Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town to lead a 1000-man Procession of Witness to kick-start the ‘16 Days of Activism’

The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba, will lead a 1000 men’s Procession of Witness to kick-start the 16 Days of Activism for no violence against women and children.

Details of the processions of witness are as follows:
Date: 25 November 2012
Time: 17h00
Where: from Keizersgracht Square to St Georges Cathedral, Cape Town

Through joining this act of public witness, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba is underlining his wholehearted backing for the annual, government-supported, campaign for 16 Days of Activism for no violence women and children.

The international theme for 2012 is From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let's Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women. Archbishop Thabo is firmly committed to increasing awareness around abuse and to developing effective support for victims and survivors of abuse.

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba invites men, women and young people, and representatives of business, government, NGOs, religious leaders and member of the media to join him in the procession of witness. The Anglican Church of Southern Africa recognises that not all men are abusers, and therefore warmly invites these men to stand up and be counted, and to join in sending a strong message to abusers out there, saying ‘Not in our name.’

The Procession of Witness will be followed by a service at St George’s Cathedral to celebrate the Anglican Church of Southern Africa’s Anglicans ACT Vision. The Procession of Witness highlights two of the eight priority areas of the Vision namely; Women and Gender and The Protection and Nurturing of Children and Young People.

Issued by the Office of the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town
Inquiries: Petrina Pakoe, Tel: 021 763 1300 / 021 852 5243 / 084 552 5258, Petrina@hopeafrica.org.za

Almighty God, who chose your servant Clement of Rome to recall the Church in Corinth to obedience and stability: Grant that your Church may be grounded and settled in your truth by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and may evermore be kept blameless in your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

read the signs of the time and fight today's battles today

The following Sermon was preached by me at St Bede's Bethal on the 18th of November 2012 ; the readings were. Daniel 7:-14 Hebrews 10:11-18  and the Gospel of Mark 13:24-32

For nearly 2000 years the verses of this mornings  texts  have struck a chord with Christians as they have expected these events to come true in their lifetime.

Mark 13:30  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

Every generation has thought that they were this generation.

I was just thinking about it the other day America has been at war since

 1 Sept 1774 - War of independence,

1785-1795 Indian wars

1798-1800 Franco wars

 June 18, 1812 – March 23, 1815 2nd war of independence with two minor wars proceeding this

1827-1845 more Indian wars

1846/47 Mexican wars

Then more Indian wars

1856–1859 Second Anglo Chinese war

April 12, 1861 – April 9, 1865 American Civil war

1916–1924 Occupation of Dominican Republic

1917/18 1st World war

December 7, 1941 - September 2, 1945 Second world war and the Russian wars in between the two world wars

1947–1991 Cold War

1950–1953 Korean War

1953–1975 Vietnam

August 24, 1982 - February 7, 1984 Lebenese Civil war

20 December 1989 – 31 January 1990 Invasion of Panama

August 2, 1990 – February 28, 1991 Gulf War

1991–2003 Iraq

1992–1994 Somalia

19 September 1994 – 31 March 1995 Haiti

August 20, 1998 Afghanistan

7 October 2001 – present - the war on terror

March 20, 2003 – December 15, 2011 Iraq

March 16, 2004 – present Pakistan

January 14, 2010 - present Yemini Al-Qaeda

2003 and 2011 Libiya

The Americans have not known peace for close on two hundred and forty years….

Every generation has longingly awaited Jesus coming in the clouds to put an end to evil and they have fought every perceived evil - the English the French the Spanish who stood in the way of their freedom, the Indians who stood in the way of their progress, the Russians and Allies who stood in the way of their belief system, the terrorists as they call them - those who want to dominate the world in the name of Allah.

The American's are a good parable of our own life struggles of freedom and desire for power and maintaining our own way..

But throughout this time every grieving mother every grieving brother and sister who suffered the loss of a son or a brother at war looked to the heavens and said "when oh when oh Lord will you restore the fortunes of Zion - when will Jesus come in the clouds and rescue us from the evil of this world."

After each victory in battle the words of Daniel  7:12  "As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. " must have echoed through the minds of every American …

But the end did not come -freedom of the Tyranny of the English, French and Spanish but eth end did not come -

Freedom form the Nazi's  the holocaust was over and the Jewish nation was even restored in 1946 when Israel again became a sovereign state yet the end did not come -

So what are we too do with all this - go on fighting for another two hundred years…

Mark 13:28/29 says   "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

Well we have seen the signs - of late there have been a number of  natural disasters The Tsunami of 2004, Katrina and now recently Sandy  but we forget that these are not new events - in 1556 the Shaanxi earthquake in China caused the death of 830,000 people

 in the great Chinese Famine of 1958 to 1961 between more than  15 mil  people died, in 1287 80,000 people died in the Netherlands  St Lucia Floods,  70,000 people died in 2003 in the European Heat wave, in 1755  in Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Ireland, and the United Kingdom (Cornwall) 100 thousand people died as a result of the Lisbon earthquake/and resulting tsunami and fire.

