Praying for Hard Hearts to Soften

Jesus told His disciples, “And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” [1]

The men and women of Sodom had known and been physically rescued by Abraham. They had seen him worship God with Melchizedek and refuse to financially benefit from Sodom’s riches. And they also had Lot living among them, who though weak was described as a righteous man by the Apostle Peter. [2]

The people of Sodom dismissed a need for God in their community. “The men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.” [3]

God, the righteous judge, [4] condemned Sodom, and the other cities on the plain. Although their sins of pride, sexual immorality, inhospitality, and cruelty were committed against other people — ultimately, they were a direct offense against God. Sin is an offense to God and demonstrates rebellion against Him.

But there is hope for sinners because God has provided His Son Jeus Christ as the way of salvation and is patient with us “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” [5]

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him?” [6]

The Heavenly Father has made salvation free for us by having His Son pay the price to pardon our sin. Now, we in Him can enter a new life with God that is according to righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit… that’s what makes neglect of such a great salvation such a crime. [7]

[1] Mark 6:11
[2] Genesis 14:14-24; 2 Peter 2:7-8
[3] Genesis 13:13
[4] 2 Timothy 4:8
[5] 2 Peter 3:9
[6] Hebrews 2:3
[7] John 3:16; John 1:11-12; Romans 14:17

One Day The Empire Fell

“How the hammer of the whole earth has been cut apart and broken! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations! I have laid a snare for you; you have indeed been trapped, oh Babylon, and you were not aware; you have been found and also caught, because you have contended against the Lord.” [1]

“The mighty men of Babylon have ceased fighting, they have remained in their strongholds; their might has failed, they became like women; they have burned her dwelling places, the bars of her gate are broken.” [2]

The once fierce world conquering Babylonians lost their will and ability to fight.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” [3]

“Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath...” [4] A nation that believes it can get along just fine without God… a nation that believes it can defy God and still prosper is deceived.

The truth is that each of us needs a personal relationship with God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.

“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

[1] Jeremiah 50:23-24
[2] Jeremiah 51:30
[3] 1 Corinthians 10:12
[4] Zephaniah 1:18
[5] 1 John 2:17-18

Enjoying God Forever

“David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals.” [1]

The king and his army officers recognized their need for God-anointed musicians to compose God-inspired music for their nation. This spiritual weapon was greater than any atomic bomb because God inhabits the praises of His people, and if God be for us, no one has any hope of defeating us.

The musicians, “prophesied according to the order of the king. They “prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the Lord.” [2]

Music that honors God and promotes His praise is prophetic in nature, because it is resourced by His Spirit moving in our hearts and it is a foretaste of the heaven that we shall one day enjoy.

“He [David] had the plans for all of the courts of the house of the Lord by the Spirit.” “All this,” said David, “the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans.” [3]

David was careful to listen to the Lord’s voice and obey His leadings, even in regards to the architecture of the place where worship should take place.

“David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said: ‘Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, oh Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, oh Lord, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious Name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.” [4]

Praise and thanksgiving unto God stems from a knowing that all we have is from Him. He is our Heavenly Father! All that we have is received from Him. Our Heavenly Father gives to us because He loves us.

Worshipping God connects us with our origins because we were created to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

[1] 1 Chronicles 25:1
[2] 1 Chronicles 25:2-3
[3] 1 Chronicles 28:12, 19
[4] 1 Chronicles 29:10-14

Being On Time

“The sons of Issachar had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” [1]

The Holy Spirit is prompting me to pray for our nation to discern the time that we are in and to know what to do. The first step for us to take is to be willing to receive correction and to act upon it…

“Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored.” [2]

We need to pray for deliverance from enslavement to works of the flesh, and for an appetite via the Holy Spirit to produce good fruit that glorifies God…

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” [3]

There are numerous avenues and opportunities to hear God’s Word, but are we choosing wisely or making bad choices? Are we hearers only, and not doers?

“Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the Word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the Word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” [4]

“Dear Heavenly Father, please help our nation turn from evil works that lead to destruction and overwhelming sadness, and turn to Your Son, Jesus Messiah, for forgiveness and redemption, and for the infilling by Your Holy Spirit that we might live lives that bear good fruit and remain on the narrow path to eternal life. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.”

[1] 1 Chronicles 12:32
[2] Proverbs 13:18
[3] Galatians 5:19-26
[4] Mark 4:18-20

Living as a Child of God

God our Abba Father has made a way for every person to be in His divine family. He accomplished this by sending His Son into the world to redeem us from our sins, and by providing His precious Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us.

“His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” 2 Peter 1:3

The Lord has provided all we need to live in harmony with Him and to enjoy Him in our lives.

“Thank You Abba Father for Your great love for us. Help us now please to live in such a way as to reflect Your grace and love to others. And I pray for those who are not yet in Your family that You will open their eyes to behold Your goodness and to receive the forgiveness of their sins through faith in Your Son Jesus, and to be filled with Your Holy Spirit. In the Name of Jesus Christ, I ask this. Amen.”

Hear the Word of the Lord

“And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.” [1]

Daniel had been given a vision by God of a time of great peril for people. It made him sick to think of what some people would do to others. The phrase, “No one understood it” applies in more ways than one. Without God’s Spirit providing discernment, no one can understand the meaning and application of such prophetic utterances, and without God’s Spirit, people lack the will to want know about such things, but God gave us these warnings because He loves us, and cares about us.

The Lord Jesus is saying to His churches, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” [2]

As for me, I too am unsettled, as I consider that the Lord Jesus has provided so many words to prepare for us the eternity that is coming, but so few are heeding, being caught up in the pleasures of this temporary life. “Lord, please help us to hear, understand, and act on Your Word.”

