Faith in Christ Alone

“By one offering He [Jesus Christ] has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

The Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,’ then He adds, 'Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’” Hebrews 10:14-17

I am grateful to Jesus Christ for offering Himself up for my sins and yours so that God remembers our sin no more when we believe in and profess His Son Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

I am grateful that once He forgives our sins, we receive His Holy Spirit who helps us to believe and enjoy the Word of God.

Otherwise, we would have no hope of being with God forever after we breathe our last breath here on earth.

But has it is, God has done everything necessary for our salvation by sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, raising Him from the dead, and giving us His Holy Spirit to help us believe and profess God’s Word. HE, not us, saves us as we surrender our hope of salvation to faith in Christ alone.

To God be the glory!

How My Heart Yearns Within Me

“Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His Name; make His praise glorious.” Psalm 66:1-2

It is good and appropriate to shout to sing to and praise the Lord each day. There is much to be grateful for every day.

I have been thinking lately about being with the Lord forever. Why should I wait until I get to heaven to start making the lifestyle change? I can live with joy, gratitude and rejoicing TODAY because Jesus has done all that is necessary to bring me there.

“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!” Job 19:25-27

In His presence is fullness of joy. His kingdom is a kingdom of love and peace. There is harmony. There is forever happiness.

Broken Hearts and Bodies Healed

They asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” —that they might accuse Him. Jesus asked them if they rescued animals on the Sabbath, which obviously they did. He asked them, “Of how much more value then, is a man than a sheep? Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Jesus healed. They plotted to destroy Him. [1]

The love of Christ for hurting people offends certain types of mindsets, but this does not stop Jesus from healing those who want to be healed.

A day is coming when those who seek to hinder and to halt healing will be over.

At the end of the age, “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” [2]

In a sense, offending those who oppose Jesus is also a ministry of love. How will they ever be convicted of their offensive behavior towards God and how they will ever have an opportunity to see themselves for what they really are unless someone demonstrates God’s unconditional love for them? They need Jesus.

The love of Christ is good news for those who want Him and can be good news for those who oppose Him, that is, if they repent and ask the Lord to forgive and save them.

Jesus invites us to ask Him for help: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” [3]

Jesus invites us to persist in asking for His help until His answer is manifested in a tangible way for us. See Luke 18:1-14.

“He [the Lord] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” [4]

[1] Matthew 12:10-14
[2] Matthew 13:41-43
[3] Matthew 7:7-11
[4] Psalm 147:3

Reach Out

"Reach out touch somebody's hand. Make this world a better place if you can."

Or better yet...

"Reach out with the Gospel to somebody's soul, Jesus can renew them and make them whole."

Believing in Jesus Christ

Praying that many will come to know the blessing of faith in Jesus.

Faith in Christ is about receptivity, that is, to receive Christ’s sacrifice for our sins (so our sins are forgiven) and to receive His Holy Spirit who fills His believers with love, joy and peace.

To be convicted of not believing in Jesus is good thing because it is an opportunity to repent and to start believing in Him. It is an opportunity to know what is right and wrong by God’s Spirit and by God’s Word. It is vindication to know that the one who has caused all the evil in the world, namely the devil, will be condemned and neutralized. It is to know that a day of righteousness, peace and joy is coming and it will never end.

Following Jesus

I heard a needed message last night from Mark 8:34-38. I developed the attached slide to share just a small part of the message.

This morning, I heard Adrian Rogers speaking on the radio about the Apostle Paul's ministry style.

The conclusion of the matter is that sharing the saving Gospel with people who need it but don't prefer to hear it may involve hardships, but when we get to heaven and see people who we shared the Gospel with there, it will be worth it.

Power is from God

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” [1]

Have you a hunger and thirst for God and a desire to feed others with His Word even as He feeds you? In the passage below, the Apostle Paul speaks of the grace that he received from God to help others be fellow heirs and partakers of salvation by sharing the Gospel with them. His ministry was given to him as a gift of God’s powerful and effective grace.

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.” [2]

[1] 2 Corinthians 4:7
[2] Ephesians 4:1-7

Redeemed – How I Love to Proclaim It!

What a wonderful thing God has done for us!

“In Him [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” [1]

We were guilty. We committed sins against God and against people. God responded to our dilemma with grace. He sent His Son to take the condemnation and punishment that our sins deserved.

“In Him [Jesus Christ] you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” [2]

After forgiving our sins, making us aware of what He did for us, and bringing us to faith in Him, He sealed our inheritance by giving to us His Holy Spirit to live and abide in us. Such grace! Praise the Lord!

