Let Us Remember

“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.” [1]

This morning, a couple of news articles caught my attention:

“ISIS beheads 10 Christian captives… and shooting an 11th in Nigeria, as part of a grisly campaign to avenge the deaths of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the group's spokesman.” [2]

“Police throughout China target Christians and demolish churches. Iran and North Korea… both regimes exert the full strength of their security apparatuses to spy on, imprison, torture, and even execute people who do not belong to either state’s official religion.” [3]

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for blessing us with food, clothes, dwelling places, transportation and for freedom to worship You in public places. Today, we remember our brothers and sisters who are suffering for their love for You. Please rescue them from the hands of those who seek to do them harm. Please provide for their needs and for the needs of their families. Please send forth Your holy angels to help them. For it is in Your Name that we pray, Amen.”

[1] Hebrews 13:3
[2] By Barnini Chakraborty | Fox News
[3] By Rev. Joseph D'Souza | Fox News

Faithful Stewards

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” [1]

Jesus was speaking to His disciples. Pharisees were within hearing distance of him. The Pharisees were the managers of religious teaching. Prior to teaching that no man can serve God and mammon (worldly wealth), Jesus told the parable of a steward who misused his position to cheat his master.

The Pharisees did not appreciate what Jesus was teaching His disciples. Consider this! Jesus was in the process of training a new group of leaders to replace the Pharisees. What does the Bible say about the Pharisees? How did they react to what Jesus taught His disciples?

“Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.” [2]

The Pharisees mismanaged the positions God gave them. They were unjust stewards. The first portion of Luke 16 is about a steward who embezzled his master’s money. The Pharisees were serving money and not God. They derided the Messiah that God sent to the world.

The last portion of Luke 16 is a parable about a rich man and a poor man. They both die. The rich man ends up in Hades and the poor man ends up in next to Abraham. The rich man is in the torment of flames while the poor man is comforted.

“Lord Jesus, please forgive us for all the times worldly concerns have become larger than You, and larger than the mission that You have given us, namely, the ministry of soul-salvation. Please help us Your people to be found faithful to You and to Your mission when You return.”

[1] Luke 16:13
[2] Luke 16:14

Prepare to Meet Your God

Five calamites, and yet, they did not return to the Lord.

Lack of bread in all your places – “Yet you have not returned to Me” [1]
Lack of rain and drinking water – “Yet you have not returned to Me” [2]
Disease/pests against their crops – “Yet you have not returned to Me” [3]
Death via plague and war – “Yet you have not returned to Me” [4]
Overthrow as Sodom overthrown – “Yet you have not returned to Me” [5]

So now, “Prepare to meet your God!” [6]

With so much evil happening in our country, you would think there would be a massive turning the Lord. So many “leaders” are defiantly legislating against the Lord. We have mass shootings. We have mass addiction to alcohol, harmful drugs, and pornography. Rather than “fear the Lord,” the message of the day is “fear to believe in God and obey Him.”

“Judah was carried away captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.” [7]

The people of Judah are a negative example for us. They would not worship the Lord. They were defiant. They delighted in a culture of no boundaries. What happened to them? Their land was invaded, destroyed and they were deported to serve the whims of a cruel tyrant.

One of their nation’s founders wrote, “Blessed are those who keep justice, and he who does righteousness at all times!” [8] But now they despise those who invested in their future.

A wise king instructed his people this way: “Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you spank him, he will not die. You shall spank him and deliver his soul from hell.” [9] Offer a lesser pain in a loving way to save the child from a greater pain later on.

The wise king also wrote, “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.” [10]

There is a hereafter. A face-to-face encounter with a holy God! God advises us to prepare to meet Him. It is going to happen.

The Apostle Paul advises us to... “Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” [11]

Christ is the answer! He transforms sinners into saints. Rather than defiance choose dependence! Rely on Christ. Daily place yourself in His hands. With the backing of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe you will be prepared to meet Him.

[1] Amos 4:6
[2] Amos 4:7-8
[3] Amos 4:9
[4] Amos 4:10
[5] Amos 4:11
[6] Amos 4:12
[7] 1 Chronicles 9:1
[8] Psalm 106:3
[9] Proverbs 23:13-14
[10] Proverbs 23:17-18
[11] Ephesians 4:22-24

Avoid Behavioral Bear Traps

“The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” [1]

Transgressors stumble over the Lord’s ways because He neither sins nor condones sin. “Why” say they, “would anyone not want to sin?” The righteous are blessed by the Lord to keep eternity in their view.

“Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’” [2]

How did the devil lure our first parents into sin? He got them to doubt the Lord’s Word.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?” [3]

Stay on the road of holy conduct and far from evil.

“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” [4]

We need the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to avoid being lured from our steadfastness by the wily devil. He is a master-hunter. He cannot hurt the Lord, so he seeks to trap and destroy us who are made in God’s image. However, if we cling to Christ, Christ will save us from him.

Praise the Lord!

[1] Hosea 14:9
[2] 2 Peter 3:3-4
[3] 2 Peter 3:10-11
[4] 2 Peter 3:17-18

A Sign

“The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.” [1]

“Observe mercy and justice and wait on your God continually.” [2]

“The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous and self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries.” [3]

Signs!

When we are driving, the information posted on road signs help us to know when to turn, when to slow down or speed up, as well as when to stop. The information affirms to us if we are on the right or wrong road.

The Bible is a sign that is full of helpful information. Proverbs 11:3 says that integrity and uprightness is the right road while perversity and unfaithfulness are the wrong road. Hosea 12:6 advises us to observe mercy and justice, and to wait on God rather than to proceed forward without Him. 2 Peter 2:9-10 says that the Lord is the Deliverer from temptation. The Lord says that lusting after the flesh and despising authorities is a wrong turn. He advises us not to be presumptuous, self-willed, and bold to speak evil of people in authority.

The angel told the shepherds on the first Christmas morning, "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” The angel told the shepherds that this child is the Messiah and Savior. [4]

“Lord God Heavenly Father, please help us see and follow the sign that You have provided for us: The Bible and Your Son Jesus Christ. Your Son became flesh and dwelt among us. He was born on earth and placed in a manger. He saves us from our sin. Please Holy Spirit help us to daily observe these signs so that we avoid an eternally bad accident on our way to heaven. This we pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

[1] Proverbs 11:3
[2] Hosea 12:6
[3] 2 Peter 2:9-10
[4] Luke 2:11-12

Partakers of God’s Divine Nature

The Bible places God and Jesus our Lord on an equal plain. Both are referred to as “His divine power.” The Father and the Son, with the Holy Spirit are the Holy Trinity. The one and only Triune God.

