The Fruit of Messiah’s Ministry

When the Jewish people were carried off by their enemies into exile, it looked as though God’s plan of salvation had failed. All that was left of Israel was a stump, but out of the stump came a Branch. And this Branch, our Messiah, Jesus Christ, has done wonderfully.

The Messiah comes with justice and righteousness for the poor. His Spirit yields wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. He brings peace and good times between former enemies. Children need not fear what they formerly feared when the knowledge of the Lord fills the earth as the waters cover the sea. The Messiah gathers His scattered Jewish people back to Israel. [1]

In that day, God’s people will praise Him for turning away His anger and comforting them. They will say, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation.” With joy they will draw water from the wells of salvation. They will say, “Praise the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim and exalt His Name.” [2]

“Sing to the Lord, for His glorious deeds; let the whole world hear. Shout aloud and sing for joy for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” [3]

[1] Isaiah 11:1-9
[2] Isaiah 12:1-4
[3] Isaiah 12:5-6

Unto Us A Child is Born

Amazing! God used pagans to purge His people of ungodliness. He compared Assyria to an ax, a saw, and a club in workman’s hand. Only a remnant of His people were saved in the day of His wrath against ungodliness. The remnant consists of those who trust in and obey the Lord. Many in Israel had betrayed and abandoned God. They were the weak links that caused the nation to fall.

The ungodly rejected God’s efforts to reform them. When God took down the brick walls of Samaria and Ephraim, they said we will rebuild them with dressed stone. When He took down their fig trees, they said we will replant them with cedar trees. They refused to acknowledge God and give Him glory. [1]

God used Assyria to destroy Samaria and Ephraim. God warned Judah’s political and religious leaders that the same was about to happen to them unless they repented and returned to Him. But Judah’s leaders persisted in abandoning God and leading those under their authority to do the same. They made unjust laws. They preyed on widows and robbed fatherless children. Eventually, they turned on one another and devoured one another. God used the cruel nation of Assyria to judge them, but later when Assyria became proud of its achievement, He turned His wrath against Assyria. [2]

Against the backdrop of impending judgment, the Lord proclaimed good news of salvation, and that from God. After years of darkness and distress, a great light would appear. A child would be born. A Son would be given. The government will be on His shoulders. His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end. He shall reign on David’s throne over the kingdom. He shall establish and uphold His throne with justice and righteousness forever. God’s zeal will accomplish this.

Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. The kingdoms of this world shall become His kingdoms. After centuries of disappointment in our leaders and in ourselves, Christ will come again. Those who believe shall be saved and inherit His kingdom that is full of righteousness, justice, and peace! [4]

[1] Isaiah 9:8-12
[2] Isaiah 9:13-21
[3] Isaiah 9:1-7
[4] Revelation 19:11-16

Christ is the Hope of Sin City

Jeremiah was conflicted with God’s people because God was conflicted with them. God wanted them to relinquish sinful ways. The four sins that God called them out for were idolatry, lying, thieving and sexual sin. Jeremiah opposed these sins because God opposed them. The hope of sinners to be saved from sin is the Savior Jesus Christ. Jeremiah avoided cynicism in regards to the circumstances of his city by trusting in the Lord’s promises to bring about changes that he could not bring.

Basically, Jeremiah urged the people of his city not to live autonomously from God. Not to resist promptings to draw near to God! He warned them that life never ends well for those who reject God’s help. God was confronting sin in their lives to save them from harm and bring them to a better life. He loved them. He wanted to save them, but they needed to cooperate with God.

Grief over being separated from God is good, but it is not complete unless it leads one to repentance… to say, “Okay, God, I am ready to forsake and renounce sinful ways, and to embrace Your ways. Please forgive me for my sins. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I can live life Your way.” God’s grace is about letting Him do for you what you could never do for yourself, namely transform into His image.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” [1]

“The battle in this world is not to succumb to denial, cynicism, or assimilation. Like Jeremiah, the only hope we have to cling to is that God will be with us.” [2]

Christ is the hope of sin-city. And how does the Heavenly Father reveal Jesus Messiah to us? He reveals Him to us via His Word and Holy Spirit. We draw strength and wisdom from Him as we Sabbath in Him. We are blessed to know and walk with God. God sings over us with gladness and loud rejoicing. We rest in His love. Sin-city is about despair, loneliness, and degradation. New life in Christ is about love, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit. [3] 

[1] 2 Corinthians 5:17
[2] The words about Jeremiah stem from my reading of Walter Brueggemann’s book, “Hopeful Imagination - Prophetic Voices in Exile,” copyright ©1986 by Fortress Press
[3] Zephaniah 3:17-19; Romans 14:17

Rejoicing While Waiting ~ Habakkuk’s Story

Habakkuk cried out to the Lord, “Violence!” Strife and conflict was abounding! He said to the Lord, “The law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.” [1]

The Lord’s response was. “I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor.” [2]

Facing trouble from within and without, Habakkuk resolves, “The righteous person will live by faith.” [3] Faith in God!

God indicated to Habakkuk that woes were coming to...
“...Him who makes himself wealthy by extortion!”
“...Him who builds his house by unjust gain.”
“... Him who builds a city with bloodshed and injustice!”
“...Him who makes neighbors drunk to gaze on their naked bodies!”
“...Him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ [worships idols] [4]

Habakkuk finds hope in the Lord. “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” “The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.” [5]

The tables will soon be turned. “Lord, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known...” [6]

Habakkuk ends his book with a song of faith unto God: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” [7]

Habakkuk rejoiced while waiting. He metaphorically kept the umbrella close by while praying for rain. He handed his prayer of faith over to the director of music to make it into a song. [8]

So, let us bring out the musical instruments and write songs of faith in God. Let us praise God in the face of adversity. Praise Him joyfully. Celebrate the coming victory in advance!

[1] Habakkuk 1:2-4
[2] Habakkuk 1:1:6-7
[3] Habakkuk 2:4
[4] Habakkuk 2:6, 9, 12, 15, 19
[5] Habakkuk 2:14, 20
[6] Habakkuk 3:2
[7] Habakkuk 3:17-18
[8] Habakkuk 3:19

The Burden of the Lord

“The burden against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.” [1]

A prophetic burden is a message of weighty importance producing sorrow or grief. [2]

The burden that God shared with Nahum was to tell the Ninevites to repent lest they perish. The metaphor God uses to describe the Ninevites is of a pride of lions. They teamed up as lions to hunt, capture, and consume prey. They literally ate good people for lunch.

“Where now is the lions’ den, the place where they fed their young, where the lion and lioness went, and the cubs, with nothing to fear? The lion killed enough for his cubs and strangled the prey for his mate, filling his lairs with the kill and his dens with the prey.” [3]

“Behold, I am against you... the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more.” “Nineveh enjoyed its status as a power-center of the world and gloried in the fact that the voice of her messengers commanded attention in palaces all over the world. That day would come to an end under the judgment of God.” [4]

I once heard Dr. James Waller speak on the topic of genocide. A common factor to all genocide events is the dehumanization of one group of people by another group of people.

Consolee Nishimwe survived the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. She is the author of the book ‘Tested to the Limit’ in which she narrates her personal story. “Life in Rwanda before the genocide was beautiful. I was fortunate to have good parents and a great family. I had a happy childhood.” The turning point in her country came when the Hutus started using social media to characterize Tutsis as “cockroaches.” Then, the genocide occurred. In one hundred days, about 800,000 people were slaughtered by Hutu extremists. They targeted Tutsis, as well as their political opponents. [5]

Currently, the following people groups are on genocide alert: The Kurds, Christians, Druze, Shi’a Muslims, the Yazidi in Iraq. The Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh in the Armenian Republic. Christians in Nigeria by Boko Haram an Islamist terrorist group. [6]

The Lord shared His burden with Nahum. To walk with Jesus is to participate in caring for people via praying, preaching, and providing for them. They need both spiritual and physical attention.

