“As long as my breath is in me, and the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. Far be it from me that I should say you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.” [1]
The breath of God keeps us alive. We are living on borrowed breath. God revealed this truth to Job, as well as a much greater truth. The truth that he was right though everything about his circumstances seem to say he was wrong! He would not yield for a moment to the accusation of “friends” who surmised that he was cursed by God. Job held fast to the truth that he was right before God. He refused reproach.
Job’s friends were like the crowd who said to Pilate, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” And later, “Let God deliver Him if He delights in Him.” Such people wonder how could a bloody, bruised, spat on, verbally abused and crucified criminal be the Messiah? [2]
The prophets and apostles of Christ experienced similar scorn. Perhaps, this is why the prophets are seldom read, and why the sufferings of Paul for Christ are seldom proclaimed! Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the faith, saying, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” [3]
Satan hated Job because he was a type of Christ in the Old Testament. He reflected the life of God to those around him. Physically speaking, like God, he owned much property, he had servants, and he had sons and daughters. Spiritually speaking, like God, Job did what was right and he also made sacrifices to atone for the sins of his children. God called Job blameless three times. [4]
Job, in essence, wanted to know from God: “My God My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He had followed God meticulously. Why do other believers offer to God lackadaisical service, but not suffer as much as I do?
God’s prophetic examples of Christ often live as the Levites lived. The tribe of Levi was not allocated a portion of the Promised Land because God said that He was their portion. The Lord provided for the Levites via the offerings that people gave to God. [5]
Job knew that wisdom was from God. He told his friends, “I will teach you about the hand of God; what is with the Almighty I will not conceal.” Then, he asked them, “Where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” He told them, “The price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.” “God understands its way, and He knows its place.” “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.” [6]
The wisdom of God helped Job to discern that he had not suffered loss due to any specific sin that he had committed. He truly was Christlike in his walk with God.
Here are some highlights from God’s walk with Job. “The friendly counsel of God was over my tent.” “The rock [Christ] poured out rivers of oil [the Holy Spirit] for me!” “When the ear heard, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw, then it approved me; because I delivered the poor who cried out, the fatherless and the one who had no helper. The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.” “Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel.” [7]
Job ended his speech to his friends by welcoming curses upon himself if he had done wrong to anyone, or if he had denied God. [8]
Christ suffered cruel hatred from Satan because He dared to defy the devil and live for God His Father in the ministry of saving sinners from sin’s consequences.
This teaching greatly comforts me.
Between 1985-1997, the Lord blessed me with a calling to the people of Guangzhou and Hong Kong, China. What I liked most about this calling was that Jesus embodied His ministry in me. I got to represent God to the Chinese. I also got help widows and orphans. The Lord did miraculous physical healings. He cast out demons from people. Souls turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. But then, the Lord allowed Satan to attack my family to the point that we could bear it no more. We returned to the USA where it seems all that I did, and all that I learned meant nothing to no one. I could not even provide shelter and food for my family. I was so devastated. So heartbroken! I felt like a tree that had been bit by lightning and split down the middle. Why did something so right end so wrong? Why had God forsaken me? Why did He allow me to be mocked and abandoned?
The answer is Christ! He wanted to add dimension to my love for Christ by allowing me to experience in a limited fashion some of what He suffered. He had not taken from me the ministry of embodying Him to others, He expanded it. He taught me to love as He, the prophets and the apostles love.
The Bible makes more sense when you read it through the filter of Christ. For example, the Psalms!
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.” [9]
The part about none of His bones being broken is quoted as being fulfilled by Christ in John 19:36. Jesus experienced many afflictions but was delivered from them all.
A lack of love for God is the main sin from which all sin flows. A right relationship with God is more than a legal contract. It is a marriage. To have, to hold, to cherish, and never be separated from God forever!
Being taken from China and Hong Kong was not being taken from Christ. Christ needed to increase, I needed to decrease. [10]
Satan has robbed and beaten many faithful servants of Christ, but Christ replaces what was lost with more of Himself. This is a victory. It is the love of Christ embodied in human flesh by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
When the Psalmist wrote of self-denial for the sake of undeserving sinners, he prophesied of Christ. David wrote, “Fierce witnesses rise up; they ask me things that I do not know. They reward me evil for good to the sorrow of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; and my prayer would return to my own heart. I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother. But in my adversity, they rejoiced and gathered together; attackers gathered against me, and I did not know it; they tore at me and did not cease; with ungodly mockers at feasts they gnashed at me with their teeth. Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions, my precious life from the lions.” [11]
The soul of Jesus was sorrowful even unto death. False witnesses testified against Him. He did humble Himself. He did pray. He mourned for the people of Jerusalem who did recognize the time of God’s visitation via Messiah to their city. They mocked Him. They beat Him. He needed rescued from these fierce lions. He is the One whom the Psalmist wrote about. [12]
Those who love to sin delight in the pain of the righteous for our pain seems to affirm to them that they are making the right choice to go on sinning. They need the Holy Spirit to reveal to them the depths of their error and to help them see the truth of the matter.
The compensation that we have in Christ for our suffering is His fellowship. His presence! His love! David wrote, “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore, the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. O, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright in heart.” [13]
[1] Job 27:3-6
[2] Matthew 27:22-23, 43; Mark 15:13-14; Luke 23:21; John 19:15
[3] 2 Timothy 3:12
[4] Job 1:1, 1:8, 2:3
[5] Deuteronomy 18:1-2, Matthew 27:46
[6] Job 27:11; Job 28:12, 18-20, 23, 28
[7] Job 29:4-5, 11-13, 21
[8] Job 31
[9] Psalm 34:19-22
[10] John 3:30
[11]Psalm 35:11-17
[12] Mark 14:34; 56; Philippians 2:8; Luke 19:41-42
[13] Psalm 36:7-10
Outcomes I seek: To glorify Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior - To build people's faith in Christ
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Not Forsaken Brought Closer
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
I Want to Be Like Jesus
“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord.” [1]
You want to be like Jesus? Don’t deny God due to fear what people will do to you! God and one is a majority. Yes, you might suffer setbacks, but “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” [2]
I have suffered worldly losses while proclaiming Jesus (not as much as I should), but the Lord has been much better to me in those times than what was taken from me. God has turned what was meant to destroy me into what helped me to be more like Him. I understand better now His patience, His forgiveness, His selflessness, His love for lost souls.
Satan sought to destroy Job. He robbed Job of his wealth and of his children. Job wrote, “He [God] knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the Words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” [3]
A goldsmith knows dross is gone from gold when he sees his reflection in it. God made us in His image, but sin mars us. Praise God for replacing evil desires with wholesome desires for His Word. He transforms us as we treasure His Word. To be like Jesus, to have Him embody His life in my life, has given me more joy than any other experience.
My Heavenly Father, in His exceedingly great mercy, graced me to witness for Jesus on the streets of Hong Kong. Seeing a soul turn from idols to the living God yielded great for me! Some conversions happened in a park connected to a temple to a false god! The Lord graced me to baptize converts to Christ in a detention camp for Vietnamese refugees. He graced me to teach His Word to disciples in China. The Heavenly Father graces me with great love for my children’s children. The Lord gives His followers a better inheritance than the world does.
King David experienced God’s real presence in his life, He wrote, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” [4]
In lieu of his experience with the Lord, David wrote to fellow followers, saying, “O, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” [5]
Those who behave proudly against God and against His people may enjoy a moment where circumstances seem to affirm to them that they are greater than God, but their lives will not end well unless they humble themselves. “God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.” [6] Let us pray for proud people that God will grant them the grace to repent.
Sin is not a friend. Sin is a fiend. Sin yields depression. David wrote about this, saying, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah” [7]
Confessing one’s sins to God, asking Him to forgive, and then, experiencing a strong sense in your spirit that He indeed lifted the burden of your sin and shame away and gave You His Spirit’s presence to fill the void yields great joy and strength. Joy and strength to love God and love people!
“’There’s an elephant in the room’ is an expression that means that there is an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about.” [8]
A lack of conversions to Christ is an elephant in the room. “Lord Jesus, please change this!”
God’s servant Jude spoke of “ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” [9]
God did not deliver us TO SIN. He delivered us FROM SIN so that we can live a better life. A life of love towards God and people in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ! A lack conversions is a red flag! Something is wrong! The Gospel converts lost souls to Christ!
We don’t want to be clouds without water. [10] Having the Name of Christ, but not His power.
Ungodly means not like God. Not bearing His image! Not behaving as He behaves! The Lord has been warning against such behavior from the very beginning. He hasn’t stopped warning.
“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with 10,000’s of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” [11]
Jesus described the ungodly as “sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” [12]
To those who want to remain true to Him, the Lord says, “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.” [13]
Build faith not doubt. Praying in the Holy Spirit means to ask the Holy Spirit to be the wind that propels your prayer life. I often say to Him, “Holy Spirit, please be the wind that propels my prayers.” I have found it helpful to do prayer walks sometimes even with my prayer list in my hand. A two mile walk gives me about 40-45 minutes of prayer time. If I get through my prayer list before my prayer walk is over, I ask the Holy Spirit, “Who else should I pray for?” And He brings people to my mind. The Lord tells us to abide in God’s love, and to live with anticipation of the mercy that we will receive from Him when He returns. In the meantime, He tells us, the Church, to focus on saving souls from the fire.
Only faith in Jesus Christ saves us from this present world. Our glory and power must be focused on Him and for Him!
“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. Amen.” [14]
[1] Proverbs 29:25-26
[2] Romans 8:28
[3] Job 23:10-12
[4] Psalm 30:11-12
[5] Psalm 31:23-24
[6] James 4:6
[7] Psalm 32:1-5
[8] dictionary.cambridge.org
[9] Jude 1:4
[10] Jude 1:12
[11] Jude 1:14-15
[12] Jude 1:19
[13] Jude 1:20-23
[14] Jude 1:24-25
You want to be like Jesus? Don’t deny God due to fear what people will do to you! God and one is a majority. Yes, you might suffer setbacks, but “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” [2]
I have suffered worldly losses while proclaiming Jesus (not as much as I should), but the Lord has been much better to me in those times than what was taken from me. God has turned what was meant to destroy me into what helped me to be more like Him. I understand better now His patience, His forgiveness, His selflessness, His love for lost souls.
Satan sought to destroy Job. He robbed Job of his wealth and of his children. Job wrote, “He [God] knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the Words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” [3]
A goldsmith knows dross is gone from gold when he sees his reflection in it. God made us in His image, but sin mars us. Praise God for replacing evil desires with wholesome desires for His Word. He transforms us as we treasure His Word. To be like Jesus, to have Him embody His life in my life, has given me more joy than any other experience.
