It's a historical fact. The rich can't give. It's the.

It was a widow that gave a tiki and Jesus said she gave more than all of them because the others.

Went to France a certain very wealthy man invited me to come and see him. I was traveling with dr. Koch and I said to him that a certain very wealthy man had wanted to see me. Dr. Koch said just ignore it.

He's in the practice of doing that trying to get people trying to get preachers to always come and see him. And he has this habit of giving them 20 or 30 French francs. He said you just ignore it until today.

I've never been there. Like some preachers love to proclaim that they are prophets. Well if they were truly prophets they would not be proclaiming it like some people will come to us and they start by saying hey I'm safe too.

I'm a Christian I'm a believer and and they push the point. And it's completely unlike Jesus who made no announcement and no sensationalism out of it. So Jesus did not announce that he he was the Savior.

He didn't say I am the I'm God I am the Redeemer. No he just without any spectacular fashion. He just said not to the bridegroom or to the leaders there he said just to the servants. They do this he said fill the fill the pots.

And they filled it to the brim. And then he said now you may drink. And when they realized what it was what had happened they ran to the master of the feast and the bridegroom. And they when they realized that this was good wine they said but normally the practices that you keep the the good wine you use it in the beginning and use the cheaper wine the more ordinary wine.

Later on they the leading people the master of the feast the bridegroom they didn't know what had happened. Just the servants knew what had happened. There is good special wine and then there is just poor wine.

There's the cheap wine and then the expensive one. There is white wine there's red wine. There is um sweet wine. There's sour wine many different types of wine in this world and this wine of Jesus this was the first and the last time that such wine was there.

His Jesus wine was the most wonderful and it says those who witnessed it and his disciples believed in him because of this miracle. If I had such wine I would make you all drink of it. That you are not believers would become believers.

I've used this illustration often. But we had we were with some of our black brethren in Frankfurt in Germany and a car drove by and on it was a sign an advert drink me a wine. And on this signboard on this truck passing by was written drink more wine.

And in your home all things will be fine. And they laughed. Germans are fond of wine. Now when you say this particular saying in German it has a particular emphasis and it means more to them. And then the next thing we saw a man who was trying to walk and moving swaying from side to side.

And as he approached we noticed a huge wet patch on the front of his trousers because when you drank when you're drunk you have no limitations and you even wet yourself. But and he walked by us and and when he walked by and we looked he was even messed up behind him.

When they catch birds they put it there. So the pants stuck to his backside by this yellow porridge. Now if that man enters his home what a luck for his wife and his children that have got to clean that mess.

Naga.

Is that luck. Did that make all things fine. No not at all with the wife of that drunkard. But what Jesus made caused people who did not believe to believe. They didn't turn into drunkards but they believed.

Is so Jesus manifested. Jesus manifested his power and his glory through these six stone pots. And others asked who is it. They didn't know what had happened. Nothing. And also the significance of the fact that these were water pots of purification.

And that that plain place ordinary place Jesus made this so special. And then as people asked they heard it was Jesus gosh. This teaches us that we should not impose ourselves. Don't force the issue. If you're witnessing to a muslim don't tell him hey i'm a christian and you're a muslim and therefore you're on the way to hell.

No. Give him good wine. And in the bible wine is significant and symbolizes life. No now you've all become westernized. But in the old zulu culture if a zulu woman came home and said to her husband i become a christian.

And and she just forced her way he she would get a stick over her head. You won't win your husband by preaching at him and forcing the issue and telling him that this is how it is this is. And and you if you have a washout of a husband of course but rather bring him good wine you bring him life.

And as he tastes of that sweet wine and inquires of you and is curious to know what has happened. Even if he says have you become a christian. You can say well not that i've said it. Um like one zulu woman who was so winsome to her husband and and so blessed him and so served him that um he was proud to announce the fact to his colleagues.

So you wives and your husbands you bring that good wine. Let it be to all people so that you make them curious. Like they ask here who brought this good wine. Who's done this. Let them be curious and want to know.

They didn't know where the wine had come from. Only those servants who had filled the water pots. And so jesus manifested his glory through these plain articles through these simple water pots that were used just for washing hands and feet or washing their faces but that's where he chose to reveal his glory.

Not in pots of silver and gold but in earthenware.

Like jesus christ.

Marriage Built on Christ and a Prayer for the Couple

Now and so you bridegroom remember that there is no other foundation but the lord jesus christ and this is the one that we've read of in this story. And you bride as well. You remember that even as you go there to khaoteng there is no other one but jesus himself no other gods that you will serve.

Let's pray as we ask the lord's blessing. Lord here are your children who have vowed openly and have vowed themselves to each other. Be with them lord jesus right till the end until their soul departs or or until the trumpet sounds and you come on the clouds to take us to yourself.

We ask you lord jesus that your grace would be with them always and that your love would overflow continuously no more. May your holy spirit lead them always leading them into all the truth and through their marriage.

And that people will be able to.

Marvel and say how does such a marriage bring forth such glory how is this possible till it is said that it's been done by the lord jesus that people would finally be able to say here is the miracle from the most high amen.