“God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” [3]

Dead in trespasses means that we were unable to rescue ourselves. We were not even aware of how grievous our trespasses were to God and to those around us. God’s wealth was revealed to us not with silver or gold, but with the blood of His Son who died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Then, Christ resurrected from the dead on the third day and revealed to us that there is life after the grave… a good life… a never ending life! A Promised Land better than any place on earth!

“You were once without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” [4]

Not just a Promised Land, but also a promised home. A home with God! Accepted into His family, loved, honored and enjoyed! Praise the Lord!

[1] Ephesians 1:7
[2] Ephesians 1:13-14
[3] Ephesians 2:4-5
[4] Ephesians 2:12-13, 19

A Beautiful Savior in a Beautiful City

A Beautiful Savior in a Beautiful City who paid the price for our sins on the cross so that by simply believing in Him and receiving His shepherding help we receive a lifetime membership with Him forever.

“The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city [New Jerusalem] was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the 1st foundation was jasper, the 2nd sapphire, the 3rd chalcedony, the 4th emerald, the 5th sardonyx, the 6th sardius, the 7th chrysolite, the 8th beryl, the 9th topaz, the 10th chrysoprase, the 11th jacinth, and the 12th amethyst. The 12 gates were 12 pearls: each individual gate was of 1 pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Revelation 21:18-27

How do you get your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life? By having a relationship with Him here on earth.

Grateful to Be Forgiven and Livin’ for the Lord Jesus Christ

Like Hezekiah in the Bible passage below, I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for bringing me to a place where I knew I needed Him to save me. When I asked the Lord Jesus to forgive all my sins, He did. He cast my sins behind His back. His atoning blood washed them away. They are forgiven. His Holy Spirit has brought such peace, joy and love into my life. Today, I plan to go to the house of the Lord and sing His praises.

“Indeed it was for my own peace that I had great bitterness; but You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back. For Sheol cannot thank You, death cannot praise You; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth. The living, the living man, he shall praise You, as I do this day; the father shall make known Your truth to the children. The Lord was ready to save me; therefore, we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life, in the house of the Lord.” Isaiah 38:17-20

Come Lord Jesus!

The destruction of Babylon precedes the return of Christ.

The attached picture illustrates some of the ways in which Babylon (kingdoms defiant of God’s rule) treat people. The bodies and souls of people are marketed like farm animals.

Have you noticed that many visions (movies) out of Hollywood involve the breaking of the Ten Commandments? Either with no mention of God (godless) or blaspheming His Name! Murder! Lying! Adultery! Covetousness! Defiant children! No sign of Sabbath (resting and trusting in God). Casting a vison of a world where evil runs rampant instead of the Biblical vision of the coming kingdom of Christ where there is no more hatred, division, crying, pain, war, death. Love, joy, and peace rules in the Kingdom of God.

When Revelation’s 7th angel sounds his trumpet, “The kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15)

This morning, after praying much in the night, I read Isaiah 25:1-9...

"O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your Name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. For You have made a city a ruin, a fortified city a ruin, a palace of foreigners to be a city no more; it will never be rebuilt. Therefore the strong people will glorify You; the city of the terrible nations will fear You. For You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. You will reduce the noise of aliens, as heat in a dry place; as heat in the shadow of a cloud, the song of the terrible ones will be diminished."

"And in this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined wines on the lees. And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken. And it will be said in that day: ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.’”

“Even so, come Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)

Christ’s Return – Solution to Pollution

The worst pollutant in the world is rebellion against God and against God’s ways. Breaking covenant with God! Marred humans trying to tell God what is right and what is wrong! Trying to exclude God! This pollutant destroys the earth.

“The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are desolate. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.” [1]

When Christ returns, creation will be set free from the defilement of sin. “The whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” [2]

The solution to personal pollution is faith in Jesus Christ. Each of us needs to bring our sin to the foot of the cross, and ask Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to forgive us. Cleanse us from the guilt we bear! Give us new hearts to know and praise Him!

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” A sinful heart does not realize the depths of its sinfulness before God. We need the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins. We need the Holy Spirit to help us repent of our sin. “Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, For You are my praise.” [3]

The second coming of Christ is the solution to creation’s pollution. Asking Christ to forgive our sins and to save us from our sin, as well as believing in Him, and professing Him as Lord and Savior, is the solution to our personal unholiness.

Jesus Christ is returning. He is the solution to earth’s pollution. Thus, the next to last verse of the Bible exclaims, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” [4]

[1] Isaiah 24:5-6
[2] Romans 8:22
[3] Jeremiah 17:9, 14
[4] Revelation 22:20

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever [1]

Many have sought to cancel God’s Word from being published, proclaimed and appropriated, but His Word still stands, and His Kingdom will outlast all the kingdoms of this world.