[1] Daniel 8:27
[2] Revelation 2:7

The Fear of the Lord

What did the prophets and seers of the Lord do when their nation was transgressing against the Lord? The answer…

“The Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, ‘Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.’” [1]

How did the people respond to the Lord’s overtures of love to draw them back to Himself?

“They would not hear, but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. They rejected His statutes and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He had testified against them; they followed idols, became idolaters, and went after the nations who were all around them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them.” [2]

“They caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.” [3]

So, what did the Lord do? Did He endure this abusive relationship? No, He rejected it. He allowed the perpetrators to experience the consequence of their bad choices.

“The Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them from His sight. The Lord removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So, Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria, as it is to this day.” [4]

A foreign nation forced them to receive peoples from other nations who did not respect their faith in God…

“Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities. And it was so, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the Lord; therefore, the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them. Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, ‘Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land.’ Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the Lord.” [5]

They tried to serve two masters…

“They feared the Lord yet served their own gods—according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away.” Jesus taught, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” [6]

The Lord advised them who to fear: “The Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice. And the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment which He wrote for you, you shall be careful to observe forever; you shall not fear other gods. And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods. But the Lord your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.” [7]

What is the fear of the Lord? “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.” [8]

The Holy Spirit worked in the Apostle Paul and in his fellow servant Titus such a fear that they would not take advantage of those to whom they preached and taught God’s Word…

“I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? …Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?” [9]

Paul urged his listeners: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” [10]

[1] 2 Kings 17:13
[2] 2 Kings 17:14-15
[3] 2 Kings 17:17
[4] 2 Kings 17:20, 23
[5] 2 Kings 17:24-25, 27-28
[6] 2 Kings 17:33; Matthew 6:24
[7] 2 Kings 17:36-38
[8] Proverbs 8:13
[9] 2 Corinthians 12:14, 17-18
[10] 2 Corinthians 13:5

By the Word of the Lord

“By the Word of the Lord [Jesus Christ is the Word of God – [1] the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

He [Jesus Christ] gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord [Jesus Christ], the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” [2]

When the Bible says, “The Word of the Lord came to Abram” or anyone else in Scripture that is to say that God's Son Jesus Christ came to him by His Spirit. The glory of this miracle is to God that He would be so gracious as to come to him and speak the Scripture to him. [3]

Jesus Christ still comes to us by His Spirit. He reminds us of what the Scripture says…

“The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. [4]

[1] Revelation 19:13
[2] Psalm 33:6-12
[3] Genesis 15:1
[4] John 14:26; John 16:12-14

The Word of the Lord

“He [Jesus Christ] was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His Name is called The Word of God.” [1]

It came to me yesterday morning while reading the Book of 1 Kings in the Bible, that wherever the Scripture says, “The Word of the Lord came to... [such and such a person]...” that this “Word of the Lord” is the pre-incarnate Son of God. The significance of this revelation to me was that it shifted my awe from the human receiver of the Word to divine the Giver of the Word… our Lord Jesus Christ! It lifted the weight of hearing from God off of me the hearer and placed the burden of it on Christ the speaker. My part as His ambassador is to meditate on His Holy Word as recorded in the Bible, and to anticipate Him to reveal Himself to me in it.

Our Redeemer Jesus Christ is referred to as the “Word of God” in other places in the Bible as well. For example, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” [2] Praise the Lord!

The glory of a person hearing God speak is God’s miracle. He is willing to speak to those who have ears to hear. [3] The Messiah, God’s Son, is the Word of the Lord. He speaks to us when we listen.

[1] Revelation 19:13
[2] John 1:1-3
[3] Matthew 11:15; 13:9; Mark 4:9, 23; Luke 8:8; 14:35

Who has Believed our Report

“Who has believed our report?” asks the Lord in Isaiah 53:1.

This morning, I was remembering a conversation with a man named Tyrone at Good Samaritan Ministries in Washington Park, Illinois. He said that he believed in a higher power but not in the God of the Bible.

The Lord brought Good News to Tyrone about loving him so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for him. To give him eternal salvation based on what Jesus did for Tyrone. He listened but did not receive the Good News. I’m praying for him and hope to see him again.

This morning, I looked up Isaiah 53:1, but then, was led to Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” And then, I found myself unable to stop reading until I reached Isaiah chapter 58. Such Good News!

I am praying for more encounters with people who need to hear Good News, and for vigor and vim from the Holy Spirit to share it.

Open My Eyes that I Might See

“Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” [1]

The Lord has been leading me to pray for a spiritual awakening in America.

The Bible says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” [2] The first commandment is to love God. When we love Him, He opens our eyes to see what we otherwise miss. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” [3]

The Apostle Paul prayed for people this way, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” [4]

I’m praying like this for you my friends, for my wife, for my children, for my grandchildren, for my fellow church members, for my co-workers, for my fellow Americans, and for my fellow people on the earth today.

“Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes; illumine me,
Spirit divine!” [5]

[1] Ephesians 5:14
[2] 1 Corinthians 2:9
[3] 1 Corinthians 2:12
[4] Ephesians 1:17-19
[5] Author: Clara H. Scott. Hymn title: “Open my eyes that I may see”

Glory in the Lord!

It is in Jesus Messiah that David and his descendants are blessed.

David wanted to build a house for the Lord. The Lord commended him for his desire to build for Him, but God informed David that all blessings would flow to those who have a relationship with Him through faith in His Son – God’s Son. In Him, Jesus, would all people be blessed…

“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your Seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish His kingdom. He shall build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever. I will be His Father, and He shall be My Son.” [1] This Son is Jesus!

Thus, Paul urges us to avoid divisions based on human personalities, saying, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” [2]

The key point here is, “Was Paul crucified for you?” Was any human being or human organization without sin that it could give it’s life on the cross to atone for your sins? The answer is no. Only Jesus Messiah was without sin. Only He takes away our sin and unites us with God His Father.

