There was a preacher who opened a church in a community that had none. The town’s people were living in fear and under the control an abusive and exploitive man. The preacher had been a ruffian himself before the Lord converted and transformed his life. The Lord filled him with resolve to fight for the well-being of the families in this town. Thanks to the Lord’s goodness and grace, the preacher won the support of the town’s people. Together, by trusting in the Lord, the dirty deeds of darkness were exposed and greatly diminished by the light of the Gospel in that community.
Moses was 80 and Aaron was 83, when they confronted the King of Egypt about his treatment of the working class. They confronted him with God’s power and resolve. Eventually, even the king’s evil-spirited magicians realized he could not win against God…
“Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.’” [1]
The Psalmist warns of the futility of building a home and maintaining a city without the Lord’s help…
“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.” [2]
Wealthy and wise King Solomon, advocated for law-keeping and justice…
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.” “Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord.” [3]
People need the Lord to reveal to them the WHO and WHY of law and order. He is the WHO that brings justice. He is the WHY who reveals to people that law and order yields happiness.
“At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him [Jesus] all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons…” [4]
The evil spirits in the abovementioned city were cast out by Jesus. He healed the symptoms of sin’s curse upon the city, namely sickness, and He rooted out the source of evil, namely the evil spirits. The whole city gathered at a doorway. Jesus practiced open door ministry. He still does today through those whom He has called and equipped to serve Him and others.
[1] Exodus 8:19
[2] Psalm 127:1
[3] Proverbs 29:18, 26
[4] Mark 1:33-34
Bearing witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus!
Friday, January 29, 2021
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Overcome Evil With Good
The Lord advises us in His holy Word, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." In a sense this is what the Lord led Moses and Aaron to do. They confronted a demonic despot with the goodness of God.
Moses and Aaron said to Pharaoh, ‘Let my people go."
The Pharaoh replied, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go. Why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!”
Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Is this why You sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not rescued Your people at all.” [2]
At first, confrontation with the king of slaves yielded setbacks for God’s people, but eventually, as they continued to believe God and continued to confess Him before Pharaoh, the Lord did signs and wonders until he let them go. Moses and Aaron did not overcome the Pharaoh in their own strength. They were elderly. Their work was to trust the Lord. The Lord gave the victory.
The Holy Spirit inspired King Solomon to write, “Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully. Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.” [3]
The Holy Spirit inspired King David to write, “If the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us. Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” [4]
Jesus Christ, the crucified one, experienced evil from the hands of evildoers, but overcame their evil deeds by resurrecting from the dead, and by making His victory ours.
Two Mary(s) at the tomb.
A violent earthquake,
An angel rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance like lightning,
His clothes were white as snow.
Guards shake with fear and become as dead men.
The angel said to the women,
“Do not be afraid,
For I know that you are looking for Jesus,
Who was crucified.
He is not here;
He has risen, just as He said.
Come and see the place where He lay.
Then go quickly and tell His disciples:
‘He has risen from the dead.
He is going ahead of you into Galilee.
There you will see Him.’
Now I have told you.”
The women hurried away from the tomb,
Afraid yet filled with joy,
They ran to tell His disciples.
Jesus said to His disciples,
“All heavenly and earthly authority…
Has been given to Me.
Therefore, GO…
Make disciples of all nations,
Baptizing them in the name of…
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Teaching to obey everything…
I have commanded you.
Surely, I am with you always,
To the very end of the age.” [5]
"Thank You Jesus for staying with us until end!"
Victories come as we go forth in confidence of our Lord's blessing on our labors. “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” [6]
[1] Romans 12:1
[2] Exodus 5:1-4, 22-23
[3] Proverbs 28:5, 8, 14
[4] Psalm 124:2-3, 6-8
[5] Based on Matthew 28:1-8, 19-20
[6] Psalm 126:5-6
Moses and Aaron said to Pharaoh, ‘Let my people go."
The Pharaoh replied, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go. Why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!”
Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Is this why You sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not rescued Your people at all.” [2]
At first, confrontation with the king of slaves yielded setbacks for God’s people, but eventually, as they continued to believe God and continued to confess Him before Pharaoh, the Lord did signs and wonders until he let them go. Moses and Aaron did not overcome the Pharaoh in their own strength. They were elderly. Their work was to trust the Lord. The Lord gave the victory.
The Holy Spirit inspired King Solomon to write, “Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully. Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.” [3]
The Holy Spirit inspired King David to write, “If the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us. Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” [4]
Jesus Christ, the crucified one, experienced evil from the hands of evildoers, but overcame their evil deeds by resurrecting from the dead, and by making His victory ours.
Two Mary(s) at the tomb.
A violent earthquake,
An angel rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance like lightning,
His clothes were white as snow.
Guards shake with fear and become as dead men.
The angel said to the women,
“Do not be afraid,
For I know that you are looking for Jesus,
Who was crucified.
He is not here;
He has risen, just as He said.
Come and see the place where He lay.
Then go quickly and tell His disciples:
‘He has risen from the dead.
He is going ahead of you into Galilee.
There you will see Him.’
Now I have told you.”
The women hurried away from the tomb,
Afraid yet filled with joy,
They ran to tell His disciples.
Jesus said to His disciples,
“All heavenly and earthly authority…
Has been given to Me.
Therefore, GO…
Make disciples of all nations,
Baptizing them in the name of…
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Teaching to obey everything…
I have commanded you.
Surely, I am with you always,
To the very end of the age.” [5]
"Thank You Jesus for staying with us until end!"
Victories come as we go forth in confidence of our Lord's blessing on our labors. “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” [6]
[1] Romans 12:1
[2] Exodus 5:1-4, 22-23
[3] Proverbs 28:5, 8, 14
[4] Psalm 124:2-3, 6-8
[5] Based on Matthew 28:1-8, 19-20
[6] Psalm 126:5-6
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Oh, Blessed Communion, Fellowship Divine
“’Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true sayings of God.’” [1]
The word marriage conveys a blessed communion. A blessed fellowship! It’s what God has always wanted with us, namely togetherness.
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.’” [2]
I like to sing the following hymn to celebrate this truth:
“For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever bless’d.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou wast their rock, their refuge, and their might,
Thou, Christ, the hope that put their fears to flight;
’Mid gloom and doubt, their true and shining light.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Oh, bless’d communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine,
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west.
Soon, soon to faithful servants cometh rest.
Sweet is the calm of paradise the bless’d.
Alleluia, alleluia!
But lo! There breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array,
As God to glory calls them all away.
Alleluia, alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
All praising Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, alleluia!” [4]
[1] Revelation 19:7-9
[2] Revelation 21:3
[3] “For all the Saints, who from their labor rest” Author: William Walsham How (1864)
The word marriage conveys a blessed communion. A blessed fellowship! It’s what God has always wanted with us, namely togetherness.
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.’” [2]
I like to sing the following hymn to celebrate this truth:
“For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever bless’d.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou wast their rock, their refuge, and their might,
Thou, Christ, the hope that put their fears to flight;
’Mid gloom and doubt, their true and shining light.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Oh, bless’d communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine,
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west.
Soon, soon to faithful servants cometh rest.
Sweet is the calm of paradise the bless’d.
Alleluia, alleluia!
But lo! There breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array,
As God to glory calls them all away.
Alleluia, alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
All praising Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, alleluia!” [4]
[1] Revelation 19:7-9
[2] Revelation 21:3
[3] “For all the Saints, who from their labor rest” Author: William Walsham How (1864)
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Last Time Ministries
“Beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [1]
Remember… what? Recall what the apostles of Christ taught.
“How they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” [2]
Mockers are sign of the last time. What is their cause? Sensual pleasure, ungodly lusts and causing divisions! The Holy Spirit is the One who creates in someone a clean heart, and joy of salvation. They need the Holy Spirit. [3]
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” [4]
Do what? Build your faith in Christ. Let the Spirit inspire and lead your prayers. Love God! Look for the mercy of Christ that leads to eternal, not temporary, life. Have compassion on some! Compassion is to suffer with, to empathize with. Discern carefully which “some” to have compassion on. Save others with appropriate fear. If they are in the fire of sin, you must be careful not to be burned. Pull them out without being defiled by sin.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and forever.”
Ultimately, each person is saved from stumbling in sin, and presented faultless to God with joy by Christ. He is the Wise One. He alone saves souls. To God be glory, not mocking, both today and forever!
[1] Jude 1:17
[2] Jude 1:18-19
[3] Psalm 51:10-13, Ezekiel 36:26-27
[4] Jude 1:20-23
[5] Jude 1:24-25
Remember… what? Recall what the apostles of Christ taught.
“How they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” [2]
Mockers are sign of the last time. What is their cause? Sensual pleasure, ungodly lusts and causing divisions! The Holy Spirit is the One who creates in someone a clean heart, and joy of salvation. They need the Holy Spirit. [3]
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” [4]
Do what? Build your faith in Christ. Let the Spirit inspire and lead your prayers. Love God! Look for the mercy of Christ that leads to eternal, not temporary, life. Have compassion on some! Compassion is to suffer with, to empathize with. Discern carefully which “some” to have compassion on. Save others with appropriate fear. If they are in the fire of sin, you must be careful not to be burned. Pull them out without being defiled by sin.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and forever.”