​The Apostle Paul’s burden was for Christian churches. He wrote, “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” [7]

Our Lord Jesus has shared His ministry to widows, orphans, and to foreigners with me. Such ministries are both challenging and fulfilling. “Thank You Lord Jesus for sharing Your burdens with me and others and allowing us to be Your hands and feet to them. Blessed be Your Name!”

[1] Nahum 1:1
[2] Enduring Word Commentary
[3] Nahum 2:11-12
[4] Nahum 2:13 & Enduring Word Commentary
[5] bbc.com/news/world-africa-54877202 & 26875506
[6] genocidewatch.com/countries-at-risk
[7] 2 Corinthians 11:28

Giving Ill-Gotten Gains to the Lord

“Many nations are gathered against you. They say, ‘Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!’ But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand His plan. He who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor. ‘Rise and thresh, Daughter Zion, for I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hooves of bronze, and you will break to pieces many nations. You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.’” [1]

“God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.” [2]

When many nations gathered against God’s people to defile them and gloat over them, the Lord intervened. He gave His people horns of iron and hooves of bronze to break them in pieces. They gave the ill-gotten gain of their enemies to the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

[1] Micah 4:11-13
[2] 1 Corinthians 1:27

Love Your Enemies

There once a man who sat between his hatred for his enemies and the Lord’s love for them. He hated being God’s messenger of love for them.

God called a gourd plant to grow up and provide shade for the man. He was relieved. Then, God called a worm to destroy the shade plant. Then, God called a hot east wind to scorch the man. He was so angry. Why was he more angry about a dying plant than he was about a dying people?

God wanted him to know that loving whom the Lord loves is a good investment. His enemies lacked discernment. God wanted to save them. His enemies repented and turned to the Lord. [1]

“’Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ says the Lord God, ‘and not that he should turn from his ways and live?’” [2]

[1] Jonah 4
[2] Ezekiel 18:23



Happy Father’s Day to the Greatest Father of All

Our Heavenly Father is the greatest father of all. He created us. Knit us together in our mother’s womb. He helps us when we are helpless.

Stories by Hosea and Luke in the Bible capture our God’s fatherly heart: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.” [1]

Our Heavenly Father’s rescue of the Israelites from the labor camps of Pharaoh is a metaphor for His rescue of any sinner from the dominion of darkness. He brings captives out of darkness into His marvelous light.

But in Hosea’s story, this liberty did not last long. Why? The very next verse... “They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.” [2]

After God rescued His people, they submitted themselves to other gods... sex gods... material gods... gods that were not gods, but demons disguised as gods.

“I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.” [3]

The picture above is of a loving father helping his child to walk for the first time. Embracing his child afterwards. Tending and caring for the child when he/she was ill. Being gentle, loving, and responsible to meet the child’s needs.

Later, the loved child made bad choices... “He shall not return to the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to repent. And the sword shall slash in his cities, devour his districts, and consume them, because of their own counsels.” [4]

A reckless bent to sin... a total disregard of warnings led to the child’s demise and devastation.

But wait! Who is that in the distance? It is the child. He is returning. The father has compassion. He runs to his child. Overwhelmed with emotion, he hugs and kisses the child. The child is terribly sorry for hurting his father. The father says to his servants... “’Bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.” [5]

Happy Father’s Day to the Greatest Father of all!

[1] Hosea 6:1
[2] Hosea 6:2
[3] Hosea 6:3-4
[4] Hosea 6:5-6
[5] Luke 15:20-24



The Plumb Line & Ripe Fruit

“The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand. And the Lord asked me, ‘What do you see, Amos?’ ‘A plumb line,’ I replied. Then the Lord said, ‘Look, I am setting a plumb line among My people Israel; I will spare them no longer.’” [1]

A plumb line measures if a wall is built straight. God holds His plumb line against Israel, to see if they are ‘straight’ according to His Word.

Often, we people have the audacity to put a plumb line up to God and tell Him that He does not measure up to our expectations, and that is bad, but it is even worse when God puts a plumb line to us. Why? Because we, not He, are the ones who all fall short of His glory.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: a basket of ripe fruit. ‘What do you see, Amos?’ He asked. ‘A basket of ripe fruit,’ I answered. Then the Lord said to me, ‘The time is ripe for My people Israel; I will spare them no longer.’” [2]

It is bad when a nation feels the time is ripe to throw God and the Bible away. But it is even worse when God says the time is ripe to no longer spare a nation because it refuses correction.

From the Bible we learn that godly judgment always trumps the judgment of the ungodly.

A song made famous by Frank Sinatra boasts, “It did it my way.” How foolish! God created and sustains the whole universe. He is our Creator. He sent His Son to die for our sins so that we could be forgiven and receive His favor, and yet, we choose to do things our way without Him.

Wise King Solomon wrote, “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.” And “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.” [3]

Paul told the Corinthian Christians, “I will not boast, except in my infirmities.” “Most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” [4] Paul was at his best for the Lord when he was able to boast in his weaknesses because God gave Him power in those moments.

Furthermore, God gave Paul the right motive. He wrote, “We do all things, beloved, for your edification.” [5] His service was about God and others not himself. May the Lord help us to go and do likewise.

[1] Amos 7:7-8
[2] Amos 8:1-2
[3] Proverbs 12:1, 15
[4] 2 Corinthians 12:6, 9-10

Alive from the Dead

Can you imagine inheriting lake front property, but with one caveat? The lake is dead. There is not an ounce of life in it. What’s more, the lake is so dense with salt and mud that your body can float on top of it. Something is seriously wrong with this lake. Fresh water flows into it, but it is dead. Can you guess where this lake front property is?

It is in Israel! It’s the Dead Sea or Yam Hamelakh (The Salt Sea). The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth, roughly 1,300 feet below sea level. It is thirty-four miles long and varies from two and eleven miles wide. The water is 1,400 feet deep. It is fed by the Jordan River but has no outlet. You cannot catch a fish in it. It has no plant life.

God told Ezekiel that the Dead Sea will live. God uses the metaphor of a resurrected sea to assure His displaced people that one day Israel will become a nation again and they will return to their land, and they will be a people that are ALIVE TO HIM.

God showed Ezekiel water flowing from under the south side of the temple; south of the altar. Ezekiel exited the north gate and saw water trickling out. A man led Ezekiel eastward. He measured the length of the river. During the first 1500 feet of their walk, the water was ankle deep. 1,500 feet later, the water was knee deep. 1,500 feet later, the water was waist deep. 1,500 feet later, over a mile out now, the water was too deep to walk in. Ezekiel had to swim. The man asked Ezekiel, “Son of man, do you see this?” Then, he led Ezekiel to the riverbank where he saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. The water was flowing eastward towards the desert, where it entered the Dead Sea. This river that flowed out from the temple, turned the Dead Sea into the Living Sea. It gives life wherever it goes. It is a river of life. It produces swarms of living creatures and multitudes of fish. People will fish the Dead Sea from En Gedi to En Eglaim or from one end to the other. There will be many kinds of fish. Swamps and marshes will become fresh. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on its banks. Every month they will bear fruit and their leaves will bring healing, thanks to the Lord. [1]

God told Ezekiel how the land would be divided among the tribes. He uses names of places to identify the boundary lines. God revealed this while the tribes were still in exile. He described where the north, east, south, and west boundary lines would fall. A portion of the land will be for foreigners living among them. In the center of the land will be the sanctuary of the Lord. The sanctuary is consecrated for the Zadokites who were faithful to serve the Lord and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray. It is a gift to them. [2]

The gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. Three gates on each side of the city! And the name of the city from that time on will be: “The Lord is there.” [3]

The vision that God gave Prophet Ezekiel is similar to one He gave to Apostle John’s in Revelation 21-22. These prophecies shall be fulfilled. The Lord keeps His promises.