God has ordained one Messiah for both Jew and Gentile. His Name is Jesus! It is to Him that all allegiance and glory is due. As Paul said, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” [3]

[1] 2 Samuel 7:12-14
[2] 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
[3] 1 Corinthians 1:31

Evil Has An Expiration Date

There is an expiration date for evil. The Lord indicates that it is darkest before the dawn. When evildoers rise to the top, it is so He can remove them.

The Lord keeps His promises. When we commit people into His hands, He shows us that His hands are working and making a difference, we just need to be patient.

“Oh Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man does not know, nor does a fool understand this. When the wicked spring up like grass, and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that they may be destroyed forever. But You, Lord, are on high forevermore.” [1]

“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” [2]

[1] Psalm 92:5-8
[2] Psalm 92:12-15

Ask of Me

The Lord says, “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.” [1]

Will you join me in asking our Heavenly Father for the nations, that the nations will hear the Good News of His Son Jesus Christ through me.

Atonement (at-one-ment with God and one another) is a gift paid for by Jesus Christ. The atoning sacrifice of Christ for sins is applied to all who believe in Him and profess Him as our Lord and Savior, but how they will know unless someone tells them?

I am old and gray headed, so it is the appropriate time in my life to pray the following prayer that is recorded in the Bible...

“Now also when I am old and gray headed, oh God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” [2]

[1[ Psalm 2:8
[2] Psalm 71:18

Clothed in the Righteousness of Christ

We all fall short of the glory of God. We need a righteousness that is better than our own. The righteousness that we need is that of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the One who fulfills the prophecy written in the Book of Jeremiah.

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, ‘That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’” [1]

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” [2]

We receive the righteousness of Christ imputed to us when we believe in Him. Praise the Lord!

[1] Jeremiah 23:5-6
[2] 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Believe the Good News

The Good News is that God declares people righteous who believe in His Son Jesus Christ. God deems those who live by faith in His Son Jesus Christ as righteous.

“In it [the Gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” (Romans 1:17) Faith in what or whom? Faith in Jesus Christ.

The repentance is a repentance of unbelief regarding the goodness, grace and love of God towards you. Repent of humanistic religions that place the weight of salvation on your shoulders.

Believe the Good News that Christ has done all that is necessary for your salvation. Receive eternal life as a gift that was purchased for you by Christ when He died for your sins and mine on the cross.

Freedom to Live Right is in Jesus Messiah

Jesus Messiah is the true David, King of Israel. All God's blessings come to us through His grace. He has been appointed King of kings, and Lord of lords...

“God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously and govern the nations on earth. Selah Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.” [1]

King Jesus is the One who conquered our sin. He set us free from the shackles of sin so that we lose our appetite to sin and gain an appetite to be like Him: clean and holy, doing what is right.

“...As you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [2]

“Thank You Lord Jesus for binding us to Your righteous ways. Praise You for empowering us to bear holy fruit for Your glory. And thank You for the GIFT of eternal life.”

[1] Psalm 67
[2] Romans 6:19-23

Foolish or Virtuous? I Choose Virtuous!

As I read Proverbs 31 just now, the Lord revealed to me that the Book of Proverbs in the Bible reflects the metaphor that runs throughout the Bible. Namely, that those who forsake the Lord are compared to a woman who makes foolish choices that result in her destruction and in the destruction of those who join in her promiscuous ways; while those who love the Lord are compared to a faithful bride who is greatly loved, preserved, and provided for by God.

From Proverbs:

“A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple and knows nothing. For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat by the highest places of the city, to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their way: “whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; and as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell.” [1]

“Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so, he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.” [2]

The virtuous wife is virtuous because she has accepted and committed to one husband: Jesus Christ. He has redeemed, cleansed, and empowered her by His love to live a new life.

Redeemed: “When we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” [3]

The harlot: “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” [4]

The bride: “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’” [5]

Praise be to God! He is faithful to His people. He will keep His promise to bring us who believe in His Son Jesus Christ to His heavenly kingdom.

[1] Proverbs 9:13-18
[2] Proverbs 31:10-12
[3] Romans 5:6-11
[4] Revelation 17:1-2
[5] Revelation 21:2-4

Christ’s Love is Better than Worldly Fame or Fortune

Jesus compared our hearts to soil and His Word to seed. He compared cares of the world and deceitfulness of riches to thorns which choke God’s Word in one’s life so that it does not produce fruit. [1]

The Psalmist compared those who trust in worldly wealth to beasts that perish.

“Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.” [2]

The Psalmist had no confidence in worldly wealth, but he did have confidence in God to redeem his soul from the grave, and to resurrect him to a better life…

“Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me. Selah” [3]

He describes an element of the worldly culture that hasn’t changed since he wrote the Psalm a few thousand years ago…

“Though while he lives, he blesses himself (for men will praise you when you do well for yourself), he shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, is like the beasts that perish.” [4]

Sadly, riding on the crest of a wave of praise from people could be the very sign of one’s own destruction. Jesus warned us, “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” [5]

Jesus emphasized serving and loving God and others during our earthly lives as opposed to seeking notoriety and fleshly pleasure. A life lived for Christ bears witness to our confidence in the words of Jesus about eternity.

It is not easy to go against the flow of the world. To sacrifice what we could have had in this world for the sake of God’s glory and to put others before ourselves! Therefore, the Psalmist noted: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.” [6]

Loving God and others helps us to avoid false notions about ourselves, laziness and hateful ways…

“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” [7]

“The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.” [8]

“He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; when he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” [9]

Jesus calls us to love God and others because He wants our joy to be full.

