Testimonies
Module 3a-Pastor Jaco Zabbud De Swardt
Why I included this testimony:
1. Pastor Jaco is a true son with an attitude of “Do I see what you see, not do you see what I see?”
2. He changed his names to align with his destiny, goals and dreams.
3. He serves unconditionally.
What I learned from this testimony:
1. I understand son ship better.
2. I can serve better.
3. I see qualities of a son.
What does it mean to be a son/daughter in the house to me?
I believe through sharing my testimony you will get a clear picture of what son ship means to me.
WHERE DID IT BEGIN?
It was March 1995. 12 of us were together in a house in Albemarle for our weekly cell meeting with Senior Pastor. I again had a great expectation and could not wait to get to the house that night.
I arrived as usual about 15 min. before the time. There were other people already and I could sense that something was going to happen tonight. We were all ready for a wonderful encounter with God, but no one could prepare me for what I was going to experience that night.
During our time of worship later that evening, we were all on our knees and we could sense the awesome presence of God in the room. We had a brother sharing earlier that evening that God wants us to take time in His presence and we should wait on him, as He was going to do something we never experienced or seen before.
And so it happened. One of the brothers got up and confessed the following to Senior Pastor. He said: “Pastor, I have decided to give my life to God, but I make a decision to now give my life to you. My future I now surrender to you”. Moments after he finished talking, though I did not really understand at that moment what it meant, I knew God wanted me to make the same confession. So I did. Pastor, I said: “My future I now surrender to you”. I went on and added the following: “and I will never leave you Pastor”.
One of the elders, realizing what was happening, then got up and asked the Senior Pastor if he could share his heart. He said: “The young men, (I was only 21) must realize what they are doing tonight. God is very serious and He wants us to make a covenant with one another”. He warned us: “Do not be emotional. If a man decides to marry a woman, it is for life. If you decide to make this covenant tonight, it is also for life”. We knew that God was serious.
Senior Pastor then went on and did, we believe, a prophetic act. He took the ring on his finger, and slipped it on each person's finger that that night made the confession. We made covenant with one another.
As we left that night, we all knew that God had a divine appointment with us.
We went home, some of us still overwhelmed and not really understanding the depth of what has happened that night.
When did I understand?
After that evening in March 1995, I continued serving God in my local church. The experience of that night stayed with me and not a day passed without me thinking about what has happened.
I was given the opportunity to start in the full time ministry in June 1995, and was committed to the vision of the Senior Pastor. Not once did I try to enforce my vision on him. My attitude was summed up in the following question:” Pastor, do I see what you see?” and not as many young men say “Pastor, do you see what I see?”
February 1998. One morning I got up and God spoke to me clearly asking me what I believe He called me to do now. My response was quickly: “To love you and love people - Mat 20:37-39”. “Think again”, I heard God clearly say. And then the following words came to my spirit: To love is to give. I still believe to this day that the way you spell LOVE is GIVE. God called me to give to Him and to give to people. But then I heard Him say: “If you say you love me, it will be proven in your love towards the man of God (senior pastor). If you say you submit to me, it will be proven in the way you submit to the man of God (senior Pastor).
I went to the office that morning and had to speak with Senior Pastor. God was telling me something. I was able to see him later the day and asked him whether he remembered the night he put the ring on my finger. I confessed to him with all the other people as my witnesses, that my future was in his hands, and that I will never leave him. I understood, 3 years later, the true impact of what has happened that evening of March 1995 in Albemarle.
“Pastor Hennie”, I said, “if it had not been for my physical father, loving, caring and disciplining me when I was a young boy, I probably would never grow up and be able to take care of myself.”
I continued: “Pastor, if you will not love, care for and discipline me, I might never grow up and do the work of the ministry successfully. I need you to be my spiritual father.” He accepted me with an open heart and open arms.
As I was sitting, I realized however that this was not the only thing I had to ask for that day. My physical father had the responsibility to give me a name at birth. I wanted Senior Pastor to also give me a name, as I was now his spiritual son.
With all his wisdom, he said to me that in principal it is right what I am asking for. He has accepted me as his spiritual son, but when it comes to giving me a name that must be my decision. What do I believe God wants me to do now?