My Heavenly Father, in His exceedingly great mercy, graced me to witness for Jesus on the streets of Hong Kong. Seeing a soul turn from idols to the living God yielded great for me! Some conversions happened in a park connected to a temple to a false god! The Lord graced me to baptize converts to Christ in a detention camp for Vietnamese refugees. He graced me to teach His Word to disciples in China. The Heavenly Father graces me with great love for my children’s children. The Lord gives His followers a better inheritance than the world does.
King David experienced God’s real presence in his life, He wrote, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” [4]
In lieu of his experience with the Lord, David wrote to fellow followers, saying, “O, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” [5]
Those who behave proudly against God and against His people may enjoy a moment where circumstances seem to affirm to them that they are greater than God, but their lives will not end well unless they humble themselves. “God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.” [6] Let us pray for proud people that God will grant them the grace to repent.
Sin is not a friend. Sin is a fiend. Sin yields depression. David wrote about this, saying, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah” [7]
Confessing one’s sins to God, asking Him to forgive, and then, experiencing a strong sense in your spirit that He indeed lifted the burden of your sin and shame away and gave You His Spirit’s presence to fill the void yields great joy and strength. Joy and strength to love God and love people!
“’There’s an elephant in the room’ is an expression that means that there is an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about.” [8]
A lack of conversions to Christ is an elephant in the room. “Lord Jesus, please change this!”
God’s servant Jude spoke of “ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” [9]
God did not deliver us TO SIN. He delivered us FROM SIN so that we can live a better life. A life of love towards God and people in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ! A lack conversions is a red flag! Something is wrong! The Gospel converts lost souls to Christ!
We don’t want to be clouds without water. [10] Having the Name of Christ, but not His power.
Ungodly means not like God. Not bearing His image! Not behaving as He behaves! The Lord has been warning against such behavior from the very beginning. He hasn’t stopped warning.
“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with 10,000’s of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” [11]
Jesus described the ungodly as “sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” [12]
To those who want to remain true to Him, the Lord says, “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.” [13]
Build faith not doubt. Praying in the Holy Spirit means to ask the Holy Spirit to be the wind that propels your prayer life. I often say to Him, “Holy Spirit, please be the wind that propels my prayers.” I have found it helpful to do prayer walks sometimes even with my prayer list in my hand. A two mile walk gives me about 40-45 minutes of prayer time. If I get through my prayer list before my prayer walk is over, I ask the Holy Spirit, “Who else should I pray for?” And He brings people to my mind. The Lord tells us to abide in God’s love, and to live with anticipation of the mercy that we will receive from Him when He returns. In the meantime, He tells us, the Church, to focus on saving souls from the fire.
Only faith in Jesus Christ saves us from this present world. Our glory and power must be focused on Him and for Him!
“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. Amen.” [14]
[1] Proverbs 29:25-26
[2] Romans 8:28
[3] Job 23:10-12
[4] Psalm 30:11-12
[5] Psalm 31:23-24
[6] James 4:6
[7] Psalm 32:1-5
[8] dictionary.cambridge.org
[9] Jude 1:4
[10] Jude 1:12
[11] Jude 1:14-15
[12] Jude 1:19
[13] Jude 1:20-23
[14] Jude 1:24-25
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
The Currency of Heaven
The currency of heaven’s economy is Christ likeness. In the parable of the unfaithful steward, the wicked servant did not do good with the goods God gave him. Spiritually speaking, God forgives us our sins and gives us His Holy Spirit. These are God’s goods. We are to do good with God’s goods, not bury them. [1]
The five foolish virgins did not keep their lamps filled with oil. They did not take seriously the Bridegroom’s return. They were shut out of Christ’s kingdom when He returned while the wise virgins with oil in their lamps were included. In the Scriptures, oil is symbolic of God’s Spirit. [2]
The Lord Jesus says to us, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” [3] In other words, stay filled and led by the Holy Spirit!
On Judgment Day, those who cared not for the least of Jesus’ brethren were removed from those who did. Those who cared, did so, because of God’s love in their heart. [4]
The Lord says to us, “Beloved do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” [5]
Christianity is a revealed religion. Jesus Christ reveals, gives understanding and power to those who receive Him.
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the Law. A servant will not be corrected by mere words; for though he understands, he will not respond.” [6]
A servant obeys a rule when the consequence of disobeying it outweighs the pain of obeying it. A person who knows the Lord – has the revelation of Christ – obeys God’s Law because God’s Spirit helps him or her to be happy to do so. He obeys out of love for God and out of love for people, not out of legality or of fear of punishment.
Jesus warned us about how things would be in the last days before He returns, saying, “The love of many will grow cold because lawlessness will abound.” [7]
Jesus will reward His faithful servants. “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [8]
The Lord Jesus also warned us about the end times via His servant John, saying, “Many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” [9]
The work of God is to believe in Him whom God sent, namely Jesus Christ. [10]
We must maintain the preeminence of Christ in our Church gatherings. No man or creature should be allowed to take the glory that belongs to Christ alone. Only Jesus Christ died for our sins and resurrected again. Only Jesus made a new covenant with us that through His blood, God would forgive us our sins and give us His Holy Spirit.
The early Church leaders were adamant about maintaining the Gospel of Christ as the primary message of their meetings. Paul wrote to the Christians in Galatia saying, “Even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” [11]
We prosper spiritually as we walk with Jesus. This is what He wants for us. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” [12]
Therefore, let us receive from the Lord His good supply to do good. His grace, mercy and peace will be with us as we walk with Him in His ways.
“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” [13]
[1] Matthew 25:14-30
[2] Matthew 25:1-12
[3] Matthew 25:13
[4] Matthew 25:31-46
[5] 3 John 1:11
[6] Proverbs 29:18-19
[7] Matthew 24;12
[8] Matthew 24:45-51
[9] 2 John 1:7-11
[10] John 6:29
[11] Galatians 1:8
[12] 3 John 1:2
[13] 2 John 1:3
The five foolish virgins did not keep their lamps filled with oil. They did not take seriously the Bridegroom’s return. They were shut out of Christ’s kingdom when He returned while the wise virgins with oil in their lamps were included. In the Scriptures, oil is symbolic of God’s Spirit. [2]
The Lord Jesus says to us, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” [3] In other words, stay filled and led by the Holy Spirit!
On Judgment Day, those who cared not for the least of Jesus’ brethren were removed from those who did. Those who cared, did so, because of God’s love in their heart. [4]
The Lord says to us, “Beloved do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” [5]
Christianity is a revealed religion. Jesus Christ reveals, gives understanding and power to those who receive Him.
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the Law. A servant will not be corrected by mere words; for though he understands, he will not respond.” [6]
A servant obeys a rule when the consequence of disobeying it outweighs the pain of obeying it. A person who knows the Lord – has the revelation of Christ – obeys God’s Law because God’s Spirit helps him or her to be happy to do so. He obeys out of love for God and out of love for people, not out of legality or of fear of punishment.
Jesus warned us about how things would be in the last days before He returns, saying, “The love of many will grow cold because lawlessness will abound.” [7]
Jesus will reward His faithful servants. “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [8]
The Lord Jesus also warned us about the end times via His servant John, saying, “Many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” [9]
The work of God is to believe in Him whom God sent, namely Jesus Christ. [10]
We must maintain the preeminence of Christ in our Church gatherings. No man or creature should be allowed to take the glory that belongs to Christ alone. Only Jesus Christ died for our sins and resurrected again. Only Jesus made a new covenant with us that through His blood, God would forgive us our sins and give us His Holy Spirit.
The early Church leaders were adamant about maintaining the Gospel of Christ as the primary message of their meetings. Paul wrote to the Christians in Galatia saying, “Even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” [11]
We prosper spiritually as we walk with Jesus. This is what He wants for us. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” [12]
Therefore, let us receive from the Lord His good supply to do good. His grace, mercy and peace will be with us as we walk with Him in His ways.
“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” [13]
[1] Matthew 25:14-30
[2] Matthew 25:1-12
[3] Matthew 25:13
[4] Matthew 25:31-46
[5] 3 John 1:11
[6] Proverbs 29:18-19
[7] Matthew 24;12
[8] Matthew 24:45-51
[9] 2 John 1:7-11
[10] John 6:29
[11] Galatians 1:8
[12] 3 John 1:2
[13] 2 John 1:3
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Monday, July 28, 2025
Loving the Lord’s Appearance
Do I love the Lord’s appearance? Do you?
Paul the Apostle wrote, “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” [1]
None of us know the exact day or hour that we will meet the Lord face to face. Someone wrote, “Time is the only currency you spend without ever knowing your balance.” Those of us who are old feel our bodies declining and know that our balance of earthly life is running low.
Paul was ready to see the Lord. Paul enjoyed a personal relationship with the Lord. The Lord by His grace, by His Word, by His Spirit kept Paul in the faith. God revealed to Paul that he had a crown of righteousness for him, and not only for him, but to all who love His appearance.
“Love the Lord’s appearance!” Do I? Do you?
King David wrote, “Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells. Do not gather my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands is a sinister scheme, and whose right hand is full of bribes.” [2]
David’s love for the Lord moved him to ask the Lord to keep him from temptation and to deliver him from evil, namely, from joining with who do not want to know or walk with God.
The Lord gave King David a heart to be with Him. He wrote, “One thing I have desired of the Lord that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” [3]
What a gift! Such grace! To be filled with love for the Lord! To want to be with Him! To have faith to see the goodness of the Lord in the land where people live forever! This is God’s gift to all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ.
“This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the Name of the Son of God.” “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” [4]
Eternal life is in Jesus. He is the resurrector of those who believe in Him. He does the resurrecting. Eternal life is God’s gift to believers in Him. There is no other way to the Father, except through Jesus. Jesus holds the key to heaven. All others are imposters. All others are idols which cannot save a soul. Those who have the Son, Jesus Christ, have eternal life. [5]
When the Apostle Peter was about to depart from this earthly life, he wrote, “Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.” [6]
He urged people to remember what Jesus did for their salvation. Don’t let other interests to diminish or replace your love for Christ.
Peter’s faith was not based on fables. He met the Lord. He walked with the Lord. He heard God speak from heaven to affirm faith in Jesus.
“For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.” [7]
Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about Messiah.
Peter wrote, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” [8]
The words that Peter believed had been confirmed by what he witnessed Jesus say and do. Jesus personally taught Peter the meaning of the Bible. Peter got his understanding of God from God’s Son and from God’s Spirit. This, in a sense, is how each of us prepare to meet God. We listen to God’s witnesses... His prophets, His apostles and His Son via the Bible, and we listen to His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit witnesses to the words of Jesus. He also witnesses to us that we are God’s children when we believe in Jesus.
