Divine Revelation in the Last Days

Have you ever experienced a light bulb moment? The dictionary defines a light bulb moment as a moment of sudden inspiration, revelation, or recognition.

Simon Peter had a light bulb moment when he confessed faith in Christ. Flesh and blood did not reveal the deity of Christ to Peter. The Heavenly Father did. [1]

Do you know for certain that Christ is the Son of God? There is a huge difference between knowing about Christ and knowing Christ.

One day, many followers of Jesus forsook Him. This falling away is recorded in John 6:66. Is it coincidence that 666 is the number of the anti-Christ? [2] Don’t ever forsake the Lord. Follow Him!

Jesus asked His remaining disciples if they would leave Him too. [3] Peter replied to Jesus, “You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God.” [4] Notice, Peter said, “We believe and KNOW that You are the Holy One of God.” Do you believe and KNOW that Jesus is the Holy One of God?

I cannot think of a worse scenario than to know information about Jesus but not KNOW Him as Lord and Savior. Knowing information about Jesus does not save you. Jesus does. Many know about God, but they do not know Him. They have the right book and the right God but lack divine revelation.

The first sign Jesus gave His disciples of the end times was, “Watch out that no one deceives you.” [5] Jesus warned that many would come in His Name and claim to be the Messiah. [6] These deceptions flow from the deceiver and his minions. The first four words that the evil one spoke to our first mother, Eve, were, “Did God really say?” [7] Jesus called the devil a murderer and the father of lies. [8] Jesus said that he is a thief who steals, kills, and destroys. [9]

Satan’s propaganda against God and the Bible are strong because his time is short. He wants the world to be a culture of lies against God and His people. But Satan will fail. The Lord will throw him into the lake of fire. [10]

How fitting that the last book of the Bible is entitled, “Revelation.” Revelation means to uncover, unveil, and reveal. We need revelation from Jesus to know and stand for the truth. The reason Jesus gave us the book of Revelation is to help us stand for God during the last days. The Book of Revelation begins with these words: “The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place.” [11] Jesus said we will be blessed if we read Revelation aloud and take it to heart. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” [12]

As far as true and false prophecy goes, the Bible says that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” [13] A true prophet of God will tell people to witness for Jesus. The Church functions as a prophet when it calls people to believe in Christ.

Paul said that God revealed Christ to him so that he could reveal Christ to the nations. [14]

Christ revealed Himself to me when I was nineteen. My first light bulb moment was when I declared Jesus as my Lord and me as His servant. After that, when I read the Bible, I could understand and enjoy it. After that, I knew that the trees, grass, and squirrels were God’s creation. The Bible says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. [15] God’s creation speaks day and night for Him.

Have you experienced a light bulb moment from Jesus?

The Bible says that “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love Him. God reveals these things to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” [16]

Would you like to see things that your eyes have not seen? Would you like to hear things your ear has not heard? Would you like to receive thoughts that never came to your mind before? The Bible says that no one knows the thoughts of God except His Spirit.

Salvation is meant to be only the first of many light bulb moments from God. He wants to keep revealing His thoughts and ways to us. God wants to reveal Himself to us so that we can reveal Him to others. Are you willing to reveal what you know about God with others?

Many people in our neighborhoods are in the dark. They need us to turn the light on for them. Let’s do it! Amen.

[1] Matthew 16:17
[2] Revelation 13:18
[3] John 6:67
[4] John 6:68-69
[5] Matthew 24:4
[6] Matthew 24:5
[7] Genesis 3:1
[8] John 8:44
[9] John 10:10
[10] Revelation 20:10
[11] Revelation 1:1
[12] Revelation 1:3
[13] Revelation 19:10
[14] Galatians 1:16
[15] Psalm 19:1-3
[16] 1 Corinthians 2:9-11

Seeing God Clearly

Have you ever had your vision tested? If you have blurred vision, you need the right pair of glasses to see clearly. This same principle applies to seeing God. Without the right lens you cannot see God clearly.