“The dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” [2]

The dragon loses. [3]

Those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ win. [4]

Before Jerusalem fell before the invading Babylonian army, her king [Jehoiakim] had been warned to listen to the Word of the Lord that was proclaimed and published by the prophet Jeremiah. He chose to burn God's Word. Later, Jerusalem was burned to the ground, but the prophet [Jeremiah], was still standing and still proclaiming God’s Word. In fact, Jeremiah's words from the Lord are still with us today. He is still an inspiration for God's servants to never stop believing in God and to never stop speaking up for God.

[1] 1 Peter 1:25
[2] Revelation 12:17
[3] Revelation 20:10
[4] Revelation 21:7

Wheat, Good Fish, Sheep

What’s your relationship to Jesus Christ?

Your eternal destination is determined by what you do with Jesus Christ since He is the only Savior from sin.

There are many forms of sin, but the summation of all sin is rebellion against God. God gave you a Savior. His very own Son. He became a living sacrifice for the sins you committed. After He died, He resurrected on the third day, which set Him above every other name of those who claim (falsely) they can save you.

God’s Word explains your eternal salvation in very simple words below:

“And 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.” [1]

On the last day, the tares will be separated from the wheat, the bad fish from the good fish, and the goats from sheep. If you repent of your sin against God, believe in Jesus Christ and have His Holy Spirit abiding in you, you will be deemed by God as wheat, good fish and sheep. You will be welcomed into eternal paradise. Tares, bad fish and goats are cast into the fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. [2]

[1] 1 John 5:11-13
[2] See the attached picture for the references

Good Change for the Changed

The ability to get along with one another broke down. They turned to their idols, charmers, mediums and sorcerers for help, but they were no help. Their nation fell into the hands of a cruel ruler…

“I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; everyone will fight against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, and they will consult the idols and the charmers, the mediums, and the sorcerers. And the Egyptians I will give into the hand of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them,” says the Lord, the Lord of hosts.” [1]

What should they have done that they did not do? They should have repented of idol worship and of occultism. Destroyed the objects connected to false gods and occultic practices! That’s what the Ephesians did after they heard God’s Word…

“Many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled 50,000 pieces of silver. So the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” [2]

When irreligious leaders commanded the apostles not to share God’s Word with people, Peter responded, “We are His [God’s] witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Rather than succumb to the apostasy that was destroying people, Peter and the apostles declared, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” [3]

The Lord has promised in His Word that proud propagators of evil will be brought low. A day is coming when they will no longer be able to hurt those who serve Him.

“There shall by no means enter it [the celestial city] anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” [4]

The Lord is going to separate the bad from the good. The good being those who profess God’s Messiah Jesus and have His Holy Spirit abiding in them.

“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [5]

[1] Isaiah 19:2-4
[2] Acts 19:18-20
[3] Acts 5:29, 32
[4] Revelation 21:27
[5] Matthew 13:47-50

No More Night

During His experience in the belly of a great fish, Jonah declared, “Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own mercy.” Thank You Lord for Your mercy!

Once upon a time, a king was urged by a prophet to ask for a sign from the Lord. He did not want to ask, but the Lord gave him the sign anyway. It was a prophecy about the coming Messiah.

“The Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, ‘Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.’ But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!’ Then he said, ‘Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel.’” [2]

How often do I refuse to listen to the One who is trying to bless me? Lord, please continue to give me signs pointing me to You.

“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts.” [3] Thank You Lord for helping me to know where my heart is in relationship to Yours.

“There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” [3] Thank You Jesus Christ for saving my soul and for bring me into Your kingdom of light and love.

For those who have had traumatic experiences in the night, how great will be there joy to enter Your kingdom where there is no more night.

[1] Jonah 2:8
[2] Isaiah 7:10-14
[3] Revelation 22:5

https://youtu.be/ZNE--CphCm8?si=VZE_aFYK420hv01T

Woe or Wow

The Lord says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! [1]

God’s pronouncement of “woe” means an undesirable consequence is on the way. God maintains the “good” standard recorded in His Word though mighty empires try to change it. He judges evil. In Isaiah’s day, God whistled for nations to bring judgment against the sin of his nation. [2]

Though a nation seems invincible, if it continues to propagate evil, God will bring it down. “Though you ascend as high as the eagle, And though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down, says the Lord.” [3]

Let us pray for God to bring down evil schemes against the souls of people, and to give grace, faith, protection and wisdom to those who care about the eternal salvation of souls. God does more than we can ask or imagine with our prayers, so let us pray. Pray, pray, pray, and then, pray some more. Pray for a “Wow.” A wow because God will hear our prayers, and bring about a return to His ways so that our nation dodges a bullet once again.