“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 that I have said to you.” “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” [9]
We believers are “sealed with the Holy Spirit” upon believing in Jesus. God’s Spirit is the “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.” The Holy Spirit serves as God’s pledge or guarantee of the future inheritance that we will receive from Him. [10]
We love the Lord’s appearance because He has done all that is necessary for our salvation. Our faith is in His merits to save us. He appearance equals the beginning of enjoying paradise with God forevermore for us. A place with no more sorrow, no pain and no death!
Praise be to His glorious and wonderful Name! The Name of Jesus!
[1] 2 Timothy 4:6-8
[2] Psalm 26:8-10
[3] Psalm 27:4, 13
[4] 1 John 5:11-13, 20-21
[5] John 11:25; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Revelation 1:18
[6] 2 Peter 1:13-15
[7] 2 Peter 1:16-18
[8] 2 Peter 1:19-21
[9] John 14:26; Romans 8:16
[10] Ephesians 1:13-14
Paul the Apostle wrote, “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” [1]
None of us know the exact day or hour that we will meet the Lord face to face. Someone wrote, “Time is the only currency you spend without ever knowing your balance.” Those of us who are old feel our bodies declining and know that our balance of earthly life is running low.
Paul was ready to see the Lord. Paul enjoyed a personal relationship with the Lord. The Lord by His grace, by His Word, by His Spirit kept Paul in the faith. God revealed to Paul that he had a crown of righteousness for him, and not only for him, but to all who love His appearance.
“Love the Lord’s appearance!” Do I? Do you?
King David wrote, “Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells. Do not gather my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands is a sinister scheme, and whose right hand is full of bribes.” [2]
David’s love for the Lord moved him to ask the Lord to keep him from temptation and to deliver him from evil, namely, from joining with who do not want to know or walk with God.
The Lord gave King David a heart to be with Him. He wrote, “One thing I have desired of the Lord that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” [3]
What a gift! Such grace! To be filled with love for the Lord! To want to be with Him! To have faith to see the goodness of the Lord in the land where people live forever! This is God’s gift to all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ.
“This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the Name of the Son of God.” “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” [4]
Eternal life is in Jesus. He is the resurrector of those who believe in Him. He does the resurrecting. Eternal life is God’s gift to believers in Him. There is no other way to the Father, except through Jesus. Jesus holds the key to heaven. All others are imposters. All others are idols which cannot save a soul. Those who have the Son, Jesus Christ, have eternal life. [5]
When the Apostle Peter was about to depart from this earthly life, he wrote, “Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.” [6]
He urged people to remember what Jesus did for their salvation. Don’t let other interests to diminish or replace your love for Christ.
Peter’s faith was not based on fables. He met the Lord. He walked with the Lord. He heard God speak from heaven to affirm faith in Jesus.
“For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.” [7]
Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about Messiah.
Peter wrote, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” [8]
The words that Peter believed had been confirmed by what he witnessed Jesus say and do. Jesus personally taught Peter the meaning of the Bible. Peter got his understanding of God from God’s Son and from God’s Spirit. This, in a sense, is how each of us prepare to meet God. We listen to God’s witnesses... His prophets, His apostles and His Son via the Bible, and we listen to His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit witnesses to the words of Jesus. He also witnesses to us that we are God’s children when we believe in Jesus.
“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 that I have said to you.” “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” [9]
We believers are “sealed with the Holy Spirit” upon believing in Jesus. God’s Spirit is the “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.” The Holy Spirit serves as God’s pledge or guarantee of the future inheritance that we will receive from Him. [10]
We love the Lord’s appearance because He has done all that is necessary for our salvation. Our faith is in His merits to save us. He appearance equals the beginning of enjoying paradise with God forevermore for us. A place with no more sorrow, no pain and no death!
Praise be to His glorious and wonderful Name! The Name of Jesus!
[1] 2 Timothy 4:6-8
[2] Psalm 26:8-10
[3] Psalm 27:4, 13
[4] 1 John 5:11-13, 20-21
[5] John 11:25; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Revelation 1:18
[6] 2 Peter 1:13-15
[7] 2 Peter 1:16-18
[8] 2 Peter 1:19-21
[9] John 14:26; Romans 8:16
[10] Ephesians 1:13-14
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Sunday, July 27, 2025
Loving as Jesus Loves
Psalm 22 – His sacrifice to remove our sins
Psalm 23 – His shepherding presence with us
Psalm 24 – His return in glory
Psalm 22 was likely written a thousand years before Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. It contains words that Jesus spoke at the cross as well as descriptions of what happened that day.
Below are quotes from Psalm 22. I have placed New Testament cross references to these verses in the footnotes.
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” [1]
“All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, ‘He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!’” [2]
“Dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.” [3]
The description of soldiers piercing Jesus’ hands and feet during His crucifixion.
“They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” [4]
In Psalm 22, the Lord prophesied that people from the families of nations will worship Him. This has come to pass. People from all over the world have heard the Gospel and worship Jesus Christ. His kingdom is present in us who believe in Him because His Spirit dwells within us.
“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations.” [5]
Christians often request Psalm 23 to be read at the memorial service of a departed loved one. Psalm 23 is the story of someone who enjoyed the presence of Jesus with them during their life, in the hour of their death, and then, forevermore in God’s house. Everyone who receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior enjoys these blessings.
“As many as received Him [Jesus Christ], to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” [6]
Psalm 24 speaks to us of the world belonging to the Lord, of His ascension to the holy hill, and of lifting up your heads to receive the coming King of Glory.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?” [The answer is Christ and His redeemed ones.] “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” [7]
Jesus Christ receives the title deed to the earth in Revelation 5. He is envisioned there as the King of glory in heaven. He is worshipped by angels and every creature.
God’s Word and His Spirit urge us to believe in Christ alone for salvation. We are not to believe in another message or listen to another spirit.
“Beloved do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” [8]
Saving faith professes that Jesus Christ alone came to earth to redeem us unto God. He was God embodied in human flesh. Jesus revealed God’s love for us.
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” [9]
The greatest miracle Jesus did was to become a sacrifice for our sins. When we ask God to apply the blood of His Son to our sins, to blot them out, He does, and He gives us His Holy Spirit of love for God and people. We fulfill God’s commandments as we love Him and people.
“This commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” [10]
Thus, the Good Shepherd, the One who died on the cross for our sin, the One who gives us His Holy Spirit loves us and calls us to take up our crosses. To love others as He loves us! To focus more on spiritual blessings than earthly ones.
“Be diligent to know the state of your flocks and attend to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.” [11]
A person does not need a university diploma or a religious title to love people. Only Jesus Christ purges the human heart of selfish desires for earthly riches and crowns (popularity and power). He replaces selfish desires with selfless desires. As we love Him, Jesus Christ fills us with His Spirit to love those around us.
[1] Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34
[2] Psalm 22:7-8; Matthew 27:39, 43; Mark 15:29
[3] Psalm 22:16-17; Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:33; John 19:23-24
[4] Psalm 22:18; Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24
[5] Psalm 22:27-28
[6] John 1:12
[7] Psalm 24:1, 3, 7-8
[8] 1 John 4:1-3
[9] 1 John 4:9-10
[10] 1 John 4:21
[11] Proverbs 27:24
Psalm 23 – His shepherding presence with us
Psalm 24 – His return in glory
Psalm 22 was likely written a thousand years before Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. It contains words that Jesus spoke at the cross as well as descriptions of what happened that day.
Below are quotes from Psalm 22. I have placed New Testament cross references to these verses in the footnotes.
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” [1]
“All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, ‘He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!’” [2]
“Dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.” [3]
The description of soldiers piercing Jesus’ hands and feet during His crucifixion.
“They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” [4]
In Psalm 22, the Lord prophesied that people from the families of nations will worship Him. This has come to pass. People from all over the world have heard the Gospel and worship Jesus Christ. His kingdom is present in us who believe in Him because His Spirit dwells within us.
“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations.” [5]
Christians often request Psalm 23 to be read at the memorial service of a departed loved one. Psalm 23 is the story of someone who enjoyed the presence of Jesus with them during their life, in the hour of their death, and then, forevermore in God’s house. Everyone who receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior enjoys these blessings.
“As many as received Him [Jesus Christ], to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” [6]
Psalm 24 speaks to us of the world belonging to the Lord, of His ascension to the holy hill, and of lifting up your heads to receive the coming King of Glory.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?” [The answer is Christ and His redeemed ones.] “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” [7]
Jesus Christ receives the title deed to the earth in Revelation 5. He is envisioned there as the King of glory in heaven. He is worshipped by angels and every creature.
God’s Word and His Spirit urge us to believe in Christ alone for salvation. We are not to believe in another message or listen to another spirit.
“Beloved do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” [8]
Saving faith professes that Jesus Christ alone came to earth to redeem us unto God. He was God embodied in human flesh. Jesus revealed God’s love for us.
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” [9]
The greatest miracle Jesus did was to become a sacrifice for our sins. When we ask God to apply the blood of His Son to our sins, to blot them out, He does, and He gives us His Holy Spirit of love for God and people. We fulfill God’s commandments as we love Him and people.
“This commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” [10]
Thus, the Good Shepherd, the One who died on the cross for our sin, the One who gives us His Holy Spirit loves us and calls us to take up our crosses. To love others as He loves us! To focus more on spiritual blessings than earthly ones.
“Be diligent to know the state of your flocks and attend to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.” [11]
A person does not need a university diploma or a religious title to love people. Only Jesus Christ purges the human heart of selfish desires for earthly riches and crowns (popularity and power). He replaces selfish desires with selfless desires. As we love Him, Jesus Christ fills us with His Spirit to love those around us.
[1] Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34
[2] Psalm 22:7-8; Matthew 27:39, 43; Mark 15:29
[3] Psalm 22:16-17; Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:33; John 19:23-24
[4] Psalm 22:18; Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24
[5] Psalm 22:27-28
[6] John 1:12
[7] Psalm 24:1, 3, 7-8
[8] 1 John 4:1-3
[9] 1 John 4:9-10
[10] 1 John 4:21
[11] Proverbs 27:24
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Hope That Yields Love
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” [1]
Glory to God our Father for loving us and adopting us into His eternal family. When we see Him face to face, we shall be like Him! This hope comes from the Word of God. This hope shapes our priorities and practices.
“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” [2]
How do we overcome sin? By abiding in Christ! Only Jesus Christ by His Spirit fills us with love for God and love for neighbor. Jesus helps us to hunger and thirst for righteousness.