The river that proceeds from God’s temple heals people. They are made alive to God. They want to be where His glory dwells. They want to keep the Sabbath. They want to honor God not self! This is the revival we need! A revival of people glorifying God!

Prophecies of restoration are relevant for us because in some ways WE HAVE BEEN displaced. Christianity no longer enjoys the place it once did in the western world. The Bible, USED to be highly respected. God is saying to us through His prophets not to give up. Do not think the battle is lost. It’s not. If God can make a Dead Sea LIVE, He can raise a dead nation to life as well.

[1] Ezekiel 47:1-12
[2] Ezekiel 47:13-48:12
[3] Ezekiel 48:30-34

Restoring Our Losses

Lay on your left side for 390 days to represent the 390 years that the northern tribes of Israel sinned against God. After that, lay on your right side for 40 days to represent the 40 years the southern tribes of Judah sinned against God. This is what God told Ezekiel to do. He was to embody how sin cripples a nation. [1]

The northerners and southerners of Israel gambled against God and lost. Assyria led the northern tribes into captivity. The Babylonians did the same to the southern tribes.

Can you imagine having to learn to read, write, speak, and understand a foreign language? Eat strange cuisine? Hear that your homeland is under the rule of a foreign power?

How depressing! But thankfully the story doesn’t end there. God is faithful! There is hope!

“I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.” [2]

Praise God for a restoration that He initiates! His own people had profaned His Name among the nations, but that was about to change. He was going to prove His holiness through them.

“I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.” [3]

Homecomings are special events. My stepfather told us how when he received his release papers from the Korean War, he was so happy. He packed his bag and walked away from his barracks. Suddenly, a bomb hit the barracks and blew it up. God was so gracious to my stepfather to bring him home. No enemy blow up God’s plan for us.

God is bringing His people home: “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 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.” [4] Praise God for forgiveness, cleansing and for transforming grace!

“I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws.” Praise God for an appetite to obey! Jesus commanded us to: “Baptize disciples!” “Teach them to obey everything I commanded you.” [5]

“...You will be My people, and I will be your God.” [6] Praise God for restored identification with Him!

“I will call for the grain and make it plentiful. I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace.” [7] Praise God for replacing poor production with plentiful production; and for replacing disgrace with grace.

“On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified, and inhabited.” “Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” [8]

“Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate.” [9] God glories in replanting the uprooted. He enjoys restoring what was lost.

Whether on a national or an individual level, God is able to restore our losses! As Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” [10]

[1] Ezekiel 4:4-6
[2] Ezekiel 36:23
[3] Ezekiel 36:24
[4] Ezekiel 36:25-26
[5] Ezekiel 36:27 & Matthew 28:20
[6] Ezekiel 36:28
[7] Ezekiel 36:29-30
[8] Ezekiel 36:33-34 & Matthew 6:33
[9] Ezekiel 36:36
[10] Luke 19:10

Prophetic Preaching: A Pastoral Approach

“Phillip Wogaman in his book ‘Speaking the Truth in Love’ [1] gives a broad definition of prophetic preaching. He writes. ‘To be prophetic is not necessarily to be adversarial, or even controversial. The word in its Greek form refers to the one who speaks for God.’ He goes on to ask, ‘What does it mean to speak for God?’ Wogaman says, ‘To speak for another is to grasp, first, the mind of the other… genuinely prophetic preaching draws people into the reality of God in such a way that they cannot any longer be content with conventional wisdom and superficial existence.’” [2]

Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm’s definition of prophetic preaching is, “In accordance with the prophetic tradition of Israel and the ministry of Jesus Christ as recorded in Scripture, prophetic preaching may be understood as divinely inspired speech enlivened by the Holy Spirit in the gathered community of faith. Prophetic preaching proclaims God’s Word from within the Christian tradition against all that threatens God’s reconciling intention for humanity and for all that creates and sustains a vital and necessary ministry of compassion to neighbors near and far. Because it is not exclusively either moral exhortation or predictions regarding future events, prophetic preaching envisions past, present, and future concerns within the context of the reign of God realized in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit.”

“Ottoni-Wilhem names three essential elements of prophetic preaching that can be discerned from considering Jesus’ own prophetic words and deeds. First, prophetic preaching voices God’s passion for others. It incarnates and gives voice to God’s love for the world revealed in Christ Jesus and using the language of lament, voices God’s deep sorrow over evil and injustice. Second, prophetic preaching proclaims the promises of God. The prophet announces the coming reign of God, which has already broken into our midst in Jesus of Nazareth and gives assurance that God’s promise of a new day of justice and peace and equality will surely come to pass. And third, prophetic preaching points the way to new possibilities. Using the language of imagination, it invites us to envision the new day God intends and to discern how God would creatively use us to help bring that day to completion.” [3]

Walter Brueggemann offers his own definition of prophetic ministry in his now-classic book “The Prophetic Imagination.” “The task of prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the conscious and perception of the dominant culture around us.” [4]

“Prophetic witness consists of human acts of justice and kindness that attend to the unjust sources of human hurt and misery. Prophetic witness calls attention to the causes of unjustified suffering and unnecessary social misery. It highlights personal and institutional evil, including the evil of being indifferent to personal and institutional evil.”

“The especial aim of prophetic utterance is to shatter deliberate ignorance and willful blindness to the suffering of others and to expose the clever forms of evaluation and escape we devise in order to hide and conceal injustice. The prophetic goal is to stir up in us the courage to care and empower us to change our lives and our historical circumstances.” [5]

“Prophetic preaching is countercultural and challenges the status quo.”

“Prophetic preaching is concerned with the evils and shortcomings of the present social order and is often more focused on corporate and public issues than on individual and personal concerns.”

“Prophetic preaching requires the preacher to name both what is not of God in the world (criticizing) and the new reality God will bring to pass in the future (energizing).”

“Prophetic preaching offers hope of a new day to come and the promise of liberation to God’s oppressed people.”

“Prophetic preaching incites courage in its hearers and empowers them to work to change the social order.”

“Prophetic proclamation requires of the preacher a heart that breaks with the things that break God’s heart; a passion for justice in the world; the imagination, conviction, and courage to speak words from God; humility and honesty in the preaching moment; and a strong reliance on the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.” [6]

“In her book ‘Transforming the Stone’ Barbara Lundblad contends that fear is often at the root of resistances to prophetic preaching. People fear change and the things it might require of them. But Lundblad reminds us that fears do not go away if we sweep them under the rug and refuse to talk about them. It is only as we begin to name them – honestly and forthrightly – and acknowledge the hold they have over our lives that we are able to take the first step toward moving beyond fear to faith and to embracing the whole Gospel God has entrusted to us.”

“Theologian Scott Bader-Saye reminds us that courage is not the absence of fear. Rather courage is the capacity to do what is right and good in the face of fear. We become courageous when we learn to live for something that is more important than our own safety.” Bader-Saye continues: “The courageous person feels fear but is not overcome by it. The courageous person recognizes danger but refuses to let fear get in the way of doing what is right, good, and necessary.”

“By honestly naming our own fears before God and others, we also open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, who alone can give us the courage we need to confront and act in the midst of our fears.” [7]

May the Lord grant us the courage to preach prophetically! God’s heart and passion is for social reform that includes repentance of sin, transformation of character, and love for one another.