[1] Isaiah 5:20
[2] Isaiah 5:26-29
[3] Obadiah 1:4

The Way to Know You Have Eternal Life

The way to know that you have eternal life is to ask God to forgive your sins, to believe on and profess Jesus Christ as the Savior sent from God to save you from your sin, and welcome His Holy Spirit to fill you and anoint you to serve God.

In other words, be converted by God... born again by His Spirit... and you will know that you have eternal life.

The Word of God verifies your new identity as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. All who believe in and profess Jesus Chirst as their Lord and Savior HAVE eternal life.

The Almighty more Precious than Gold or Silver

“When they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’” [1]

The religious and political leaders with the support of a mob criminalized the perfect Son of God. They crucified Jesus the God of love between two criminals.

Recently, as I was spending time before the Lord in prayer, He said to me, “This is the only way to exist among My people. You must forgive their failures and yours.”

The Lord also showed me that though serving Him involves conflict, He is with us in those moments. When Jesus ministered in synagogues of Galilee, despite the hostility of some towards Him, He still did miracles in those settings. He urges me to focus on the captives who were set free during the ministry, and not on those who chose to remain in bondage.

Job spoke of mining. “Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. Man puts an end to darkness and searches every recess for ore in the darkness and the shadow of death. He breaks open a shaft away from people; in places forgotten by feet they hang far away from men; they swing to and fro. As for the earth, from it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire; its stones are the source of sapphires, and it contains gold dust.” [2]

God has designed the earth’s soil as a location to grow food, and below the soil a location to find hidden treasures. Yet, God has in His reserve a greater treasure than delicious food, precious stones and rare metals.

“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living. The deep says, ‘It is not in me;’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ It cannot be purchased for gold, nor can silver be weighed for its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.” [3]

God’s wisdom and understanding are of more value than delicious food, precious stones, and rare metals.

Where is wisdom and understanding found? The answer is: “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.” [4]

The Lord Jesus shows us what the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord and the Spirit of understanding look like when robed in human flesh. Jesus Messiah is the One of whom the prophet Isaiah wrote: “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” [5]

While seldom valued by political and religious leaders, and definitely despised by self-serving mobs, Jesus demonstrated for us that God’s wisdom and understanding are worth more than a pearl of great price. Of greater worth than a treasure hidden a field! [6]

Wisdom and understanding are treasures that God gives to His servants.

God’s wisdom and understanding help us avoid an eternity in hell and to inherit an eternal happiness with God forever in His kingdom of love. God’s wisdom and understanding help us to navigate trials and come out finer than gold.

God is so good: “He 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.” [7]

Comparing ourselves with those who live to gratify the flesh is not helpful. Keeping our focus on God as the treasure we seek is helpful.

“To you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,’ and ‘a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.’ They stumble, being disobedient to the Word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” [8]

“Yes, the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.” [9]

[1] Luke 23:34
[2] Job 28:1-6
[3] Job 28:12-19
[4] Job 28:28
[5] Isaiah 11:2
[6] Matthew 13:44-46
[7] Job 23:10-12
[8] 1 Peter 2:7-10
[9] Job 22:25

Share the Good News

When I was a teenager, the church I attended did an evangelism training. In the process of learning how to share the Gospel with others, I received the blessed assurance of knowing that I was saved by God's grace and not by my own works. That is why the Gospel is good news.

Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins so that we who believe in Him do not have to pay that price. The price of unforgiven sin is death and after that judgment, and being cast into the place of darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth and the fire is not quenched. The gift of God is eternal life in paradise with Christ and with all the joyful people who have believed and received Him.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Acts 16:31

I have attached pictures of God's words about sin and about salvation, as well as some illustrations that I memorized as a teenager for the purpose of sharing the Gospel with others. I am praying for opportunities and boldness to share this good news with people who have yet to hear, understand and believe it.

Jesus Christ is the Hero of the Story

I praise the Lord for including and preserving the writings of the prophet Jeremiah in the Bible.

I was an avid comic book reader during the early years of my life. My favorite genre of movies was about people who did great things to help others and prevailed against all the odds.

I like that God includes Jeremiah's inner thoughts as he serves the Lord. Just like in those comic books that I read so long ago, he has to weigh the cost of continuing in his service of others, 

I like that Jeremiah neither had a personal agenda for self-aggrandizement nor to make a business out of serving God. He served the Lord because he loved God and he loved people. 