“In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.” [3]
Righteousness and love for brothers and sisters flow from Christ.
Without Christ unloving actions flow from a person. For example, celebrating the freedom to abort an unborn baby from its mother’s womb. With Christ’s love for an unborn baby in one’s hearts, condoning and celebrating its death is undoable. Christ’s love leads a person to love and protect people. Satan’s hatred leads a person to hate and to destroy people.
“By this we know love because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” [4]
Love is a verb. Love is demonstrated with actions. Christ’s love is demonstrated by a willingness to open ones heart to a brother and sister in need, and to sacrifice goods for them that you initially thought to use for yourself. Christ love is about caring and sharing.
“We keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” [5]
The Holy Spirit fills us with God’s love. [6]
Adherence to God’s Word is an expression of love for God and those around us. We don’t love to earn merits with God or people. We love because God has graciously given us the gift to love. He loved us first. He sent His Son to die on the cross to atone for our sin.
“When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” [7]
In His love for us, Christ made way for His Spirit to dwell within us. He paid a debt we could not pay. He did this for us when we least deserved it.
With the Holy Spirit’s love within us we reflect the life of Jesus. For example, Christ’s gratitude towards the Father and His generosity towards people. Before Jesus gave food to the hungry multitude, He gave thanks to God. Before Jesus gave the bread and cup to His disciples... the bread and cup that represented His body and blood given for the forgiveness of their sins, He gave thanks. [8] Gratitude and generosity come forth from us as we abide in Christ.
“We know that when He [Christ] is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” [9]
Hope in Christ and purification for Christ is another way of saying, “God, my primary purpose is to love You, and to love people who reflect Your likeness.”
[1] 1 John 3:1-3
[2] 1 John 3:4-6
[3] 1 John 3:7-12
[4] 1 John 3:16-18
[5] 1 John 3:22-24
[6] Romans 5:5
[7] Romans 5:6-8
[8] Mark 8:6; 14:23
[9] 1 John 3:2-3
Glory to God our Father for loving us and adopting us into His eternal family. When we see Him face to face, we shall be like Him! This hope comes from the Word of God. This hope shapes our priorities and practices.
“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” [2]
How do we overcome sin? By abiding in Christ! Only Jesus Christ by His Spirit fills us with love for God and love for neighbor. Jesus helps us to hunger and thirst for righteousness.
“In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.” [3]
Righteousness and love for brothers and sisters flow from Christ.
Without Christ unloving actions flow from a person. For example, celebrating the freedom to abort an unborn baby from its mother’s womb. With Christ’s love for an unborn baby in one’s hearts, condoning and celebrating its death is undoable. Christ’s love leads a person to love and protect people. Satan’s hatred leads a person to hate and to destroy people.
“By this we know love because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” [4]
Love is a verb. Love is demonstrated with actions. Christ’s love is demonstrated by a willingness to open ones heart to a brother and sister in need, and to sacrifice goods for them that you initially thought to use for yourself. Christ love is about caring and sharing.
“We keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” [5]
The Holy Spirit fills us with God’s love. [6]
Adherence to God’s Word is an expression of love for God and those around us. We don’t love to earn merits with God or people. We love because God has graciously given us the gift to love. He loved us first. He sent His Son to die on the cross to atone for our sin.
“When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” [7]
In His love for us, Christ made way for His Spirit to dwell within us. He paid a debt we could not pay. He did this for us when we least deserved it.
With the Holy Spirit’s love within us we reflect the life of Jesus. For example, Christ’s gratitude towards the Father and His generosity towards people. Before Jesus gave food to the hungry multitude, He gave thanks to God. Before Jesus gave the bread and cup to His disciples... the bread and cup that represented His body and blood given for the forgiveness of their sins, He gave thanks. [8] Gratitude and generosity come forth from us as we abide in Christ.
“We know that when He [Christ] is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” [9]
Hope in Christ and purification for Christ is another way of saying, “God, my primary purpose is to love You, and to love people who reflect Your likeness.”
[1] 1 John 3:1-3
[2] 1 John 3:4-6
[3] 1 John 3:7-12
[4] 1 John 3:16-18
[5] 1 John 3:22-24
[6] Romans 5:5
[7] Romans 5:6-8
[8] Mark 8:6; 14:23
[9] 1 John 3:2-3
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Friday, July 25, 2025
Seeing God
“As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” [1]
It is extremely satisfying to see the Lord and find that He has been transforming you into His likeness. To love as He loves! To be at rest in one’s soul as God is at rest! To forgive as He forgives! To know that you will be with Him forever!
The Lord gave to Job a wonderful revelation while he was suffering. Job boldly proclaimed his faith to his three friends. His statement of faith is recorded in the Bible. Many have read it. A hymn has been composed about it. Job spoke confidently, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” [2]
The devil’s goal was to get Job to curse God. He robbed Job of his children, his wealth, and his health. His wife urged him to curse God and die. His three friends believed that he was getting what he deserved. At one point Job, told them, “You are miserable comforters, all of you!” [3]
The Word that God’s Spirit gave Job produced a knowing that God would redeem him and that when he saw God, he would be satisfied. The devil wants to separate us from God. He hurts us and then tries to convince us that God did it. He also tempts us to compromise with sin to create distance between us and God.
“Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that he will not hear.” [4]
Thankfully, God assures us in His Word that His Son Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. He is our Propitiator! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” [5]
Sin grieves the Holy Spirit. “If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He cleanses us from sin by applying the merits of Christ, our Propitiator, our atoning sacrifice to us. And then, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” [6]
The Lord urges us for our own good, saying, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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.” [7]
Lust and pride separate us from God. Doing God’s will keeps us close to Him... like Noah building the ark while the all the lost souls around him only served themselves.
“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” [8]
Ask God for grace to remain faithful to Him.
“Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.” [9]
Know, like Job did, and like the Apostle Paul did, that your Redeemer lives and He will reward you!
“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” [10]
[1] Psalm 17:15
[2] Job 19:25-27
[3] Job 1:6-2:9; Job 16:2
[4] Isaiah 59:2
[5] 1 John 2:1-2
[6] Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 1:9; Romans 8:16
[7] 1 John 2:15-17
[8] 1 John 2:28
[9] Ephesians 6:24
[10] 2 Timothy 4:8
It is extremely satisfying to see the Lord and find that He has been transforming you into His likeness. To love as He loves! To be at rest in one’s soul as God is at rest! To forgive as He forgives! To know that you will be with Him forever!
The Lord gave to Job a wonderful revelation while he was suffering. Job boldly proclaimed his faith to his three friends. His statement of faith is recorded in the Bible. Many have read it. A hymn has been composed about it. Job spoke confidently, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” [2]
The devil’s goal was to get Job to curse God. He robbed Job of his children, his wealth, and his health. His wife urged him to curse God and die. His three friends believed that he was getting what he deserved. At one point Job, told them, “You are miserable comforters, all of you!” [3]
The Word that God’s Spirit gave Job produced a knowing that God would redeem him and that when he saw God, he would be satisfied. The devil wants to separate us from God. He hurts us and then tries to convince us that God did it. He also tempts us to compromise with sin to create distance between us and God.
“Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that he will not hear.” [4]
Thankfully, God assures us in His Word that His Son Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. He is our Propitiator! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” [5]
Sin grieves the Holy Spirit. “If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He cleanses us from sin by applying the merits of Christ, our Propitiator, our atoning sacrifice to us. And then, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” [6]
The Lord urges us for our own good, saying, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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.” [7]
Lust and pride separate us from God. Doing God’s will keeps us close to Him... like Noah building the ark while the all the lost souls around him only served themselves.
“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” [8]
Ask God for grace to remain faithful to Him.
“Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.” [9]
Know, like Job did, and like the Apostle Paul did, that your Redeemer lives and He will reward you!
“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” [10]
[1] Psalm 17:15
[2] Job 19:25-27
[3] Job 1:6-2:9; Job 16:2
[4] Isaiah 59:2
[5] 1 John 2:1-2
[6] Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 1:9; Romans 8:16
[7] 1 John 2:15-17
[8] 1 John 2:28
[9] Ephesians 6:24
[10] 2 Timothy 4:8
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Loving Christ is a Worthy Cause
“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn toward death and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.” [1]
The USA Director of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, put it this way, “One thing I am a firm believer in is that God created us to serve people. We are happier when we are fulfilling our purpose. So most of the time when I find someone who is miserable, I am trying to remind them to go do something for somebody else. We will be happier physically, mentally and spiritually if we are serving other people because that is why we were created.” [2]
So, rather than turn inward during adversity, turn outward. Empathize with the suffering of another and lift that person out of their pit! The Bible says, “Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” [3]
“I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.” [4]
I have experienced despair. I have been wounded. My human response was to withdraw from service. To insulate myself from further heartbreaks as best I could. But that, response was not helpful to me, glorifying to God and not loving towards my neighbor.
I agree with what Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote.
“I hold it true, whate'er befall.
I feel it when I sorrow most.
‘Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.’” [5]
Love for others does yield pain. Look what it did to Jesus Christ. But life without love is not life.
I like what singer songwriter Sarah Groves wrote about love:
“Have you listed all the times you've tried
Do you call on all your alibis
When somebody asks the question why are you hiding
Did you feel the pull, did you hear a call
Did you take a chance and lose it all
Do you fear there's no collateral left for trying”
“Friend I know your heart is raw
But love is still a worthy cause
Picking up and pressing on
Oh love is still a worthy cause
It's the touch that starts the thaw
Love is still a worthy cause
Or the word that breaks the pause
Love” [6]
Rather than focus on negative outcomes, focus on fellowship with Jesus.
“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” [7]
Fellowship with God is wonderful. Suffering for the sake of love keeps us close to Jesus.
Once a torturer urinated in the face of an imprisoned Christian pastor. Afterwards, he mockingly asked the pastor, “Now, tell me, are you made in the image of God?” The Christian answered, “Yes. God also has a face of suffering.” He referred to the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
“Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; whose face was marred more than any man.” [8]
Paul wrote from a prison cell, after being unjustly imprisoned, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” [9]
God’s grace fills the gaps.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians saying, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.” [10]
The consolations of Christ outweigh the losses. He consoles us as we describe to Him our pain.
Even Jesus made loud cries to the Father. “In the days of His flesh, when He [Jesus] had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death. He was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” [11]
Some of the greatest revelations and blessings have come to me after times of suffering for the sake of the Gospel.
“The God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” [12]
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” [13]
Compared to eternity with Christ, this life is a vapor that briefly appears and then disappears. Don’t lose your heart! Keep it by loving God, relying on His mercy, and by holding onto your hope in Him.