The latest spate of earthquakes, Tsunamis, and violent storms are by no means a new phenomenon; Kaveripattinam (Poompuhar) Tsunami was somewhere between 400 and 600 AD the  Minoan Eruption was in the 2nd Millennium BC; -

Why am I giving you a natural disasters history lesson  -because my question is  what are these signs and wonders that are supposed to point us to the end times and how could Jesus say 

Mark 13:29  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. And then say

Mar 13:32  "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

I don’t think that the NEAR meant in time I think it meant in proximity -

Since the time of Nero Christians have believed that the world is ending - people have spent their lives trying to work out the day and the hour - some say that Dec 21 2012 is the time because the Mayan Calendar ends then - do you remember midnight of 1999, or back in about 82/83 -

I believe that there will be a day when this world end s and a new order begins - but I believe more importantly that we are being called to make a paradigm shift in our thinking about this world: -

The Truth is that Jesus will return in the clouds and establish his reign forever.

The Truth is that we do not know when that will be..

The Truth is that we have to get on with the task of living between now and then.

I believe that we need to read the signs of the time and fight today's battles today - we need to recognize the signs in our own lives and in our own area of influence -  we need to be as  Archbishop Rowan said - his successor needs to be someone with a newspaper under one arm and a bible under the other . Or as John Stott put it we need to have double listening -  we should listen to the world and its needs and we should listen to God for the solutions.

Today is our Armageddon.  Today we are standing in the battle field of existence and seeking to bring God's glory into every situation. Today we are called to make every encounter a Divine encounter - today there is a tsunami /a volcano a famine and a flood in the spiritual world around you: -

- a tsunami of expectations to produce the impossible

-a volcano of expectations from investors and employers

- a famine of integrity and character, and

- a flood of despair and hopelessness.

And into the midst of this Christ sends His disciples to live and work to his praise and glory.

How can he do that - how can he expect that of us…??

(Heb 10:12)  But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,

(Heb 10:13)  waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.

(Heb 10:14)  For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

We are in the business of living a life that brings the enemy to its knees because it has no authority over us and we can set our hearts and minds to doing things God's ways - for we have been perfected in Christ and  evil has been defeated  - now we need to live in the victory - we need to  be transformed by the renewing of our minds - we need to change our paradigm we need to rethink our existence - as messengers of the news that the foe is defeated and we are no longer prisoners to sin but free to bring out the best in ourselves and in others...

When we look to the natural world around us we have people who live in defiance of Tornadoes and earthquakes - they have built cities and houses and lives in places like California - where you can get a handbook on putting down roots in earthquake country.

Why is it that people are prepared to:

- go to war for an ideology,

- live under a volcano or

-on a fault line,

why are people prepared to live in areas that are prone  to flooding -

 but we are afraid of Spiritual battlefields, We are afraid to live where there is risk of eruptions with other people, contact with others in their lack (famine) and overindulgence in self - (floods) .

Hurricane Sandy affected at least 24 states, from Florida to Maineand west to Michigan and Wisconsin, with particularly severe damage in New Jersey andNew York. Its storm surge hit New York City on October 29, flooding streets, tunnels and subway lines and cutting power in and around the city.[13][14]

Yet these people are putting the their lives back together and going on. THE effects will be long-lasting and it will take a lifetime for some of these people to piece their lives back together - but they have set their minds to it..

Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Sandy>

Have we set our minds to the task of piecing our broken Spiritual lives back together? Can we restore our sense of purpose or are we drowning in the flood?

The troubles in your life are signs of the fact that this life is not permanent - that Jesus will return and that you can endure.

God is saying to us - read the signs of the time - this is not permanent this is not how I want you to live this is not my plan for you - I designed everything and said - It is Good-the turmoil you see around you is because this world is temporary -

And so I challenge you to look at your situation and liken it to the volcano, the handbook - the bible on "how to put down roots in flood, the tsunami the hurricane" - open your handbook on" how to put down roots in earthquake country" and get on with the task of living - God's way.

Seek truth in all you do -

Demand integrity in every relationship

Seek to reconcile with God and your fellow human being in every circumstance -

In other words ask in every encounter in every thing you say - is this going to bring me and the one I am interacting with closer to God or not.

See the bigger picture - what will the thing that I am doing now survive - what will my legacy be - so often we are so trapped in just doing what we are doing that we forget why we are doing it.

Lets keep the main thing the main thing -

1Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellences of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

That's what being at Armageddon means  - proclaiming the excellences of God - giving thanks always in every circumstance - persevering for as St Paul says 2Co 4:8/9 - we are a great witness when we acknowledge that we are :

" afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; "

And he goes on to say  - 2Cor 4:16-18  "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. "

Are you managing your life according to these principles?

Are you conducting your conversations the godly way?

Are you seeking first the kingdom of God?

Are you seeking to serve self - or are you seeking to serve God.

Just like the earth - within each one of us are emotional and spiritual forces at work - floods, volcanoes, tsunamis and earthquakes - can you identify them within you or must I point them out to you.

Anger ;

Prejudice;

Selfishness;

Despondency;

Brokenness - your lives are rent apart by events and heartache and broken dreams

You are flooded with problems and demands and expectations

The signs are within - the upheavals are within - in your own lives are the things that God is speaking about:  and Jesus says -

(Mark 13:28/29)  "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.   So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

Not that the hour is near - but that Jesus is near - and able to strengthen you and see you through and give you the victory.

And so I conclude in the words of Scripture:

 (2 Timothy 4:5)  As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

(1 Peter 2:1)   put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.  (Phil 4:8)whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Php 4:19)  And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

 Amen