Praise be to our Triune God for blessing us to partake of His divine nature. He helps us to escape the corruption that is in the world. Our diligence, faith, divine knowledge, self-control, perseverance, self-control, brotherly kindness, and love are from God. These blessings make us fruitful in our knowledge of Jesus our Lord.

The Lord grants us diligence to make our calling and election sure so that we do not stumble along the way, but the rather, enjoy an abundant entrance into His everlasting kingdom.

Others & Still Others

“Others...
Were tortured,
Not accepting deliverance,
That they might obtain a better resurrection.

Still others...
Experienced trials of mocking and scourging,
Yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
They were stoned,
They were sawn in two,
They were tempted,
They were slain with the sword.
They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins,
Being destitute, afflicted, tormented—
Of whom the world was not worthy.
They wandered in deserts and mountains,
In dens and caves of the earth.” [1]

“Others… still others” are the heroes of the faith whose names are not given in the Bible. These heroes of the faith wanted a better resurrection. They did not want their rewards on earth. They went through severe trials of the faith on behalf of the Word of the Lord. Their trials included physical pain, emotional pain, being misunderstood, maligned, and mistreated.

These “Others… still others” were a stumbling block to the world. The world wonders, “Why do you endure such treatment for a God that does not save you?” “Are you made in God's image? Look how marred and beaten you are!” “Yes,” the others… still others reply. “Our God became a man with an appearance that was marred more than any other man.” [2]

“Holy Spirit, please fill us with the love of God and neighbor so that we willingly endure trials of the faith for the sake of glory of Jesus Christ and for the sake of presenting the Gospel to lost souls.”

[1] Hebrews 11:35-38
[2] Isaiah 52:14

Come Lord Jesus!

The Lord gave Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the ruling empire of his time, a prophetic dream. The Lord gave Daniel the interpretation of the dream. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar the dream’s meaning.

“You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.” [1]

The iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold represented the last of the last great worldly empires to rule over the world. These empires were impressive for people to behold. They seemed unbreakable, but after a little stone hit them, they were totally gone.

That little stone that becomes a great mountain and fills the earth is the Kingdom of God. His kingdom came to earth in the form of a baby born in a manger. This stone may seem harmless, even laughable to some, like a children’s story, but the little stone, Christ, shall bring down the mighty kingdoms of this world and replace them, and His kingdom shall not end. His kingdom shall never be overthrown. No more flip flopping between one political party and another. His Kingdom shall be firm like a rock, as well as great and glorious!

“Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” [2]

“Yes, come a second time Lord Jesus!”

[1]  Daniel 2:34-35
[2] Hebrews 9:28

Magnifying the Lord

“Mary said:

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
Holy is His name.

He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.’” [1]

Mary said that she was of lowly state. She was the Lord’s maidservant. She was the servant of God not men. She waited on the Lord much like a waitress waits on customers at a meal table. She rejoices in God her Savior because He respected the lowly and the hungry more so than the mighty, proud, and rich. He chose her of all people to be the earthly mother of the Savior of the world. The Lord scattered the proud people who were full of imaginations about themselves. The proud had so much yet believed that they deserved and should have more. The Lord sent them a running. He chose the humble.

Yesterday, the Lord placed in Sherry’s heart a strong desire to take blankets, socks, and packets of tissues to the homeless street dwellers by the bay. They were so grateful for these blessings. It was 46 degrees at the time. She gave food to one woman who was so weak she tried to talk but no words came out of her mouth.

Sherry also has a homeless man named Adam that sits by her kettle stand at the Metreon. She has been sharing Jesus with him and praying for him daily. Adam told her about the homeless people living near Embarcadero.

When I consider all the time and money that is wasted on entertainment… sports, games, TV, movies, eating out, etc., all connected to the world of fantasy and imaginations… compared to watching Sherry distribute much needed supplies and love to the poor… REALITY, I choose to magnify the LORD.

“Thank You Jesus for choosing to do great things through Your handmaiden Mary. Thank You Jesus for Your servant Sherry...my precious grace gift from You! You who are mighty have done great things for me. Holy is Your Name!”

[1] Luke 1:46-49, 51-53

A Great Army

Dry bones now a great army
Stony hearts now hearts of flesh
Spirit of the Lord move!
Bring forth renewal

Lord, speak Your Word
Breathe Your breath
Sprinkle with clean water
Create new hearts

“The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down amidst the valley; and it was full of bones. And He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’

So, I answered, ‘O Lord God, You know.’

Again, He said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!’

So, I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.

Also, He said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus, says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.’ So, I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.” [1]

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” [2]

[1] Ezekiel 37:1, 3-4, 7-10
[2] Ezekiel 36:25-27

God’s Word Produces Faith in Him

Below are three Bible passages about the power of God’s Word and four Bible passages about the power of faith in God.  

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

Yea, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” [1]

“How much better to get wisdom than gold!

And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

He who heeds the word wisely will find good,

And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.”

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. [2]

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” [3]

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” [4]

“God gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” [5]

“So, then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” [6]

Not only does God’s Word compel us away-from foolishness and ungodliness, He produces faith in us through it so we can believe that the unseen can become seen as we trust in Him. God speaks things into existence that formerly did not exist.

“…God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.” [7]

God can even produce followers of Christ out of stones.

“Yay, Lord, we need stones to become children of Abraham because the work is great and the laborers (of Your Word) are few.”

[1] Psalm 19:7-10

[2] Proverbs 16:16, 20, 24

[3] 2 Timothy 3:16-17

[4] Hebrews 11:1-3

[5] Romans 10:17

[6] Romans 4:17

[7] Matthew 3:9

Wrath Or Salvation?

“God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” [1]

“The Lord is known by the judgment He executes; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah.

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.

Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.” [2]

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” “Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.” [3]

“God is just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” [4]

There’s only one way to escape the wrath of God against sin. His Name is Jesus. Jesus took the wrath of God for our sin when He died for us on the cross. We can enter eternity trusting in our own righteousness and drink the cup of God’s wrath against sin, because we all have sinned. Or we can enter eternity trusting in the merits of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and enjoy the cup of God’s forgiveness. God justifies and saves the person who believes in His Son Jesus Christ.

[1] Psalm 7:11
[2] Psalm 9:16-20
[3] Romans 1:18, 28
[4] Romans 3:26

Worthless Gold ~ Precious Blood

“They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be like garbage; their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord; they will not satisfy their souls, nor fill their stomachs, because it (money) became their stumbling block of iniquity.” [1]

The Bible is clear about God’s wrath. There are numerous stories and declarations of His wrath throughout the Bible. In God’s economy sin is unacceptable. No matter how much money a person has, no matter how many friends and no matter how the world praises one for his or her talent, if God’s forgiveness of sin is not appropriated by faith in His Son Jesus Christ, a sinner is still under His wrath.