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” [14]
[1] Proverbs 24:10-11
[2] Kristi Noem at CPAC Summit Against Human Trafficking - 7/23/25
[3] Galatians 6:2
[4] Proverbs 24:30-34
[5] In Memoriam A. H. H., 27.13-17: “A.H.H” stands for Arthur Henry Hallum. Arthur was Alfred’s closest friend. He died suddenly at the young age of 22. Arthur inspired Alfred to write. Arthur’s death shattered Tennyson’s world.
[6] “Love is Still a Worthy Cause,” Tell Me What You Know album, by Sara Groves ‧ 2007
[7] 1 John 1:3-4
[8] Isaiah 52:14
[9] Philippians 4:11-13
[10] 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
[11] Hebrews 5:7-8
[12] 1 Peter 5:10-11
[13] 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
[14] Jude 1:21
The USA Director of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, put it this way, “One thing I am a firm believer in is that God created us to serve people. We are happier when we are fulfilling our purpose. So most of the time when I find someone who is miserable, I am trying to remind them to go do something for somebody else. We will be happier physically, mentally and spiritually if we are serving other people because that is why we were created.” [2]
So, rather than turn inward during adversity, turn outward. Empathize with the suffering of another and lift that person out of their pit! The Bible says, “Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” [3]
“I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.” [4]
I have experienced despair. I have been wounded. My human response was to withdraw from service. To insulate myself from further heartbreaks as best I could. But that, response was not helpful to me, glorifying to God and not loving towards my neighbor.
I agree with what Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote.
“I hold it true, whate'er befall.
I feel it when I sorrow most.
‘Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.’” [5]
Love for others does yield pain. Look what it did to Jesus Christ. But life without love is not life.
I like what singer songwriter Sarah Groves wrote about love:
“Have you listed all the times you've tried
Do you call on all your alibis
When somebody asks the question why are you hiding
Did you feel the pull, did you hear a call
Did you take a chance and lose it all
Do you fear there's no collateral left for trying”
“Friend I know your heart is raw
But love is still a worthy cause
Picking up and pressing on
Oh love is still a worthy cause
It's the touch that starts the thaw
Love is still a worthy cause
Or the word that breaks the pause
Love” [6]
Rather than focus on negative outcomes, focus on fellowship with Jesus.
“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” [7]
Fellowship with God is wonderful. Suffering for the sake of love keeps us close to Jesus.
Once a torturer urinated in the face of an imprisoned Christian pastor. Afterwards, he mockingly asked the pastor, “Now, tell me, are you made in the image of God?” The Christian answered, “Yes. God also has a face of suffering.” He referred to the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
“Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; whose face was marred more than any man.” [8]
Paul wrote from a prison cell, after being unjustly imprisoned, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” [9]
God’s grace fills the gaps.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians saying, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.” [10]
The consolations of Christ outweigh the losses. He consoles us as we describe to Him our pain.
Even Jesus made loud cries to the Father. “In the days of His flesh, when He [Jesus] had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death. He was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” [11]
Some of the greatest revelations and blessings have come to me after times of suffering for the sake of the Gospel.
“The God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” [12]
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” [13]
Compared to eternity with Christ, this life is a vapor that briefly appears and then disappears. Don’t lose your heart! Keep it by loving God, relying on His mercy, and by holding onto your hope in Him.
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” [14]
[1] Proverbs 24:10-11
[2] Kristi Noem at CPAC Summit Against Human Trafficking - 7/23/25
[3] Galatians 6:2
[4] Proverbs 24:30-34
[5] In Memoriam A. H. H., 27.13-17: “A.H.H” stands for Arthur Henry Hallum. Arthur was Alfred’s closest friend. He died suddenly at the young age of 22. Arthur inspired Alfred to write. Arthur’s death shattered Tennyson’s world.
[6] “Love is Still a Worthy Cause,” Tell Me What You Know album, by Sara Groves ‧ 2007
[7] 1 John 1:3-4
[8] Isaiah 52:14
[9] Philippians 4:11-13
[10] 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
[11] Hebrews 5:7-8
[12] 1 Peter 5:10-11
[13] 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
[14] Jude 1:21
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Slain Yet Trusting
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” [1]
In the years leading up to the Lord sending me to China, the Holy Spirit convicted me to die to self and to live for Jesus. I tried to make my way to China but failed again and again. Then, the Lord moved me to fast and pray. Then, the Lord Jesus opened the door for me. Sadly, sins of envy and self-seeking sometimes ruined my efforts to love the Lord and the people around me.
“Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” [2]
In my youthful years, I served the Lord, but I also wanted to be a significant someone in the eyes of my peers... rich... athletic... musically gifted... a successful missionary... a sought-after speaker. Those unslain ambitions were my clay in the Lord’s iron. They tended to negate the good that the Lord was doing through me. My envy of others whom I deemed more successful than myself or at least in competition with me, was a tower of Babel (confusion), a work of evil, that needed the Lord to graciously destroy.
“Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” [3]
Take advice from someone who enjoyed wonderful relationships with the people of China and Hong Kong, only to have that joy taken from me due to my lack of wisdom, lack of purity, lack of peace, my unwillingness to yield and be gentle, my masking (hypocrisy) of partiality towards high achievers... “Please, O Lord, slay envy and self-ambition from me and among Your people.”
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.” [4]
Let us ask the Lord to test our desires! Am I seeking His glory or my own? Am I loving those around me or myself? Lust and covetousness are manifestations of impurity. Sin spoils good fruit! Let us ask the Lord to reveal and remove impurity from us so that we yield good fruit.
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously?’ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” [5]
The Holy Spirit yearns to help us overcome fleeting fantasies of this world. He is able to purge double-mindedness from us. To convict us to be for the Lord! Who or what is more important than the Lord? “Lord, please replace envy and selfish ambition with love for You and our neighbor. Please slay that which needs to die and make alive that which needs to live.”
“Do not speak evil of one another, brethren.” [6]
The vision of the humble is too impaired by his or own shortcomings to speak evil of another. The slain one by God wants to love as God loves, to heal as Jesus heals, and to lead lost souls to Christ that they might be saved.
“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!” “Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” [7]
The cries of the exploited by so-called high achievers reach the Lord’s ears. When they do, He responds. God heard the cries of slaves in Egypt. He brought down their oppressors and raised them up. “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah was great, because their sin was very grave” so Lord slew them. [8]
It is better to be slain spiritually than physically. In other words, ask the Lord to put to death our sinful self and make us alive in Christ. This way, when our earthly bodies die, our souls go to be with God and receive eternal heavenly bodies that are clothed with robes of righteousness by God. [9]
“My brethren, 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.” [10]
Speaking to sinners in the Name of the Lord requires patience. The Lord reminds us that after Job incurred losses due to his faithful witness for God, the Lord doubled his blessings. Yes, the Lord is compassionate and merciful towards those who suffer for His Name’s sake.
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” [11]
The Lord empowers those who receive Him to be outward looking rather than inward looking. To pray for suffering souls! To sing with the cheerful! To pray for the sick to be healed in the Name of Jesus! Jesus still heals bodies through the prayers of His people. He also heals our sin-sick souls by forgiving our sins and giving us His Holy Spirit to dwell within us.
“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” [12]
Turn sinners from sin! Save souls from death! This is the great commission of Jesus to His body the Church. We may have failed this mission in the past. We may have been blessed with great results. That was yesterday! Today is a new day!
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed. because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’” [13]
Let us lean on the Lord for mercies and compassion! Praise Him for His faithfulness! He is our portion. He is better than the world! Hope placed in Him is not disappointed. “He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” [14]
[1] Job 13:15
[2] James 3:16
[3] James 3:17-18
[4] James 4:1-2
[5] James 4:3-10
[6] James 4:11
[7] James 5:1, 4
[8] Exodus 3:7; Genesis 18:20-21
[9] 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthains 15:35-38, 49; Revelation 7:9, 13-14
[10] James 5:10-11
[11] James 5:13-15
[12] James 5:19-20
[13] Lamentations 3:22-24
[14] Ephesians 3:20
In the years leading up to the Lord sending me to China, the Holy Spirit convicted me to die to self and to live for Jesus. I tried to make my way to China but failed again and again. Then, the Lord moved me to fast and pray. Then, the Lord Jesus opened the door for me. Sadly, sins of envy and self-seeking sometimes ruined my efforts to love the Lord and the people around me.
“Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” [2]
In my youthful years, I served the Lord, but I also wanted to be a significant someone in the eyes of my peers... rich... athletic... musically gifted... a successful missionary... a sought-after speaker. Those unslain ambitions were my clay in the Lord’s iron. They tended to negate the good that the Lord was doing through me. My envy of others whom I deemed more successful than myself or at least in competition with me, was a tower of Babel (confusion), a work of evil, that needed the Lord to graciously destroy.
“Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” [3]
Take advice from someone who enjoyed wonderful relationships with the people of China and Hong Kong, only to have that joy taken from me due to my lack of wisdom, lack of purity, lack of peace, my unwillingness to yield and be gentle, my masking (hypocrisy) of partiality towards high achievers... “Please, O Lord, slay envy and self-ambition from me and among Your people.”
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.” [4]
Let us ask the Lord to test our desires! Am I seeking His glory or my own? Am I loving those around me or myself? Lust and covetousness are manifestations of impurity. Sin spoils good fruit! Let us ask the Lord to reveal and remove impurity from us so that we yield good fruit.
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously?’ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” [5]
The Holy Spirit yearns to help us overcome fleeting fantasies of this world. He is able to purge double-mindedness from us. To convict us to be for the Lord! Who or what is more important than the Lord? “Lord, please replace envy and selfish ambition with love for You and our neighbor. Please slay that which needs to die and make alive that which needs to live.”
“Do not speak evil of one another, brethren.” [6]
The vision of the humble is too impaired by his or own shortcomings to speak evil of another. The slain one by God wants to love as God loves, to heal as Jesus heals, and to lead lost souls to Christ that they might be saved.
“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!” “Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” [7]
The cries of the exploited by so-called high achievers reach the Lord’s ears. When they do, He responds. God heard the cries of slaves in Egypt. He brought down their oppressors and raised them up. “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah was great, because their sin was very grave” so Lord slew them. [8]
It is better to be slain spiritually than physically. In other words, ask the Lord to put to death our sinful self and make us alive in Christ. This way, when our earthly bodies die, our souls go to be with God and receive eternal heavenly bodies that are clothed with robes of righteousness by God. [9]
“My brethren, 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.” [10]
Speaking to sinners in the Name of the Lord requires patience. The Lord reminds us that after Job incurred losses due to his faithful witness for God, the Lord doubled his blessings. Yes, the Lord is compassionate and merciful towards those who suffer for His Name’s sake.