Jeremiah ran the race that God set before him and finished well. The One he sought to please above all others is well pleased with him. He is with the Lord but his story continues to inspire thinkers, writers, speakers, and me to love God and love people for God’s glory alone.

Amidst warnings to his people of a coming invasion of their nation by the Babylonians, Jeremiah spoke of a day when they would enjoy a personal relationship with God.

 “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” [1]

 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and He shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” [2] (A prophecy fulfilled by Jesus Christ.)

“This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” [3]

Thanks be to God; He sent His Son into the world to atone for our sins and has given unto us in Him the gateway to enjoy an everlasting personal relationship with God. Praise the Lord!

The hero of our story and the Savior of the world is Jesus Christ. God gives a hero’s welcome into His eternal kingdom to each person who embraces Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

[1] Jeremiah 31:3

[2] Jeremiah 33:14-16

[3] Jeremiah 31:33

Love God Love People

Jesus taught: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” [1]

As I was praying about the prophetic ministry this morning, especially thinking about the prophet of Jeremiah, the Lord reminded me of the passage above. “Love God. Love People.” That’s how the Lord summed up the passage for me!

God’s love is bigger than the moment. God’s love is about eternal life. Jeremiah warned people because God loved them. He did not want them to suffer the consequences of sin. He pointed them to the Lord. May the Lord open doors for us to do the same and graciously grant us the boldness to love as He loves.

Pray “for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” [2]

[1] Matthew 22:37-40
[2] Ephesians 6:19-20

Wisdom is to Hold to God and to His Word

“Turn at My rebuke; surely I will pour out My Spirit on you; I will make My Words known to you. Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out My hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all My counsel, and would have none of My rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on Me, but I will not answer; they will seek Me diligently, but they will not find Me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none of My counsel and despised My every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” [1]

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” [2]

“The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just. Surely, He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.” [3]

“The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” [4]

“He who despises the Word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.” [5]

“A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies. In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.” [6]

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” [7]

“The 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.” [8]

[1] Proverbs 1:23-33
[2] Proverbs 3:6-10
[3] Proverbs 3:33-34
[4] Proverbs 4:18
[5] Proverbs 13:13
[6] Proverbs 14:25-27
[7] Proverbs 14:34
[8] James 3:17-18

Praise the Lord!

Has someone ever advocated for you? They spoke up for you? They defended you? They asked those in authority to open a door of opportunity for you? Perhaps, you only discovered years later that your advocate was not the person who you imagined it was.

During an extreme trial, one man lamented, “Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor! For when a few years are finished, I shall go the way of no return.” [1] He felt his life was at its end. Could someone pray for him?

Someone was advocating for him. God was! At the end of his trial, he received a double blessing from God (See Job chapter 42).

God is our advocate. He is for us. Daily He is on our side.

Three simple and often repeated words in the Bible are: “Praise the Lord!”

Good advice! As we praise the Lord, His light brightens our day.

PRAISE THE LORD! He knit me together in my mother’s womb! [2]

PRAISE THE LORD! I am fearfully made! [3]

PRAISE THE LORD! He knows my name and the number of hairs on my head! [4]

PRAISE THE LORD! He meets my daily needs and gives me extra to share. [5]

PRAISE THE LORD! He walks and talks with me. [6]

PRAISE THE LORD! He sent His Son into the world to atone for my sins. [7]

PRAISE THE LORD! He gives His Spirit to advocate for me. [8]

PRAISE THE LORD! He has given me eternal life. [9]

I like what the Apostle James wrote: “Of His [God’s] own will He brought us forth by the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. Therefore… receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.” [10] Praise the Lord! He brought me into His family by revealing Himself to me via His Word – the Bible.

Personal Testimony:

Once while my family was serving the Lord in Hong Kong, our financial resources were down to 100 Hong Kong dollars (US$12.50). We were a family of six. A fellow missionary noticed that I was looking downcast and asked me what was wrong. After I told her our situation, she remarked, “Well, let’s stop and thank God for that 100 Hong Kong dollars, that’s more than enough for today.” so, we did, and it was, and here I am more than 30 years later doing just fine. Praise the Lord!

[1] Job 16:21-22
[2] Psalm 139:13
[3] Psalm 139:14
[4] Matthew 10:30
[5] Matthew 6:25-33
[6] Luke 24:13-17
[7] 1 John 2:2
[8] John 14:26
[9] John 3:16
[10] James 1:18, 21

Face towards the SON

“Heavenly Father, please give us the grace to keep our eyes on Your Son, and please help us to help others focus on Your Son Jesus as well. It is in His Name, Jesus Christ, I pray this. Amen.”