In the days when Jesus walked the earth, most people did not understand who He was. Once, Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter responded, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” How did Peter see clearly? How did he know that Jesus was the Messiah? Jesus said that this was not revealed to him by flesh and blood, but by His Father in heaven. [1]

Peter did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah because he was better than others. No, he recognized Jesus as the Messiah because God gave him grace to do so. We need a revelation from God to understand that Jesus is the Messiah. This is how Paul knew Jesus. He told the Ephesians that the mystery of the Gospel was made known to him by a divine revelation. [2]

Paul’s perspective was this, “I became a servant of this Gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power. Although I am less than the least of the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the nations the boundless riches of Christ.” [3]

This is the perspective we need of God and of our salvation. We are saved by His grace and not because of anything we did. God called us thru His Gospel. The revelation of the Gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to sinners. [4]

A 15th century monk named Martin Luther was convinced that the Gospel was indeed God’s “power for salvation.” God revealed to Luther that the words of the Gospel have creative power like God’s words in Genesis 1. God spoke into existence that which formerly did not exist. The message of the Gospel brings new creation to sinners living in the void of darkness.

The world did not know God through its wisdom because God was pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. [5] The wisest and richest men of this world cannot see God. Human reason cannot make God clear. Our spiritual eyes must be opened by a miracle of God’s grace. Faith in Jesus Christ is the key to unlocking the mysteries of God. Jesus is the way, truth, and life no one comes to God, except through Him. [6]

By creating faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, the Gospel bestows the benefits of His death and resurrection upon people. [7] God’s Word kills the sinner and makes him or her alive as a new creature in Christ.

Once upon a time, there was a gangster named Nicky Cruz. His parents were worshippers of Satan. They raised Nicky to hate and kill people. Nicky became the leader of a New York gang called the Mao Mao’s.

David Wilkerson was a Gospel preacher. He preached Jesus to Nicky. Nicky threatened to slice up David. He slapped David and spit in his face. David responded to Nicky’s hatred by telling him that Jesus loved him.

One day, as David shared the Gospel with Nicky, he believed. His life was totally transformed. He became a worldwide evangelist. Did Nicky deserve to know Jesus? No. Did God reveal Jesus to him? Yes.

The Apostle Paul’s testimony is, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” [8]

Did you catch that? Paul blasphemed God. He persecuted Christians. He was a man of violence. God had mercy on Paul. He poured His grace out on him abundantly. In exchange for Paul’s bad language and violent behavior, God gave him faith and love. This is what God’s grace is all about. It is unmerited favor. You get saved by God when you least deserve it.

Paul told Timothy, “I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life.” Paul was the worst of sinners and yet God saved him. His salvation perspective is, “God has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.” [9]

So before Paul did anything good or bad, even before the beginning of time, God had a plan to reveal his salvation to him and have him preach it to others. The point here is that if you have believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, it is because of God’s grace. God did not leave you in the dark. He did not let you die in your sins.

Paul was blind after he met Jesus. He could not see for three days. God sent a man named Ananias to pray for him, As Ananias prayed for Paul, the Lord opened his eyes. [10] We all need Jesus to open our blind eyes. Only Christ can give us clear vision.

As Christians we must understand this point. Salvation is of God. Only God can save us. He gets all the credit. To God alone belongs all the glory.

The monk Martin Luther tried to earn God’s favor by doing many good works. His good works did not ease his troubled conscience. No matter how good he tried to be, he never had peace of mind about his salvation. What if his best works were not good enough for God? That is why he turned to the Bible and studied it diligently. Through his studies, he saw that the Bible focuses on Christ. He read where Paul said to others, “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” [11]

We do not have to be famous or fabulous to be God’s messenger. We do not have to be superman or wonder woman to serve God. We do not have to have great accomplishments, titles, or degrees because the power is of God and not of us.

It is not about us. “We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” [12] The message that we are saved by grace glorifies God.

The message of grace is the correct perspective of humanity’s position before God. The message of grace points to Christ. Faith in Christ is the sure foundation to build your eternal future on.

Phillip Melanchthon wrote that the chief worship of God is to preach the Gospel. When we tell sinners about Christ, and they repent and believe all heaven breaks out in praise and worship.