Ultimately, each person is saved from stumbling in sin, and presented faultless to God with joy by Christ. He is the Wise One. He alone saves souls. To God be glory, not mocking, both today and forever!
[1] Jude 1:17
[2] Jude 1:18-19
[3] Psalm 51:10-13, Ezekiel 36:26-27
[4] Jude 1:20-23
[5] Jude 1:24-25
Sunday, January 24, 2021
When Will The End Be?
Jesus had been in the temple that day. His disciples showed Him the buildings of it. Jesus told them that not one stone of this building would be left here upon another. [1]
After that, He was sitting on the Mount of Olives. [2] They could see the temple from there.
King Herod employed 10,000 workers to expand and beautify the temple. Its gold roof reflected sunlight. Its white marble walls appeared as snow. Its beautification ended in 63 AD. Its destruction occurred in 70 AD. It was set on fire by the Romans during a Jewish insurrection. The Romans pulled its wall stones apart to extract the gold that had melted among them. Not one stone was left upon another.
The disciples probably assumed that the end of the temple would be the end of the world. They wanted to know when this end would come. Jesus did not give them a day or time. He gave them signs. Road signs! When you come to these signs, the end is near.
The first sign was deception. [3] Many people would come in His name. Many people would be deceived. [4] Deception precedes robbery. A person does not willingly surrender treasure. He or she must be deceived out of it. So, the first sign is deceivers. People will exchange the true Messiah for a fake one.
Reports of wars and rumors of wars is the next sign. Jesus tells them do not be troubled. “These things must come to pass.” [5]
Nations will fight. Famines, diseases, and earthquakes will follow. “The beginning of sorrows.” are literally the beginning of labor pains. [6] The things mentioned above will become more frequent and more intense before Jesus returns.
Then, disciples of Jesus will experience tribulation, murder, and hatred by all nations for His name’s sake. Many will offend, betray, and hate one another. [7]
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Persecution would reveal the traitors within the Church as well as the enemies without.”
Many false prophets will deceive many. The love of will grow cold because of the lawless conditions. [8]
Lawlessness that results in lovelessness is the worst of pestilences. Outward persecution cannot steal the Church’s influence, but without love, it becomes no different than any other business.
“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” [9] Herein is success! Endure! Hold on! Do not be robbed of your faith in Christ! Abide in Christ and you will have what you need.
Jesus declares, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” [10] The task at hand for disciples of Jesus is to keep preaching (heralding) the Gospel of the Kingdom. Destruction is not the final sign. Saving lost souls by pointing them to Jesus… bringing the Gospel to the world… this is the final sign. Then, Jesus will return and bring with Him a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwells righteous, peace and joy!
“Dear Heavenly Father, please help Your people to endure. Helps us to reach the heavenly shores by Your grace. Help us to keep love alive on earth! Help us to keep telling people about Jesus Your Son. For this we pray in His Name. Amen.”
[1] Matthew 24:1-2
[2] Matthew 24:3
[3] Matthew 24:4
[4] Matthew 24:5
[5] Matthew 24:6
[6] Matthew 24:7-8
[7] Matthew 24:9-10
[8] Matthew 24:11-12
[9] Matthew 24:13
[10] Matthew 24:14
After that, He was sitting on the Mount of Olives. [2] They could see the temple from there.
King Herod employed 10,000 workers to expand and beautify the temple. Its gold roof reflected sunlight. Its white marble walls appeared as snow. Its beautification ended in 63 AD. Its destruction occurred in 70 AD. It was set on fire by the Romans during a Jewish insurrection. The Romans pulled its wall stones apart to extract the gold that had melted among them. Not one stone was left upon another.
The disciples probably assumed that the end of the temple would be the end of the world. They wanted to know when this end would come. Jesus did not give them a day or time. He gave them signs. Road signs! When you come to these signs, the end is near.
The first sign was deception. [3] Many people would come in His name. Many people would be deceived. [4] Deception precedes robbery. A person does not willingly surrender treasure. He or she must be deceived out of it. So, the first sign is deceivers. People will exchange the true Messiah for a fake one.
Reports of wars and rumors of wars is the next sign. Jesus tells them do not be troubled. “These things must come to pass.” [5]
Nations will fight. Famines, diseases, and earthquakes will follow. “The beginning of sorrows.” are literally the beginning of labor pains. [6] The things mentioned above will become more frequent and more intense before Jesus returns.
Then, disciples of Jesus will experience tribulation, murder, and hatred by all nations for His name’s sake. Many will offend, betray, and hate one another. [7]
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Persecution would reveal the traitors within the Church as well as the enemies without.”
Many false prophets will deceive many. The love of will grow cold because of the lawless conditions. [8]
Lawlessness that results in lovelessness is the worst of pestilences. Outward persecution cannot steal the Church’s influence, but without love, it becomes no different than any other business.
“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” [9] Herein is success! Endure! Hold on! Do not be robbed of your faith in Christ! Abide in Christ and you will have what you need.
Jesus declares, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” [10] The task at hand for disciples of Jesus is to keep preaching (heralding) the Gospel of the Kingdom. Destruction is not the final sign. Saving lost souls by pointing them to Jesus… bringing the Gospel to the world… this is the final sign. Then, Jesus will return and bring with Him a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwells righteous, peace and joy!
“Dear Heavenly Father, please help Your people to endure. Helps us to reach the heavenly shores by Your grace. Help us to keep love alive on earth! Help us to keep telling people about Jesus Your Son. For this we pray in His Name. Amen.”
[1] Matthew 24:1-2
[2] Matthew 24:3
[3] Matthew 24:4
[4] Matthew 24:5
[5] Matthew 24:6
[6] Matthew 24:7-8
[7] Matthew 24:9-10
[8] Matthew 24:11-12
[9] Matthew 24:13
[10] Matthew 24:14
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
On the Way to Pray
On the way to pray…
A slave girl possessed with a spirit…
Met them.
She made money for her masters by fortune-telling.
She followed Paul and Silas.
She cried out, saying…
“These men are the servants of the Most-High God!
They proclaim to us the way of salvation.”
She did this for many days.
Paul, greatly annoyed, said to the spirit…
“I command you in the name of Jesus Christ…
Come out of her.”
He came out that very hour.
Her masters saw their hope of profit was gone.
So, they seized Paul and Silas.
They dragged them to the authorities.
They said to the magistrates…
“These Jewish men greatly trouble our city.
They teach illegal customs for Romans to observe.”
A mob was incited against Paul and Silas.
The magistrates had them beaten with rods.
They imprisoned them.
They commanded the jailer, “Keep them securely.”
He put them into the inner prison.
He locked their feet in the stocks.
At midnight Paul and Silas…
Prayed and sang hymns to God.
Prisoners were listening to them.
Suddenly! A great earthquake!
The prison shook.
All doors opened.
All chains were loose.
The jailer awakes.
“My have prisoners escaped.”
He draws his sword.
About to kill himself…
Paul shouts…
“Don’t harm yourself!
We are all here.”
The jailer falls before Paul and Silas.
He asks, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They reply, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
You and your household will be saved.”
They spoke God’s word to all who were in his house.
He treated their wounds.
They baptized him and his family.
He fed them at his house with great joy.
He and his entire family believed in God.
The magistrates said, “Let those men go.”
The jailer said to Paul, “Go in peace.”
Paul replied, “They beat us openly…
Romans citizens!
They threw us into prison.
Do they now release us secretly?
No indeed!
Let them release us.”
The magistrates were afraid…
Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
They pleaded with them to leave the city.
Paul and Silas departed to Lydia’s house.
They encouraged the Christians there…
They departed. [1]
The above story comprises 24 out of 31,102 verses in the Bible. Yet, this one small section testifies of many lives being impacted by God. Apostles, a slave girl, businessmen, government leaders, a jailer and his family, prisoners, and Christians meeting in the home of Lydia all had a story to tell after this day. Any day that begins with prayer in the Name of Jesus can develop into a story that lasts for generations to come.
[1] Acts 16:16-40 in poetic form.
A slave girl possessed with a spirit…
Met them.
She made money for her masters by fortune-telling.
She followed Paul and Silas.
She cried out, saying…
“These men are the servants of the Most-High God!
They proclaim to us the way of salvation.”
She did this for many days.
Paul, greatly annoyed, said to the spirit…
“I command you in the name of Jesus Christ…
Come out of her.”
He came out that very hour.
Her masters saw their hope of profit was gone.
So, they seized Paul and Silas.
They dragged them to the authorities.
They said to the magistrates…
“These Jewish men greatly trouble our city.
They teach illegal customs for Romans to observe.”
A mob was incited against Paul and Silas.
The magistrates had them beaten with rods.
They imprisoned them.
They commanded the jailer, “Keep them securely.”
He put them into the inner prison.
He locked their feet in the stocks.
At midnight Paul and Silas…
Prayed and sang hymns to God.