Jesus is the Answer

“They said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” John 6:28-29

The One whom God sent to save us is His Son Jesus Christ.

Feed My Sheep

The God who is love wants to be loved. Loving Him is the first commandment. Loving people who He created in His image is the second commandment.

Jesus prepared Peter for ministry by asking Peter if Peter loved Him. When Peter affirmed to Jesus that He did, Jesus asked Peter to feed His lambs and sheep. Jesus wanted Peter to feed His flock the Word of God even as Jesus had fed Peter and His fellow disciples. Feed them the Word of God so that the sheep grow in their love for God and in their love others.

Later in his life, Peter wrote to church leaders, saying, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” [1]

Peter got it. Peter passed on what Jesus had taught him to do. Toward the end of his life, Peter was still loving Jesus and still feeding the flock. Praise the Lord!

“When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’”

He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’

He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’” [2]

[1] 1 Peter 5:2-3
[2] John 21:15-17

Mourning into Dancing

As Job grieved due to his losses, his friend Eliphaz spoke of a vision he had in the night. A scary spirit had made the hair on his body stand up, and his bones to shake. It spoke to him. It was from this spirit’s word that the trajectory of Job’s three friends got off on a wrong foot. This spirit led them to believe that Job was suffering for some crime he had committed against God. Their misinterpretation of Job’s suffering added greatly to his grief, and severely tested his faith in God.

Eliphaz: “Now a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper of it. In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair on my body stood up. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence; then I heard a voice saying: ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?” “Remember now, whoever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?” [1]

Job was a type of the coming Messiah Jesus. His losses came not because of any crime before God on his part. The Lord had said of Job, “there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.” Job was suffering from a satanic attack against him. “So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” The suffering of Christ was also an attack from Satan. [2]

Yes, a Righteous One has suffered unjustly. “For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” [3]

The sufferings of Christ were due to His love for us sinners.

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” [4]

Job received a double blessing from the hand of God after his trial was over. He also had peace with God once again. This too is a foreshadowing of Christ, because after Christ’s death on the cross, after being momentarily forsaken by His Father for our sakes… Christ resurrected from the dead, ascended to heaven, and is enthroned in glory at the right hand of His Father. [5]

This is wonderful news for us! As we trust in Christ, we who are subject to death, shall also resurrect and enjoy eternal blessings with God forevermore. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [6]

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.” [7]

[1] Job 4:12-17; 4:7
[2] Job 2:3, 7; Luke 22:3, 53
[3] 1 Peter 3:17-18
[4] Romans 5:6-10
[5] Job 42:12-17; 1 Peter 3:22
[6] Romans 6:23
[7] Psalm 30:11

My Redeemer Lives

A lone survivor of disaster number one told Job that robbers stole his oxen and donkeys and killed his servants. While he was still speaking, another arrived with news of another disaster. One disaster was followed by another until after four waves of destruction, Job tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground and worshipped God. He declared: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord.” [1]

In Leviticus 26:18-28, God speaks of four waves of disasters coming upon those who choose to defy obedience to His laws. In Matthew 24:20-22, Jesus speaks of the tribulations of the last days being shortened lest even in His elect would give up the faith. In Revelation 6-16, God speaks of three waves of judgments being executed against sin, namely, the seven seal, seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments. This is one wave of disasters short of the four waves of judgment that defiance against God deserves.

Job is a type of Christ in the Old Testament. God said of Job, “There is none like My servant on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.” Job was not suffering four waves of judgment because of a particular evil in his life, but because there is evil in the world, and sometimes God allows evil to test the faithfulness of His servants knowing that it will impact the lives of many people for His glory. Our Lord Jesus Christ was treated horribly in this world. He was beaten, spit on, scourged, verbally abused, and crucified between two criminals, yet He had done no wrong. His only crime per-se was to love God and people. Such love draws the ire of Satan.

Thus, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” [3]

The Apostle Peter wrote, “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly.” [4]

Sherry and I work with small children at a school. Certain ones more than others struggle with not getting what they want when they want it to the point of falling on floor, curling up in a ball, and crying like a baby. Then, in our society there are adults who protest and commit acts of violence when forbidden do whatever evil they want to do against others. Where is love in all of this?

How did Job face his test? What bit of truth amidst lies and confusion helped him to keep going forward in his relationship with God? It was this truth, “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!” [5]

Knowing that God will make all things right when we see Him face to face, helps us to keep on loving Him and people. This world is passing away, but God’s kingdom is forever. Thanks be to Christ, our wonderful Redeemer, we also shall live with God forever.