Paul wrote that his only aim in life was to finish the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. [13]

What about people who say that if we are saved by God’s grace, we can sin as much as we want? What should we say to them? We can point them to Jude 1:4. It says, “For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”

God did not save us TO sin. He saved us FROM sin. God did not give us grace so that we could sin more but so that we could escape it’s bondage and live holy lives that glorify Him.

Paul credited God’s grace for his ability to work effectively for God. “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” [14]

The same grace that opens our eyes to salvation empowers us to live a new life. When Peter confessed Jesus as the Son of the Living God, Messiah had a word for him. He told Peter, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this Rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” [15] The revelation of Jesus as Messiah is the mighty power of God to overcome all the works of the evil one.

[1] Matthew 16:15-18
[2] Ephesians 3:3
[3] Ephesians 3:7-8
[4] Romans 1:16
[5] 1 Corinthians 1:21
[6] John 14:6
[7] Romans 4:25
[8] 1Timothy 1:12-14
[9] 1Timothy 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:9
[10] Acts 9:10-17
[11] 2 Corinthians 4:5
[12] 2 Corinthians 4:7
[13] Acts 21:24
[14] 1Corinthians 15:10
[15] Matthew 16:18

Accursed No More

“If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.” [1]

“The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” [2]

Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ hung on a pole. He was taken down and not left to hang on the pole overnight. The point here is that He took the curse we well deserved and gave us the blessing of Abraham, namely friendship with God, that we did not deserve. As a result of Christ’s work on the cross, we know that one day we will be accursed no more.

“I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us, for the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope.” [3]

“Here is the second point of consolation. Paul holds up as an example to us the condition of the whole creation. He exhorts us to endure patiently, as the creature does, all the violence and injustice we suffer from the devil and the world, and to comfort ourselves with the hope of future redemption. Remarkable doctrine this, unlike anything elsewhere found in the Scriptures, that heaven and earth, sun, moon and stars, leaf and blade, every living thing, waits with sighing and groaning for the revelation of our glory.” [4]

“The Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing unto you, because the Lord your God loved you.” [5] How much greater is the joy of reunion with God after being separated from Him. The prophet Isaiah wrote in chapter 59 verse 2 of his book, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” When you have the Savior from sin Jesus Christ, the middle wall of separation (sin) between God and you is gone. It is glorious! And God gives you His Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing your redemption. [6] The Holy Spirit assures you that you belong to God and that you have an inheritance in Him. Christ broke the curses of sin from you to restore you to God. He did this because He LOVES you and WANTS you to live with Him forever in heaven someday.

Therefore, “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” [7]

Hallelujah! Amen!

Lift up your head because your redemption is drawing near. [8]

[1] Deuteronomy 21:22-23
[2] Galatians 3:12-14
[3] Romans 8:18-20
[4] Luther’s Epistle Sermons, p. 313
[5] Deuteronomy 23:5
[6] Ephesians 1:14
[7] Philippians 3:20-21
[8] Luke 21:28

Persistently Point People to Christ

“But if I say, ‘I will not mention His Word or speak anymore in His name,’ His Word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” [1]

In Jeremiah’s day, it was culturally abnormal among his peers to speak about obeying God. It was even more shocking if someone dared to say if we do not heed God’s Word, we will perish. Nevertheless, God’s Word was a fire in Jeremiah’s heart and bones. He could not hold it in. How could be silent while his fellow countrymen sailed full steam ahead towards their death?

God’s love compelled him to care and to speak. He overcame undesirable outcomes by caring more about the salvation of others than he did about his own comforts or popularity. The Spirit of God helped him to be strong in this way.

What about our cultural? Is it acceptable to speak about obeying God’s Word in the communities where we live? If not, should we remain silent? What will happen to the people who do not know Christ if we remain silent?