Prisoners were listening to them.
Suddenly! A great earthquake!
The prison shook.
All doors opened.
All chains were loose.
The jailer awakes.
“My have prisoners escaped.”
He draws his sword.
About to kill himself…
Paul shouts…
“Don’t harm yourself!
We are all here.”
The jailer falls before Paul and Silas.
He asks, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They reply, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
You and your household will be saved.”
They spoke God’s word to all who were in his house.
He treated their wounds.
They baptized him and his family.
He fed them at his house with great joy.
He and his entire family believed in God.
The magistrates said, “Let those men go.”
The jailer said to Paul, “Go in peace.”
Paul replied, “They beat us openly…
Romans citizens!
They threw us into prison.
Do they now release us secretly?
No indeed!
Let them release us.”
The magistrates were afraid…
Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
They pleaded with them to leave the city.
Paul and Silas departed to Lydia’s house.
They encouraged the Christians there…
They departed. [1]
The above story comprises 24 out of 31,102 verses in the Bible. Yet, this one small section testifies of many lives being impacted by God. Apostles, a slave girl, businessmen, government leaders, a jailer and his family, prisoners, and Christians meeting in the home of Lydia all had a story to tell after this day. Any day that begins with prayer in the Name of Jesus can develop into a story that lasts for generations to come.
[1] Acts 16:16-40 in poetic form.
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Preparing For Paradise
Food, drink, beautiful scenery, and companionship. Adam and Eve were living in paradise, that is, until the devil deceived them out of their inheritance from God. [1]
After Adam and Eve sinned, God asks Adam, “Where are you?” [2]
Where Adam is and where God wants him to be is still the most important question today!
Paradise has been lost due to sin. We are living in exile from paradise. God’s heart is to restore us to paradise. On the cross Jesus said to the believing thief next to Him, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” [3] That is what the death of Jesus on the cross for our sin is about – paradise restored to every believer.
Walter Brueggemann in his book “Hopeful Imagination – Prophetic Voices in Exile” speaks of the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel in terms of shepherding God’s exiled people. The events of 587 BC are decisive to their prophetic writings. This is when the temple and the holy city of Jerusalem were destroyed. Descendants of King David were dethroned from ruling and Jerusalem’s top minds and leaders were deported to Babylon.
These despairing people saw nothing new, hoped nothing new, and spoke of nothing new.
The goal of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel was to help the people of faith to make two crucial and difficult moves, to relinquish and receive.
The world as they knew it was gone forever, but the Lord was offering them a new world. They must let go of the world of King and Temple and receive a new world from God that it is hard for them to believe possible. It is also not of their design.
“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” [4]
God has a plan to replace the wilderness with paradise. Part of the problem is that we are so used to the wilderness, it is the only world we know, we have no concept or imaginative power to comprehend what God wants to do.
Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel write some of the most beautiful poetry of what God is going to do for people in exile. Remember, we are all in exile. We are not living in the paradise God originally designed for us. We are not enjoying the intimate relationships that God originally created us to enjoy. But Jesus wants to say to us, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.” We must let go of our tight grip on the world Babylon sells us and trust God to receive the new world He is creating.
The new world order will be where God and the Lamb rule and people live in paradise. This is the world we are called as Christians to make our fellow man aware of. This is one of our key functions while we walk this earth – to make people aware of the coming kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel sought the Lord for artistic and poetic expressions to make God’s reality real to the people living in Babylon so must we. We are called to prepare people for the kingdom of God.
A new world is about to emerge where Jesus Christ rules as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Like John the Baptist, we are called to prepare people for His coming. God is ending our known world and inviting to us a new world where righteousness, peace, and joy reign.
The loss authority of David’s kingly descendants and the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem are analogous with the loss of the godly governors and Biblical law in America. We are living in a nation adrift from God. Like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, we need to draw on all the strength, wisdom and inspiration God gives us to be poet prophets to our generation.
We need to die to the old order of Babylon and come alive to what God is doing. He is doing a new thing for us too. Jesus is about to return. Roses do bloom in the wilderness as Isaiah says in chapter 35. Rivers do flow in the desert.
We need to defy the lies of Babylon that says that all you see is all you get. That material pleasure is the only real pleasure. Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die. We have a much brighter future with God than that.
We need to stop being double minded as though Jesus will not return. We need to believe that HE IS restoring paradise.
As we draw upon God through Scripture reading, prayer, group Bible Study, congregational worship, group prayer and fellowship in the body of Christ, God activates all our inspiration and resolve to live for the coming kingdom and not for this world.
“Adam, where are you?”
“We are right here Lord studying Your Word and preparing for paradise.”
[1] Genesis 2:8-10, 15, 21-25, 15; 3:1-6
[2] Genesis 3:9
[3] Luke 23:43
[4] Isaiah 43:18-19
After Adam and Eve sinned, God asks Adam, “Where are you?” [2]
Where Adam is and where God wants him to be is still the most important question today!
Paradise has been lost due to sin. We are living in exile from paradise. God’s heart is to restore us to paradise. On the cross Jesus said to the believing thief next to Him, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” [3] That is what the death of Jesus on the cross for our sin is about – paradise restored to every believer.
Walter Brueggemann in his book “Hopeful Imagination – Prophetic Voices in Exile” speaks of the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel in terms of shepherding God’s exiled people. The events of 587 BC are decisive to their prophetic writings. This is when the temple and the holy city of Jerusalem were destroyed. Descendants of King David were dethroned from ruling and Jerusalem’s top minds and leaders were deported to Babylon.
These despairing people saw nothing new, hoped nothing new, and spoke of nothing new.
The goal of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel was to help the people of faith to make two crucial and difficult moves, to relinquish and receive.
The world as they knew it was gone forever, but the Lord was offering them a new world. They must let go of the world of King and Temple and receive a new world from God that it is hard for them to believe possible. It is also not of their design.
“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” [4]
God has a plan to replace the wilderness with paradise. Part of the problem is that we are so used to the wilderness, it is the only world we know, we have no concept or imaginative power to comprehend what God wants to do.
Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel write some of the most beautiful poetry of what God is going to do for people in exile. Remember, we are all in exile. We are not living in the paradise God originally designed for us. We are not enjoying the intimate relationships that God originally created us to enjoy. But Jesus wants to say to us, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.” We must let go of our tight grip on the world Babylon sells us and trust God to receive the new world He is creating.
The new world order will be where God and the Lamb rule and people live in paradise. This is the world we are called as Christians to make our fellow man aware of. This is one of our key functions while we walk this earth – to make people aware of the coming kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel sought the Lord for artistic and poetic expressions to make God’s reality real to the people living in Babylon so must we. We are called to prepare people for the kingdom of God.
A new world is about to emerge where Jesus Christ rules as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Like John the Baptist, we are called to prepare people for His coming. God is ending our known world and inviting to us a new world where righteousness, peace, and joy reign.
The loss authority of David’s kingly descendants and the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem are analogous with the loss of the godly governors and Biblical law in America. We are living in a nation adrift from God. Like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, we need to draw on all the strength, wisdom and inspiration God gives us to be poet prophets to our generation.
We need to die to the old order of Babylon and come alive to what God is doing. He is doing a new thing for us too. Jesus is about to return. Roses do bloom in the wilderness as Isaiah says in chapter 35. Rivers do flow in the desert.
We need to defy the lies of Babylon that says that all you see is all you get. That material pleasure is the only real pleasure. Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die. We have a much brighter future with God than that.
We need to stop being double minded as though Jesus will not return. We need to believe that HE IS restoring paradise.
As we draw upon God through Scripture reading, prayer, group Bible Study, congregational worship, group prayer and fellowship in the body of Christ, God activates all our inspiration and resolve to live for the coming kingdom and not for this world.
“Adam, where are you?”
“We are right here Lord studying Your Word and preparing for paradise.”
[1] Genesis 2:8-10, 15, 21-25, 15; 3:1-6
[2] Genesis 3:9
[3] Luke 23:43
[4] Isaiah 43:18-19
Monday, January 18, 2021
At His Side
“Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God...” [1]
I am so thankful that “God said.”
God spoke to Jacob and He still speaks to us today through His Word the Bible.
I am so thankful that God said, “Arise, go up…”
We need the Lord to urge us to get up and go. For some of us our get up and go, got up and went a long time ago. We need fresh urgency from the Lord each day to rise up, go, and do.
“Make an altar.”
I am so thankful that the Lord calls us to the altar. The altar represents the place of sacrifice and the place of prayer. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, atoned for our sins on the cross, so now in His Name, we can approach the greatest throne that has or ever will exist. Namely, the throne of God. God’s throne is a throne of grace for all who come to Him in the Name of Christ.
God’s throne is above all thrones. In Psalm 2, God reveals that His Son has a day of reckoning for the earthly rulers who despised Him. They will not be able to halt His justice or vilify Him anymore. He will shatter their plots as when a clay pot is struck with an iron scepter. To avoid this shattering, they need to stop defying and denying and start worshipping Him:
“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed [Jesus the Anointed One – the Christ].