“God our Savior... desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all...” [2]

Thankfully, God wants all people to be saved from His wrath against sin. This is why He sent His Son into the world. Jesus taught the truth. He died for the truth. He never sinned. He purchased God’s forgiveness of sin with His own blood. Jesus did not ransom us with silver or gold, but with His own precious blood. The Bible clearly states that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator (bridge) between God and humanity. Jesus Christ is the One who paid our ransom. We were slaves of sin and the devil, but Jesus paid our ransom and set us free.

Praise the Lord! Our Redeemer lives!

[1] Ezekiel 9:16
[2] 1 Timothy 2:3-6

God’s Word Runs Swiftly

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.” [1]

Yes, may God’s Word run swiftly like a river running down a mountainside to nourish the dry land of the farmers.

Yesterday, as I walked through streets of Chinatown, I saw so many busy people. Some were shopping! Others were restocking the food bins in front of their stores.

The Holy Spirit was pouring forth prayers for them into my heart. The Holy Spirit opened the way for me to pour forth God’s Word into two souls. The Holy Spirit poured forth the proclamation of Christ. “Thank You Holy Spirit for Your ministry in God's people, the Church.”

“Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.” [2]

Proclaiming the good news of how Christ died on the cross for sinners so that sin is forgiven to all who believe... this is a wonderful ministry! Good news of eternal life! A happy life when the page is turned from earthly life to heavenly life!

We do need to pray for those who share the Good News of Christ. The enemy of humankind, Satan, seeks to harm and humiliate good news messengers. Paul asked the Thessalonian Christians to pray that he and his fellow messengers would be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.

“Heavenly Father, please protect by the power of Jesus' Name, all Your servants who serving-up Your good news message to the world today. Please fill Your servants with joy unspeakable and full of glory. For Your JOY is our strength. May Your Word run very swiftly. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.”

[1] 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
[2] Psalm 144:15

Beware Of Scams

“Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head [Jesus Christ], from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.” [1]

Paul warned the Colossians against counterfeit beliefs that would scam them out of eternal rewards.

Only faith in Jesus Christ nourishes and grows us towards eternal rewards. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Christian faith.

Are we steadfastly connected to a body of believers who recognize Christ as the Head of the Church?

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.” [2]

Why is it important to confess that Christ came in the flesh? Any group of believers who does not acknowledge and confess the necessity of the Son of God to become a human sacrifice for our sins is deceiving its followers. They are placing something else, anti and instead of Christ as the most important teaching of the Church.

“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” [3]

“Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Head of the Christian faith, please keep us Your people from being scammed out of the most important doctrine of the Bible, namely that YOU ALONE are the MESSIAH. In YOU ALONE is eternal salvation. Please help us to always acknowledge and confess YOU as our HEAD… the Only One to guide, nourish and grow us as a body. For it is in YOUR NAME JESUS, that I pray. Amen.”

[1] Colossians 2:18-19
[2] 2 John 1:7-8
[3] 2 John 1:9

Celebration Despite Contention

“Woe is me, my mother,
That you have borne me,
A man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth!
I have neither lent for interest,
Nor have men lent to me for interest.
Every one of them curses me.

Know that for Your sake I have suffered rebuke.

Your words were found, and I ate them,
And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;
For I am called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts.” [1]

“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles [non-Jews] the unsearchable riches of Christ.” [2]

The Prophet Jeremiah lamented that he was in a place where his love for God and for God’s Word yielded for him strife, contention, curses and rebuke, but nevertheless, he could say to God, “Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” He was glad to be called by God’s Name.

The Apostle Paul marveled that he who was so small in his own eyes, was given grace by God to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ among non-Jews.

The grace of God that calls a man or woman to love Him and His Word is a marvelous gift. There are riches beyond compare in Christ our Savior. Our God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, abundantly fills our cup until overflowing with revelations of Himself that make up the difference when we encounter contention.

[1] Jeremiah 17:10, 15-16
[2] Ephesians 3:8

Saying No to the flesh and Yes to the Holy Spirit

“‘When I had fed them to the full, then they committed adultery and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses. They were like well-fed lusty stallions; everyone one neighed after his neighbor’s wife. Shall I not punish them for these things?’ says the Lord. ‘And shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?’” [1]

 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

“Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” [2]

The solution to breaking bondages of the flesh is to live by dependence on a higher power, namely the power of the Holy Spirit. Live for a higher purpose than gratifying the sinful nature! Live to love God and your neighbor by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” [3]

Good fruit, godly fruit, coming forth from your life is a blessing to God your Father, to your neighbor and to yourself as well.

[1] Jeremiah 5:7-9
[2] Galatians 5:16, 24-25
[3] Galatians 5:22-23

Lamentations

“They have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise and save us.’ My people have forgotten Me days without number.” [1]

Lament! God the Creator and Sustainer of the universe laments. He grieves. People that He poured out so much love for... people that He cared for deeply... they turned their back on Him. They forgot Him. They only remember Him when they need help.

Is loving people a worthy cause when they are so prone to grieve the heart of a loving God?

The people of whom God speaks of in Jeremiah’s prophecy did pay a price for going their own way..

“Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will rebuke you.

Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the Lord your God, and the fear of Me is not in you, says the Lord God of hosts.” [2]

The bad oats they sowed produced a harvest of trouble for them.

Not only this, but they embittered by their misbehavior the most loving being in the universe, namely, God their Creator and Heavenly Father. “The fear of Me is not in you...” They gave God disrespect instead of glory, praise and grateful service.

How often have we done to God what Jeremiah’s people did to Him?

May the Lord grant us grace to repent so that when He corrects us, we do not harden our hearts, but instead, ask Him to forgive us and to teach us how to love Him as He loves us.

[1] Jeremiah 2:27, 31
[2] Jeremiah 2:19

The Gospel Conveys Good Gifts

“Foolish!” “Bewitched!” The Galatians forgot that Christ was portrayed among them as CRUCIFIED. We need portrayals of Christ crucified to remind us that the cross, not human achievement, is the basis of God's blessing. [1]

“You cannot say that you received the Holy Spirit by the Law. But as soon as the Gospel came your way, you received the Holy Spirit by the simple hearing of faith, before you ever had a chance to do a single good deed. It is the nature of the Gospel to convey good gifts.” [2] Luke verifies this statement in the Book of Acts: “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the Word.” “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.” [3]

Paul considered it foolish to seek Christian perfection by dependence on works of the flesh instead of by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT. [4]

Abraham “BELIEVED God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” [5]

Only those who are of FAITH are sons of Abraham. [6]

“In you [Abraham] all the nations shall be BLESSED” means in Abraham’s faith. [7] Faith in God is always what saves people. Those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. [8]

To try to be righteous before God by our works is to be under the curse of the law. Self-righteousness is a curse because we must continue in all things which are written in the book of the Law (which is impossible) and in the end still be condemned by the Law. [9]

Christ REDEEMED us from the curse of the law by becoming accursed for us. [10] Why would anyone want to be self-righteous and be accursed? Christ took our sinful curse upon Himself and offers His righteous merits to us as we trust in Him.