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” [10]

[1] Matthew 13:22
[2] Psalm 49:11-12 
[3] Psalm 49:14-15 
[4] Psalm 49:18-20 
[5] Luke 6:24-26 
[6] Psalm 51:17 
[7] Proverbs 26:12 
[8] Proverbs 26:16 
[9] Proverbs 26:24-28 
[10] John 15:11-13

Christ Wins Evil Loses

The other day, I watched a movie entitled, “The Courageous Heart of Irene Sendler.” The Lord Jesus empowered her to save the lives of nearly 2,500 children from being exterminated. She was tortured by the governing authorities and would have been executed by them if the Lord had not intervened on her behalf.

It should be obvious to all that saving innocent children from extermination is not a crime, but hatred and lies (SIN) had darkened the hearts and minds of her leaders. Their narrative was not to be trusted. Irene, trusted in Christ despite the propaganda that waged against Him and His Word. In the end, those authorities fell. Irene survived, and so did those 2,500 children. Praise the Lord!

It is in this context that Psalm 37:34-40 becomes relative and meaningful...

“Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; indeed, I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the blameless man and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.”

In Christ - Humanity Restored

Being the people of God - in Christ - humanity/personability is restored.

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus, come!

The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, ‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’” [1]

The Gentiles, Italians, received the gift of the Holy Spirit just as the Jewish apostles did according to the above the passage. We non-Jewish believers in Jesus had our first Pentecost-type experience that day. Peter used the fact that the Italians were speaking in tongues and magnifying God to say to his fellow Jews, the Gentiles should be allowed to be baptized with water.

What did Peter preach prior to the Holy Spirit’s outpouring? He preached:

God shows no partiality…
Those who fear Him are accepted by Him.
Those who work righteously are accepted by Him.
Peace is in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
This word was proclaimed throughout Judea.
God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit.
God anointed Jesus with power.
Jesus went about doing good.
He healed people of demonic oppression.
God was with Jesus.
Peter witnessed what Jesus did.
The Jerusalemites crucified Jesus.
God raised Jesus up on the third day.
Jesus was seen alive after being dead by witnesses of God.
Peter ate and drank with Jesus after His resurrection.
God commanded Peter to preach Jesus to people.
God commanded Peter to testify that Jesus will judge all people.
God’s prophets testify that sins of believers in Jesus are forgiven. [2]

The good news is that God is still pouring out His Holy Spirit on believers in Jesus, especially when we offer ourselves to Him to proclaim His Gospel to people. Praise the Lord!

[1] Acts 10:44-47
[2] Acts 10:34-43

Times of Refreshing from the Lord

“Do you show contempt for the riches of God's kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” [1]

Complaining and campaigning against deceiving, bribing, and defrauding may bring about a measure of positive change in our nations, but repentance is what we really need. We need God to graciously lead our nation to repent of how we treat His Son whom He sent to save us from our sin. Jesus Christ is the only One who can cleanse peoples’ hearts from sin and give them a new and steadfast heart to do what is right.

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit convicts of the sin of unbelief... not believing in Christ. [2]

The Apostle Peter preached, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that He may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.” [3]

As each of us determine to dedicate ourselves to honoring Jesus and Jesus alone, God will turn the tide in our nation, so that corrupt people fall from leadership, and good-willed people arise.

“Dear Heavenly Father, please, in Your kindness, forbearance and patience, bring about a return to faith in Jesus Christ in this land. The kind of faith that knows and professes that only He takes away our sin and gives us appetites to do and uphold what is right. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”

I was blessed years ago to have four Russian Christians share at a meeting with people in China about what happened before the demise of the cruel and atheistic government in the USSR. The Christians began repenting and serving the Lord. These four Russians were from a Bible school in Siberia that had more than 700 students. They were sending missionaries out to the world.

The Lord promised, “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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

The thing to remember is that when a seed is planted, it takes time to grow and produce a harvest. Let us turn to the Lord now so that the harvest of blessings can come sooner rather than later.

The Apostle Peter wrote, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” [5]

[1] Romans 2:4
[2] John 16:8-9
[3] Acts 3:19-20
[4] 2 Chronicles 7:14
[5] 1 Peter 5:6

Joshua and Jesus

King Adoni-Zedek of Jerusalem heard how Joshua conquered two great kingdoms and was about to absorb Gibeon (a kingdom of mighty men without a fight). He was greatly afraid. He sent messages to four kings and asked them to help him conquer Gibeon before they surrendered to Joshua. [1]

“The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” Joshua armies surprised the enemies. The Lord routed them. As they retreated, the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them, and they died. “There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.” [2]

The Lord will use a similar approach to the nations who war against Him before He returns: “And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.” [3]

Joshua asked the Lord to cause the sun and moon to hold their positions until His enemies were defeated, and the Lord answered his prayer. “And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.” [4]

I remember being inspired to pray a type of Joshua’s prayer once when a co-laborer in Christ wanted to secure a teaching position in China. I prayed that the sun would not go down until he had a position even if we had to visit many universities. He got a position at the first stop. The Lord had directed our steps to the right place.

The Lord gave Joshua the victory. The five enemy kings fled to a cave. Joshua had a large stone rolled in front of the cave. What does this remind you of? Who else had a stone blocking an entrance? Jesus Christ! Joshua completed the mopping up operation of the defeated armies, then, he had his men roll the stone away. He had his captains place their feet on the necks of the kings, and then, said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” Afterward, Joshua struck them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees. Who else on a tree, but for our sin, not His own? Jesus Christ! Jesus defeated our greatest enemy: sin. [5]

Many more kings gathered against Joshua, but the Lord said to him, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel.” The Lord did as He said. And the Lord said of Joshua, “He left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses.” [6] Like Jesus, he sought to fulfill all that God expected him to accomplish.