I walked out of the office with my heart as big as a watermelon. It was ready to burst. I have a spiritual father.
But one question God asked me was still troubling me.
What did He want me to do now?
I went in prayer before God and asked Him to show me why he put me in this church and with this Senior Pastor. I wanted Him to give me name as He did to men in the Bible, after He had revealed to them, and made covenant with them.
I knew I had to be a pastor, I knew I had to love God and love the people. But in what way? How did God see me?
The following scripture came to me and God spoke to me. Mat 20:20-28.
Do I want to lead people, serve them? Do I want to be successful in ministry, be a slave?
I knew the scripture and believed that I was a servant. But then I was reminded of what God said to me the morning in February 1998. If you say you love me, you will prove it in your love for the man of God (Senior Pastor). If you say you submit to me, you will prove it in submitting to the man of God (Senior Pastor). I went on, and if I say I serve God, it must be proven in me serving the man of God (Senior Pastor).
“I have given you to serve,” God said, “to serve the people, yes, but to serve your Senior Pastor first, before you serve the people.” God reminded me of Saul, listening to the voice of the people - 1 Sam 15:24.
Then a name came to me, a name I have never heard before until that moment - ZABBUD - God said to me: “you wanted a name; this is my name for you”. I have given you to serve, and called you to lead.
How did becoming a son affect and influence my life?
My only desire is to see Senior Pastor Hennie Bester succeed.
My only goal is to fulfill his God-given vision.
My only task is to produce the fruit in the ministry entrusted to me, yes by God, through the Senior Pastor.
My only responsibility is to be accountable to Senior Pastor for the ministry, which he entrusted me with.
When you look at my hands you will see one ring on each hand. One ring for my covenant with my wife, one ring for my covenant with my Senior Pastor - my spiritual father.
When you look at my ID document you will see to names. 1st name Jaco chosen by my physical father. 2nd name Zabbud chosen by a spiritual son.
To sum it up.
All of us should be servants in the kingdom of God. But there is a vast difference between a servant (hireling) and a son.
Qualities of a son
1. He builds the house. A servant has a position and only serves in the house. Son sees people, Servant sees building material. Son says I must take care of these people. Servant says every problem in the house is your problem.
2. Hold the father's heart and his work as his own
Luke 16: 12 - The son's success hangs on the father's success.
A servant takes, a son inherits. Work on the dream of the father.
Die to your vision. IF you don't you will always try and impose yours. I've killed my dream. I'm working on the dream of the SP.
Pastor Hennie left AFM alone but with an inheritance, because he was a son.
Inheritance comes automatically - son (spiritual things)
Take what you can get - servant (carnal things)
3. Sons are family orientated
Servants are issue and ministry orientated.
4. Sons use the language of the father
Servants use their own terminology.
5. Servants promotes themselves, God said it to me.
Son - I'll be successful, because SP will be successful.
Servant - I'll be successful, because God said so.
When I get asked to minister, have the invite ask the father.
6. Son's honors their leadership and covers their nakedness. He chooses to constantly protect and cover him.
7. Sons naturally honor the chain of command. They love the father, trust his motives and obey him easily. The servant questions the father.
8. Sons share the vision the father. A son understands when the father reports to God, and accepts it. A servant wants to change the vision.
9. Sons bond new people to the family and the father. Servants bond new people to themselves. Servants say follow me. Sons say follow me, I follow the Pastor, and he follows God.
10. Sons focus on the welfare of the people. Servants focus on the appearance.
11. Sons share their inner conversations. Servants tell you what they want you to know. If you spend a lot of time with people who don't tell you what they think, you waste your time.
12. Sons can handle change, servants hates it. Constantly place the blame on someone else. If a person stays with you after correction he is with you.
13. Sons have “puppy feet”, but you can see their potential. Servants come into the house “fully grown”. You can't add to them, but they can add to you!
Exercices & Questions:
Module 3a-J.Z.De Swardt
Q3. What do you like and dislike of this testimony?
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Q4. Reflect what info you can use to better your life and relationships.
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Please read further to assist you with your answers & reflections!
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