In this parable, Jesus juxtaposes two people, a powerful albeit corrupt judge, and a powerless widow. In the first century, women who were unmarried or had lost their husbands were particularly vulnerable. This widow apparently has been ill-treated and seeks justice from the local judge. However, the judge couldn’t care less about her plight. Undeterred, the widow bothers the judge enough that he relents and shows her the justice she seeks.

Many have read this parable and made the straightforward conclusion: “Just as the widow bugged the unjust judge to death and eventually got what she wanted, I need to bother God until He is so fed up with me that He relents and gives me what I demand.” Unfortunately, this is a very wrong interpretation…

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Children are everything. They are our future, our legacy, the ones we would do anything for. As such, we want only to see them flourish into bright and wholesome members of God’s Kingdom. Unfortunately, however, there are forces at work that would undermine our efforts to build up incredible individuals. One such force is the gender ideology movement…

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Cultural Christianity is religion that superficially identifies itself as “Christianity” but does not truly adhere to the faith. A “cultural Christian” is a nominal believer – he wears the label “Christian”, but the label has more to do with his family background and upbringing than any personal conviction that Jesus is Lord. Cultural Christianity is more social than spiritual…

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Leon is an influential Christian leader growing in prominence within South Africa. Known for his dynamic preaching and passionate ministry, Leon has seen his global reach expand through an online ministry and locally through their five church plants across South Africa. Happily married to Este-Lee for 13 years, the couple have two daughters and are the founders of Encounter Church.

Growing up in a traditional religious household, Leon knows firsthand how “dead religion” drives one further from God, and how a touch of the supernatural power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit can change one’s life in an instant…

…to read this full article, pick up a copy of the latest issue of JOY, which is now on sale nationwide in all leading supermarkets!