The Lord says that He hardened the hearts of His foes against His people so that He might destroy them. He even destroyed the giants in the land. None of them survived except the ones who were in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod. [7]

The apostles told those who opposed Christ, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” [8]

It is only in Jesus that there is forgiveness of sin. It is only in Jesus that there is mercy and salvation from God. Those who know Jesus testify to this, and so does the Holy Spirit.

A leader named Gamaliel told those who arrested the apostles, “If this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” They agreed, and after beating the apostles, they released them. The apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus and continued to teach and preach Jesus as the Christ. [9]

The question is, “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? They want to defy the Lordship of Christ and humiliate those who profess Him, but God laughs. God has declared His Son to be the King whom all should worship. “Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” [11]

[1] Joshua 10:1-5
[2] Joshua 10:8-11
[3] Revelation 16:21
[4] Joshua 10:12-14
[5] Joshua 10:15-27
[6] Joshua 11:1-8, 15
[7] Joshua 11:20-22
[8] Acts 5:30-33
[9] Acts 5:34-42
[10] Psalm 2

Jesus is Alive and Well, and Returning Soon

“Do not envy the oppressor and choose none of his ways; for the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, but His secret counsel is with the upright.” [1]

Prefer the Lord not perversity! Don’t oppress, enjoy sweet fellowship with God.

“The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just. Surely, He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools.” [2]

Prefer just living over wickedness. Pride leads to scorn of the Lord, while humility leads to enjoying His grace. Glory or shame hang in the balance!

“Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about 5,000.” [3]

While a small group of corrupt and oppressive rulers used lawfare against those who proclaimed the resurrection of Christ from the dead, others, about 5,000 men, believed their message and embraced Christ as their Lord and Savior.

“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” [4]

Like the mustard seed that is as small as a grain of sand but yields a plant that grows rapidly and is hard to get rid of, so is the Kingdom of Christ. His kingdom conquers all kingdoms. Therefore, let us ask God to heal, and do signs and wonders in the Name of His Son Jesus to help people believe in Him. The greatest sin is not to believe in Jesus for without faith in Him there is no forgiveness of sin. Salvation is by faith in Christ alone.

“With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” [5]

Jesus is alive and well and returning soon.

[1] Proverbs 3:31-32
[2] Proverbs 3:33-35
[3] Acts 4:1-2, 4
[4] Acts 4:30-31
[5] Acts 4:33

A Cheerful Countenance

“To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” [1]

Jesus Christ is able and willing to turn us who turn to Him from sin. What's more, He replaces destructive, deceiving, and defrauding ways with constructive, commendable, and charitable ways.

“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” [2]

Jesus Christ fills our heart until overflowing with love, joy, and peace. No one can help us to cope with and overcome the miseries of this evil world like Jesus does.

“Yes, Lord Jesus, we give to You our sins and ask You to forgive us, and to give to us Your blessings that yield glory to You and love to those around us. It is Your Name, Jesus, that I pray. Amen.”

[1] Acts 3:26
[2] Proverbs 15:13

The Earthly and Heavenly Promised Land

Circumcision and Baptism

The Lord ordered Joshua to have the sons of Israel circumcised in preparation to inherit the Promised Land…

“At that time, the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel…” “So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.’ Therefore, the name of the place is called Gilgal (Rolling) to this day.” [1]

Moses had given the people the spiritual significance of circumcision before this day when he wrote, “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” [2] It was a dethroning of the flesh’s desires to enthrone the spirit’s desire to love God.

Paul spoke of circumcision in a similar fashion, when he wrote, “A Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” [3] Circumcision was to be done for God’s praise as an expression of a man’s love for and dedication to God.

The apostle describes baptism as a circumcision of Christ; a burial of the sinful self and a resurrection by the power of God as a sanctified self; a person being set apart by God for His use instead one’s own selfish use: “In Him [Christ] also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him [Christ] in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [Christ] through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him [Christ] from the dead.” [4]

Passover and Christ

The Lord led His people to observe the Passover before they took possession of the Promised Land: “Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal and kept the Passover on the 14th day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day.” [5]

Passover is symbolic of Jesus delivering those who trust in Him from the slavery and penalty of sin. Egypt is not just a geographical location it is also a state of mind: “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” [6]

“Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.” [7] Manna is symbolic of the Bible that came down from God and fed our souls. Once, we enter the Promised Land of eternal paradise, we no longer need Bibles because we are with Him to whom the Bible bears witness. Our pilgrimage is over. We are in New Jerusalem.

After circumcision and Passover, the Commander of the Lord’s armies met Joshua. After baptism and recognizing Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sins, Jesus, the Commander of God’s army appears to us in the Scripture more brilliantly than He ever did before. By His Word He leads us onto victory over every foe and brings us into the Heavenly Promised Land which is eternal. Praise the Lord!

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are You for us or for our adversaries?’ So, He said, ‘No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’” [8]

This is what Peter was talking about during his Pentecost message: “Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” [9] Jesus is the Messiah, the One who completes the Old Testament stories.

The impact of Peter’s message was that his listeners were convicted of their need to do something, “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’” [10]

Peter urged them to repent of sin, be baptized and to receive the Holy Spirit: “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’” [11]

The people who believed, responded with action: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” [12]

The apostles’ doctrine that they studied, the fellowship that they enjoyed, the bread that they broke and the prayers that they prayed were due to being born again into a new and lively hope via God’s Messiah, Jesus His Son. Praise the Lord!

[1] Joshua 5:2, 8-9
[2] Deuteronomy 30:6
[3] Romans 2:29
[4] Colossians 2:11-12
[5] Joshua 5:10-11
[6] 1 Corinthians 5:7; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18–19
[8] Joshua 5:13-14
[9] Acts 8:36
[10] Acts 8:37
[11] Acts 2:38-39
[12] Acts 2:41-42

21st Century Jeremiah

The Lord is helping me to understand the prophetic ministry. The first time that I read the words of the prophet Jeremiah was when I just was a teenager. I felt a special connection with him even though I was so unlike him.