They say, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision [contempt – they think they can judge God in contempt of their courts, but it will be quite the reverse].
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath and distress them in His deep displeasure.
“Yet I have set My King [Jesus] on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord has said to Me [Jesus], ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall [Jesus] break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’
Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling. Kiss [worship] the Son [Jesus], lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” [2]
After the Lord spoke to Jacob, he spoke to his family and said, “Let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.” [3]
I am thankful that the Lord is with us during times of distress. I am thankful that He keeps us by His side.
Someone once asked President Abraham Lincoln if he thought God was on his side in the civil war. He responded, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.”
[1] Genesis 35:1
[2] Psalm 2
[3] Genesis 35:3
I am so thankful that “God said.”
God spoke to Jacob and He still speaks to us today through His Word the Bible.
I am so thankful that God said, “Arise, go up…”
We need the Lord to urge us to get up and go. For some of us our get up and go, got up and went a long time ago. We need fresh urgency from the Lord each day to rise up, go, and do.
“Make an altar.”
I am so thankful that the Lord calls us to the altar. The altar represents the place of sacrifice and the place of prayer. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, atoned for our sins on the cross, so now in His Name, we can approach the greatest throne that has or ever will exist. Namely, the throne of God. God’s throne is a throne of grace for all who come to Him in the Name of Christ.
God’s throne is above all thrones. In Psalm 2, God reveals that His Son has a day of reckoning for the earthly rulers who despised Him. They will not be able to halt His justice or vilify Him anymore. He will shatter their plots as when a clay pot is struck with an iron scepter. To avoid this shattering, they need to stop defying and denying and start worshipping Him:
“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed [Jesus the Anointed One – the Christ].
They say, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision [contempt – they think they can judge God in contempt of their courts, but it will be quite the reverse].
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath and distress them in His deep displeasure.
“Yet I have set My King [Jesus] on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord has said to Me [Jesus], ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall [Jesus] break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’
Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling. Kiss [worship] the Son [Jesus], lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” [2]
After the Lord spoke to Jacob, he spoke to his family and said, “Let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.” [3]
I am thankful that the Lord is with us during times of distress. I am thankful that He keeps us by His side.
Someone once asked President Abraham Lincoln if he thought God was on his side in the civil war. He responded, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.”
[1] Genesis 35:1
[2] Psalm 2
[3] Genesis 35:3
Sunday, January 17, 2021
Avoiding Overthrow
“And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ [1]
The Lord graciously warned the people of the great city of Nineveh of a pending overthrow. 40 days early warning! They had a choice: take God seriously and act or disregard Him and be overthrown. No loophole to the declaration, legalese language or third option possible!
Thankfully, the Holy Spirit graciously worked alongside God’s Word, and convicted the nation’s heart. He also moved upon the nation’s king to believe and act after they did. Faith and repentance began with the PEOPLE and then, struck the king and his nobles…
“So, the PEOPLE of Nineveh BELIEVED GOD, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.”
“Then word came to the KING of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the KING and HIS NOBLES, saying…
‘Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and CRY MIGHTILY to GOD; yes, let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?’” [2]
Both PEOPLE and KING believed God’s Word and acted upon it. They repented, fasted, and prayed. They cried mightily to GOD. Not in glazed over, ho-hum manner. Like a giant Titanic ship, their city was going to sink unless God reversed the damage from their sin. They needed God’s forgiveness. They needed God’s intervention. They wanted to live.
“Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” [3]
God cannot lie. He is bound to keep His Word. Sin must be judged. But He does have an escape clause for those who do not want to perish in their sin. It is to believe in Him, repent of the sin, and seek God’s forgiveness. Then, God can choose to relent of acting upon His promise to judge sin, show mercy, forgive, and heal.
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” [4]
“Dear Heavenly Father, nothing is impossible with You. Please convict our nation by Your Word and Holy Spirit! Unconfessed and unrepented sin leads to overthrow! Please turn our hearts to Your Son, Jesus Christ, on whom You laid the sin of us all. Move us to cry out mightily, so that You may be able to rightly forgive our sins and heal our land. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.”
[1] Jonah 3:4
[2] Jonah 3:5-9
[3] Jonah 3:10
[4] 2 Chronicles 7:14
The Lord graciously warned the people of the great city of Nineveh of a pending overthrow. 40 days early warning! They had a choice: take God seriously and act or disregard Him and be overthrown. No loophole to the declaration, legalese language or third option possible!
Thankfully, the Holy Spirit graciously worked alongside God’s Word, and convicted the nation’s heart. He also moved upon the nation’s king to believe and act after they did. Faith and repentance began with the PEOPLE and then, struck the king and his nobles…
“So, the PEOPLE of Nineveh BELIEVED GOD, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.”
“Then word came to the KING of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the KING and HIS NOBLES, saying…
‘Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and CRY MIGHTILY to GOD; yes, let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?’” [2]
Both PEOPLE and KING believed God’s Word and acted upon it. They repented, fasted, and prayed. They cried mightily to GOD. Not in glazed over, ho-hum manner. Like a giant Titanic ship, their city was going to sink unless God reversed the damage from their sin. They needed God’s forgiveness. They needed God’s intervention. They wanted to live.
“Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” [3]
God cannot lie. He is bound to keep His Word. Sin must be judged. But He does have an escape clause for those who do not want to perish in their sin. It is to believe in Him, repent of the sin, and seek God’s forgiveness. Then, God can choose to relent of acting upon His promise to judge sin, show mercy, forgive, and heal.
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” [4]
“Dear Heavenly Father, nothing is impossible with You. Please convict our nation by Your Word and Holy Spirit! Unconfessed and unrepented sin leads to overthrow! Please turn our hearts to Your Son, Jesus Christ, on whom You laid the sin of us all. Move us to cry out mightily, so that You may be able to rightly forgive our sins and heal our land. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.”
[1] Jonah 3:4
[2] Jonah 3:5-9
[3] Jonah 3:10
[4] 2 Chronicles 7:14
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Praising God Amid Assembled People
“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;
With my mouth will I make known…
Your faithfulness to all generations.
And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.
For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord?
Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,
And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.
In Your name they rejoice all day long,
And in Your righteousness, they are exalted.” [1]
“Since sin is the absence of praise, then salvation is the restoration of praise. Since sin is everything that violates communion, salvation is the restoration of communion.
Not only relationship with God is set aright through adoration but also potentially our relationships with each other, past, present, and future. When the assembly raises its voice to give honor, glory, and thanksgiving to God, we discover the strongest of objective bonds with others: the link through the reality of God.
Praising God unites us with other worshipers throughout the world.
Worship happens in assemblies of people. People who might not otherwise agree with each other or even like each other can be genuinely united with each other in praise of God. In union with one another, our eyes are not turned toward each other but toward the God in whom we together confess our faith.” [2]
[1] Psalm 89:1, 5-7, 15-16
[2] LaCugna, Catherine Mowry, God For Us ~ The Trinity & Christian Life, Harper Collins Publishers, © 1973, pp. 298, 343
With my mouth will I make known…
Your faithfulness to all generations.
And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.
For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord?
Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,
And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.
In Your name they rejoice all day long,
And in Your righteousness, they are exalted.” [1]
“Since sin is the absence of praise, then salvation is the restoration of praise. Since sin is everything that violates communion, salvation is the restoration of communion.
Not only relationship with God is set aright through adoration but also potentially our relationships with each other, past, present, and future. When the assembly raises its voice to give honor, glory, and thanksgiving to God, we discover the strongest of objective bonds with others: the link through the reality of God.
Praising God unites us with other worshipers throughout the world.
Worship happens in assemblies of people. People who might not otherwise agree with each other or even like each other can be genuinely united with each other in praise of God. In union with one another, our eyes are not turned toward each other but toward the God in whom we together confess our faith.” [2]
[1] Psalm 89:1, 5-7, 15-16
[2] LaCugna, Catherine Mowry, God For Us ~ The Trinity & Christian Life, Harper Collins Publishers, © 1973, pp. 298, 343
Thursday, January 14, 2021
The Trinitarian Life
“Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.” [1]
Jesus redrafted the boundaries of family, neighbor, and household, saying…
“Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother, sister, and mother.” [2]
“To answer the question of who Jesus Christ is, we look to how He acts to the shape of His relationships with others and with God.
Jesus was neither a doormat nor an autocrat, but free in Himself and from Himself to be open to other persons, despite those features that made them unacceptable in society.
The Gospels do not present a portrait of a feeble and irresolute man, someone who was so self-effaced as to command neither respect nor authority. Nor did Jesus importune Himself and demand the center of attention, forcing people to think and do things His way. Instead, He was a fiercely tender presence, passionate and outspoken, a charismatic preacher and healer. His words and life invited many of His listeners and friends into a different way of living.
Jesus was the gesture of God’s hand outstretched in love, mercy, and forgiveness. His ministry was devoted to healing and reconciling, intent on human flourishing, determined to bring the Good News of salvation to everyone, especially to the downtrodden. He promised that everyone who so desired would be given a place in the coming reign of God. Jesus was wholly devoted to the proclamation of God’s reign through service to others.