[1] Ephesians 4:15
[2] Leonora Tubbs Tisdale Prophetic Preaching: A Pastoral Approach, Westminster John Know Press, 100 Witherspoon, Louisville, KY, 40202-1396 © 2010, p. 4
[3] Ibid, p. 5
[4] Ibid, p. 6
[5] Ibid, p. 9
[6] Ibid, p. 10
[7] Ibid, pp. 17-18

From Lewdness to Faithfulness

God’s Word verifies what modern research says happens to those who become addicted to sexual perversion. Delving into disordered “love” releases a chemical in the brain (endorphins) that can be addictive. As a person does it more and more, they have to go to more hardcore material and activities to get the same chemical response as when they first began. Finally, they lose control of themselves, and become enslaved to destructive behavior.

The Word of God exposes similarities between Jerusalem’s behavior before it was destroyed and America’s behavior now. Surely, we were nothing when God found us, but He made us into a great nation. Why have we turned from God’s noble purpose for us to that which is ruining us?

God compared Jerusalem to the children of pagans because of her detestable practices. After birth, no one cut her umbilical cord, and no one washed the blood from her. No one clothed her. No one pitied her or had compassion on her. She was cast into an open field. She was despised the day she was born. [1]

God saved and nurtured her. She entered puberty. Her breasts and hair grew, but she was still naked. When God saw that she was old enough for love, He spread the corner of His garment over her and covered her nakedness. God made a solemn oath and covenant with her. So that she became His. He bathed her in water to wash the blood off of her and put ointments on her skin. He clothed her in a beautifully embroidered dress and put fine sandals on her feet. He adorned her with jewelry, put bracelets on her arms and a necklace around her neck. He put a ring on her nose, earrings on her ears and a beautiful crown on her head. So she was clothed with gold, silver, fine and costly fabric that was embroidered. He gave her honey, olive oil and the finest flour for her food. She became very beautiful and enjoyed the status of a queen. Her fame spread among the nations because of her beauty. The splendor God gave her made her beauty perfect. [2]

Jerusalem replaced trust in God with trust in her beauty. She prostituted herself in exchange for popularity. She gave her beauty to any passersby. She traded her beautiful garments for idols. The idols enslaved her. She sacrificed to demons. She formed her fine jewelry into idols. She had intimate relations with them. She gave her beautiful garments from God to her idols. She gave her fine food from God to idols. She presented her slaughtered children to idols. She gave her blessings from God to the devil. She forgot what God did for her. [3]

The Lord lamented with woes over her. She built shrines in public squares to her idols. She gave herself to Egypt because of their large genitals. The culture of Egypt focused on oversized sex parts just as pornographers and Hollywood filmmakers do today. She aroused God’s anger so that He stretched His hand against her and reduced her property. He handed her over to the Philistines. They were shocked by her behavior. She gave herself to the Assyrians. She had an insatiable desire for sex. Nothing could satisfy her. She went to the Babylonians for sex. Like an addict, she needed ever increasing amounts of fixes. She enraged God. She was sacrificed to increase not purge sin. [4]

God rightly called her an adulterous wife who preferred strangers to her own husband. Prostitutes receive gifts, but she gave gifts to anyone who would have sex with her. She defiled people. [5]

God promised to compel her lovers to strip her naked and execute her for being an adulteress. His jealous anger will judge her because she poured out her lust and exposed her nakedness to detestable idols. She slaughtered her children for them. God promised to compel people to destroy her idolatrous ways. To remove her fine clothing and jewelry! A mob will attack, stone, and hack her to pieces. They will burn down her houses and inflict punishment on her in the sight of many women. God will stop her prostitution. She will no longer pay people to use her. Then God’s anger will subside, and His jealousy will end. God is going to judge her for forgetting from where He brought her and because she enraged Him with her behavior. He will cause her to reap what she sowed. She was so lewd. [6]

God quotes a proverb, “Like mother, like daughter.” God says her mother was a pagan who despised her husband and children. Her sisters and father were all pagans. Her older sister was Samaria, and younger sister was Sodom. She followed their ways, copied their practices, and became more depraved than they were. Sodom never became as detestable to God as she did. [7]

Sodom’s sins were arrogance, gluttony, and apathy. She refused to help the poor and needy. She was haughty and detestable before the Lord. So, He put her away. Samaria did not commit half the sins Jerusalem did. Jerusalem made Samaria and Sodom seem righteous. Jerusalem’s sins were more vile than those who were previously the most famous cities for promiscuity. [8]

Jerusalem’s deeds deserved to be shamed. Previously, Jerusalem would not even mention Sodom because of her pride, but after her sin was exposed, the daughters of Edom and Philistia looked down on her for her lewdness. Everyone despised her. She was now experiencing the consequences of her detestable practices. [9]

God dealt with her as she deserved because she despised His promises to her by breaking covenant with Him. Yet, God promised to keep His covenant with her. The covenant He made with her before she became lewd. He made an everlasting covenant with her. His faithfulness will bring her to repentance. She will know that HE is the Lord. God will make atonement for her sin. She will know the Lord and never again open her mouth against Him because of her humiliation. [10]

May the Lord graciously bring America back from lewdness to faithfulness.

Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” [11]

The truth is we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all need the sacrifice that Christ made for our sins. He alone lived a sinless life in this world. His blood was not tainted by sin and therefore He is God’s perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why He is called the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The Father gives those who serve His Son Jesus the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us discern sin as a fiend not a friend. He gives us the power to live to glorify God. Only He can do that. True freedom comes from knowing Christ. [12]

[1] Ezekiel 16:1-5
[2] Ezekiel 16:6-14
[3] Ezekiel 16:15-22; 1 Corinthians 10:20
[4] Ezekiel 16:23-31
[5] Ezekiel 16:32-34
[6] Ezekiel 16:35-43
[7] Ezekiel 16:44-48
[8] Ezekiel 16:49-52
[9] Ezekiel 16:54-58
[10] Ezekiel 16:59-63
[11] John 8:32
[12] Romans 3:22-23; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18-20; John 17:3

The Moabites

The Lord lamented for Moab. “He [Moab] is very proud in his loftiness, his pride, his arrogance, and the arrogance of his heart.” The Lord describes Moab’s demise as sudden. One moment, a healthy creature and the next the prey of an eagle. “Behold, he will fly as an eagle, and will spread out his wings against Moab.” [1]

The Moabites worshipped Chemosh. In the days of Balaam, Moabite women seduced the Israelites to worship their god. Later, King Solomon married Moabite women and set up an altar to Chemosh. Chemosh worship yielded bad results. [2]

Moab was arrogant. “We have heard of the pride of Moab. He is very proud in his loftiness, his pride, his arrogance, and the arrogance of his heart.” The Lord grieved over them. “My heart sounds for Moab like pipes…” “The abundance that he has gotten has perished.” “Moab will be destroyed from being a people, because he has magnified himself against the Lord.” Moab’s pride preceded their downward plunge. [3]

The Lord forewarned them that their cities would be destroyed. Even so, they continued to trust in their works and treasures. The Lord predicted, “The destroyer will come on every city, and no city will escape; the valley also will perish, and the plain will be destroyed.” [4]

Casual living ruined Moab. “Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled on his lees, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither has he gone into captivity: Therefore, his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed.” [5]

The nature of God is to pour out Himself for others. God the Father poured out Himself for us by giving us His Son. The Son poured out Himself for us on the cross to give us eternal life. The Spirit poured out Himself into human flesh that we might have God’s abiding presence in us. If we want to remain fresh for God, we too must be poured out for God and others.