God’s promise of blessing was to Abraham and to his Seed. This Seed refers to CHRIST. It is in Christ that we are blessed and not in becoming a Jew. [11]

Our divine inheritance comes to us by believing God’s PROMISE. [12]

The purpose of the Law is to help us be aware of our TRANSGRESSIONS. [13]

SCRIPTURE has confined all under sin that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. [14]

The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be JUSTIFIED by faith.

We are all sons of God through faith in CHRIST. [15]

In Jewish literature, “sons-of-God” was a title of highest honor, used only for "the members of righteous Israel, destined to inherit the eschatological blessings" (Byrne 1979:174). But now Gentiles—the rejected, the outsiders, the sinners, those who do not observe the law—are called sons of God. How could a Gentile ever be called a child of God? Paul's answer is clear—through faith in Christ Jesus. Since Christ Jesus is the “Son of God,” all who by faith are in Christ are also sons of God.” [16]

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” means that all people in Christ are considered equally as God’s children. [17] There is no sibling rivalry. No racism. No higher and lower caste of people.

When we are Christ’s, we are Abraham’s seed, and HEIRS according to the promise. [18]

[1] Galatians 3:1 & IVP Commentary
[2] Martin Luther’s Commentary
[3] Acts 10:44; 11:15
[4] Galatians 3:3
[5] Galatians 3:6
[6] Galatians 3:7
[7] Galatians 3:8
[8] Galatians 3:9
[9] Galatians 3:10
[10] Galatians 3:13
[11] Galatians 3:16
[12] Galatians 3:18
[13] Galatians 3:19
[14] Galatians 3:22
[15] Galatians 3:26
[16] Blue Letter Commentary
[17] Galatians 3:28
[18] Galatians 3:29

My Soul Delights in His Abundance

The Lord says to us if we are thirsty to come to Him. He will quench our thirst free of charge…

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” [1]

He delights my soul in His abundance. [2]

He gives me the sure mercies of David when I am with Him. [3]

He gives me mercy and abundant pardon, as I seek Him, call upon Him, forsake wicked ways and unrighteous thoughts and return to Him. [4]

The Lord’s thoughts are not my thoughts, and my ways are not His ways, because as the heavens are higher than the earth, God’s ways and thoughts are higher than mine. [5]

The Lord’s Word is like rain and snow that water the earth, and make the earth bring forth and bud, and to provide seed to the sower, and bread to the eater. God’s Word is like that. It does not return empty-handed. It brings forth results. God’s Word accomplishes what He pleases. It prospers in the thing for which He sent it. [6]

Thank You God for Your Word!

In the Lord I have joy and peace, singing and clapping.

“For you shall go out with joy and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” [7]

He removes that which tears and hurts, and gives that which delights…

“Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree...” [8]

“Thank You Heavenly Father that daily You minister to and bless whoever will come to You.”

[1] Isaiah 55:1
[2] Isaiah 55:2
[3] Isaiah 55:3
[4] Isaiah 55:6-7
[5] Isaiah 55:8-9
[6] Isaiah 55:10-11
[7] Isaiah 55:12
[8] Isaiah 55:13

The Heavenly Economy

Mr. Sylvester McMonkey McBean seemed on the surface to be one smart cookie. He got the Star-belly Sneetches and the Plain-belly Sneetches to compete with one another so that he could become rich from their investments to be “Numero Uno.” I wonder how many relatives of Mr. McBean live in our countries… politicians, those connected with sports leagues, beauty pageants, entrepreneurs, news media outlets.

God has a better economy. One not based on dollars and competition, but based on love, faithfulness, and everlasting values.

Inspired by God, King David wrote:

“Those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the multitude of their riches,
None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
Nor give to God a ransom for him—
For the redemption of their souls is costly,
And it shall cease forever—
That he should continue to live eternally,
And not see the Pit.” [1]

Money cannot ultimately thwart death for me or for anyone else.

“Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,
When the glory of his house is increased;
For when he dies, he shall carry nothing away;
His glory shall not descend after him.
Though while he lives, he blesses himself
(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never see light.
A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,
Is like the beasts that perish.” [2]

This world is passing away.

What is considered success here, is not success in the life after death.

“Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
And strengthened himself in his wickedness.” [3]

Will the statement above be a fitting epitaph on our gravestone? I hope not.

Jesus Christ demonstrated the economy of heaven by His choices…

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” [4]

He sacrificed Himself for our sins, so that our sins would be forgiven and forgotten by God His Father and that all who believe in Him could have a “happily-ever-after” in heaven with God forever when this life is over.

“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely, they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me.” [5]

The Godhead was forever changed when Christ came to earth. Now, in heaven, there appears a Lamb of God, the Son of God [6]. He still bears the wounds He received on earth for our sake. He holds those hands out as He intercedes for us that each person on earth will choose life… that we will believe in Him and receive everlasting life. [7]

What is the proper response to such an opportunity to escape from the evil ways of this world and to gain an entrance into such a heavenly one?

“Now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

We can cry out to God as King David did when he realized he had made the wrong choices due to the evil desires in his heart…

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.” [9]

Why? Because…

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.” [10]

[1] Psalm 49:6-9
[2] Psalm 49:16-20
[3] Psalm 52:7
[4] 2 Corinthians 8:9
[5] Isaiah 49:15-16
[6] Revelation 5:6
[7] John 1:11-12
[8] Romans 13:11-14
[9] Psalm 51:10-13
[10] Psalm 51:17

Credit to Dr. Seuss for this publication. 

Publisher	Redbook (magazines) Random House (book)
Publication date	July 1953 (Redbook) (The Sneetches) March 1954 (Redbook) (The Zax) August 28, 1961 (renewed 1989)

A Disturbing Vision

The Spirit of the Lord brought Prophet Ezekiel to Jerusalem to show him an image of jealousy. The Lord said to him, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations.” [1]

The Lord showed Ezekiel images of idols on the walls. Elders of the people were worshipping idols. These leaders said, “The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.” [2]

Then, the Lord showed him women who were sitting in the Lord’s house weeping for Tammuz - a fertility god. [3] After this the Lord showed him 25 men worshiping the sun. [4]

The Lord was determined to respond in fury: “My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.” [5]

The Lord called one of His angelic servants and said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” [6] Then, the Lord said to five angelic servants, “Go after him through the city and kill… but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” [7]

Ezekiel fell on his face and cried out, and said, “Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?” The Lord replied, “The iniquity… is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity…” [8]

“Lord, how many people are kindling Your anger today by the things they do in Your Name?”