Jesus is the paradigm of what it means to live in the Name of God: Jesus’ whole reality was identified with God’s through serving and caring for others, even to the point of giving up His own life.”
“The achievement of communion (koinonia) is the proper work of the Spirit of God / Spirit of Jesus Christ. The Spirit gathers together in Christ persons who would not otherwise gather, making possible a true union of hearts and minds, the ground of which resides not in individual differences – age, gender, opinions, abilities – but in the very being of God.
The Spirit accomplishes unity-amidst-diversity, a communion that abolishes solitariness but not individuality. The uniqueness of the Spirit’s personhood lies in what the Spirit does: uniting everyone and everything with God through Jesus Christ.
It is impossible to think or speak of the Spirit except as the Spirit-of. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ; the Spirit of the Christian community.” [3]
“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for modeling for us what it means to live for God and others. Please help us by Your Spirit to rebuild the Christian community to reflect Your life.”
[1] John 17:11
[2] Matthew 12:49-50
[3] LaCugna, Catherine Mowry, God For Us ~ The Trinity & Christian Life, Harper Collins Publishers, © 1973, pp. 293-295, 298
Jesus redrafted the boundaries of family, neighbor, and household, saying…
“Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother, sister, and mother.” [2]
“To answer the question of who Jesus Christ is, we look to how He acts to the shape of His relationships with others and with God.
Jesus was neither a doormat nor an autocrat, but free in Himself and from Himself to be open to other persons, despite those features that made them unacceptable in society.
The Gospels do not present a portrait of a feeble and irresolute man, someone who was so self-effaced as to command neither respect nor authority. Nor did Jesus importune Himself and demand the center of attention, forcing people to think and do things His way. Instead, He was a fiercely tender presence, passionate and outspoken, a charismatic preacher and healer. His words and life invited many of His listeners and friends into a different way of living.
Jesus was the gesture of God’s hand outstretched in love, mercy, and forgiveness. His ministry was devoted to healing and reconciling, intent on human flourishing, determined to bring the Good News of salvation to everyone, especially to the downtrodden. He promised that everyone who so desired would be given a place in the coming reign of God. Jesus was wholly devoted to the proclamation of God’s reign through service to others.
Jesus is the paradigm of what it means to live in the Name of God: Jesus’ whole reality was identified with God’s through serving and caring for others, even to the point of giving up His own life.”
“The achievement of communion (koinonia) is the proper work of the Spirit of God / Spirit of Jesus Christ. The Spirit gathers together in Christ persons who would not otherwise gather, making possible a true union of hearts and minds, the ground of which resides not in individual differences – age, gender, opinions, abilities – but in the very being of God.
The Spirit accomplishes unity-amidst-diversity, a communion that abolishes solitariness but not individuality. The uniqueness of the Spirit’s personhood lies in what the Spirit does: uniting everyone and everything with God through Jesus Christ.
It is impossible to think or speak of the Spirit except as the Spirit-of. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ; the Spirit of the Christian community.” [3]
“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for modeling for us what it means to live for God and others. Please help us by Your Spirit to rebuild the Christian community to reflect Your life.”
[1] John 17:11
[2] Matthew 12:49-50
[3] LaCugna, Catherine Mowry, God For Us ~ The Trinity & Christian Life, Harper Collins Publishers, © 1973, pp. 293-295, 298
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
The Un-Castaways
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a man sowing good seed in his field. [1]
After the crowd left, His disciples asked for further clarification about this parable.
He said: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.”
The title Son of Man refers to Daniel 7:9 where the prophet was given a vision of the coming Messiah. Jesus is the Son of Man. He is the Sower of good seed. The good seeds are His kingdom people. The tares are counterfeit wheat. They look like wheat but are not. They are sons of the wicked one… sons of the devil. The harvest is the end of the age… Judgment Day. Angels are the harvesters. Jesus give His angels authority and ability to separate the useful from the useless. The wheat will enjoy radiance. The tares will experience fire. [2]
“The Son of Man [Jesus] will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” [3]
Jesus went on to compare the kingdom of heaven to three more scenarios:
Treasure hidden in a field – worth all we have.
A pearl of great price - worth of all we have.
Good fish retained in contrast to bad fish discarded.
He reiterated that His angels shall remove the wicked from among the just at the end of the age. [4]
Then, Jesus said to His disciples, “Have you understood all these things?” They replied, “Yes, Lord.” [5]
Jesus taught with the goal of helping people make the right choice. The above parables are no exception. He is telling us point blank what the future holds for both those who receive Him and those who reject Him. To those who consider Him worth all they have… To those who know only He can make something good out of them… eternal happiness with God. To those who try to look like divine produce but are not of Him… the outcome is extremely undesirable.
In any case, a Day is appointed… I pray that we all will be ready.
Jesus said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." [6]
[1] Matthew 13:24
[2] Matthew 13:37-40
[3] Matthew 14:41-43
[4] Matthew 13:44-49
[5] Matthew 13:51
[6] John 6:37
After the crowd left, His disciples asked for further clarification about this parable.
He said: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.”
The title Son of Man refers to Daniel 7:9 where the prophet was given a vision of the coming Messiah. Jesus is the Son of Man. He is the Sower of good seed. The good seeds are His kingdom people. The tares are counterfeit wheat. They look like wheat but are not. They are sons of the wicked one… sons of the devil. The harvest is the end of the age… Judgment Day. Angels are the harvesters. Jesus give His angels authority and ability to separate the useful from the useless. The wheat will enjoy radiance. The tares will experience fire. [2]
“The Son of Man [Jesus] will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” [3]
Jesus went on to compare the kingdom of heaven to three more scenarios:
Treasure hidden in a field – worth all we have.
A pearl of great price - worth of all we have.
Good fish retained in contrast to bad fish discarded.
He reiterated that His angels shall remove the wicked from among the just at the end of the age. [4]
Then, Jesus said to His disciples, “Have you understood all these things?” They replied, “Yes, Lord.” [5]
Jesus taught with the goal of helping people make the right choice. The above parables are no exception. He is telling us point blank what the future holds for both those who receive Him and those who reject Him. To those who consider Him worth all they have… To those who know only He can make something good out of them… eternal happiness with God. To those who try to look like divine produce but are not of Him… the outcome is extremely undesirable.
In any case, a Day is appointed… I pray that we all will be ready.
Jesus said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." [6]
[1] Matthew 13:24
[2] Matthew 13:37-40
[3] Matthew 14:41-43
[4] Matthew 13:44-49
[5] Matthew 13:51
[6] John 6:37
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Messaging Amid MIscharacterizations
There was once a high school girl who had a “Job” experience. Hateful classmates hacked her social media page. Posing as her, they posted accusatory lies on her Facebook page towards her friends. The result was that most of her friends defriended her. A few even physically assaulted her. Her Mom moved to new school district to protect her, but the harassment continued. She probably would have ended her life if the Lord had not intervened. He was her lifeline.
Thanks to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I understand that good people, even the Son of God, have suffered in this world. I also know that the Lord is very compassionate.
“Take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed, we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” [1]
The Lord confronted the men who misunderstood and mischaracterized Job. He told them to ask Job to pray for them. Then, the Lord restored all that Job lost, twice over. [2]
During a dialogue with an audience, Jesus framed the story of good versus evil in the following way: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” The devil is the thief. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. [3]
Thankfully, though Jesus suffered cruel treatment from evil men, He came back from the dead to speak of love and forgiveness. He instructed us His followers to love and forgive as well.
The Lord urges us His sufferers to commit our souls to God. “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. [5] In due season, He will turn the tide of battle that is against us. “The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” [6]
[1] James 5:10-11
[2] Job 42:8-10
[3] John 10:10, 14:6
[4] Deuteronomy 5:10
[5] 1 Peter 4:19
[6] 1 Peter 5:10
Thanks to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I understand that good people, even the Son of God, have suffered in this world. I also know that the Lord is very compassionate.
“Take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed, we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” [1]
The Lord confronted the men who misunderstood and mischaracterized Job. He told them to ask Job to pray for them. Then, the Lord restored all that Job lost, twice over. [2]
During a dialogue with an audience, Jesus framed the story of good versus evil in the following way: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” The devil is the thief. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. [3]
Thankfully, though Jesus suffered cruel treatment from evil men, He came back from the dead to speak of love and forgiveness. He instructed us His followers to love and forgive as well.
The Lord urges us His sufferers to commit our souls to God. “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. [5] In due season, He will turn the tide of battle that is against us. “The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” [6]
[1] James 5:10-11
[2] Job 42:8-10
[3] John 10:10, 14:6
[4] Deuteronomy 5:10
[5] 1 Peter 4:19
[6] 1 Peter 5:10
Monday, January 11, 2021
The Messiah
“When John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’
Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see 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. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” [1]
John was imprisoned because he had spoken to King Herod, saying, “It is not lawful for you to have her [Herodias, your brother Phillip’s wife].” Herod wanted to put him to death, but feared his citizens, because they counted him as a prophet. [2]
Perhaps, John was wondering why Jesus did not do something about this situation. Herod committed adultery. Everyone knew it. He was a corrupt leader. Perhaps, John wanted his followers to be assured that Jesus was their Messiah. John had previously told his disciples that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He believed that Jesus was the Messiah. [3]
Jesus told John’s messengers to tell him of the poor people hearing Gospel and of the hurting people being healed. He closed with this remark, “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Ministry to the poor and needy is what the Messiah does.