The Lord warned the Moabites that their judgment day was near. Their strong staff and beautiful rod would be broken! He named eleven of their cities that would be plundered. [6]

The Lord said, “Make him [Moab] drunken; for he magnified himself against the Lord. Moab will wallow in his vomit, and he also will be in derision. For was not Israel a derision to you? Was he found among thieves? For as often as you speak of him, you shake your head.” Moab would reap contempt because contempt was what he had sown against Israel and others. The Lord declared, “I know his wrath… that it is nothing; his boastings have done nothing.” [7]

God wept for the Moabites because their summer fruits were about to be pillaged. Their joy and gladness were about to cease. Their winepresses would be dry. They would have no grapes to celebrate with joyous shouts. [8]

The Lord was going to remove those who offered incense to false gods. Their abundance would perish. Every head would be bald. Every beard clipped. God was breaking Moab up like a potter breaks up a vessel in which no one delights. Moab’s strongholds would be seized. The hearts of her mighty men would become like the hearts of women experiencing birth pangs. They would be destroyed as a people. The Moabites erred when they magnified themselves against God. [9]

The Moabite who fled in fear would fall into a pit. He who escaped from the pit would be trapped in a snare. A fire was ready to consume them. They were destined for captivity. [10]

Despite Moab’s sin, the Lord ended His prophecy to them with a promise. “Yet I will reverse the captivity of Moab in the latter days.” [11] The Lord is gracious. Although the Moabites deserved ruin, He promised to them restoration.

[1] Jeremiah 48:29, 40
[2] Numbers 25:1-2; 1 Kings 11:1, 7
[3] Jeremiah 48:29, 36, 42; Proverbs 16:18
[4] Jeremiah 48:8
[5] Jeremiah 48:11
[6] Jeremiah 48:18-24
[7] Jeremiah 48:26-27, 30
[8] Jeremiah 48:31-33
[9] Jeremiah 48:35-42
[10] Jeremiah 48:43-44
[11] Jeremiah 48:47

Can America Be Saved?

Let us consider what happened to Judah when he abandoned God! 

“Judah’s sin is engraved with an iron tool, inscribed with a flint point, on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars. Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles beside the spreading trees and on the high hills. My mountain in the land and your wealth and all your treasures I will give away as plunder, together with your high places, because of sin throughout your country. Through your own fault you will lose the inheritance I gave you. I will enslave you to your enemies in a land you do not know, for you have kindled my anger, and it will burn forever.” [1]

God’s people had sinned to the point of becoming hardened in sin. Sin was engraved in their hearts. Their children didn’t attend Torah instruction, didn’t pray, and didn’t lift a finger to help anyone. The nation was adrift from God!

When people turn their back on God, bad things happen. Hardship and hunger are outcomes of a prodigal lifestyle. Enemy attacks increase. No one comes to the rescue when God takes His hand off of a nation.

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed are those who trust in mortals, who depend on flesh for their strength and whose hearts turn away from the Lord. They will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’” [2]

Ben Stein produced a video entitled, “Expelled” in the which he interviewed the highly accomplished scientists Dr. Sternberg and Dr. Carolyn Mason. They lost their jobs because they dared to speak up for intelligent design. They were labeled intellectual terrorists. Dangerous to society! Atheistic scientists and writers mock God and seek to silence anyone who speaks up for Him.

When the Lord said, “Cursed are those who trust in mortals, who depend on flesh for their strength and whose hearts turn away from the Lord.” He is saying that humanism leads to a curse. Exalting the created over the Creator is what Satan does. His denial and demeaning of the Creator shall bring him to the Lake of Fire.

The Lord said, “They will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.” God says that atheistic humanism dries a person up. Atheism humanism has turned one nation after another into a spiritual desert. It saps the life out of man’s soul and eventually, out of his whole nation.

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? ‘I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward everyone according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.’” [3]

The problem with closing one’s ears and eyes to God is that without Him, we have no idea how deceived we are. Jesus said to Pilate, “For this reason I was born and came into the world, to bear witness to the truth.” [4] Jesus is truth personified.

In “Expelled,” Ben went to a mental health facility in Germany where Hitler had ordered the extermination of over 15,000 people. They were handicapped. They were useless for work. “Lives deemed unworthy of life.” Hitler believed that the human race was breaking the law of natural selection. Only the strong should survive. Based on Darwinism, he came up with the idea to eliminate inferior people. Dr. Richard Weikart wrote a book entitled, “From Darwin to Hitler” in which he proves Nazism’s strong ties to Darwinism. You can listen and watch his lecture on this topic on YouTube.

In the past, America sterilized 50,000 people because they were considered too feeble-minded to be allowed to reproduce. Margaret Stranger, one of the founders of Planned Parenthood, wanted to eliminate the poor and certain races of people.

Today, many favor eugenics. Eugenics is genetic engineering. The goal of eugenics is to engineer healthier and stronger people much like agriculturalists develop new breeds of animals and plants. The insidious side of eugenics is that it declares a death sentence to any unborn person deemed unhealthy while in the womb. When one group of humans are dehumanized, then, a foundation is laid to dehumanize and destroy any group of humans.

According to Dr. James Waller, a specialist on genocidal studies, all it takes for genocide to happen is for one group of people to dehumanize another group. For example, in Rwanda, the Tutsi’s came to believe the Hutu’s were cockroaches, and should be exterminated! Within 30 days, the Tutsi’s slaughtered 800,000 Hutu’s.

The point here is that without the God, we create horrible solutions to problems that we cannot solve. Then, we eliminate people instead of problems.

“Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay are those who gain riches by unjust means. When their lives are half gone, their riches will desert them, and in the end, they will prove to be fools.” [5] Millionaires have committed suicide because after they got what they wanted, they either lost it all or found that it was not as fulfilling as they imagined it would be.

“Let my persecutors be put to shame but keep me from shame; let them be terrified but keep me from terror. Bring on them the day of disaster; destroy them with double destruction.” [6]

Truth-speaking scientists, reporters, and educators have suffered persecution and personal loss due to their stand for God. Jeremiah prayed that his persecutors would be put to shame. He prayed that he would not be ashamed or terrorized. He wanted persecutors of truth to experience a day of disaster. He wanted God to destroy them with double destruction because they were destroying his nation!

Some atheistic writers devote themselves to sabotaging people’s faith in Christ. Richard Dawkins wrote “The God Delusion.” People purchased more than a million copies of the book. It is an attack on religion! Richard Dawkins is now dead. He now knows that God is REAL!

“This is what the Lord said to me: ‘Go and stand at the gate of the people, through which the kings of Judah go in and out; stand also at all the other gates of Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah and all people of Judah and everyone living in Jerusalem who come through these gates. This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors. Yet they did not listen or pay attention; they were stiff-necked and would not listen or respond to discipline. But if you are careful to obey me, declares the Lord, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy by not doing any work on it, then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this city with their officials. They and their officials will come riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by the men of Judah and those living in Jerusalem and this city will be inhabited forever. People will come from the towns of Judah and the villages around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin and the western foothills, from the hill country and the Negev, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the Lord. But if you do not obey me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses.’” [7]

God told Jeremiah to speak at the entrance gates of Jerusalem. He was to speak to cargo bearers and consumers. He told them to stop shopping on Sabbath Days. They were to devote one day in seven to the Lord. He told them not to be stiff-necked. He urged them to respond to the Lord’s call to worship. God told them that if they listened their future would be bright, but if they continued to prefer shopping to worship, He would kindle an unquenchable fire to destroy their nation.

It is vital to keep the Sabbath Day! In God’s house the Word of God is preached. We need God! His Word is taught in Sunday school and preached in worship services. We need the fellowship of other believers.

Twenty-first century America is like Jeremiah’s Jerusalem. We have politicians, judges, scientists, media moguls and educators who convince people to reject Jesus Christ and the Bible, but one day every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus said that the way to destruction is broad, and many are entering into it. The way to life is narrow. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus calls us to be His followers. We need to make a choice. We can’t be half in and half out.

America is sinking. We are floundering. We are adrift from truth. We hit the iceberg. Water is pouring in. Our nose is in the water. The rest of the ship will soon follow.

Is it too late to save America? Should we just give up? No, as long as America exists, we need to speak God’s Word. We need to urge and persuade people to repent of sin, turn from it and submit to God.