The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died on the cross to pay for their sins, but each person must appropriate what He did by believing in Him. If we want to save the lost souls in our community, we must point them to Jesus. There is salvation in no other Name. [2]

[1] Jeremiah 20:9
[2] Acts 4:12

Sharing the Gospel is a Worthy Cause

The Gospel is simple for us thanks to Christ. When we truly believe in Christ, He forgives our sins, saves by His graces, guarantees a place in heaven for us, and He gives us a new life by the transforming power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

When I realized the value of the Gospel at my father’s funeral, I was greatly encouraged. My father believed in Christ. He received a new home in heaven. I was able to move forward with blessed assurance of my father’s eternal happiness. I said to the Lord, “Lord, I want to share this Good News with others.”

The Gospel is simple, but sharing it can be complicated because, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” [1]

The devil does everything to keep people from Christ. He lies. He bribes. He exploits weaknesses. He urges people to be their own gods and saviors. He often attacks preachers of righteousness as he did Job. This is why Jesus told disciple wannabe’s to take up their cross and follow Him. Being His follower is costly.

The cross is a symbol of Christ’s obedience to the will of the Father. Jesus Christ is the Lamb that was “slain from the foundation of the world.” [2] Even as God created the world, He had a plan to give His Son for the fallen race of people who did not yet exist. Jesus submitted His will to His Father’s plan. He said that what He saw the Father do; He did in like manner. [3]

To follow Jesus is to be dedicated to our Heavenly Father’s will. The devil rages against obedience to God. He does everything within his power to destroy the person who lives to honor God.

For example, during the 80’s and 90’s, the Holy Spirit led me to preach the Gospel in the parks of Hong Kong. Once, at three in the morning because that was when the people that needed Jesus the most were outside. Once, He led me to a Buddhist temple on the side of a mountain. The only way up to the temple was to climb many steps. I had a 103° fever and dysentery that day. The Lord gave me faith that I would be healed as I went, and I was. I handed a couple of Buddhist monk tracts and told them that Jesus loved them and was offering to them salvation. I returned home healed. Praise the Lord!

During those days, the devil would use critical remarks of false brothers to dampen my zeal to save lost souls. Like David brothers, they suggested that I was arrogant. [4] Some called me a lone ranger. Others a Christian gunslinger! In fact, I was humbling myself to the will of God, which is to seek and save the lost.

The Gospel is simple, but the firestorm of opposition that comes against its proclaimer is complicated. Therefore, we need to “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” [5]

Before we left for China, a sister in Christ prophesied over us that we would either receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit before we got to the mission field or on the day we arrived. By baptism of the Spirit, she meant the gift of speaking in tongues. I did not think I needed such a gift because I was well-versed in Scripture and was already born again. Sherry desired the gift and prayed for it.

The first day we arrived in a missionary boot camp, a couple named Keith and Shelley Snowden, convinced us to open our hearts to the gift and we did. We both spoke in tongues. I found myself saying, “I love You Lord, I love you Lord, etc.” The Holy Spirit poured God’s love into us as the apostle said He would. [6]

The Holy Spirit baptism helps us to be witnesses for Jesus. God urges us to be filled with the Spirit. [7] The way to dethrone the prince of darkness is to invite a stronger prince to dwell in one’s temple. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. His indwelling Holy Spirit empowers us to discern and overcome the works of devil.

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” “Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” [8]

Sometimes, the devil will use people within our ranks to betray us. The following verse applies to the experience of Jesus being betrayed by people: “’What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then He will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends.’” [9] The enemy sometimes turns brother against brother and sister against sister. The devil spreads lies. He misconstrues information to anger and embitter people.

We must submit ourselves to God. “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” [10] A house divided falls. We keep the unity by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is greater than unclean spirits. The Holy Spirit unify us by keeping the mission of spreading the Gospel to save souls as the burning passion of our existence. He helps us to set aside secondary differences to keep the ministry of spreading the Gospel as our primary objective.

In his commentary on the book of Galatians, Luther wrote, “Some of the old saints labored so hard to attain perfection that they lost the capacity to feel anything. When I was a monk, I often wished I could see a saint. I pictured him as living in the wilderness, abstaining from meat and drink, and living on roots and herbs and cold water. This weird conception of those awesome saints I had gained out of the books of the scholastics and church fathers. But we know now from the Scriptures who the true saints are. Not those who live a single life, or make a fetish of days, meats, clothes, and such things. The true saints are those who believe that they are justified by the death of Christ.