Like Moses, and other prophets, the Lord gave Jeremiah messages for those in authority and for the whosevers… the whosoever had ears to hear. The chief function of a prophet is to be steered by God, and then, to call others to give God the steering wheel as well.

The prophetic ministry begins with God. God does the steering. He steers us by His words as we pray and listen to Him. Talking and listening to God is so vital to every human being. The Lord calls us who know Him to pray for men, kings and all who are in authority. He tells us why we should pray for them…

“Therefore, I exhort first that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” [1]

An exhortation is a prompting from the Holy Spirit to do something. In the context of navigation one might say, “turn left, turn right or go straight.” The Holy Spirit directs us to pray for people and for authorities. The answer to prayer that we seek from the Lord is for all people to be saved by coming to the knowledge of the truth about God, and because of that salvation, live quietly and peaceably in all godliness and reverence. We don’t want yelling, quarreling, and cruelty! We want God to guide us. God’s preachers, apostles, and teachers call people to give Jesus Christ the steering wheel.

So, the primary function of God’s servant is to be directed by God’s Word and to call others to give God the steering wheel as well.

How does one connect with people and give God’s directions to them? The Bible is full of such examples.

God called some to speak to kings. God gave directions to kings who did not want to be steered by God via the prophet Jeremiah. One of the kings that Jeremiah spoke with threw his directions in the fire. That king, Jehoiakim, ended up being imprisoned in a foreign land. [2] God offered directions to pagan kings through his prophets. For example, Moses to Pharoah King of Egypt, Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon; and Esther and Mordecai to King Artaxerxes of Persia. Throughout the Book of Acts, the proclamation of Christ resulted in proclaimers being brought before political and religious authorities. This was their opportunity to give God’s directions to them. [3]

Christ gives us words to say to authorities: “When they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”

The Lord’s calling to Jeremiah went like this, “Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born, I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.’ Then said I: ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.’ But the Lord said to me: ‘Do not say, I am a youth, for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.’ Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: ‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.” [5]

The Lord had a direction for Jeremiah before he was born. He did not have to earn it or initiate it. He had to believe it. He had to look beyond himself to the Lord. He needed to see God as being bigger and greater than the kings and nations to whom he would give directions. He was a voice. God had the words. God’s Word works regardless of people’s reaction to it. It roots out, pulls down, destroys, throws down, builds, and plants. The Lord steers the future as He has the past. Everything He predicts in the Bible happens.

The Lord gave Jeremiah a vision of a blossoming almond tree to say that just as surely as the almond tree blossoms during a particular season of the year His prophetic words are fulfilled in due season. [6] This is the confidence we have! God fulfils His promises in due season! Therefore, our ministry of offering direction from God to people is vital to their temporal and eternal well-being.

[1] 1 Timothy 2:1-7
[2] Jeremiah 36:1-26; Daniel 1:2
[3] Acts 3-28
[4] Matthew 10:19-20
[5] Jeremiah 1:5-10
[6] Jeremiah 1:11-12

By God’s Grace – A Sphere of Influence

The Lord provided Paul a sphere of influence: “We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God Himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you.” [1]

The Lord speaks to us through Paul, saying, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” [2]

“In accordance with the faith God has distributed to you!” Both Moses and Jeremiah had faith in God but had serious doubts about themselves. God helped their faith by assuring them that He would help and resource them.

When Jesus called His disciples to serve Him, it was a call to training. He walked with them. He taught them. He showed them how to serve people. He did miracles to boost their confidence in His ability.

Jesus Christ has authority over heaven and earth. He does amazing things as we yield our lives to Him. As we trust that nothing is impossible for God! As we believe in our hearts and profess with our mouths that He is Lord.

What things move you to tears, frustration, anger? For example, if injustice moves you time and time again then that is a clue that maybe you are called to be a voice in the justice arena, maybe in speaking up for those who are downtrodden, or in speaking words of life and encouragement into them. Who do you find yourself praying for the most?

Our Lord Jesus is faithful to increase our sphere of influence when we serve Him faithfully. “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your Lord.’” [3]

[1] 2 Corinthians 10:13
[2] Romans 12:3
[3] Matthew 25:23

Saving Sinners Judging Sin

It is a good and praiseworthy thing that when Jesus Messiah came the first time it was to conquer our sin and not to conquer the Romans. If Jesus had come to judge the world in righteousness before He came to pay the penalty for the sins we have committed, He would have had to pronounce us all guilty and conquer us all. But now, that He has come and paid the penalty for our crimes, we need to believe in Him, receive Him and profess Him as our atoning sacrifice, our Savior, to be spared from the righteous judgment of God that is to come.

As Adrian Rodgers said, “If a judge acquits a criminal than he becomes a criminal. God had to make a way to deal with sin so that He could remain just and be the justifier of those who believe in Jesus.”

“God set forth Christ as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” [1]

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” [2]

[1] Romans 3:25-26
[2] 1 Peter 3:18

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” [1]

Believing in God the Father and believing in His Son Jesus Christ does calm my heart when it is troubled. The sure promise of a home with God, prepared by Jesus who died on the cross for my sin comforts me. He has prepared a place for me, and at the right moment, He will come for me.

“I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” [2]

What’s more, I am never without help in this journey called life. The Spirit of truth abides with me. I am not an orphan. My Heavenly Father mentors me, encourages me, corrects me, and enlightens me by His ever-abiding Holy Spirit.