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” [11]
The Lord empowers those who receive Him to be outward looking rather than inward looking. To pray for suffering souls! To sing with the cheerful! To pray for the sick to be healed in the Name of Jesus! Jesus still heals bodies through the prayers of His people. He also heals our sin-sick souls by forgiving our sins and giving us His Holy Spirit to dwell within us.
“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” [12]
Turn sinners from sin! Save souls from death! This is the great commission of Jesus to His body the Church. We may have failed this mission in the past. We may have been blessed with great results. That was yesterday! Today is a new day!
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed. because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’” [13]
Let us lean on the Lord for mercies and compassion! Praise Him for His faithfulness! He is our portion. He is better than the world! Hope placed in Him is not disappointed. “He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” [14]
[1] Job 13:15
[2] James 3:16
[3] James 3:17-18
[4] James 4:1-2
[5] James 4:3-10
[6] James 4:11
[7] James 5:1, 4
[8] Exodus 3:7; Genesis 18:20-21
[9] 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthains 15:35-38, 49; Revelation 7:9, 13-14
[10] James 5:10-11
[11] James 5:13-15
[12] James 5:19-20
[13] Lamentations 3:22-24
[14] Ephesians 3:20
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Influencers For Christ
Thanks be to God for directing leaders to lead people rightly. GOD IS speaking to them via circumstances. HE IS speaking to them via His Spirit. In the Bible, God spoke to leaders via dreams and via His servants the prophets and apostles, and even via His Son Jesus Christ. GOD IS speaking to leaders today.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He leads people to green pastures and still waters. He restores our soul. He leads us in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. He gets us through the valleys where darkness and death dwells. He brings us to a banqueting table where there is an abundance of thirst quenching drink. His mercy and goodness preserve us. He is a leader who brings us into His house where we enjoy fellowship with Him. [1]
Sadly, individuals and nations do not emulate Jesus. In fact, they reject Jesus. They are proud. Self-confident! Ready to destroy dissenters! They enforce policies that enrich themselves and impoverish others. God, in His mercy, raises up prophets to confront them.
I marvel at how God’s prophets in the Bible confronted evil kings. Confrontation is not comfortable for me. I never know how it is going to end. Some prophets who spoke God’s Word to kings were persecuted and others were executed. The kings who heeded their voices were rare, but some did indeed listen to God and change course.
I prefer to work with teachable people. I prefer to sow God’s Word on good soil. With people who listen and appreciate my efforts! But who will redirect leaders who lead entire nations astray from Christ to lead rightly?
King David made petitions to the Lord, saying, “O, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just...” [2]
Praying for those in authority is a good place to start. The Lord tells us to do so. I wonder how many Christians pray individually and collectively for the leaders of nations each day.
“I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” [3]
God is aware of the wicked deeds people do to others. God opposes wickedness.
“God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” [4]
God is aware of nations that are bent on doing evil.
“The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.” “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.” [5]
God cares for the needy and poor. Neglecting to help them is a form of forgetting God because helping the poor and needy is what God does. Remembering them is godly.
“Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah” [6]
The good we people intend to do often is left undone. The bad we intend not to do gets done. [7] We need God to help us to do what is right or it won’t get done. Often we need a police car sitting on the side of the highway to get us to drive the speed limit. We, and our leaders also need God to give us strong reminders via His Word and circumstances to get us to do what is right. Thus, let us pray bold prayers that God will do whatever is necessary in our lives both individually and nationally to get us to do the right thing. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to convict and empower us and our leaders to do God’s will.
“How can a man be righteous before God?” “Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?” “...Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’” “God will not withdraw His anger. The allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath Him.” [8]
If God withdraws His restraining hand from the devil, the devil can make a person and a nation so miserable that they WILL seek God for wisdom, understanding and for humility.
The devil robbed Job. Job was beaten and bruised. During that trial, Job recognized his need for a mediator between himself and God. Someone to stand with him before God. “Then I would speak and not fear Him....” [9]
Jesus Christ is the Mediator between God and man. He is the One who gave His life on the cross to atone for our sin. With our sin debt to God paid in full, the devil has no more legal claim against us. We plead the blood of Jesus sacrificed for our sins and know that JESUS has made us right with God. The blessings of God flow to individuals and nations who are right with God. [10]
Faith in Christ yields victories. Therefore, let us ask God to speak to us and help us and our leaders to act on His Word. Let us be willing like Isaiah to say to God, “Here am I, send me.” God wants to get leaders on the right path. “Who will go for us?” [11]
The Lord says that “faith without works is dead.” “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. And he was called the friend of God.” [12]
I am asking, and I am believing God to use my life, and I pray that He will use yours as well, to redirect the life course of individuals and of nations to follow the example of our Good Shepherd Jesus. God says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Let us trust that His goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives, and when this earthly work day is over, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. [13]
[1] Psalm 23
[2] Psalm 7:9
[3] 1 Timothy 2:1-3
[4] Psalm 7:11
[5] Psalm 9:15, 17-18
[6] Psalm 9:19-20
[7] Romans 7:21-25
[8] Job 9:2, 4, 12-13
[9] Job 9:33-35
[10] 1 Timothy 2:5; Job 19:25-27; 1 John 3:8
[11] Isaiah 6:8
[12] James 2:20, 23
[13] Proverbs 21:1; Psalm 23:6
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He leads people to green pastures and still waters. He restores our soul. He leads us in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. He gets us through the valleys where darkness and death dwells. He brings us to a banqueting table where there is an abundance of thirst quenching drink. His mercy and goodness preserve us. He is a leader who brings us into His house where we enjoy fellowship with Him. [1]
Sadly, individuals and nations do not emulate Jesus. In fact, they reject Jesus. They are proud. Self-confident! Ready to destroy dissenters! They enforce policies that enrich themselves and impoverish others. God, in His mercy, raises up prophets to confront them.
I marvel at how God’s prophets in the Bible confronted evil kings. Confrontation is not comfortable for me. I never know how it is going to end. Some prophets who spoke God’s Word to kings were persecuted and others were executed. The kings who heeded their voices were rare, but some did indeed listen to God and change course.
I prefer to work with teachable people. I prefer to sow God’s Word on good soil. With people who listen and appreciate my efforts! But who will redirect leaders who lead entire nations astray from Christ to lead rightly?
King David made petitions to the Lord, saying, “O, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just...” [2]
Praying for those in authority is a good place to start. The Lord tells us to do so. I wonder how many Christians pray individually and collectively for the leaders of nations each day.
“I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” [3]
God is aware of the wicked deeds people do to others. God opposes wickedness.
“God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” [4]
God is aware of nations that are bent on doing evil.
“The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.” “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.” [5]
God cares for the needy and poor. Neglecting to help them is a form of forgetting God because helping the poor and needy is what God does. Remembering them is godly.
“Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah” [6]
The good we people intend to do often is left undone. The bad we intend not to do gets done. [7] We need God to help us to do what is right or it won’t get done. Often we need a police car sitting on the side of the highway to get us to drive the speed limit. We, and our leaders also need God to give us strong reminders via His Word and circumstances to get us to do what is right. Thus, let us pray bold prayers that God will do whatever is necessary in our lives both individually and nationally to get us to do the right thing. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to convict and empower us and our leaders to do God’s will.
“How can a man be righteous before God?” “Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?” “...Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’” “God will not withdraw His anger. The allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath Him.” [8]
If God withdraws His restraining hand from the devil, the devil can make a person and a nation so miserable that they WILL seek God for wisdom, understanding and for humility.
The devil robbed Job. Job was beaten and bruised. During that trial, Job recognized his need for a mediator between himself and God. Someone to stand with him before God. “Then I would speak and not fear Him....” [9]
Jesus Christ is the Mediator between God and man. He is the One who gave His life on the cross to atone for our sin. With our sin debt to God paid in full, the devil has no more legal claim against us. We plead the blood of Jesus sacrificed for our sins and know that JESUS has made us right with God. The blessings of God flow to individuals and nations who are right with God. [10]
Faith in Christ yields victories. Therefore, let us ask God to speak to us and help us and our leaders to act on His Word. Let us be willing like Isaiah to say to God, “Here am I, send me.” God wants to get leaders on the right path. “Who will go for us?” [11]
The Lord says that “faith without works is dead.” “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. And he was called the friend of God.” [12]
I am asking, and I am believing God to use my life, and I pray that He will use yours as well, to redirect the life course of individuals and of nations to follow the example of our Good Shepherd Jesus. God says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Let us trust that His goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives, and when this earthly work day is over, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. [13]
[1] Psalm 23
[2] Psalm 7:9
[3] 1 Timothy 2:1-3
[4] Psalm 7:11
[5] Psalm 9:15, 17-18
[6] Psalm 9:19-20
[7] Romans 7:21-25
[8] Job 9:2, 4, 12-13
[9] Job 9:33-35
[10] 1 Timothy 2:5; Job 19:25-27; 1 John 3:8
[11] Isaiah 6:8
[12] James 2:20, 23
[13] Proverbs 21:1; Psalm 23:6
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Monday, July 21, 2025
Loving and Worshipping Jesus Christ
“Of His own will He brought us forth by the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.” [1]
“Thank You Lord Jesus converting souls unto You by the Word of truth. Thank You for making people into fruit worth keeping. Please always graciously grant that we would always receive with meekness Your Word and reject filthiness and wickedness.”
“Please grant that we would always ‘love Your Name’ and ‘be joyful in You.’” [2]
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, honor, and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” [3]
“Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints!” [4]
“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” [5]
“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” [6]
“For You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” [7]
“I love You and worship You Lord Jesus Christ, ‘my Lord and my God.’” [8]
[1] James 1:18, 21
[2] Psalm 5:11
[3] Revelation 4:11
[4] Psalm 31:23
[5] Daniel 7:13-14
[6] Revelation 22:20
[7] Revelation 5:9-10
[8] John 20:28
“Thank You Lord Jesus converting souls unto You by the Word of truth. Thank You for making people into fruit worth keeping. Please always graciously grant that we would always receive with meekness Your Word and reject filthiness and wickedness.”
“Please grant that we would always ‘love Your Name’ and ‘be joyful in You.’” [2]
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, honor, and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” [3]
“Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints!” [4]
“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” [5]
“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” [6]
“For You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” [7]
“I love You and worship You Lord Jesus Christ, ‘my Lord and my God.’” [8]
[1] James 1:18, 21
[2] Psalm 5:11
[3] Revelation 4:11
[4] Psalm 31:23
[5] Daniel 7:13-14
[6] Revelation 22:20
[7] Revelation 5:9-10
[8] John 20:28
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Sunday, July 20, 2025
Deliverance From Death
“Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.” [1]
Deliverance from death is the gift of God to all who believe in Him.