The only hope for our nation is Jesus Christ. He is not just an idea. He is the Son of God! He transforms sinners into saints. Jesus has real power. Not power to exploit or abuse, but to care. He empowers us to love God and people like we never have before. Even to love and care for orphans, widows, and foreigners!

Ship America may go down, but let’s save as many lives as possible before it does.

[1] Jeremiah 17:1-4
[2] Jeremiah 17:5-8
[3] Jeremiah 17:9-10
[4] John 18:37
[5] Jeremiah 17:11
[6] Jeremiah 17:18
[7] Jeremiah 17:19-27 



The Foreigner, Widow and Fatherless

“If you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place. Do not walk after other gods to your hurt. Then, I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.” [1]

Jeremiah spoke at the gate of God’s house. His goal was to call his listeners to repent of sin and to return to the Lord. He turned up the volume. He stood in a public place. He vocalized with vim and vigor what God wanted them to hear.

When Jesus entered God’s house in Jerusalem some 500 years later, He did so with a whip in hand. The Spirit of the Lord led Him to drive the buyers and sellers out. He overturned the tables of money changers. Jesus referenced Jeremiah’s temple message, when He asked them, “Has this house, which is called by My Name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?” [2]

The Lord uproots and removes evil before planting and growing goodness. For example, after Jesus cleansed the temple, something wonderful happened. He healed the blind and lame. [3]

I am glad that Jesus drove evil out of my temple. He dashed my idols of fame and fortune to the ground. Jesus replaced my counterfeit faith with true religion. “Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” [4]

Once, after I asked the Lord to help visit me a widow and a fatherless child, He connected me the very next day to a young lady who had lost her father. She invited my family to visit her widowed mother. This widow and her three daughters believed in Christ. Three years after that, the Lord opened the door for us to serve orphans. The orphans included a blind girl named Ho Sui Kam, a lame girl named Taan Fa and boy with an enlarged heart named Chan Ling. We talked of Jesus together and sang songs of deliverance.

I am so glad God fills us with His love for foreigners, the fatherless and widows. Humble ministry to the poor is better than extravagant temples and meaningless religious ceremonies. I am glad that Jesus is more than just a building and a name.

True religion involves communicating directly with God and healing people. True religion involves joy in caring for foreigners, the fatherless and widows. In Christ, true religion can spring forth where once only dead counterfeit religion existed.

[1] Jeremiah 7:5-7
[2] Luke 19:45; John 2:15-17; Jeremiah 7:11
[3] Matthew 21:12-14
[4] James 1:27

Return to Me

What are you facing today? The Lord says, “Return to Me.”

What unresolved problems? The Lord says, “Return to Me.”

What fears? The Lord says, “Return to Me.”

What emotions? The Lord says, “Return to Me.”

“Return… for I am merciful.” “Return... I will cure you of backsliding.” “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” “...’Return to Me, and I will return to you,’ says the Lord of hosts...” [1]

The Heavenly Father, He...
Forgives all your iniquities,
Heals all your diseases,
Redeems your life from destruction,
Crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Satisfies your mouth with good things,

Renews your youth like the eagle’s.
He is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” [2]

The Lord says, “Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” [3]

For the thirsty. the Spirit of the Living God beckons to us, “Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” [4] Be refreshed! Be filled until overflowing. Don’t just survive – thrive!

“...His compassions fail not. They are new every morning...” [5]

Enjoy your Heavenly Father! Praise Him! Thank Him! Share what He means to You with someone! Let others know of His love and faithfulness. Isn’t He wonderful? Yes, He is!

[1a] Jeremiah 3:12, 22; Isaiah 55:7 Malachi 3:7
[2] Psalm 103:3-5, 8
[3] Matthew 11:28
[4] Revelation 22:17
[5] Lamentations 3:22-23

The Lord’s Appearance Our Blessed Hope

I don’t want to fear Christ’s appearance. When He appears, it is good news for us believers. Movies have been made to strike fear in the hearts of people about the Lord’s return. It concerns me when Christians fear His return. The Lord’s return is our blessed hope. [1]

What is the rapture and what is the second coming? The rapture is an appearance by the Lord in the air. During the rapture, Christians are caught up in the air to be forever with the Lord. During the rapture, Jesus comes as a groom for His bride. He delivers His Church from the end-time plagues that are designed to bring the unrepentant to repentance. During the ten plagues on Egypt, Satan’s people, the Egyptians, experienced the plagues, God’s did not. During the second coming, Christ returns to the earth as a mighty conqueror on a horse with the saints following Him. He returns in wrath and vengeance to judge the world with righteousness. He returns as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The second coming of Christ brings an end to this world and begins a new one.

What does the Bible say about Jesus Christ our blessed hope?

“Many will come from the east and west and take their place at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” [2] Most of us enjoy fine dining with wonderful people. Jesus described heaven as a place of dining and fellowship. No one will be hungry or outcast there.

Those who enter into eternity with Jesus enter into the joy of the Lord. [3]

Jesus called eternity with God paradise. “Truly I tell you, TODAY, you will be with Me in paradise.” [4] The word paradise comes from the Persian language. It means a beautiful garden or park. The Garden of Eden was a paradise. The second coming of Christ will be paradise restored.

The resurrection of believers in Christ happens in this way: “The body that is sown is perishable, is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. Just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.” [5] These earth suits are sown into the soil and come up heavenly bodies. We are currently wearing seed-bodies. These seed-bodies shall turn into heavenly bodies by the power of God. It is like being planted as an orchid seed and coming up an orchid flower.

“We will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed! For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” [6] What kind of bodies will we have in heaven? We will have imperishable bodies.

Christians encourage one another to hope in the Lord’s appearance. “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” [7]

The Day of the Lord is an award ceremony for servants of Christ. “There is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” [8]

Abraham “looked forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” We believers in Christ share a longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called our God, for He has prepared a city for us.” [9]

The Heavenly Jerusalem is a city so large that it covers most of the continental USA. It is made of precious jewels and metals. No earthly city can be compared with it. It is a place of righteousness, peace, and joy. It’s a place of abundance! Of angels singing! People loving God! No more war or death! The parties and parks here do not compare with the joy and splendor of heaven. [10]

To reject Jesus Christ is to excuse self from heaven. Entrance into heaven is via Jesus Christ. He is the door to heaven. No one gets in apart from faith in Him. [11]

Some people won’t be in heaven. It is disturbing to think that they will be excluded from heaven. They will be cast into hell with the devil and his angels. [12]

The movie, “Like a Thief in the Night” begins with a young man telling people about the return of Christ. As he speaks, the movie camera pans the room. Some were listening, others were not. After the message, a trio sang the song, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” by Larry Norman. Verse two goes like this:

“A man and wife asleep in bed,
She hears a noise and turns her head,
He’s gone.
I wish we’d all be ready.

Two men walking up a hill,
One disappears and one’s left standing still.
I wish we’d all been ready.

There’s no time to change your mind.
The Son has come, and you’ve been left behind.” [13]

While we need to be deeply concerned for those who will be left behind, we need to consider our Lord’s return as our blessed hope. “At that time, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and all the peoples of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” This is our bridegroom returning for us His bride. [14]

Jesus said in: “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” [15]

What is “the thief” breaking into steal? His people! Jesus is coming for His elect! “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if that were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and TAKE YOU to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” [16]

Tribulations are coming, but so is the Lord! He will not forsake us. Yes, our nation may continue to backslide. Our world may continue to become more evil, but the Lord will not forget us. He will remember His own. He WILL save us!

“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and OUR BEING GATHERED TO HIM, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the Day of the Lord has already come.” [17] Can you imagine how terrified you would be if someone convinced you by a letter or prophecy that the rapture had already happened? You were left behind! That’s what some false teachers did to the Thessalonians. They told them that the Lord had come, and they had been left behind.