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” [3]

Indeed, I am blessed to enjoy mountaintop experiences with God as I read His Word, walk with His Word as one does a friend, and experience His loving presence. I have a goodly heritage of those who love His Name. In fact, recently, as I was considering the suffering of the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord revealed to me that he was never alone. His fellowship was with God, and with the people of God who went before him such as Moses, Samuel, David, and Elijah. Their words and personalities still live on via the Bible. His fellowship is with me, as I read his words. His voice continues to live and nurture many people via the printed page.

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace, I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” [4]

Yes, whenever my heart is troubled, I just stop, and wait. Yes, there He is! My Helper! The Holy Spirit! Such peace! Such joy! Such hope! Such love that my heart is able to love again, and give again, and God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is glorified! Praise the Lord!

[1] John 14:1-3
[2] John 14:16-18
[3] John 14:23
[4] John 14:25-27

What Do You Seek?

Jesus asks us, “What do you seek?” What do we want to see? His disciples wanted to be where He was…

“Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, ‘What do you seek?’ They said to Him, ‘Rabbi’ (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), ‘where are You staying?’” [1]

We see the Lord as we look to Him in His Holy Word the Bible. He reveals Himself via the prophets, apostles and via our Lord Jesus Christ in the Bible.

In the early days of the Bible the prophets were called seers…

“Formerly in Israel, if someone went to inquire of God, they would say, ‘Come, let us go to the seer, because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.’” [2]

Our Lord Jesus assured us that if we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness that He will provide for our earthly needs.

“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” [3]

The Lord says that we will find Him if we seek Him with all our hearts…

“You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” [4]

The revelation of God and of His kingdom is a gift that He graciously gives to those who seek Him, who find Him and who want to help others see Him as well…

“He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.’” [5]

Jesus said that we must come to God as a child to enter His kingdom…

Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” [6]

What a prize! What an outcome! To see God’s kingdom present with power…

Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” [7]

[1] John 1:38
[2] 1 Samuel 9:9
[3] Matthew 6:33
[4] Jeremiah 29:13
[5] Matthew 13:11
[6] Matthew 18:3
[7] Mark 9:1

Savior, Please Help Me to SEE

“The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.” [1]

The Lord Jesus by His sacrifice on the cross made a way for me to enter a better Promised Land than the Israelites did when He brought them out of Egypt. By faith in Christ, I escape for eternity the dark kingdom of the oppressive devil and am brought by Christ into the Heavenly Father’s glorious Kingdom to live forever.

“He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath; for He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again. How often they provoked Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert!” [2]

I am so glad that the Lord is full of compassion. I am so glad that He forgives my sins, but I do not want to neglect such a great salvation by forgetting to thank, obey and serve Him.

Jesus once said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” Some Pharisees asked Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore, your sin remains.” [3]

“Thank You Lord Jesus for making me and others aware by Your Word of our blind spots so that we look to You, the Light of the World, and You help us to SEE."

[1] Deuteronomy 8:7-10
[2] Psalm 78:38-40
[3] John 9:39-40

God’s Promised Victory to His People

Events in Exodus parallel events in Revelation. Israel’s subjugation by “Egypt” symbolizes the evil one’s desire to enslave and defile God’s people. God intervenes for His people when they pray and cry out to Him. God graciously does mighty miracles to rescue His people from the grip of the evil one.

Satan’s goal is to subjugate and defile God’s bride. He wants Israel to be a city of harlotry and not a holy city married to God. The opening of the seven seals by Christ in Revelation begins His judgments of righteousness against the works of the evil one. Just as Jesus, the Son of God, carried out the will of His Father to die on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of humanity, He will carry out to the letter the will of the Father and judge the world in righteousness.

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” “The Lord is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.” [1]

In Exodus, the Lord tells Moses, “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So, I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey…” [2]

In Revelation, the Lord gives John a vision of a scroll with seven seals. No one, but Jesus Christ is worthy to open the scroll and release the judgments contained therein. When seal number five is opened, “souls who had been slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held… cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” The end-time judgments on evil are God’s response to the sufferings and prayers of His people. [3]

In various places in Revelation the prayers of the saints are called the incense of heaven. “And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thundering, lightnings, and an earthquake.” [4] The prayers of God’s people fuel His response to evil.

These events will occur in connection with and following Christ’s return, as they occurred in connection with and following Moses’ return to Egypt after a time of being away from them. Moses brought Israel out to establish a new country governed by the Word of God. Jesus Christ leads His people to a city whose founder and maker is God.

Egypt released Israel when the Lord slew the firstborn son of whoever failed to place the blood of lamb over the doorposts of their dwelling. The Revelation-era saints overcome the Satan by the blood of the Lamb. [5]

Exodus recounts God’s rescue of His enslaved people from the mighty grip of evil and its powerful ruler. Revelation was written during a time when another powerful nation, Rome, and its leader, dominated God’s people the Church. The Lord says no worldly power can keep Him from bringing His people to Himself.

God carried Israel on eagles’ wings and brought them to Himself. God also saves His people from the dragon who seeks to destroy her in the last days. His bride is given two eagle’s wings to fly into the wilderness. [6]

Satan’s helpmate in the battle for the hearts of people is described as an immoral harlot. God’s helpmate is described as His bride who is beautiful and eventually adorned with the finest adornments of God. Satan’s partner is destroyed with fire. God’s bride is brought into His presence to abide with Him forever. [7]

The Exodus imagery of oppressed people converted into a kingdom of priests for God resonates with the Revelation imagery of God’s persevering people “made to be a kingdom and priests.” This thought is repeated in the worship song of the four living creatures and twenty-four elders who proclaim that God had purchased the Church by His blood and “made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” [8]

[1] Revelation 19:11; Psalm 96:13
[2] Exodus 3:7-8
[3] Revelation 5:1-10; 6:9-10
[4] Revelation 8:4-5; see also Revelation 5:8
[5] Revelation 12:11
[6] Exodus 19:4; Revelation 12:13-17
[7] Revelation 17:1-6; 21:1-26
[8] Revelation 1:6; 5:10

Old Testament Joshua a Type of New Testament Jesus God’s Son

Joshua was the one God chose to bring the people into the Promised Land. His name is the Hebrew form of the name Jesus. He is a type of Jesus.

“Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying: ‘Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.’ And the Lord said to Moses: ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.’ ‘…At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him—all the congregation.’” [1]

“Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.” Joshua, in the context of being a type of Jesus, is the one who leads God’s people into a place of bountiful provision and a place of glorious rest. [2]

The Law (Moses) did not bring people into the Promised Land, the Gospel (Jesus) did. The Law points us to our need for a Savior and Shepherd other than ourselves. The Savior and Shepherd that we need is Jesus Christ.

“And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So, I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’” [3]

Just as no one else except Jesus, God’s perfect Son, the Lamb, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, was able to carry out God’s plan of redemption of sinners, so no one else except Jesus can carry out God's end-time judgments against the evil of this world. Jesus receives the scroll and is able to loose the seals.

Just as Jesus faithfully carried out God’s plan of redemption of the world, so will He faithfully carry out God’s plan of judgment on the evil one and his followers. He will bring Satan and Satan’s followers to an end. It is recorded in the Book of Revelation.

Old Testament Joshua brought the people into the Promised Land, and he executed judgment on the pagans who rejected the one true God. New Testament Jesus brings His followers into the eternal Promised Land, and executes judgment on the devil, the devil’s angelic helpers, and on the devil’s human accomplices. In the end, Jesus Christ lives and reigns with His flock victorious. Glory to God!

[1] Numbers 27:15-18, 21
[2] Deuteronomy 1:38; Hebrews 4:8
[3] Revelation 5:1-5

True Love

“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel of God?” [1]

As a servant of God’s Word, I pray that He will help me to represent Him well both by word and deed. I have failed Him often. I ask Him to forgive me often. I am convinced by the Word of God that He is judging the world in righteousness. In due season, His judgments are manifest on earth. Peter says that God’s judgment first begins in His own house among His own people, then, spreads to those who are not a part of His family. We see this principle in the Book of Jeremiah.

When Jesus found in His Father’s house those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business, He had made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen. He poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” He told the religious leaders that after they destroyed His temple (His body by crucifixion) He would raise it up in three days. [2] After His resurrection, Jesus filled those who believed in Him with the Holy Spirit. In this way, His house reaches to the ends of the earth. Each believer in Him is a part of His house. He inhabits us who believe in Him.

Peter warns us against a temptation that the devil uses to sabotage servants of God’s Word (the devil even tried this tactic on Jesus – see Matthew 4:8-10). Peter warns us against those who “receive the wages of unrighteousness…” who “have hearts trained in covetous practices…” who “have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.” [3]

Jesus said to the believers in the Pergamos Church, “I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.” [4]

The story of Balaam is recorded in Numbers chapters 22-24. A pagan king hired him to curse Israel. Sadly, Jehovah Witnesses often quote Numbers 23:19 to say that Jesus is not God in the flesh: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.” But Numbers 24:1 says “Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery…” The verse they quote is when Balaam used sorcery to speak for God. When Balaam spoke by the Spirit of God, he prophesied of Jesus, “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.” [5] Later, the Israelites executed Balaam by sword. He had counseled the pagan king to send seductive women into the camp of Israel to seduce the men. Sin with these women brought the curse on Israel that Balaam could not bring on them via sorcery. [6]

Jeremiah the prophet counseled his scribe Baruch this way, “’Do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,’ says the Lord. ‘But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.’” [7]

Peter counselled pastors, saying, “Shepherd the flock of God, which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.” [8]

Jesus said to His disciples, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [the clothes and food you need] shall be added to you.” [9]

Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Simon the Sorcerer sought to purchase the Holy Spirit with money. [10] They are negative examples for us to avoid.

The Word of the Lord says, “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” [11] May our Heavenly Father in His grace, help us to choose love for Him and people over selfish ways. May He help us to guide people to Him who loves them with true love.

[1] 1 Peter 4:17
[2] John 2:14-19
[3] 2 Peter 2:13-15
[4] Revelation 2:14
[5] Number 24:2; 17
[6] Numbers 31:8; 16
[7] Jeremiah 45:5
[8] 1 Peter 5:2
[9] Matthew 6:33
[10] Matthew 26:15; Acts 8:18-24
[11] Proverbs 11:4

The Spirit of Prophecy is the Testimony of Jesus

“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” [1]

The key that opens the way to knowing God and understanding the Bible is Jesus Christ. When one bows before Him with faith and a humble heart and asks Him to reveal God via the Bible, He does.

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”

In the passage above, Jesus was speaking to people who wanted to kill Him. They had Scriptures, but Scripture did not have them. They had Scriptures but lacked a relationship with the Author of the Scriptures. When the God of the Scriptures stood before them in human flesh, they argued with Him and hated Him. Jesus effectively told them that the Scriptures testify that He is the Messiah.

“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.’ And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’” [3]

The marriage feast of people with God is a supper with the Lamb, that is Jesus Christ. The people who sit at this banquet table looked to the Lamb of God to save them while on the earth, now they are with Him for all eternity.

When John fell at the feet of the angel to worship him for revealing to him these amazing truths, the angel stopped him. The angel told him, “Worship God!” He explained to John that he too was a brother and servant of the TESTIMONY of JESUS. He stated a very important truth about the prophetic ministry for all who want to represent God to others. The truth is, “the TESTIMONY of JESUS is the SPIRIT of PROPHECY.”

May all we who use the Name of Jesus use His Name rightly! He deserves our praise, gratitude, testimonies, and worship!

[1] John 1:18
[2] John 5:39
[3] Revelation 19:9-10