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [2]
When I think of being in the throes of death and about to slip off into eternity, I am immensely afraid until the Lord reminds me that I will not be alone, He will be with me. Jesus Christ will resurrect me from the dead and bring me into His eternal kingdom.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” [3]
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” [4]
Jesus raises our soul to be with God and clothes us with a heavenly body.
“How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow the body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.” [5]
God raises the soul with a new body just as He causes a planted seed to produce a new body.
“So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” [6]
“As we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” [7]
This miracle and blessing is of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [8]
Jesus Christ took on flesh and blood so that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” [9]
Thanks to Jesus’ resurrection and reappearance from the dead to numerous eyewitnesses, we need not fear death. He will resurrect us. Not we ourselves!
Jesus said, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” [10]
Jesus opens the door to eternal life with God for all who believe in Him.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” [11]
By faith in God Abraham “waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” [12]
Believers in Christ “desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” [13]
Where do we go when we die believing in Christ?
“You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant...” [14]
Jesus brings us into the heavenly kingdom which is without flaw. It is much better than this current world. He also perfects us so that we are no longer flawed sinners any more.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” [15]
We are receiving not earning the beautiful kingdom of God. Jesus earned it for us by dying on the cross for our sins and by resurrecting from the dead for our resurrection.
“Here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.” [16]
The kingdoms of the world have an expiration date, but no so the Kingdom of Christ.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” [17]
Resurrection from the dead to live with God forever is the good and perfect gift that is from the Heavenly Father to us who believe in His Son Jesus Christ. There is no greater gift than this.
[1] Psalm 68:20
[2] Romans 6:23
[3] Psalm 23:4
[4] John 11:25
[5] 1 Corinthians 15:35-38
[6] 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
[7] 1 Corinthians 15:49
[8] Romans 8:37-39
[9] Hebrews 2:14-15
[10] Revelation 1:18
[11] John 14:6
[12] Hebrews 11:10
[13] Hebrews 11:16
[14] Hebrews 12:22-24
[15] Hebrews 12:28
[16] Hebrews 13:14
[17] James 1:17
Deliverance from death is the gift of God to all who believe in Him.
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [2]
When I think of being in the throes of death and about to slip off into eternity, I am immensely afraid until the Lord reminds me that I will not be alone, He will be with me. Jesus Christ will resurrect me from the dead and bring me into His eternal kingdom.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” [3]
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” [4]
Jesus raises our soul to be with God and clothes us with a heavenly body.
“How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow the body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.” [5]
God raises the soul with a new body just as He causes a planted seed to produce a new body.
“So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” [6]
“As we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” [7]
This miracle and blessing is of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [8]
Jesus Christ took on flesh and blood so that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” [9]
Thanks to Jesus’ resurrection and reappearance from the dead to numerous eyewitnesses, we need not fear death. He will resurrect us. Not we ourselves!
Jesus said, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” [10]
Jesus opens the door to eternal life with God for all who believe in Him.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” [11]
By faith in God Abraham “waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” [12]
Believers in Christ “desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” [13]
Where do we go when we die believing in Christ?
“You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant...” [14]
Jesus brings us into the heavenly kingdom which is without flaw. It is much better than this current world. He also perfects us so that we are no longer flawed sinners any more.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” [15]
We are receiving not earning the beautiful kingdom of God. Jesus earned it for us by dying on the cross for our sins and by resurrecting from the dead for our resurrection.
“Here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.” [16]
The kingdoms of the world have an expiration date, but no so the Kingdom of Christ.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” [17]
Resurrection from the dead to live with God forever is the good and perfect gift that is from the Heavenly Father to us who believe in His Son Jesus Christ. There is no greater gift than this.
[1] Psalm 68:20
[2] Romans 6:23
[3] Psalm 23:4
[4] John 11:25
[5] 1 Corinthians 15:35-38
[6] 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
[7] 1 Corinthians 15:49
[8] Romans 8:37-39
[9] Hebrews 2:14-15
[10] Revelation 1:18
[11] John 14:6
[12] Hebrews 11:10
[13] Hebrews 11:16
[14] Hebrews 12:22-24
[15] Hebrews 12:28
[16] Hebrews 13:14
[17] James 1:17
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Saturday, July 19, 2025
The Complete Sufficiency of Christ to Save Your Soul
The main point of the Book of Hebrews is that Jesus Christ completely fulfilled all that is necessary for our salvation. He is the only sacrifice for our sins that God accepts. He is the Great High Priest of whom the Old Testament was only a foreshadow.
“We have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.” [1]
The Bible urges us to come to His throne for help, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” [2]
Humankind did not appoint Jesus Christ to the priesthood. God did!
“Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” [3]
Jesus Christ is the only One we should honor as high priest.
“[You] have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, [you] have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come.” [4]
Jesus Christ alone gives us what we need for salvation, namely God’s Spirit and God’s Word.
God’s Word compares departing from Christ to crucifying Him again. For you and me to depart from faith in Christ is comparable to the earth drinking in rain and only producing thorns and briers. He says that such a person will be “rejected” and in the “end be burned.” [5]
God’s Word proclaims, “Jesus High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” [6]
Melchizedek means King of Righteousness. Melchizedek appeared to Abraham. God’s Word says that He is without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.” [7]
Melchizedek was in fact an Old Testament appearance of Christ to Abraham.
The Levitical priesthood that God set up via Moses was not perfect. It was a foreshadow of the new order that God would institute in the last days via His Son Jesus Christ.
“If perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek... ?” [8]
The endless life of Jesus Christ makes Him a better high priest than those who proceeded Him.
Jesus Christ “has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.” “He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” [9]
Yes, Jesus is able to save us to the uttermost. He prays for us. He, unlike earthly priests, is not a sinner. He is perfect.
“Such a High Priest was fitting for us. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens. He does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” [10]
Jesus is the High Priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. He is the Minister of the Sanctuary... which the Lord erected, and not man.” [11]
Jesus “obtained a more excellent ministry” than Moses. “He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” [12]
Jesus Christ replaced the covenant that Moses made with the people of Israel with a new and better covenant. Jesus didn’t give us laws written on stones as Moses did. Jesus writes the Word of God in human hearts to help us each know God in a personal way, and to receive God’s help to live according to God’s Word with His help.
“If that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.” “I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” “All shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.” “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” [13]
God’s Word dwells in us richly now because Jesus Christ made a perfect sacrifice for our sins in the holiest place, even before God Himself.
“Christ... not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” “The blood of Christ... cleanses your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” [14]
The perfect sinless blood of Christ needed to be shed to atone for our sin. For “without shedding of blood there is no remission.” [15]
“Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” “He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” He “was offered once to bear the sins of many.” [16]
“We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” [17]
“By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” [18]
Now, with ‘boldness we enter the Holiest [even before God Himself] by the blood of Jesus.” God urges us to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” [19]
The judgment of God on those who reject Jesus is greater than the judgment on those who rejected Moses.
“Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” [20]
God declares righteous the ones who believe in Jesus. He saves the souls of those who believe in His Son Jesus.
“Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” [21]
So... “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” [22]
“Jesus [is] the author and finisher of our faith...” [23]
It is via faith in Jesus that we “come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect.” [24]
God urges us not to “turn away from Him [Jesus] who speaks from heaven.” [25]
No matter what popes, church denominations, other religions or miracle workers say, Jesus remains forever the only Savior from sin. He saves us by His grace as we trust in HIM and profess HIM.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.” [26]
The proper response to our Savior’s grace is to praise and thank Him, to do good and share about Him with others.
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. ” [27]
[1] Hebrews 4:14
[2] Hebrews 4:16
[3] Hebrews 5:5
[4] Hebrews 6:5
[5] Hebrews 6:5-8
[6] Hebrews 6:20
[7] Hebrews 7:1-3
[8] Hebrews 7:11
[9] Hebrews 7:16, 24-25
[10] Hebrews 7:26-27
[11] Hebrews 8:1-2
[12] Hebrews 8:3-6
[13] Hebrews 8:7-12
[14] Hebrews 9:11-12, 14
[15] Hebrews 9:22
[16] Hebrews 9:24, 26
[17] Hebrews 10:10
[18] Hebrews 10:14
[19] Hebrews 10:19, 23
[20] Hebrews 10:28-29
[21] Hebrews 10:38-39
[22] Hebrews 11:1-2
[23] Hebrews 12:2
[24] Hebrews 12:22-23
[25] Hebrews 12:26
[26] Hebrews 13:8-9
[27] Hebrews 13:15-16
“We have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.” [1]
The Bible urges us to come to His throne for help, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” [2]
Humankind did not appoint Jesus Christ to the priesthood. God did!
“Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” [3]
Jesus Christ is the only One we should honor as high priest.
“[You] have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, [you] have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come.” [4]
Jesus Christ alone gives us what we need for salvation, namely God’s Spirit and God’s Word.
God’s Word compares departing from Christ to crucifying Him again. For you and me to depart from faith in Christ is comparable to the earth drinking in rain and only producing thorns and briers. He says that such a person will be “rejected” and in the “end be burned.” [5]
God’s Word proclaims, “Jesus High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” [6]
Melchizedek means King of Righteousness. Melchizedek appeared to Abraham. God’s Word says that He is without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.” [7]
Melchizedek was in fact an Old Testament appearance of Christ to Abraham.
The Levitical priesthood that God set up via Moses was not perfect. It was a foreshadow of the new order that God would institute in the last days via His Son Jesus Christ.
“If perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek... ?” [8]
The endless life of Jesus Christ makes Him a better high priest than those who proceeded Him.
Jesus Christ “has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.” “He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” [9]
Yes, Jesus is able to save us to the uttermost. He prays for us. He, unlike earthly priests, is not a sinner. He is perfect.
“Such a High Priest was fitting for us. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens. He does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” [10]
Jesus is the High Priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. He is the Minister of the Sanctuary... which the Lord erected, and not man.” [11]
Jesus “obtained a more excellent ministry” than Moses. “He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” [12]
Jesus Christ replaced the covenant that Moses made with the people of Israel with a new and better covenant. Jesus didn’t give us laws written on stones as Moses did. Jesus writes the Word of God in human hearts to help us each know God in a personal way, and to receive God’s help to live according to God’s Word with His help.