[1] Job 1:13-21
[2] Job 1:8
[3] Matthew 16:24
[4] 1 Peter 2:19-23
[5] Job 19:25-27

It Is Better

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” [1]

Let us pray that more and more people will invest in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent and ultimate ruler over all. He does not fail those who trust in Him. He is bringing us to the glorious Promised Land where there is an abundance of love, peace, safety, joy, gladness, singing and harmony among people from every tribe, nation, and language.

“Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” [2]

[1] Psalm 118:9
[2] Luke 21:28

The Day of the Lord

Imagine a vast army of soldiers marching in battle formation. They are fierce. Ready to conquer at any cost. This is the imagery that God gave us of an army that is prepared to carry out His judgment on a nation.

“They do not push one another; every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, they are not cut down. They run to and fro in the city, they run on the wall; they climb into the houses, they enter at the windows like a thief. The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble; the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars diminish their brightness. The Lord gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His Word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it? [1]

How should the recipient of this warning respond?

“’Now, therefore,’ says the Lord, ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’ So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him—a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?”

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room. Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; let them say, ‘Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, where is their God?’” [2]

The Lord advises such a people to turn to Him with all their hearts with fasting, weeping and mourning. Sound the alarm! Pray! Ask the Lord to intervene and rescue!

“Then the Lord will be zealous for His land and pity His people. The Lord will answer and say to His people, ‘Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations. But I will remove far from you the northern army and will drive him away into a barren and desolate land, with his face toward the eastern sea and his back toward the western sea; his stench will come up, and his foul odor will rise, because he has done monstrous things.’” [3]

The Lord will bless the resources of those who seek Him and rebuke the devouring nation from their land. What’s more, He will send His Spirit on that nation and bless them with ability to speak for Him, and to dream and envision the possibilities in Him that they previously lacked.

“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” [4]

“It shall come to pass that whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” [5]

[1] Joel 2:8-11
[2] Joel 2:12-17
[3] Joel 2:18-20
[4] Joel 2:28-29
[5] Joel 2:32

Love God

The first commandment is to love God.

How often in the context of examining our wins and losses in life are we asking ourselves, “Have I loved God?” “Do I love God?”

Yes, I do, but I want to be more focused on this character trait than I have been in the past.

I am asking the Lord to help me be a better lover of people as well since Jesus said that this is the second commandment, and is like unto the first.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

In Messiah Preserved from Assassination Attempts

“In all things He [Jesus] had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” [1]

The Devil has tried to sabotage God’s wonderful plans for people from the beginning. He sought to destroy God’s Messiah when he led misinformed people to crucify Jesus, but Jesus resurrected from the dead on the third day. Jesus Christ now lives and reigns on high and intercedes for us.

When God created humanity, He made us according to His image. Yet Satan led Adam and Eve to sin. Even so, God promised Eve that her Seed [Christ] would crush the serpent’s head. [2]

Satan attempted to corrupt the human race to the point where God would destroy us, but God gave grace to Noah and saved him and his family. Thus, the human race was preserved and so was the human linage of Christ. [3]

God promised to Abraham that through his Seed all nations would be blessed.

“Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.” [4] Thus, the devil tried to destroy the linage of Abraham ever since then.

When Pharaoh thought to destroy the Israelites whose backs were to the Red Sea, he didn’t realize that God would open up the sea to preserve the race through whom Messiah would come. [5]

When King Saul employed his army to destroy his son-in-law David, he did not realize that God was going to preserve David because Messiah would come through the family line of David. [6]

When Haman sought to destroy all descendants of Abraham during the days of Esther, he did not realize that God would flip his plan on his own head because they were destined to give birth to Messiah. [7]

When King Herod sought to kill Messiah by destroying the babies of Bethlehem, he didn’t realize that God had sent an angel to warn the earthly father of Messiah to get out of town before it could happen. [8]

God preserves people who embrace Messiah Jesus as Savior. Jesus said He would build His church and nothing would stop it…

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” [9]

God has used an imperfect man named Donald Trump to fight for Christians in America. At 6:11 pm on July 13, an assassin tried to kill him. Last night, a preacher at the RNC proclaimed that God divinely protected former President Trump. His church had prayed for him. He quoted Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

The kingdom of Christ is forever. It shall not end. [10] However, until we reach those eternal shores to be with our Savior and Lord, we must be on our guard against all the wiles of the devil to sabotage our witness for Christ. It is in Christ that we are preserved.