The Apostle Paul, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” [9]

“Lord Jesus, please help us in the spiritual battle of turning people from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in You. Please turn the carnally minded to the saving and sanctifying work of Your Holy Spirit. For it is in Your Name we pray. Amen.”

[1] Ezekiel 8:6
[2] Ezekiel 8:12
[3] Ezekiel 8:14
[4] Ezekiel 8:16
[5] Ezekiel 8:18
[6] Ezekiel 9:4
[7] Ezekiel 9:5-6
[8] Ezekiel 9:8-9
[9] Romans 8:5-6

The Gift of Repentance

“The goodness of God leads you to repentance.” [1]

“When He [the Holy Spirit] has come… He will convict the world of sin.” [2]

“Thank You Holy Spirit for convicting us of sin!”

Apart from divine revelation, we cannot see our sin or feel how bad it is before God and others. The revelation of God’s holiness moves sinners to repent. The revelation that the sin of sinners slew the Son of God moves sinners to repent. Repentance is when God empowers you to confess your sins, and to ask His forgiveness. Repentance is when God inspires you to place your life in His hands, because on your own, you only mess it up.

James, the servant of our Lord, wrote: “Adulterers and adulteresses! ...Friendship with the world is enmity with God. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you double-minded. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” [3]

“Heavenly Abba Father, thank You for the gift of repentance. To confess our sins! Receive Your forgiveness! Be transformed by Your Holy Spirit working in us. You are so good to us! In the Name of Jesus Your Son I pray. Amen.”

[1] Romans 2:4
[2] John 16:8
[3] James 4:4, 6-8, 10

Choose Life Not Death

Once, when my parents, siblings, and I were on vacation, a car passed us when it was unsafe to do so. We were on a two-lane highway that was strewn with multiple hills and valleys. When he passed us, he could not see if an oncoming car was just behind the next hill.

The car had obviously stopped ahead of us somewhere after the first pass-by. The second pass-by was also done on a double yellow line. That driver had no way of knowing if an oncoming car was on the other side of the hill. I remember my Mom saying the first time, “That’s dangerous!!!”

As that car passed us a second time, my eyes connected with a boy my age. He peered at me through his window. He smiled and waved. He was enjoying passing so many others. We watched in horror as an on-coming car nearly hit him head-on.

The driver of that car ignored the speed limit signs, ignored the double yellow line, and ignored the obvious danger of overtaking cars on curves and hills.

A little while later, we came to the scene of a horrific multi-car crash. Two semi-trucks were overturned in the fields besides the road, two cars were severely damaged and that car with the boy my age in it was a mangled mess. No one in that mangled wreckage could have survived.

I was perhaps five years old, but never forgot that day. How I wish the father of that family had followed the rules of the road. His disdain for rules destroyed him, his family members, and other motorists.

“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.” [1] God gives us rules and promptings to save us from harm. He loves us and wants what is best for us. “I have set life and death before you, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” [2]

“Thank You Heavenly Father for prompting us to make good decisions via Your Holy Spirit and via Your Word. Please continue to help us choose life not death.”

[1] Proverbs 14:27
[2] Deuteronomy 30:19

The Lamb Overcomes the Beast

Headline:

Beauty and Beast at War with Christ

Who is the Beauty and who is the Beast?

The Beauty is a seducer. The Beast is a destroyer. They are one-two punches of the devil designed to knock-out the faithful servants of Christ. If the beauty of the world and its pleasures fail to seduce you to deny the Lord, the beast threatens to hurt and destroy you.

The Beauty and Beast compel young people to defy and disrespect those who are older and more honorable than them. “The people will be oppressed, everyone by another and everyone by his neighbor; the child will be insolent toward the elder, and the base toward the honorable.” [1]

What is at stake if you yield to beauty or beast? Eternal salvation! Heaven or hell! Life with God or eternal suffering with the devil. Big stakes. Yet, who is fighting the battles for the salvation of the world? The worst defeat is to lose one’s soul to hell for all eternity.

Who has put on their spiritual armor? Who has read the battle manual – the Bible? Who is taking orders from the Captain of our salvation? [2] Who is marching to war?

“The kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her [the Harlot’s – the Beauty’s] fornication.” She was sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy. She was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. [3]

The beast will work with kings of the earth to make war with the Lamb [Jesus Christ] but the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” [4]

We need to remain in Christ to WIN! “Those who are with Him are called, chosen and faithful.” The question is... are we with Him... with JESUS?

[1] Isaiah 3:5
[2] Hebrews 2:10
[3] Revelation 17:2-3, 6
[4] Revelation 17:14

Much Grain

“At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” [1]

We never know what is going to catch someone’s attention for Christ. In this case, it was two men singing hymns and praying to God after they had been beaten and imprisoned. Their fellow prisoners listened to them.

“And he [the prison guard] brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” [2]

It was a moment of great joy for Paul and Silas. Out of their hardship came forth an opportunity to share the Gospel. The prison guard and his entire family believed in Christ.

Jesus taught, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” [3]

Why do we try to preserve the seed? Dress it up in special clothes? Surround it with comforts? Put it in on platform? Jesus said unless the seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. If the seed dies, it produces MUCH GRAIN!.

“Lord Jesus, please help us to be faithful to speak of You, to sing of You, to pray to You, to die to self for You, so that You can produce much grain through us. For it is in Your Name that we pray. Amen.”

[1] Acts 16:25
[2] Acts 16:30-31
[3] John 12:24

Grateful For Gospel Proclaimers

“Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorn of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.”

“Yes, Lord, please have mercy on all who are being treated with contempt and scorn by proud people who do not want to yield to the message of salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ. Thank You for all Your servants in my life who have humbly upheld Your honor and shared Your Gospel with me. I would have not known You without their dedication to You.”

Praise the Lord for “men [and women] who have risked their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [2]

[1] Psalm 123:3-4
[2] Acts 15:26

Wisdom Calls Out

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; my son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, ‘Come with us we shall find all kinds of precious possessions, we shall fill our houses with spoil; cast in your lot among us, let us all have one purse’—my son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; they lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it [greed] takes away the life of its owners.

Wisdom calls aloud outside…

Turn at My rebuke;

Surely, I will pour out My Spirit on you;

I will make My words known to you.