Jesus went on to speak highly of John. He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist…” [4]
John was right to confront Herod about his adulterous affair. Such a self-indulgent leader was bound to neglect the care of the people entrusted to him.
Then, Jesus addressed the general attitude of His time by saying, “What shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” [5]
The common complaint was that neither John the Baptist nor Jesus did all that people expected them to do. Jesus said the people were acting like children when they expected their leaders to follow their lead.
“Wisdom is justified by her children.” Wise choices will be realized in due season. Wait for it!
Afterwards, Jesus thanked His Heavenly Father for the revelations that He gives to babes and hides from the so called wise and prudent. Then, He issued an invitation…
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” [6]
The main mission of Christ was to reveal God to people and to ease their heavy burdens. He is gentle and lowly in heart. His work yields rest for the soul.
The difference between Herod and Jesus? Herod lived in a palace and made demands that people serve his self-indulgent interests. Jesus lived amidst hurting people, taught them about God and healed their hurts.
[1] Matthew 11:2-6
[2] Matthew 14:3-5
[3] John 1:29, 31-33
[4] Matthew 11:11
[5] Matthew 11:16-19
[6] Matthew 11:25-30
Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see 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. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” [1]
John was imprisoned because he had spoken to King Herod, saying, “It is not lawful for you to have her [Herodias, your brother Phillip’s wife].” Herod wanted to put him to death, but feared his citizens, because they counted him as a prophet. [2]
Perhaps, John was wondering why Jesus did not do something about this situation. Herod committed adultery. Everyone knew it. He was a corrupt leader. Perhaps, John wanted his followers to be assured that Jesus was their Messiah. John had previously told his disciples that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He believed that Jesus was the Messiah. [3]
Jesus told John’s messengers to tell him of the poor people hearing Gospel and of the hurting people being healed. He closed with this remark, “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Ministry to the poor and needy is what the Messiah does.
Jesus went on to speak highly of John. He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist…” [4]
John was right to confront Herod about his adulterous affair. Such a self-indulgent leader was bound to neglect the care of the people entrusted to him.
Then, Jesus addressed the general attitude of His time by saying, “What shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” [5]
The common complaint was that neither John the Baptist nor Jesus did all that people expected them to do. Jesus said the people were acting like children when they expected their leaders to follow their lead.
“Wisdom is justified by her children.” Wise choices will be realized in due season. Wait for it!
Afterwards, Jesus thanked His Heavenly Father for the revelations that He gives to babes and hides from the so called wise and prudent. Then, He issued an invitation…
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” [6]
The main mission of Christ was to reveal God to people and to ease their heavy burdens. He is gentle and lowly in heart. His work yields rest for the soul.
The difference between Herod and Jesus? Herod lived in a palace and made demands that people serve his self-indulgent interests. Jesus lived amidst hurting people, taught them about God and healed their hurts.
[1] Matthew 11:2-6
[2] Matthew 14:3-5
[3] John 1:29, 31-33
[4] Matthew 11:11
[5] Matthew 11:16-19
[6] Matthew 11:25-30
Sunday, January 10, 2021
The Transcendency of God
“Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?” [1]
God is Creator and Sustainer of all things. He keeps planets, stars, sun, and moon in place. He oversees animals while they give birth to their young. He knows the birds of the air and the fish of sea. He made them and sustains them. There is no one comparable to God.
And yet, the Lord is very patient with those who disregard Him and His ways. He bore with great long-suffering the evil deeds of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. And when He did decide to judge them, He remembered the prayers of Abraham for his nephew Lot who lived there.
Lot was unaware of what was about to happen when two angels arrived. He was sitting at the gate of his city. He bowed to them and invited them to lodge at his house. They were reluctant to do so, but after he strongly insisted, they did so. He baked for them and they ate. However, before dawn, the angels urged Lot to get his family out of the city. He was reluctant to leave, so the angels grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand and his two daughters’ hands and led them outside the city. The Bible says, “The Lord being merciful to him.”
One angel said to him, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” Lot still did not realize the severity of the moment. He asked the angels for permission to flee to a city instead of to the mountain. The angel gave him permission. He fled. Then, brimstone and fire fell from the Lord. [2]
“And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.” [3]
Abraham had prayed for Lot. The Lord heard his prayers.
“The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.” [4]
It is a blessing from God to have a revelation of who He is and what He can do. He gives us the air we breathe. He keeps our heart beating. He gave His Son to die for our sins on the cross. He does so much for us daily. We do well to regard what He says to us in the Bible.
Jesus spoke of Sodom to His disciples. He said that circumstances would be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for a city that rejected their message. [5]
In the same discussion, He said, “There is nothing covered that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known.” He urged them, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” He was quite plain about the outcomes for those who confess Him and those who deny Him. He said, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” [6]
“Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive us for the many times that we have disregarded You and Your Word. We do believe and confess You to be Creator and Sustainer of the universe. We confess that all creation is Yours to do with as You see right to do. We confess and believe that Your Son Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved from the consequences of sin. Please have mercy on us, and on our nation, O Lord, our Rock, and our Redeemer. For in Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.”
[1] Psalm 71:19
[2] Genesis 19:1-25
[3] Genesis 19:29
[4] Proverbs 10:27
[5] Matthew 10:13-15
[6] Matthew 10:26, 28, 32-33
God is Creator and Sustainer of all things. He keeps planets, stars, sun, and moon in place. He oversees animals while they give birth to their young. He knows the birds of the air and the fish of sea. He made them and sustains them. There is no one comparable to God.
And yet, the Lord is very patient with those who disregard Him and His ways. He bore with great long-suffering the evil deeds of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. And when He did decide to judge them, He remembered the prayers of Abraham for his nephew Lot who lived there.
Lot was unaware of what was about to happen when two angels arrived. He was sitting at the gate of his city. He bowed to them and invited them to lodge at his house. They were reluctant to do so, but after he strongly insisted, they did so. He baked for them and they ate. However, before dawn, the angels urged Lot to get his family out of the city. He was reluctant to leave, so the angels grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand and his two daughters’ hands and led them outside the city. The Bible says, “The Lord being merciful to him.”
One angel said to him, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” Lot still did not realize the severity of the moment. He asked the angels for permission to flee to a city instead of to the mountain. The angel gave him permission. He fled. Then, brimstone and fire fell from the Lord. [2]
“And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.” [3]
Abraham had prayed for Lot. The Lord heard his prayers.
“The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.” [4]
It is a blessing from God to have a revelation of who He is and what He can do. He gives us the air we breathe. He keeps our heart beating. He gave His Son to die for our sins on the cross. He does so much for us daily. We do well to regard what He says to us in the Bible.
Jesus spoke of Sodom to His disciples. He said that circumstances would be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for a city that rejected their message. [5]
In the same discussion, He said, “There is nothing covered that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known.” He urged them, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” He was quite plain about the outcomes for those who confess Him and those who deny Him. He said, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” [6]
“Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive us for the many times that we have disregarded You and Your Word. We do believe and confess You to be Creator and Sustainer of the universe. We confess that all creation is Yours to do with as You see right to do. We confess and believe that Your Son Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved from the consequences of sin. Please have mercy on us, and on our nation, O Lord, our Rock, and our Redeemer. For in Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.”
[1] Psalm 71:19
[2] Genesis 19:1-25
[3] Genesis 19:29
[4] Proverbs 10:27
[5] Matthew 10:13-15
[6] Matthew 10:26, 28, 32-33
Thursday, January 7, 2021
The Elijah Principle
“Then the word of the Lord came to him [Elijah], saying, ‘Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.’” [1]
The key to Elijah’s ministry success was his conversational relationship with God. He spoke with God in prayer. God spoke His words to Elijah. Elijah followed God’s guidance. The Lord spared many of His servants from the political regime that opposed them…
“For so it was, while [Queen] Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.” [2]
Elijah spoke a message of divine judgment directly to Jezebel’s husband King Ahab. After that, the Lord led him to Brook Cherith for hydration. God commanded ravens to feed him at Cherith. God’s version of mail delivery drones brought him bread and meat (sandwiches). [3] As this source of provision ended, the Lord directed Elijah to go to Zarephath. This time, God commanded a widow to provide for him.
God leads his people one step at a time—as we walk in obedience. God does not normally lay out the long-term scenario. When Elijah spoke to Ahab, he had no idea what the next step would be. God made the next step clear as Elijah was faithful in what God had already given him to do.
As you take a step of obedience, then God will show you what to do next. That is the importance of the link between Cherith and Zarephath.
“Arise and go to Zarephath… I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”
I wonder what kind of picture Elijah envisioned as he traveled to Zarephath. At the Brook Cherith, God provided meat and bread. What kind of food would the widow provide?