[1] Hebrews 2:17-18
[2] Genesis 3:16
[3] Genesis 6:1-6
[4] Galatians 3:16
[5] Exodus 14
[6] 1 Samuel 23:9-14
[7] Esther 3:6 – 7:10
[8] Matthew 2:13-18
[9] Matthew 16:18
[10] Revelation 11:15

Be With God

“Know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” [1]

Lovers of everything except God and God’s ways! The Bible says to turn from such. Remove yourself their movement! They are building on dangerous ground. Soon, their towers will collapse into dust and they will be lost eternally. “Their folly will be manifest to all.” [2]

“Evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” [3]

What imposters and deceivers fail to realize is that the same spirit that works through them to deceive and defraud others is deceiving and defrauding them. Their gains are temporary. Their losses are eternal.

“The Holy Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” [4]

Moor your ship to the Word of God so you don’t drift from God. Be with God! Love Him! Dump overboard worthless wastes of your time, treasure, and talent! Jesus is Messiah. He is loving, peaceful and full of joy! Hang with Him! Hang with His disciples! Make disciples! Let His light shine! Let your life-song be that you glorified the only sinless One who died on the cross to save your soul.

[1] 2 Timothy 3:1-5
[2] 2 Timothy 3: 9
[3] 2 Timothy 3:13
[4] 2 Timothy 3:15-17

Glory to You God!

Glory to You God!

Other high places? No.

Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit…

You provide, guide, deliver, and love me.

Are there imposters in my life?

Anything or anyone diverting my praise from You?

I worship You: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I love You!

You have the highest place!

I live to worship and serve You alone!

The Passover and The Lord’s Supper

Amidst the nineteen kings of Judah mentioned in Chronicles, God affirms Hezekiah and Josiah for keeping the Passover and for making the Passover celebration glorious. [1]

The Passover Feast celebrates God’s miraculous rescue of the people Israel from slavery in Egypt. It celebrates the angel of death passing over the homes of the people who placed lamb’s blood on their external door posts. Those who recognized their need for a blood sacrifice due to the sin that they had committed against God were spared from the loss of their firstborn son as the angel of death passed over Egypt. [2]

Jesus Messiah introduced a new covenant just before He died on the cross for our sins. The new covenant involved a new meal.

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’” [3]

Luke’s Gospel also records Jesus as saying, “Do this in remembrance of Me,’ and, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’” [4]

Disciples of Jesus Messiah have a new and better meal to remember and celebrate God’s great love and deliverance for us, than did the Israelites. The Israelites celebrated a deliverance event that had relevance for them in this temporary life, namely freedom from subjugation by a foreign nation on earth. We, as believers and professors of Christ, celebrate deliverance from an eternal subjugation to hell with the devil and his demons. Christ, by His sinless blood sacrifice for us on the cross, delivered us from the power of sin, death, and the devil.

“You, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” [5]

Satan has no more claims against the person whose sin has been washed away by the blood of Christ. Jesus our wonderful Redeemer has redeemed us. Our Savior has saved us. God does not condemn us. He saves us! Praise the Lord!

Thus, we should regularly and happily remember and observe the Lord’s Supper.

[1] 2 Chronicles 29-30 – Hezekiah’s Passover observance; 2 Chronicles 35 – Josiah’s Passover observance
[2] Exodus 12
[3] Matthew 26:26-28
[4] Luke 22:19-20
[5] Colossians 2:13-15

The Prophetic Voice

I’m A major portion of the Bible is prophetic in nature. Before the New Testament came into being, the people of God called the Bible the Tanakh. The word Tanakh is derived from the three major divisions of the book, namely:

T - Torah - The Law
N - Nevi’im - The Prophets
K - Ketuvim - The Writings

To ignore the prophetic writings recorded in the Bible is to do like the failed kings and leaders did in the last days of Judah before they were conquered by a foreign nation.

“And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.” [1]

The Lord warns us against deception and corrects our missteps because He has compassion on us and would rather deal with the pain of confrontation with us than see us experience the pain that comes to people who incur the consequences of bad choices.

I’m asking the Lord to help me and all His people to learn from the prophets.

When Jesus walked the earth in the flesh, the consensus of those who heard Him speak was that He was a prophet.

“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’” [2]

And, indeed, Jesus did speak a lot about sin and judgment as the prophets did before Him.

His disciples knew Jesus was the Son of God, and so do all who receive Him and believe in Him. Praise the Lord!

In fact, those who reject the Gospel of Christ face a worse judgment than did the people of Sodom and Gomorrah.

“And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” [3]

As the writer of Hebrews said, “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.” [4]

[1] 2 Chronicles 36:15-16
[2] Matthew 16:13-14
[3] Mark 6:11
[4] Hebrews 2:1, 3