Whoever listens to Me [the Lord] will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” [1]

The fear of the Lord or a reverent heart towards God is the beginning of wisdom. A humble state before God is good place to be when the Holy Spirit is speaking. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of wisdom. He urges God’s people not to join with greedy sinners. He promises to pour out on those who listen to Him, and to make God’s Word known to them. The Holy Spirit leads His listeners down safe rather than dangerous paths.

[1] Proverbs 1:7-8, 10-11, 13-15, 18-20, 23, 33

Miracles of the Resurrected Christ

A man named Saul is threatening and murdering the disciples of the Lord. He is hunting Christians with the goal of caging them. Putting them in prison! Then, suddenly, he encounters the resurrected Jesus Christ. His response, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” [1]

Saul spends some days with the disciples of the Lord, then, immediately begins preaching that Christ is the Son of God in the Jewish synagogues. People are amazed at the very tangible transformation in Saul’s life. He is now proving to his fellow Jews that this Jesus is the Christ. [2]

Twice, Saul is delivered by the Lord from assassination plots. [3] Saul continues to preach boldly in the name of Jesus.

The outcome of Saul’s conversion to Christianity is that the churches in his region experience peace and growth. Christians now walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. [4]

Then, there’s Peter. Jesus heals a man that was paralyzed and bedridden for eight years via Peter. Many people in that region turn to Jesus. After this miracle, Jesus empowers Peter to raise a woman from the dead. News of this miracle spreads throughout the region and many believed in Jesus. [5]

“Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son into the world! Please continue to do miracles so that people turn to You and believe in You. Please grace Your churches with growth via the preaching of Your Word. In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”

[1] Acts 9:6
[2] Acts 9:19-22
[3] Acts 9:23, 29
[4] Acts 9:31
[5] Acts 9:35, 42

Saved From My Sin

A traveling man pondered these words of God’s prophet: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.

...Beginning at this Scripture, Philip preached Jesus to him.” He explained to the man how Jesus fulfilled this prophecy. When Philip asked the man if he believed. The man answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

What about you? Have you believed in the Son of God? The Lamb of God! The One who takes away sin and gives everlasting life?

If not, what’s stopping you? Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and your Savior. He gave His life for you so that you can live with God. Today, is the day of salvation. Believe in Him and He will save you from your sin.

[1] Acts 8:32-33, 35, 37
[2] Isaiah 53:6-8

Relationships that Yield God–Worship

“If I have made gold my hope, or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence;’ if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gained much; this also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, for I would have denied God who is above.” [1]

Placing hope and confidence in gold; rejoicing in wealth and achievements; Job said this was iniquity. What is iniquity? Iniquity refers to an unjust balance. Gold and personal achievement cannot compare to the value meaningful relationships with God and people.

Once, the devil took Jesus up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He said to Jesus, ‘All these things I will give You if You fall down and worship me.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” [2]

Things are lifeless. God is full of life. Love, joy, and peace are from God. Healthy relationships spring forth from people who are in fellowship with God.

The majority of addicts and alcoholics that I have listened to have cited a lack of meaningful relationships, or a loss of a meaningful relationship as the starting point from which their substance abuse began.

Jesus asked us a good question. We do well to consider it. He asked, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” [2]

The bottom line is the devil uses “things” to lure us away from the blessings of God that yield life. Our Lord Jesus Christ gives us meaningful relationships with God and others. He gives to us life eternal with God and with all love God.

Therefore, let us daily choose to: “Worship the Lord our God, and serve Him only.” Let us invest in relationships that yield worship towards God.

[1] Job 31:24-25, 28
[2] Matthew 4:8-10

Victory Over The Beast

“And I saw... those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, o King of the saints! who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.’” [1]

The above words are from “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.” [2]

Victory! Victory! Victory!

The revelation God gives us is victory over the beast. That beast, that anti-Christ, that instead-of-Christ-one! That which is instead of Christ is a beast. Not a good shepherd, but a spirit that tears and devours its prey! The beast wanted to brand God’s servants with his name. He wanted to steal God’s precious treasure, that is, His faithful servants, but he failed.

God gives His servants the victory. We shall stand on a sea so clear that it looks like a sheet of glass. We shall sing and celebrate God with musical instruments along with people from every nation!

Jesus said that when we see these signs of the end... to... “Look up. Lift up your heads because your redemption draws near.” [3]

So, we look up! We lift up! Christ is coming!

“Dear Heavenly Father, Jesus the Son and Precious Holy Spirit, Triune God, thank You for Your great and marvelous works. Thank You for victory!”

[1] Revelation 15:2-4
[2] Revelation 1:1
[3] Luke 21:28

GOD Is AWESOME!

“How can a man be righteous before God?” [1]

The Lord answered Job’s question, namely, “How can a man be righteous before God?”

After the Lord spoke to him in Job 38:1-40:2, Job replied, “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.” [2]

Instead of questioning God, Job listened to God.

God continued to speak to him in Job 40:6-41:36.

When he listened to God, Job realized the supremacy and the sovereignty of God and repented. He said, “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” [3]

When Job changed his disposition towards God, God blessed him… “The Lord had accepted Job. And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” [4]

May the Lord bless each of us with a good disposition towards Him. We could have all the riches of the world, but if we do not know God or recognize His supremacy and sovereignty, we are poor. Quite often in movies, haunted houses are depicted as dirty run down and spider infested buildings. However, the real haunted house is a palace that is clean and ornate but has people in it who have no sense of the awesomeness of God their Creator.

“The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…” [5]

How wonderful that God blessed Job with a close relationship with Him! The rest was just icing on the cake!

Praise the Lord! GOD is AWESOME!

[1] Job 9:2
[2] Job 40:4-5
[3] Job 42:6
[4] Job 42:9-10
[5] Job 42:12

Thriving In Christ

“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds flourish without water? So are the paths of all who forget God; and the hope of the hypocrite shall perish.” [1]

Just as a plant needs water to thrive, we need Jesus. When we are in communion with Him, we are in the water of life. He is the Vine, and we are the branches, as we commune with Him through the Word and Spirit, we bear good fruit in this world.

“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.” [2]

By His death on the cross for our sins, Christ cancelled Satan’s claims against us. The devil cannot condemn us or claim us as long as we are in Christ because we are not trusting in our own merits, but in the merits of Christ. In Christ, life is not about us. We must not fear death. Death is the portal to heaven. We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

[1] Job 8:11, 13
[2] Revelation 12:11

Divine Protection During Evil Days

“Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” [1]

The devil had just come from roaming the earth. [2] He had been afflicting people everywhere he went. He complained because God had put a hedge of protection around and blessed Job. This is what God does! He protects and blesses His own. He is the good Shepherd.