Whenever Paul writes to the Christians here and there, he calls them the holy children and heirs of God. All who believe in Christ, whether male or female, bond or free, are saints; not in view of their own works, but in view of the merits of God which they appropriate by faith. Their holiness is a gift and not their own personal achievement.”

The grace that we have received in Christ is a marvelous gift. Sharing the Gospel is a worthy cause despite the opposition. Let us keep our Gospel presentations simple, and trust in the Lord to provide victories for us when complications arise.

[1] 2 Corinthians 4:4
[2] Revelation 13:8
[3] John 5:19
[4] 1 Samuel 17:28
[5] Ephesians 6:10-12
[6] Romans 5:5
[7] Ephesians 5:18
[8] 1 John 3:8, 4:3-4
[9] Zechariah 13:6
[10] James 4:7; Ephesians 4:3

Thank You Father for Your Commandments

After the Lord delivered the slaves out of Egypt, He gave them laws to help them. They had been abused by their slave masters. God did not want them to abuse themselves or one another. The Lord’s commandments are gifts of His grace to help us discern between what is good for us and what is not.

The Lord wants us to experience holiness. He doesn’t want people to feel like helpless worms. God made Christ who committed no sin to become sin for us, so that in Christ we might become the righteousness of God. [1] The righteousness of God that Christ gives us is both imputed and imparted to us. Righteousness is imputed to us by God when we believe in Christ. God declares believers in His Son righteous based on their faith in Him. Righteousness is imparted to us when we receive the Holy Spirit, and He regenerates in us a desire to live for God.

For example, when I asked Jesus to take my life and have it, He did, and He gave me new life. Jesus gave me an appetite for holiness and a distaste for sin. Jesus did in me what I could not do for myself. That doesn’t mean I no longer sin. No, I sin, but I don’t enjoy it. When I sin, the Holy Spirit graciously convicts me to repent, to ask God to forgive me, and He does. I place my sin under the blood of Jesus that was shed for my forgiveness.

The Lord Jesus graciously draws me to the Bible to read it, meditate on it and to implement its guidance in my life. He daily draws me to pray for myself, for others and for God’s glory. The Holy Spirit accomplishes this in me.

Today, Jesus is with the Father. We cannot see Him face to face, but He embodies Himself in our lives by His Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us to be holy. He gives us respect for father and mother. He causes Sabbath observance to be a blessing to us. Knowing the resurrected Christ is far better than serving false gods. [2]

The Lord gave us commandments that are based on love and respect for people.

For example…

“Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.”

“Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.”

“Do not swear falsely by My Name and so profane the Name of your God. I am the Lord.”

“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker.”

“Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind but fear your God. I am the Lord.”

“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great but judge your neighbor fairly.”

“Do not go about spreading slander among your people.”

“Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.”

“Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.”

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

“Do not practice divination or seek omens. Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord. Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.”

“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.”

“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

“Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight, or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights… I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” [3]

These are good commandments, and God has given us His Holy Spirit to help us live by them. Praise the Lord!

[1] Psalm 22:6-7; 2 Corinthians 5:21
[2] Leviticus 19:2-4
[3] Leviticus 19:10-18, 26, 28, 30-36

Plants Producing Good News

Εὐαγγέλιον is the Greek word for Gospel in the New Testament. It is a noun. In English letters, it is spelled: euaggelion. In phonetic letters, it is spelled: yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on.

Εὐαγγέλιον is the message that Jesus is Messiah. He suffered death on the cross to obtain eternal salvation for people. He arose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God in heaven. He will return from heaven in majesty to bring those who believe in Him into the kingdom of God. The Gospel is the glad tidings of salvation through Christ. It is the grace of God revealed and promised to believers in Jesus Christ.

The word “evangelist” comes from the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are also known as four evangelists. The Greek word for angel is contained in the word εὐαγγέλιον. The Lord Jesus said of Himself, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach Good News (from εὐαγγέλιον) to the poor.” [1]

If the Gospel is such good news, why are not more Christians sharing it?

