Capital City Church: Recent Episodes
noreply@blogger.com (3Ci)
The original gospel calls for a return to the foundational prophecies, unshakable promises, and divine purposes of God that remain constant despite human failure. This journey centers on the person of Jesus Christ, the eternal Word who remains faithful and always restores those who return to Him.
Divine storms serve as an intentional instrument for spiritual maturity, bringing human effort to its limit so that the glory of God can be revealed in the darkness. True restoration occurs when the straining of self-reliance is surrendered to the voice of Christ, which thunders with compassion above the chaos of life's most difficult seasons.
Wrapping up our series, More than Conquerors, we look at the verdict demanded by the evidence of Romans 8: Are you convinced by God's promise of no condemnation, or are you the 'who' that separates yourself from His love?
Calling believers to restore worship and consecrate their lives so God, can bring real transformation, stop consuming church and start ministering to God: prioritise His presence over performance, reclaim the altar, and watch revival take root.
When tears are running down your cheeks and words cannot express your pain, discover how the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groans. God leans into your weakness, revealing the Spirit as our Counsellor, Advocate, and Comforter who proves that in all things, God is enough
When we feel weak, God meets us with His strength. In the waiting, in rejoicing, and in His presence, the Spirit empowers us to live with courage, joy, and supernatural power.
Creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to show themselves, to take up their responsibility, to claim what’s rightfully theirs, not only in their spiritual lives, but in their work lives as well.
Understanding how suffering fits into the Gospel, is one of the keys to become a mature Christian.
We are Sons: Romans 8 is inviting you to embrace your identity as a child of God, not a slave. It explores six truths of sonship: freedom from fear, adoption, assurance, inheritance, intimacy, and discipline, empowering you to walk into the fullness of God's plan for your life.
How does relationship, grace, and adoption through the Holy Spirit transform our lives, enabling God to take His rightful place as our Father and us as His sons and daughters. Our past shame and mistakes do not disqualify us, but rather through God's grace, we are fully accepted and loved, our identity secured in His adoption, not our performance
The Father's gifts of identity and the Spirit's infilling, reveals your true self as His cherished child. In Christ, we are no longer slaves to fear but beloved children, invited to drop our defences and rest in the Father’s arms.
The ruthless call of Romans 8 to put sin to death. Not manage it, not excuse it, but declare war—total surrender to the Spirit, total resistance to sin."
"God’s heart is for healing, and His Spirit brings life and restoration. Join us as we explore how to pray with steadfast faith, trusting that while God longs to heal, His miracles often unfold in beautiful and unexpected ways."
Are you living with an abridged version of the Gospel?
Discover how Romans 8 invites us to walk in fullness and peace by setting our minds on the Spirit—not just for salvation, but for daily transformation.
Unpack your true identity as a child of God, letting the Holy Spirit (the 'Big S') empower you to overcome life's chaos and temptations. Learn to silence the 'little s' of self-doubt and earthly voices by anchoring yourself in God's Word and your divine status
What does it mean to live fully in the Spirit? Explore the Holy Spirit’s work in you, through you, and upon you—for a life marked by freedom, power, and transformation.
The Holy Spirit ("pneuma") stands as the transformative power and true source of Christian life, moving you beyond the exhaustion of external laws. Discover how holiness and freedom arise from an internal change brought about by the Spirit, not from mere rules or human effort.
Through Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit sets believers free from the law of sin and death, replacing it with a new law of life and no condemnation. This freedom is a transformative power that offers a new identity and empowers believers to live righteously, moving from a survival mindset to a freedom mindset by embracing God's truth.
Your faith depends on you. If you don’t truly believe, you won’t be able to live it out—it will hold no real meaning for you. If what you are saying to yourself is contradictory to the promises of scripture - you will never step into the fullness of what God has for you.
As we begin our new series, More Than Conquerors, we’ll journey through Romans 8 and discover what it means to live by the Spirit rather than by the law.