“This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him and delivers them.” [3]

We need God’s angels to encircle us. To protect us from sudden attack and to deliver us!

“They [the locusts with scorpion stingers) were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” [4]

The truth that God protects His own against evil is seen throughout the Bible.

“But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” [5]

We people tend to be gamblers. We see others dying and suffering harm but bet that it will not happen to us. We continue to live as though we don’t need the Good Shepherd. All the while, He watches on, ready to help. Our choices reveal our loyalties. If we want the Holy God to be with us, to protect us and to bless us, we need to ask Him to forgive our sins and help us to repent (change our thinking) about Him. We need to embrace Christ and all that He has done for us… coming into the world as a baby… living among us… healing our people… dying on the cross for our sins… rising from the dead for our victory over sin, death, and the devil. Yes, relationship is a two-way street. If we want the Lord to be our Good Shepherd, we must ask, confess, and proclaim Him to be our good Shepherd. Ask Him to intervene; to protect us from the evil one. Jesus taught us to pray, “Keep us from temptation and deliver us from evil.” [6]

“Thank You Jesus for being a Good Shepherd to whosoever is Your sheep.”

[1] Job 1:9-10
[2] Job 1:7
[3] Psalm 34:6-7
[4] Revelation 9:4
[5] Revelation 9:20-21
[6] Matthew 6:13

Following Jesus

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season and am not silent.” [1]

Jesus quoted from the above passage while He hung on the cross. The Bible tells us that He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. [2] So, God denied His own Son’s plea for rescue, not for any wrongdoing on His part, but for the sins of humanity.

“…They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” [3]

These words were written long before Jesus was crucified but describe accurately what happened to Him. Have you ever been mistreated as a result of your obedience to God? Most of God’s servants have been at one time or another. Peter wrote, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” [4]

“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.” [5]

On crucifixion day, Jesus looked like a loser. He did not have a mega-church. He was not personally rich materialistically-speaking. However, the faith He died for… the Christian faith… did spread to all the ends of the earth. People in every generation since His first coming, have turned to Him and become Christians. Every week on planet earth, families worship before Him. I am one of them.

One of the wisest men who ever lived, Solomon, advised us this way…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” [6]

The Bible is about trusting in the Lord. It is about acknowledging God. Letting go and letting God! May the Lord help each one of us in this way, both for our sake, and for the sake of the people we hope to see in eternity with us.

[1] Psalm 22:1-2
[2] 2 Corinthians 5:21
[3] Psalm 22:16-18
[4] 1 Peter 4:12-13
[5] Psalm 22:27
[6] Proverbs 3:5-6

Glory, Honor And Power to Who?

Jesus is my light in the darkness
He is my key to locked doors
He opens and shuts doors for me
He shows me the way of life
He gives me joy and pleasure
He transforms me
He satisfies my soul
He is worthy of glory, honor, and power!
Jesus is my Lord

“For You [Lord] will light my lamp; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.” [1]

“The key of the house of David I will lay on His shoulder; so, He shall open, and no one shall shut; and He shall shut, and no one shall open.” [2]

“These things says He [Jesus] who is holy, He who is true, who opens, and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” “See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it…” [3]

“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” [4]

“As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” [5]

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, honor, and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” [6]

[1] Psalm 18:28
[2] Isaiah 22:22
[3] Revelation 3:7-8
[4] Psalm 16:11
[5] Psalm 17:15
[6] Revelation 4:11

Good Husband & Father

“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.” [1]

For a husband and father to enjoy his wife and children as he should, the Bible prescribes trust in the Lord. When I was young, I worked day and night with the goal of being a good provider for wife and children, but often did not see that in being away from home so often, I was failing to provide for Sherry and our four children the quality relational time that we needed together. I should have relied on the Lord more and less on myself. Thanks to God’s grace and mercy, I enjoy a good relations with Sherry and the children today despite my bad choices as a young father. I am passing this word along in case it will be helpful to someone.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” [2]

We need God’s help to resist the devil. His strong arm is able to lift us out of bad habits formed due to prideful self-determination. Young man, by trusting in the Lord and by appreciating His coaching, you can be a good husband and father, and you will enjoy much love and joy from being with your family.

[1] Psalm 127
[2] James 4:7, 10

In Christ

Christ came as a High Priest…
With a greater and more perfect tabernacle…
Not made with hands, not of this creation.
He entered the Holy of Holies…
With His own blood.
He obtained for us eternal redemption.

Christ makes us holy.
Through the eternal Spirit…
He offered Himself without spot to God.
He cleanses our conscience from dead works…
Now, we serve the living God!

Christ is our Mediator.
In Him we have eternal inheritance.
He purified us with His blood…
By His shed blood we have forgiveness.

Christ entered heaven itself.
He appeared before God FOR US!
He took away our sin by…
The sacrifice of Himself.

It is appointed for us to die,
And after this the judgment.

But Christ offered Himself.
He bore our sins.
He will appear again….
Apart from sin….
For our salvation.

In Christ…
Redemption!
Holiness!
A conscience clear!
Service unto God!
Mediation!
Purification!
Forgiveness!
S A L VA T I O N!

GLORY to G O D!

Hebrews 9:9-15, 22, 24, 26-28

God’s Strong Word Cleaves the Darkness

“The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” [1]

A missionary was once asked by border guards of a communist county, “Do you have any guns, drugs, or Bibles?” The border guards apparently believed the Bible was as dangerous as guns and drugs. Guns injure and kill the body. Drugs alter and distort the mind. The Bible exposes and destroys falsehood. [2]

“There is no devil in the first two chapters of the Bible and no devil in the last two chapters. Thank God for a book that disposes of the devil!” [3]

“The Word not only lets you see what your thoughts are, but it criticizes your thoughts. The Word of God says of this thought, “it is vain,” and of that thought, “it is acceptable;” of this thought, “it is selfish,” and of that thought, “it is Christlike.” The Word of God gets at the very marrow of our manhood; it lays bare the secret thoughts of the soul. The Christ that is in the Word sees everything.” [4]

“The foundation of every reformation of the Holy Spirit is the Word of God made plain to the people.” [5]

“The first thing the Bible does is to make man take a serious view of life.” [6]

“The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.” [7]

[1] Hebrews 4:12
[2] Story told by D. J. De Haan
[3] Vance Havner
[4] Quote from Charles Spurgeon
[5] Frank Cooke
[6] D. Martin Lloyd-Jones
[7] Psalm 119:130

The Captain of Our Salvation

How shall we escape…

If we neglect so great a salvation?