“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the apostasy occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be god.” [18] Remember this: Apostasy precedes Parousia. Apostasy means to stand apart from God. Parousia means appearance – meaning the Lord’s appearance. When we see more and more people who once attended Church turn away from Jesus, it is a sign that He is coming soon for His elect.

Beware of becoming bitter about those left behind. In the 1940’s, there were two evangelists who led thousands of souls to Christ. One’s name is well known the others’ is not. Have you heard of Billy Graham? Yes! Have you heard of Torrey Johnson? Most likely not! Torrey Johnson started out well but was overtaken by grief for the perishing. At first, it troubled him. Later, it became a bitter root in his soul. Finally, he stopped evangelizing because he forsook the Lord.

“Be careful lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” [19] We have to leave those who reject Jesus to God. Only God sees the whole picture.

The rich man in a parable of Jesus did not want his five brothers to end up in hell with him. He begged Father Abraham to send Lazarus to testify to them so that they would not end up in the place of torment. Lost souls do not want us in hell with them. The rich man ended up in hell because he disregarded God and neighbor. He gambled that God would not condemn him. He sure changed his tune in hell. No one should take God lightly. [20]

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” [21] For believers, the appearance of Christ is about redemption. Jesus returns to redeem us. Though we are sinners just like the rest, we have repented, and washed our robes in His blood. He has written our names in His Book of Life! Therefore, we are looking up. We expect to see Him soon.

[1] Titus 2:13
[2] Matthew 8:11
[3] Matthew 25:21
[4] Luke 23:24
[5] 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 49
[6] 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
[7] 1Thessalonians 4:16-18
[8] 2 Timothy 4:8
[9] Hebrews 11:10, 16
[10] Revelation 19; 21-22
[11] John 10:1-7; 14:6
[12] Revelation 20:10-15
[13] Matthew 24:40-44
[14] Matthew 24:30-31
[15] Matthew 24:40-44
[16] John 14:1-3
[17] 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
[18] 2 Thessalonians 2:2-4
[19] Hebrews 11:15
[20] Luke 16:27-28
[21] Luke 21:28

The Lord Desires Mercy

When John the Baptist wanted to know if Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus assured John with the following report: “The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.” [1] Our Savior’s signature work is love in action.

When the Pharisees questioned why Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners. He encouraged them to: “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” [2]

Once, Jesus told a rich young ruler, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come and follow Me.” [3]

“Come and follow Me.” What an opportunity for the rich young ruler! But when he heard this, he went away sad. He had great wealth. He wanted the Lord, but he also wanted his wealth.

Jesus already had one Judas Iscariot. Someone who would betray him for money! The rich young ruler was not ready to exchange his lifestyle for the kind that Jesus described.

The Apostle Paul expressed the key to his walk with Jesus this way: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” [4] Paul depended on Jesus to walk as Jesus walks.

Missionary to Ecuador and martyr for Christ, Jim Elliott, expressed the key to his walk with Jesus this way: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, expressed the key to his walk with Jesus this way: “Depend on it. God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”

The Lord desires mercy. To follow Jesus means to be merciful. To follow Jesus is the opportunity to let one’s love be great! To follow Jesus is to have faith in His faithfulness. As we do His will, He supplies all our needs according to HIS riches and glory. Praise the Lord!

[1] Matthew 11:5
[2] Matthew 9:10-13
[3] Matthew 19:21-22
[4] Galatians 2:20

21st Century Jeremiah

I praise God for revealing to us how He reached out to a young man named Jeremiah and called him to be a prophet to the nations. God describes how He did it in the first chapter. Jeremiah felt inadequate for the task, and he was, but God promised to be with him and help him. In the first chapter, God gave Jeremiah two visions and explained the meaning of the visions to him. Thus, his prophetic ministry began because God supplied him the light to do it. [1]

God strengthened Jeremiah to share His message with His people. Though some hated, falsely accused, beat, and imprisoned him, God helped him to keep bringing forth His Word to people. God also gave Jeremiah the necessary love, patience, and endurance to care for the people that God had entrusted to him.

On July 18, 2012, I established a blog site “21st Century Jeremiah” to share the messages of Jeremiah, the prophets, the apostles, and the messages of our Lord Jesus Christ with people. God’s Word is light. Needed light for our dark world!

When I went to Hong Kong in June of 1985, it was on a gut sense, a knowing, that God called me. I went by faith, trusting in the promises recorded in His Word. That mission involved hardships, lean times and even persecution, but by the grace of our Lord Jesus and working of the Holy Spirit, it yielded good fruit. Orphans and widows were visited! Many lost souls believed in Jesus. Glory to God!

Now, I am praying, “Heavenly Father, if you want me to be like Jeremiah during this twenty-first century, then, please be with me! Please develop and cultivate me. Please also make me like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall to stand for You. [2] Help me lead distant people from You to become close with You!

May the Lord be glorified and may souls be saved.

[1] Jeremiah 1:4-19
[2] Jeremiah 1:18


The City of God

Have you ever heard of a book called “The City of God?” It was published in 426 by Augustine of Hippo, also known as Saint Augustine.

Augustine witnessed the fall of “Christianized” Rome to pagans. In response to this dramatic event, he wrote, “The City of God.” He envisioned two rival cities formed by two loves. The earthly city, formed by love of self even to the contempt of God, stands in contrast with the heavenly city, the city of God, founded and shaped by love of God even to the contempt of self. These two cities are progressing along separate paths toward different ends.

One city is about love of self and the other about love of God. The love of self over the love of God and neighbour tends to prevail in this sinful world, but one day, sin will be no more, and there will only exist a City of God... thanks to JESUS!

The City of God is not of this world. Jesus is preparing it for those who believe in Him and confess Him before people.

Jesus said to His disciples, “...I go to prepare a place for you.” [1] What will it be like? Jesus revealed the city to John the Apostle. It will come down from heaven. It is where God and humanity dwell together. New Jerusalem has streets of pure gold, walls of jewels and gates of pearl. There is a crystal sea. Far from being a ghost town, it has inhabitants from every tribe, language, and nation. God dwells there! There is no more death, pain, or war in New Jerusalem. There is no hunger or thirst in New Jerusalem. There is no more devil or antichrists in New Jerusalem. [2]

Jesus described His city as paradise to the dying thief next to Him on the cross. Abraham called it a city whose builder and maker was God. [3] Peter called it a city wherein dwells righteousness. [4] The hope of getting there empowered Moses to endure the insults of the world rather than enjoy the pleasures and riches of Egypt for a season. [5]

New Jerusalem comes down from God above. It is His work. “The city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem [is a place of] an innumerable company of angels.” [6]

What a great salvation! No wonder the writer of Hebrews wrote: “exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” [7]

[1] John 14:2
[2] Revelation 21-22
[3] Hebrew 11:10
[4] 2 Peter 3:13
[5] Hebrews 11:26
[6] Hebrews 12:22
[7] Hebrews 3:13-14

Overcoming Evil

The following Bible verses provide guidance for those who are battling evil in their effort to share the Gospel with people.

Pray: “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” [1]

“Submit yourselves to God! Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” [2]

Listen to your conscious. The Bible warns against a conscious seared by fire. [3] A conscious seared by fire does not work. A good conscious is rooted in the fear of God. Praise God for your conscious.

“For this purpose, was the Son of God manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil.” [4]

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Jesus said this in response to the disciples telling Him, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” [5]

“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons...” [6] 

“Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.” “I cast out demons by the Spirit of God.” Jesus referred to casting out demons as robbing a strongman of his goods. The strong man is a metaphor for a demon. The binding of him refers to how Jesus disables him as the believer places him in the hands of God. The “spoiling” of the strong man’s goods refers to his captive being set free from him. [7]

“They overcame him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” [8] The blood of the Lamb cancelled all Satan’s claims against us because the blood of the Lamb removed our sins. The Word of our Testimony is JESUS. He is our Redeemer. Whether or not the Lord delivers us from death threats, we are determined to serve Him... “they did not love their lives to the death.”