“If that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.” “I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” “All shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.” “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” [13]
God’s Word dwells in us richly now because Jesus Christ made a perfect sacrifice for our sins in the holiest place, even before God Himself.
“Christ... not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” “The blood of Christ... cleanses your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” [14]
The perfect sinless blood of Christ needed to be shed to atone for our sin. For “without shedding of blood there is no remission.” [15]
“Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” “He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” He “was offered once to bear the sins of many.” [16]
“We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” [17]
“By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” [18]
Now, with ‘boldness we enter the Holiest [even before God Himself] by the blood of Jesus.” God urges us to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” [19]
The judgment of God on those who reject Jesus is greater than the judgment on those who rejected Moses.
“Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” [20]
God declares righteous the ones who believe in Jesus. He saves the souls of those who believe in His Son Jesus.
“Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” [21]
So... “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” [22]
“Jesus [is] the author and finisher of our faith...” [23]
It is via faith in Jesus that we “come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect.” [24]
God urges us not to “turn away from Him [Jesus] who speaks from heaven.” [25]
No matter what popes, church denominations, other religions or miracle workers say, Jesus remains forever the only Savior from sin. He saves us by His grace as we trust in HIM and profess HIM.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.” [26]
The proper response to our Savior’s grace is to praise and thank Him, to do good and share about Him with others.
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. ” [27]
[1] Hebrews 4:14
[2] Hebrews 4:16
[3] Hebrews 5:5
[4] Hebrews 6:5
[5] Hebrews 6:5-8
[6] Hebrews 6:20
[7] Hebrews 7:1-3
[8] Hebrews 7:11
[9] Hebrews 7:16, 24-25
[10] Hebrews 7:26-27
[11] Hebrews 8:1-2
[12] Hebrews 8:3-6
[13] Hebrews 8:7-12
[14] Hebrews 9:11-12, 14
[15] Hebrews 9:22
[16] Hebrews 9:24, 26
[17] Hebrews 10:10
[18] Hebrews 10:14
[19] Hebrews 10:19, 23
[20] Hebrews 10:28-29
[21] Hebrews 10:38-39
[22] Hebrews 11:1-2
[23] Hebrews 12:2
[24] Hebrews 12:22-23
[25] Hebrews 12:26
[26] Hebrews 13:8-9
[27] Hebrews 13:15-16
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Friday, July 18, 2025
Loving God Forever
“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.” “And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ’It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus, Job did regularly.” [1]
Job did not want to disappoint God. He wanted to please Him. Thus, Job made every effort to be distant from sin and close to God. He applied the same concern that he had for his own relationship with God to his children’s relationship with God. Thus, after his adult children gathered together for celebrations, he would offer burnt offerings for each of them to atone for sins that they may have committed such as cursing God. It seems from this text that he was not invited to their gatherings. Perhaps, God had not been invited either. Job continued to make offerings to God for them to cover any shortfalls on their part in loving God as they should.
“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.” “And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ’It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus, Job did regularly.” [1]
Job did not want to disappoint God. He wanted to please Him. Thus, Job made every effort to be distant from sin and close to God. He applied the same concern that he had for his own relationship with God to his children’s relationship with God. Thus, after his adult children gathered together for celebrations, he would offer burnt offerings for each of them to atone for sins that they may have committed such as cursing God. It seems from this text that he was not invited to their gatherings. Perhaps, God had not been invited either. Job continued to make offerings to God for them to cover any shortfalls on their part in loving God as they should.
Love is a vital ingredient to be in a relationship with God.
Love binds hearts together unity. [2]
God is love. [3]
He who loves wants to be loved. This truth is proclaimed loud and often in the Scriptures.
Once, I had a dream of seeing a cake with lit candles on it. The flames of the candles ceased one by one until the last candle no longer burned. Then, I was lifted up into the presence of the Lord. I could not see Him because the light around Him was so bright but I knew He was before me. Great love flowed towards the Lord from a multitude of worshippers. The flow of love towards Jesus Christ was so great that I felt that I was going to explode from being exposed to it, but then, the dream ended.
My family and I were about to move into China and preach the Gospel. I understood the dream to be an encouragement from the Lord that what I was doing was more than worth the cost I might have to pay in terms of pain and tribulation. I also felt the Lord was saying to me that helping others to love Him was my mission.
I have attached pictures below with Scriptures on them to encourage love for God.
Job did not want to disappoint God. He wanted to please Him. Thus, Job made every effort to be distant from sin and close to God. He applied the same concern that he had for his own relationship with God to his children’s relationship with God. Thus, after his adult children gathered together for celebrations, he would offer burnt offerings for each of them to atone for sins that they may have committed such as cursing God. It seems from this text that he was not invited to their gatherings. Perhaps, God had not been invited either. Job continued to make offerings to God for them to cover any shortfalls on their part in loving God as they should.
“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.” “And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ’It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus, Job did regularly.” [1]
Job did not want to disappoint God. He wanted to please Him. Thus, Job made every effort to be distant from sin and close to God. He applied the same concern that he had for his own relationship with God to his children’s relationship with God. Thus, after his adult children gathered together for celebrations, he would offer burnt offerings for each of them to atone for sins that they may have committed such as cursing God. It seems from this text that he was not invited to their gatherings. Perhaps, God had not been invited either. Job continued to make offerings to God for them to cover any shortfalls on their part in loving God as they should.
Love is a vital ingredient to be in a relationship with God.
Love binds hearts together unity. [2]
God is love. [3]
He who loves wants to be loved. This truth is proclaimed loud and often in the Scriptures.
Once, I had a dream of seeing a cake with lit candles on it. The flames of the candles ceased one by one until the last candle no longer burned. Then, I was lifted up into the presence of the Lord. I could not see Him because the light around Him was so bright but I knew He was before me. Great love flowed towards the Lord from a multitude of worshippers. The flow of love towards Jesus Christ was so great that I felt that I was going to explode from being exposed to it, but then, the dream ended.
My family and I were about to move into China and preach the Gospel. I understood the dream to be an encouragement from the Lord that what I was doing was more than worth the cost I might have to pay in terms of pain and tribulation. I also felt the Lord was saying to me that helping others to love Him was my mission.
I have attached pictures below with Scriptures on them to encourage love for God.
[1] Job 1:1-2, 4-5
[2] Colossians 3:14
[3] 1 John 4:8
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
Thursday, July 17, 2025
The Brother Born for Our Adversities
“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” [1]
Jesus demonstrated for us the will of God by the way He loved the Father supremely. He also loved people. Even those whom others considered the least, the last and the lost people! When God’s will for Jesus included being sacrificed for the sins of others, Jesus said to His Father, “Not My will but Yours will be done.” The Spirit of the Lord anointed Jesus to heal us. [2] Jesus leads His followers to the land of uprightness... to heaven itself.
“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip.” [3]
Jesus Christ is the hand of the Father who reached down from heaven to save us. Rather than coming to earth to harshly judge people, He came to earth in a humble fashion. When some encouraged a beggar to be silent in His presence, Jesus invited the beggar to speak. The beggar was blind. He wanted to see. Jesus healed him. The Lord’s gentleness made blind Bartimaeus great. Jesus made the path before Bartimaeus larger and easier to navigate by giving him eyesight. [4]
“He makes my feet like the feet of deer and sets me on my high places.” [5]
Normally, I am able to walk well without much thought about it but place me on a mountain path with loose rocks on the trail, and I must give all my attention to where and how I place my feet. In fact, I recently, I hiked up and down a mountain trail with children from a church that two of my sons-in-law pastor. I really needed the feet of a deer to walk surely, but alas, not having such feet, I asked the Lord to keep me from falling. At one point, my feet did slip but I regained my balance before falling. I told one of the guides, “Now, I can relate to that verse where the Psalmist says, “If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.” [6]
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” [7]
Jesus Christ is our loving friend during our earthly journeys. Jesus Christ is the brother who was born to deliver us from adversity. Even from hell itself! [8]
“...Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” [9]
[1] Psalm 143:10
[2] Luke 22:42; Luke 4:18
[3] Psalm 18:35-36
[4] Luke 18:35-43
[5] Psalm 18:33
[6] Psalm 94:18
[7] Proverbs 17:17
[8] Mark 3:34; Romans 8:29; Hebrews 2:11
[9] Psalm 144:15
Jesus demonstrated for us the will of God by the way He loved the Father supremely. He also loved people. Even those whom others considered the least, the last and the lost people! When God’s will for Jesus included being sacrificed for the sins of others, Jesus said to His Father, “Not My will but Yours will be done.” The Spirit of the Lord anointed Jesus to heal us. [2] Jesus leads His followers to the land of uprightness... to heaven itself.
“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip.” [3]
Jesus Christ is the hand of the Father who reached down from heaven to save us. Rather than coming to earth to harshly judge people, He came to earth in a humble fashion. When some encouraged a beggar to be silent in His presence, Jesus invited the beggar to speak. The beggar was blind. He wanted to see. Jesus healed him. The Lord’s gentleness made blind Bartimaeus great. Jesus made the path before Bartimaeus larger and easier to navigate by giving him eyesight. [4]
“He makes my feet like the feet of deer and sets me on my high places.” [5]
Normally, I am able to walk well without much thought about it but place me on a mountain path with loose rocks on the trail, and I must give all my attention to where and how I place my feet. In fact, I recently, I hiked up and down a mountain trail with children from a church that two of my sons-in-law pastor. I really needed the feet of a deer to walk surely, but alas, not having such feet, I asked the Lord to keep me from falling. At one point, my feet did slip but I regained my balance before falling. I told one of the guides, “Now, I can relate to that verse where the Psalmist says, “If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.” [6]
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” [7]
Jesus Christ is our loving friend during our earthly journeys. Jesus Christ is the brother who was born to deliver us from adversity. Even from hell itself! [8]
“...Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” [9]
[1] Psalm 143:10
[2] Luke 22:42; Luke 4:18
[3] Psalm 18:35-36
[4] Luke 18:35-43
[5] Psalm 18:33
[6] Psalm 94:18
[7] Proverbs 17:17
[8] Mark 3:34; Romans 8:29; Hebrews 2:11
[9] Psalm 144:15
The mountain path with loose rocks
The view from near the mountain's top
The Lord Jesus has graced me with revelations from the Book of Jeremiah that are helpful to better understanding the relevance of the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, the Apostles, and the Book of Revelation. I am in the midst of preparing 54 video-recorded presentations, one for each chapter of Jeremiah, plus an intro and conclusion presentation. When the presentations are done, I plan to publish them on YouTube. I also welcome invitations to share these revelations in-person. In the meantime, I publish articles online, intercede for the peoples of the nations, and say to the Lord, “Here am I Lord, send me.”
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