It was spoken of by our Lord.
It was confirmed by those who heard Him.
God testified to it with signs and wonders…
Testified to it with gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus who suffered death…
Is crowned with glory and honor.
By the grace of God…
He tasted death for us all.
All things are for Jesus…
By Jesus are all things…
Yet to bring many people to glory…
The Captain of our salvation...
Our Lord Jesus Christ…
Experienced sufferings.

He who makes us holy…
And we who are holy are One.
Jesus is not ashamed of us.
He says… “Here am I…

And here are the children…

Whom God has given Me.”

We are flesh and blood.
The Son of God became flesh and blood.
Through death He destroyed…
The death-holder,
That is, the devil.
Jesus delivered us!
We no longer fear death.

In all things Jesus became like us.
He is merciful!
He is faithful!
He is our High Priest.
He covered our sins with His blood.
He suffered…
He was tempted…
He helps us who are tempted.

Hallelujah!
Praise to the King!
Glory to the King of kings!
He is the Captain of our salvation!

(Based on Hebrews 2)

Daily Telling Someone about Jesus

“When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” [1]

This is such good news! God saved us not because of our righteous deeds, but because of HIS mercy. God’s mercy immense and free saves us. HE saves us by grace. JESUS CHRIST renews us in God’s image by a generous outpouring of HIS Holy Spirit into our lives. HE does the work that only GOD can do. We cannot justify ourselves. GOD justifies us. HE makes us heirs of eternal life based on the merits of CHRIST and not based on our own.

Praise and glory to GOD!

Have we understood the value of this good news?

No other message is more important to us! No other message is as important to the world! My prayer is that we daily tell someone about JESUS!

[1] Titus 3:4-7

Grateful For Answered Prayers

“... He [God] answered their prayers, because they trusted in Him.” [1]

I am grateful God answers prayers. I have leaned on Him for help daily. Daily He has helped me.

I am grateful for the Holy Spirit who leads me and gives me resolve to keep praying. “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” [2]

I am grateful for my Lord and Savior JESUS Christ, because I can pray in His Name, and God the Father, receives and hears me based on the merits of His Son, who died for my sins and resurrected for my just standing, “It is by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” [3]

Glory to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!

[1] 1 Chronicles 5:20
[2] Romans 8:26
[3] Acts 4:10

Prayer Verses & Quotes

“I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all.” [1]

“Prayer is not getting man’s will done in heaven, but getting God’s will done on earth. It is not overcoming God's reluctance but laying hold of God’s willingness.” [2]

“What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use — men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men, men of prayer.” [3]

“When man works man works, but when man prays, God works.” [4]

“Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure.” [5]

[1] 1 Timothy 2:1-5
[2] Richard C. Trench
[3] E.M. Bounds
[4] Hans Von Staden
[5] Dwight L. Moody

Holiness to the Lord

Holiness to the Lord

קדושה ליהוה

對主的聖潔

Santidad a Yahvé

യഹോവെക്കു വിശുദ്ധം

“For 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, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” [1]“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” [2]

“Holy Spirit, please grant us the discernment, wisdom, and conviction to shun evil and cling to holiness. In Jesus’ Name I pray.”

“If on my soul a trace of sin remains, if on my hands a stain may yet be seen; if one dark thought a wearied mind retains, oh wash me, Lord, till every part be clean. For I would live that men may see Thyself in me, I would in faith ascend Thy holy hill, and with my thoughts in tune with Thy divinity, would learn how best to do Thy holy will.” [3]

[1] 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7
[2] Psalm 24:3-5
[3] Salvation Army Songbook Chorus #72 (1987 ed.)

Salvation

“The high priest said to Him, ‘I put You under oath by the living God: tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” [1]

There are many voices in the world vying to have the preeminent place in our lives but let us keep Jesus Christ in the highest place.

“Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Each of us need to recognize that Jesus Christ is returning as Supreme King over all creation. He will render the final judgment on each of us according to our beliefs. He will approve and save those who trust in His merits for their salvation. He will condemn those who dare to stand before Him in pride of their own righteousness. Salvation requires a Savior. Jesus is the Savior. “There salvation in no other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” [2]

Now, is the time to believe in and confess Christ as your Lord and Savior. Receive Him now. Be saved today. Embrace the righteousness of Christ given for you. Receive Him and receive all He has done for you. You will not be ashamed on the last day. You will have joy unspeakable and full of glory when He returns.

[1] Matthew 26:63-64
[2] Acts 4:12

Cities For Christ

“You became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out...”

The Thessalonian Christians were a blessed congregation. They were model believers for others. They shared God’s Word with outsiders. Their faith in Christ inspired others to believe in Him as well. May the Lord Jesus move our churches today to spread God’s Word and inspire entire cities to believe in Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Time to Remove the Trash

A man of God who cried out against the altar of Jeroboam by the word of the Lord. He cried, “O altar, altar! Thus, says the Lord: ‘Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be burned on you.’” [1]

King Jeroboam’s altar and his priests were his attempts to have God on his own terms.

18 kings of Israel and 300 years later, the Lord fulfilled His Word. King Josiah of Judah desecrated the false altars and monumental tombs of false prophets which Jeroboam started.

But there is more to this story… sadly, the man of God who gave God’s Word to King Jeroboam was soon afterward deceived by a false prophet. [2] God mightily used him at one moment, but he was not careful, and was deceived by the devil in the next. The devil did not come to him as an ugly monster, but us as an angel of light. [3] The false prophet told the young man of God what he wanted to hear, but it was not what God told him. Thus, Jesus taught us to pray, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” [4]

Paul warned his followers to beware of false teachers who teach that men must be circumcised to be approved of God. He wrote, “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!” [5] He used strong and derogatory words against false teachers because there is NO path to God except by faith in Jesus Christ. Paul told them, “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” [6] Saving sinners is God’s work. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no comes to the Father except through Jesus. [7]

Paul went on to say that he counted his former life of self-righteousness as rubbish because he wanted to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness (self-righteousness), which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. [8] Faith receives Christ and all that HE has done for our salvation. Christian salvation is based on trust in the merits of Christ and not in our own merits. Trusting in one’s own merits for salvation is self-righteousness and it is rubbish… trash to be thrown out.

Paul described those who trust in their own merits as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their god is their belly. They glory in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things. In contrast to them, true believers their citizenship in heaven. We wait for Christ to transform our lowly bodies into the image of His glorious body, because only Christ is able to subdue all things to Himself. [9]

[1] 1 Kings 13:1-2
[2] 1 Kings 13:18
[3] 2 Corinthians 11:14
[4] Matthew 6:13
[5] Philippians 3:2
[6] Philippians 3:3
[7] John 14:6
[8] Philippians 3:7-9
[9] Philippians 3:18-21