“God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” [9]

The mission of the Church is “to open the eyes of unbelievers, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they might receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them which are made holy by faith in Christ.” [10]

The Lord provides us spiritual weapons and protection to overcome the evil one. [11]

We are more than conquerors through Christ that loves us. [12]

The day is coming when evil will end. However, until that day we must fight the good fight of faith. [13]

To seek to save souls is to enter the battle against Satan.

The awesomely bright side to spiritual warfare is SALVATION. One of the greatest of blessings this side of heaven is to be God’s vessel to share the Gospel with a lost soul and see that person saved by the power of Christ.

[1] Matthew 6:13
[2] James 4:7
[3] 1 Timothy 4:2
[4] 1 John 3:8
[5] Luke 5:17, 19
[6] Mark 16:17; (Mark 9:38-39; Acts 16:18; 19:11-16)
[7] Matthew 12:28-29
[8] Revelation 12:11
[9] 2 Timothy 1:7
[10] Acts 26:18

[11] Ephesians 6:10-18
[12] Romans 8:37
[13] Revelation 20:10, 15; 1Timothy 6:12

A Beautiful Life

A man with great material wealth wrote Ecclesiastes from the perspective of a self-minded person. He had denied himself no pleasure, but after those pleasures were experienced, depression set in. Thanks to God, he came to his senses, and wrote Ecclesiastes to encourage others not to make the same mistake that he did.

Rivalry may be used as a motivator to spur on work, but rivalry doesn’t result in revival. Revival springs forth from a heart that is set free from the sinful self and filled with love by Jesus Christ.

“He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” [1]

“Thank You Heavenly Father for making beautiful that which lacked beauty. Please help us to fathom Your doings more fully.”

“I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear Him.” [2]

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your wonderful works.”

“Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” [3] Abiding in God’s love yields tranquility whereas sinful pride never has enough.

King Solomon describes the life of wisdom in the passage below:

“The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath: one person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. People curse those who hoard grain, but they pray God’s blessing on those who are willing to sell. Whoever seeks good finds favor...” [4]

Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” [5]

God’s love initiates well-being and good outcomes. When we abide in His love, good things happen. The love of Christ compels us to be what we would never be on our own, namely, a person whose beauty is from God, and is for the glory of God!

[1] Ecclesiastes 3:11
[2] Ecclesiastes 3:14
[3] Ecclesiastes 4:6
[4] Proverbs 11:24-27
[5] Matthew 10:8

Christ the Vein Where True Treasures are Hidden

“Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they refine it. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.” “Its stones are the source of sapphires, and it contains gold dust.” [1]

From fire and rock, from heat and hardness come precious jewels and metals. Miners go to great depths and endure hardships to mine these treasures.

Job speaks of something more valuable than precious stones and metals. Those shiny objects were of no use to him in the day that tried like fire. He asks, “Where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.” [2]

Job contrasts the value of wisdom with fine gold, onyx, and sapphire. Is wisdom really better than costly metals or precious jewels? As if comparing wisdom to gold and precious jewels was not enough, Job continued and said wisdom is better than crystal, coral, pearls, rubies, topaz, and pure gold. [3]

Where can wisdom be found? Job concluded, “God understands its way, and He knows its place.” [4] God points us to His Son Jesus Christ in the Bible as His wisdom.

“...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” [5] “Christ Jesus became for us wisdom from God.” [6] “In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” [7]

To acquire true treasure we need not dig deep into the heart of the earth. We need to simply humble ourselves before God as a child turns to a parent for help. Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children.” [8]

Paul declared, “The Gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” [9] Jesus reveals to us the most meaningful and inspiring riches of this life. He is the vein where true treasures are hidden. He invites you and me to partake of Him today.

[1] Job 28:1-2, 6
[2] Job 28:12-13
[3] Job 28:15-20
[4] Job 28:23
[5] 1 Corinthians 1:25
[6] 1 Corinthians 1:30
[7] Colossians 2:2-3
[8] Matthew 11:25
[9] Galatians 1:11-12

Streets of Gold Not Shades of Grey

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” [1]

Jesus warned against lust. He made it clear that lust leads to hell. It is that serious!

I do not like to talk about lust, but it is something with which we must deal. When Jesus gave His Sermon on the Mount, He devoted a paragraph to it.

Lust distorts one’s perspective of people. It objectifies them. It de-humanizes others for the sake of personal gratification. Lust is not love. It is selfish.

Jesus said that to be with Him we must deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him. [2] God’s love lays down one’s own life to make another’s life better. It is about valuing others more than self. Jesus Christ empowers us to love as God loves. We must be in a relationship with God to have His love.

One of my favorite illustrations on God’s love is found in the Trinity: The Father so loved the world that He gave His Son, the Son so loved the world that He gave His life, and the Holy Spirit so loved the world that He deigned to live in humans who believe in Christ. The Bible says: “God is love.” [3] Love is His essence and nature.

The carnal self likes to recklessly enjoy sin. The problem with sin is that after we leave this life for the next one, there is a Judge, and His job is to ensure that no sin enters heaven. And no sin will! Sin must be dealt with at the cross or at the judgment seat. Which will it be?

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit reminds us of what Jesus said, namely, that if we embrace lust, we will lose our whole body in hell.

Lust is not a friend. It is a fiend. Lust is not something to gamble on. Those who do, lose.

The Bible urges us to FLEE from lusts. [4] Martin Luther taught, “You cannot stop birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from nesting in your hair.” We need to treat lustful thoughts like the ugly demons they are.

The Bible says, “Submit yourself to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” [5] Love God! Hate provocative images. They are robbers. Read Proverbs chapters 5-7 to hear what the wisest man in the world said about lust.

In the Book of Revelation, there are two women: the Bride of Christ and the Harlot Babylon. Babylon is described as an enemy of God's saints. She seeks to destroy them. The Bride of Christ is described as God’s holy people. She is the one who inherits God and His blessings. Babylon is the one who is destroyed by God. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus encourages His people to have nothing to do with Babylon.

If there is anything worth pursuing, it is God’s holiness. Holy vessels do not taint what God pours through them. Jesus said, “For their sake I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” [7] Holiness is about being God’s blessing to others.

With the release of “Fifty Shades of Grey” and other movies of this genre, hell has opened wide its mouth to devour souls. Like fish plucked from the sea, once people take the bait, they are hooked and captured. Unless they submit themselves to God and resist the devil, the devil will NOT flee from them. They will be his captives. They will be his quarry.

Repent of lust. Ask God to forgive you. Ask God to rescue you from it. Lust has the potential to destroy your soul in hell. It is that serious. Ask God to keep you from temptation and deliver you from evil. Jesus said, “If the Son makes you free, you are free indeed.” [6] Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with God’s love. Live to love not to lust!

In the Book of Revelation, an angel showed John the streets in New Jerusalem. They were made of gold so pure that a person can see through them. Choose gold not grey. Choose God not lust. Heaven is where God and humanity dwell in unity. There are multitudes of angels and people there. It is a place of singing and joy unspeakable. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” [8]

[1] Matthew 5:27-29
[2] Matthew 16:24
[3] 1 John 4:8, 16
[4] 2 Timothy 2:22
[5] James 4:7
[6] John 8:36
[7] John 17:19
[8] Colossians 3:2; (Revelation 21-22)

Five more Bible verses on holiness:

1 Thessalonians 5:23: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Peter 1:3: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”

2 Corinthians 6:1: “As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4: “This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor.”