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you. I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you.”
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like You - who works for those who wait for Him.
See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
During the evening service, Nico van der Merwe wraps up our series on prayer by sharing practical tips and inspiring stories from his own experiences. Join us as he offers valuable insights and encouragement for deepening your prayer life.
Nico van der Merwe wraps up our series on prayer by sharing practical tips and inspiring stories from his own experiences. Join us as he offers valuable insights and encouragement for deepening your prayer life.
In our prayer, "Your Kingdom come," we're asking for a world where Jesus reigns as the one true King, His rule without any rivals. It's a prayer for a kingdom where He reverses the fall of humanity and restores everything back to its original, perfect design.
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one. - Who do you know who is far from God, but close to you?
The Lord’s Prayer - “ covers the world of everyday trifles and universal history , the world with its hours of joy and bottomless anguish , the world of citizens and soldiers , the world of monotonous routine and sudden terrible catastrophe , the world of carefree children and the problems that can shatter grown men “
I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
Jonah is a picture of Jesus. There is only one that was greater than Jonah - that’s Jesus. There is a bigger grace we can draw on - Jesus, the one who call out a new name, destiny and identity.
Looking at Jonah’s prayer and the cross references to the rest of scripture, we start to see a picture of the cross and redemption.
I searched for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me. - Who is on the other side of your yeas for Jesus?
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. That is what I tried to forestall (prevent/obstruct) by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
I am Jonah when I just don’t care, when I’m completely unaware, or when I’m void of prayer.
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Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.
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Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
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You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.
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For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
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If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you.
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Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.
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As a community filled with big capacity leaders, influencers and culture creators, scripture calls us to have a biblical view of work as a calling, worship, and service.
Vocational Calling PDF: https://downloads.3ci.co.za/Sermons/Galatians23/19\_Vocational\_Calling.pdf
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As the Father-heart of God cascades into our lives, there is a whisper for us to respond to Him rightly by knowing Him truly.
“So now I challenge you, if you are not going, do so - for each of us has a different task to do in the body of Christ. And also, I challenge and encourage you to continue to grow in Christ daily reading his word, praying, worshiping and fellowshipping. Do not be satisfied with staying the same person and doing the same mundane routine each day, but draw closer to God and move deeper than just ankle deep with him - every day you live, for it may very well be your last.” - BJ Higgins
Geoff and Jane Kirsten joined us to share an exciting update on Freedom City, their thriving church and what God is doing in Lisbon, Portugal.
www.freedomcity.pt
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!”
The cross of Christ is a declaration of God’s love for you, is a declaration that God understands your pain and it is the declaration that God can bring what’s dead, back to life.
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you. We are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.
I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles were – free from the law.
Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
What the gospel gives us is nothing short of the full rights of a first born son. Today Rory unpacks what this means for us in our day to day relationship with God.
God is saying to us: “I’ve given you my Promise. I wont delay. At the perfect time my plan will be revealed”. This Promise Agreement is dependent only on the Promiser
For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.”
What would it look like if what God did in our midst this year is still reverberating through the city in 2064? What if all we need is to know Him better? Ephesians 1
His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth and lying in a manger.
We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us
Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.
God did this breathtaking, majestic creation, so that we would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, for he is not far from any one of us.
One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
We’re not lone rangers. We live Christ together, we live Christ at home and we open our homes. We don’t take the easy way out. We Live Christ through what we do every day. For to me, to Live is Christ, and to die is gain
Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up."
Morning by morning, I lay the pieces of my life on Your altar, waiting for the fire to fall. Here I am, your invited guest, waiting for directions to get through enemy lines.
Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
But the word of God continued to increase and spread.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”
Grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness...
When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.
Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God“
Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
"Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya near Cyrene, Rome both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
The Kingdom of God is the place where Jesus rules without rival and throws open the floodgates of heaven. A place where anything can happen.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
So when we say “Hallowed be your name”, we’re asking: “Cause Your name to be HOLY,” We cannot make His name Holy, it is already Holy, Cause it to be Holy over me “Cause Your name to be SANCTIFIED.”
Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!
But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
The church was the only community where you would find a servant greeting his master with a holy kiss, because they lived free from prejudice arising from social distinctions, discrimination against the poor and partiality toward the well-to-do. Instead, in the church, masters and servants, young and old, sinful and saintly all stand equal at the cross.
God invites us to feast at His table, revelling in His faithfulness, rather than wandering on our own, making our way through valleys alone. Which table will you sit at this year.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
DefaultThe virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”
Each of us should please his neighbour for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”
Romans 14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, for ever praised!
The Church I Grew Up In - Tasha Cobbs Leonard
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Love from the centre of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; outdo one another is showing honour.
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
Dolly Sonjica’s testimony of finding healing from grief after the loss of her husband and her son.
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.
While on the one side the Holy Spirit is convicting us of our poverty, blindness, slavery and captivity, on the other side, He has anointed Jesus to free us by dying on our behalf.
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgement.
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
It is possible to keep in step with the Spirit, allow Him to produce fruit within you, and the outflow will be glorifying to God and witnessing to others.
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people…”
‘Whether you are more artistically inclined like Bezalel, or more strategic like Gideon, or just in need of POWER like Samson, just ask the Holy Spirit and He will fill you where you’re, with what you need to accomplish the task set before you.’
Jesus never worked for His sonship, He worked from it. When we are full of the Spirit we will know: I am a son, He loves me, He’s well pleased with me, I’m adopted into His family, I’m not shaken by my family history, I overcome the temptation of self and power, and I tell people of the Lord’s favour.
The invitation is to open your hands, drop your defences and invite the Holy Spirit in.
He has a name written on him that no-one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
He has a name written on him that no-one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
In Romans 8 Paul asks ‘What then shall we say in response to these things? IF God is for us, who can be against us.’ What would it mean if God really was for us?
And if the Spirit of him or raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Now the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.
God will take those groans that can’t be understood by others and turn them into a purity that glorifies God.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Our hearts are prone to run from God, to turn from all that He’s done and all that He has for us. Today we look at what God has done to capture our wandering hearts.
Paul reminds us that worry, stress and anxiety are not meant to trap us in a valley of indecision, but rather that it should be a constant call to prayer.
“ Divine Favour, Wholeness, Wellness, Tranquility, Prosperity, Flourishing, Every kind of Good “
If your heart feels like that one person - all alone in a hazmat suit and gloves - trying to salvage something of your life, trying to clean up a mess that’s way bigger than you... The cross says - put down your gloves.
Learn how to climb the mountain. On the mountain we’ll see the promised land and the inheritance. We can only be effective if we know how to climb to the top of the mountain to be alone with God.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church
Revival waits for those who will pray with the intimacy and authority of a son. God is calling for His church to awaken again.
At 3Ci, what does it mean to live a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work.
Do you know the Hope to which you have been called? How is it changing the way we live from this moment and into eternity?
Paul calls us to live far above by getting to know Jesus better, getting to know his ways better and getting to know his church better.
That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. - Eph 1:15-17
Throughout the centuries Christians have celebrated Advent as a way to set their expectations on the Christ of Christmas. What are your expectations this year?
Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
God saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth (Palingenesia) and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
This week we step back and look at how Paul frames Romans 6,7, and 8 to better understand his overall approach to applying the gospel before we unpack these chapters in the coming weeks.
So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
Just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.
We rejoice in our position in Christ, we rejoice in our pain, and we rejoice in our reconciliation to our heavenly Father.
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Come into the room to receive God's presence, and get to know Him, only then can we go out into the world
This week we look at Acts 8,9 and 10 and see how God changes the lives of his people, turning dusty roads into runways.