When Elijah arrives in Zarephath, he meets the widow. She is gathering sticks. He asks her for a cup of water and some bread. She replies that she has no bread. She only has a handful of flour and a little oil in a jar. She is gathering sticks for a fire to prepare a meal for her and her son. Afterwards, she assumes they will die of starvation. [4]
Then, Elijah sees the Lord’s plan. He sent him to Zarephath to help this widow and her son survive the famine. In meeting her need, his need will also be met. When other leaders are acting cruel and inhumane, the Lord guides Elijah to care for the widow and fatherless. What does Elijah have for them? He has faith in God. He speaks God’s Word to them, and God intervenes. They do not run out of food or water. [5]
“Dear Heavenly Father, we love to commune with You… study Your Word and dialogue in it with other believers. We trust You, that come what may, You have a way to meet our needs and keep the ministry of Your Word thriving and producing testimonies for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.”
[1] 1 Kings 17:8-9
[2] 1 Kings 18:4
[3] 1 Kings 17:1-7
[4] 1 Kings 17:10-12
[5] 1 Kings 17:13-15
The key to Elijah’s ministry success was his conversational relationship with God. He spoke with God in prayer. God spoke His words to Elijah. Elijah followed God’s guidance. The Lord spared many of His servants from the political regime that opposed them…
“For so it was, while [Queen] Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.” [2]
Elijah spoke a message of divine judgment directly to Jezebel’s husband King Ahab. After that, the Lord led him to Brook Cherith for hydration. God commanded ravens to feed him at Cherith. God’s version of mail delivery drones brought him bread and meat (sandwiches). [3] As this source of provision ended, the Lord directed Elijah to go to Zarephath. This time, God commanded a widow to provide for him.
God leads his people one step at a time—as we walk in obedience. God does not normally lay out the long-term scenario. When Elijah spoke to Ahab, he had no idea what the next step would be. God made the next step clear as Elijah was faithful in what God had already given him to do.
As you take a step of obedience, then God will show you what to do next. That is the importance of the link between Cherith and Zarephath.
“Arise and go to Zarephath… I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”
I wonder what kind of picture Elijah envisioned as he traveled to Zarephath. At the Brook Cherith, God provided meat and bread. What kind of food would the widow provide?
When Elijah arrives in Zarephath, he meets the widow. She is gathering sticks. He asks her for a cup of water and some bread. She replies that she has no bread. She only has a handful of flour and a little oil in a jar. She is gathering sticks for a fire to prepare a meal for her and her son. Afterwards, she assumes they will die of starvation. [4]
Then, Elijah sees the Lord’s plan. He sent him to Zarephath to help this widow and her son survive the famine. In meeting her need, his need will also be met. When other leaders are acting cruel and inhumane, the Lord guides Elijah to care for the widow and fatherless. What does Elijah have for them? He has faith in God. He speaks God’s Word to them, and God intervenes. They do not run out of food or water. [5]
“Dear Heavenly Father, we love to commune with You… study Your Word and dialogue in it with other believers. We trust You, that come what may, You have a way to meet our needs and keep the ministry of Your Word thriving and producing testimonies for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.”
[1] 1 Kings 17:8-9
[2] 1 Kings 18:4
[3] 1 Kings 17:1-7
[4] 1 Kings 17:10-12
[5] 1 Kings 17:13-15
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
A Nation Standing on Christian Precepts
“The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.” John Adams
As Jeremiah warned his leaders and people not to depart from adhering to God’s guidance via Biblical law, so should we who are concerned for the well-being and longevity of our nation.
Biblical principles are God’s provision of guidance for us to avoid great harm and to enjoy great blessings. I submit that we should follow Jeremiah’s example. The life of our nation hangs in the balance.
I bring three Bible verses to God to ask Him to intervene and to rule in our nation.
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” [1]
“For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.” [2]
“It is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” [3]
I use seven Bible verses to boost my faith in God’s sovereignty:
“He changes the times and the years. He takes kings away and puts kings in power. He gives wisdom to wise men and much learning to men of understanding.” [4]
“Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.” [5]
“He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. [6]
“How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen as his own inheritance.” [7]
“…My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.” [8]
“I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” [9]
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” [10]
Let us never stop praying and believing that God can bring our people into line with His Word. We do not want a nation built on shifting sand. We want a nation built on the rock foundation of practicing God’s Word. [11]
[1] Proverbs 21:1
[2] Psalm 22:28
[3] Psalm 75:7
[4] Daniel 2:21
[5] Proverbs 19:21
[6] Job 12:23
[7] Psalm 33:12
[8] Isaiah 46:10
[9] Job 42:2
[10] 1 Timothy 2:1-2
[11] Luke 6:47-49
As Jeremiah warned his leaders and people not to depart from adhering to God’s guidance via Biblical law, so should we who are concerned for the well-being and longevity of our nation.
Biblical principles are God’s provision of guidance for us to avoid great harm and to enjoy great blessings. I submit that we should follow Jeremiah’s example. The life of our nation hangs in the balance.
I bring three Bible verses to God to ask Him to intervene and to rule in our nation.
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” [1]
“For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.” [2]
“It is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” [3]
I use seven Bible verses to boost my faith in God’s sovereignty:
“He changes the times and the years. He takes kings away and puts kings in power. He gives wisdom to wise men and much learning to men of understanding.” [4]
“Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.” [5]
“He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. [6]
“How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen as his own inheritance.” [7]
“…My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.” [8]
“I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” [9]
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” [10]
Let us never stop praying and believing that God can bring our people into line with His Word. We do not want a nation built on shifting sand. We want a nation built on the rock foundation of practicing God’s Word. [11]
[1] Proverbs 21:1
[2] Psalm 22:28
[3] Psalm 75:7
[4] Daniel 2:21
[5] Proverbs 19:21
[6] Job 12:23
[7] Psalm 33:12
[8] Isaiah 46:10
[9] Job 42:2
[10] 1 Timothy 2:1-2
[11] Luke 6:47-49
Monday, January 4, 2021
Repent, the Heavenly Kingdom is Near
“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” [1]
FROM THAT TIME… JESUS BEGAN…
What time preceded the preaching ministry of Christ?
The answer...
A time in the wilderness where He did not eat for 40 days.
A time in the wilderness where the devil tempted Him.
A time in the wilderness where He overcame temptation. [2]
The devil’s strategy is to tempt his prey to sin. Sin is his trap.
Captive people and governments corrupted by the devil replace God’s law with corrupt laws that reward sin and punish goodness, but no one except God can change the consequences of sin. As gravity yields a consistent result, so does God’s principle of sowing and reaping...
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” [3]
The devil’s words are seeds that yield curses.
God’s words are seeds that yield blessings.
Jesus refuted the devil’s words with God’s Word (the Bible). He told the devil that people LIVE by God’s Word. He told the devil, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” He told the devil, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” [4]
“The devil left Jesus, and angels came and ministered to Him.” [5]
By way of example, Jesus teaches us to:
Know the Word of God – read it, study it, quote it, hold to it
Be Holy Spirit led – the Spirit was with Him in wilderness
Be prayed up – Jesus is often praying in the Gospels
Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The kingdom of heaven wins. The devil loses.
Now, is the time to repent of sin and to profess faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Jesus overcame the devil in the wilderness. He helps us who believe in Him to do the same. But even when we fall to temptation and repent, He graciously forgives us.
“Thank You Lord Jesus!”
[1] Matthew 4:17
[2] Matthew 4:1-2
[3] Galatians 6:7-8
[4] Matthew 4:3-10
[5] Matthew 4:11
FROM THAT TIME… JESUS BEGAN…
What time preceded the preaching ministry of Christ?
The answer...
A time in the wilderness where He did not eat for 40 days.
A time in the wilderness where the devil tempted Him.
A time in the wilderness where He overcame temptation. [2]
The devil’s strategy is to tempt his prey to sin. Sin is his trap.
Captive people and governments corrupted by the devil replace God’s law with corrupt laws that reward sin and punish goodness, but no one except God can change the consequences of sin. As gravity yields a consistent result, so does God’s principle of sowing and reaping...
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” [3]
The devil’s words are seeds that yield curses.
God’s words are seeds that yield blessings.
Jesus refuted the devil’s words with God’s Word (the Bible). He told the devil that people LIVE by God’s Word. He told the devil, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” He told the devil, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” [4]
“The devil left Jesus, and angels came and ministered to Him.” [5]
By way of example, Jesus teaches us to:
Know the Word of God – read it, study it, quote it, hold to it
Be Holy Spirit led – the Spirit was with Him in wilderness
Be prayed up – Jesus is often praying in the Gospels
Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The kingdom of heaven wins. The devil loses.
Now, is the time to repent of sin and to profess faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Jesus overcame the devil in the wilderness. He helps us who believe in Him to do the same. But even when we fall to temptation and repent, He graciously forgives us.
“Thank You Lord Jesus!”
[1] Matthew 4:17
[2] Matthew 4:1-2
[3] Galatians 6:7-8
[4] Matthew 4:3-10
[5] Matthew 4:11
Saturday, January 2, 2021
Praying for the Praying
“Dear Lord Jesus, You who intercede on high for us, move upon our hearts as well to intercede with faith, hope and love for peoples and nations! May captives in the kingdom of darkness escape and enter Your kingdom of light.”
Jesus told two parables about prayer in Luke 18:1-14.
“That men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” [1]
In the first parable, Jesus magnifies the example of a widow who is pleading for a response from an unresponsive judge. She needs deliverance from an adversary. He is her only hope of rescue. The judge finally grants her petitions out of weariness from hearing her relentless pleading…
“Because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” [2]
“Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?’” [3]
Jesus, our Heavenly Intercessor, is telling us to keep crying out day and night. Fervent intercessors receive rapid responses.
In the second parable...
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’” [4]
He asks God for nothing. How foolish! He is praying to the most powerful being in all the world and brings no petition. He prays “thus with himself.” Does he think himself God? If so, his religion is humanistic. He has a superiority complex. He sees himself above others. He does not pray for himself or others. To Him, all is settled. He is calm, cool, and collected! He has a false sense that he is right before God and that he needs nothing. He does not realize that his prayer is a foul stench to God Almighty, Maker and Sustainer of the Universe.
“The tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” [5]
This man rightly realizes his condition before God. He is a sinner. Sin is a foul stench in the nostrils of God. Every person is a sinner and falls short of glory of God. [6] “There is none righteous no not one.” [7] Only the blood sacrifice of the perfect Son of God applied to one’s life can remove the stains of sin. [8] There is no hope for a sinner to make himself right before God except by pleading for the mercy of a Holy God to be applied to his or her life. Without repentance there is no reaping. We need to realize how desperately we need God’s intervention, if we want God to answer our prayers.
“I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” [9]
“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for urging us to pray. Thank You for assuring us that the Father hears humble prayers. Thank You for reminding us to maintain a low perspective of ourselves and a high perspective of You. Now, help us to pray as though our lives and the lives of those around us depend on divine intervention… because they do! In Your Name, we pray. Amen!”
[1] Luke 18:1
[2] Luke 18:5
[3] Luke 18:6-8
[4] Luke 18:10-12
[5] Luke 18:13
[6] Romans 3:22-23
[7] Romans 3:10
[8] Romans 5:6-8
[9] Luke 18:14
Jesus told two parables about prayer in Luke 18:1-14.
“That men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” [1]
In the first parable, Jesus magnifies the example of a widow who is pleading for a response from an unresponsive judge. She needs deliverance from an adversary. He is her only hope of rescue. The judge finally grants her petitions out of weariness from hearing her relentless pleading…
“Because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” [2]
“Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?’” [3]
Jesus, our Heavenly Intercessor, is telling us to keep crying out day and night. Fervent intercessors receive rapid responses.
In the second parable...
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’” [4]
He asks God for nothing. How foolish! He is praying to the most powerful being in all the world and brings no petition. He prays “thus with himself.” Does he think himself God? If so, his religion is humanistic. He has a superiority complex. He sees himself above others. He does not pray for himself or others. To Him, all is settled. He is calm, cool, and collected! He has a false sense that he is right before God and that he needs nothing. He does not realize that his prayer is a foul stench to God Almighty, Maker and Sustainer of the Universe.
“The tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” [5]
This man rightly realizes his condition before God. He is a sinner. Sin is a foul stench in the nostrils of God. Every person is a sinner and falls short of glory of God. [6] “There is none righteous no not one.” [7] Only the blood sacrifice of the perfect Son of God applied to one’s life can remove the stains of sin. [8] There is no hope for a sinner to make himself right before God except by pleading for the mercy of a Holy God to be applied to his or her life. Without repentance there is no reaping. We need to realize how desperately we need God’s intervention, if we want God to answer our prayers.
“I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” [9]
“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for urging us to pray. Thank You for assuring us that the Father hears humble prayers. Thank You for reminding us to maintain a low perspective of ourselves and a high perspective of You. Now, help us to pray as though our lives and the lives of those around us depend on divine intervention… because they do! In Your Name, we pray. Amen!”
[1] Luke 18:1
[2] Luke 18:5
[3] Luke 18:6-8
[4] Luke 18:10-12
[5] Luke 18:13
[6] Romans 3:22-23
[7] Romans 3:10
[8] Romans 5:6-8
[9] Luke 18:14
Friday, January 1, 2021
The Wonder of Adam’s Wounded Side
“In the beginning” John opens his Gospel with a quote from the first verse in the Bible. [1] Like the third verse of the Bible, John speaks of God bringing light into the darkness. [2]
After God created the first Adam, He concluded: “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Even for One as perfect as Jesus, once He took upon Himself a truly human nature, He must have a bride. John the Baptist recognized this and rejoiced that he had heard the voice of the Bridegroom. [3] The new Adam (Jesus) had come, and He was seeking His bride.
God said of the first Adam, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Later in the Bible, He says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her.” He adds, “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church” [4]
The second Adam (Jesus) finds His bride after the similitude of the first Adam. He receives her from the hand of God the Father. The first Adam received his bride after receiving a wound to his side…
“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” [5]
Although Adam was still innocent, having committed no sin, nonetheless God wounded him deeply, piercing his side. Out of Adam’s bloody side God took that substance from which He created the woman for the man. God then healed Adam of his wound, and awakened him from sleep, whereupon He presented to Adam the woman in all her purity and beauty.
God the Father brought upon His Son the sleep of death. Although Jesus was still innocent, having committed no sin, nonetheless God permitted His side to be pierced by a Roman spear. Out of Jesus’ side poured forth water and blood, the blood for the bride’s purchase, the water for her purification…
“One of the soldiers pierced His [Jesus’] side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.” [6]
God then healed Jesus of His wound, and awakened Him from the sleep of death, whereupon God will one day present to Jesus His bride in all her purity and beauty...
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” The Heavenly New Jerusalem is a reference to the Church. [7]
In the wounding of the first Adam, we find a type of the second Adam: Christ. Just as Eve would always know the love of Adam by the scar he carried on his side, so we, as the bride of Christ, will one day recognize the scar on the side of the One who loves us. Like Thomas, we too have our doubts dissolve when we are invited to touch the One whose side was wounded so deeply…
Then He [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.” [8]
“Thank You Heavenly Father for providing a bride for humankind in Eve and for providing a bride for Your Divine Son Jesus Christ in us the Church. We, the Church, were brought forth because of Your love. Thank You Lord Jesus for loving us as One who loves she who was taken from His own flesh.”
[1] Genesis 1:1, John 1:1
[2] Genesis 1:3, John 1:5
[3] Genesis 2:18, John 3:29
[4] Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:24, 31-32
[5] Genesis 2:21-23
[6] John 19:34
[7] Revelation 21:2, Hebrews 12:22
[8] John 20:27
After God created the first Adam, He concluded: “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Even for One as perfect as Jesus, once He took upon Himself a truly human nature, He must have a bride. John the Baptist recognized this and rejoiced that he had heard the voice of the Bridegroom. [3] The new Adam (Jesus) had come, and He was seeking His bride.
God said of the first Adam, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Later in the Bible, He says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her.” He adds, “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church” [4]
The second Adam (Jesus) finds His bride after the similitude of the first Adam. He receives her from the hand of God the Father. The first Adam received his bride after receiving a wound to his side…
“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” [5]
Although Adam was still innocent, having committed no sin, nonetheless God wounded him deeply, piercing his side. Out of Adam’s bloody side God took that substance from which He created the woman for the man. God then healed Adam of his wound, and awakened him from sleep, whereupon He presented to Adam the woman in all her purity and beauty.
God the Father brought upon His Son the sleep of death. Although Jesus was still innocent, having committed no sin, nonetheless God permitted His side to be pierced by a Roman spear. Out of Jesus’ side poured forth water and blood, the blood for the bride’s purchase, the water for her purification…
“One of the soldiers pierced His [Jesus’] side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.” [6]
God then healed Jesus of His wound, and awakened Him from the sleep of death, whereupon God will one day present to Jesus His bride in all her purity and beauty...
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” The Heavenly New Jerusalem is a reference to the Church. [7]
In the wounding of the first Adam, we find a type of the second Adam: Christ. Just as Eve would always know the love of Adam by the scar he carried on his side, so we, as the bride of Christ, will one day recognize the scar on the side of the One who loves us. Like Thomas, we too have our doubts dissolve when we are invited to touch the One whose side was wounded so deeply…
Then He [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.” [8]
“Thank You Heavenly Father for providing a bride for humankind in Eve and for providing a bride for Your Divine Son Jesus Christ in us the Church. We, the Church, were brought forth because of Your love. Thank You Lord Jesus for loving us as One who loves she who was taken from His own flesh.”
[1] Genesis 1:1, John 1:1
[2] Genesis 1:3, John 1:5
[3] Genesis 2:18, John 3:29
[4] Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:24, 31-32
[5] Genesis 2:21-23
[6] John 19:34
[7] Revelation 21:2, Hebrews 12:22
[8] John 20:27
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