One of the challenges for us believers is that we are up against spiritual powers of darkness in heavenly places. “The god of this age has blinded those who do not believe, lest the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” [2]

We also have a sinful nature. David wrote, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” [3] Until our sins are forgiven by Christ and He transforms our nature, we love to sin. The devil holds us captive to sin.

Martin Luther worked hard to free his conscience from the guilt of sin. He did not want to sin but kept on sinning. He felt that he was under God’s wrath. He had no peace. He hated God for demanding perfection that he could not produce.

God revealed to Luther via the Scriptures that the Gospel is not about us. It is about Christ. The Gospel is about faith. It is about faith in Christ. Faith is not a good work. Faith receives Christ and all that He has done for us. All who receive Christ receive the remission of their sin. God counts the person who believes in Christ as righteous. He justifies the person who believes in Jesus.

When “I” believe in Jesus, it was just-if-I’d never sinned. The sin of the believer in Christ is placed under His blood. He paid the penalty for it. Jesus Christ the Lamb of God took our sin away. Now, we are holy and righteous in His sight.

Some wonder, “If we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, why should we do good works? The answer is that God prepared good works for us to do before the foundation of the earth. [4] The Holy Spirit who comes to dwell in us will not let us be content to do nothing after we have received such wonderful grace from God. The Holy Spirit inspires, empowers, and leads us to do good for God and neighbor.

What kind of tree does an apple seed produce? An apple seed! In the same way an apple seed produces an apple tree, Christians produce Christian fruit when Christ is in our lives. But what does the seed go through before it produces? The seed is buried. It dies. There is a moment in time when God transforms that seed from a dead seed to a living plant. It grows into a seedling and after that into a large apple tree. Finally, it produces hundreds of apples per year, year after year. What a miracle! Who gets the glory for this? God does!

“Heavenly Father, I place the seed of my life into Your hand and ask You to please transform me into a Christ fruit-producing plant for You. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.”

[1] Luke 4:18
[2] 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:12
[3] Psalm 51:5
[4] Ephesians 1:4

Grace-based Destiny

“The children of the flesh are not the children of God; but the children of the PROMISE are counted as the SEED.” [1] PROMISE in this passage reflects God’s grace. God gave Abraham a PROMISE that through His SEED all nations will be blessed. SEED in this passage refers to Abraham’s descendent Jesus Christ. Abraham did not deserve or earn this PROMISE. God initiated the blessing to Abraham.

“For the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls.” [2] God graced Jacob to be the twin through whom His PROMISED Messiah came. Jacob deceived his father. He stole his twin brother’s birthright. His wily ways caused him much trouble, but God’s grace still brought to pass His PROMISE. Jacob’s descendent, Jesus, is Messiah and Savior of the world.

“So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” [3] The “it” here refers to the election or calling that Jacob received to be included in the Messiah’s family tree. Jesus is the Messiah to whom all Scripture points.

“As He says also in Hosea: ‘I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved.’” [4] There is one way to be in the Father and that is wholly through believing in and embracing the undeserved grace and mercy that He gave to us in His Son Jesus Christ. In Christ, sinners who were once unloved become beloveds of God.

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” [5] A dead person cannot resuscitate himself. We were dead to God. Sin held us captive and blind to our lost condition, but God who is rich in mercy because of His love for us made us alive together with Christ.

How marvelous! To embrace a grace-based destiny! The good works that come forth from our lives are because God prepared them for us before we were born. [6] The Lord turns what is meant for evil into good. [7] “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” [8]

Good things come to those who believe in and receive the Promised Messiah Jesus Christ. He is the source of all blessings and the Savior of our soul. Glory to His Name!

[1] Romans 9:8
[2] Romans 9:11
[3] Romans 9:16
[4] Romans 9:25
[5] Ephesians 2:1-2
[6] Ephesians 2:10
[7] Genesis 50:20
[8] Romans 8:28

The Message Bars & Chains Cannot Contain

“At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were loosed.” [1]

Paul rebuked an evil spirit out of a woman. Men were exploiting her for financial gain. Those men stirred up trouble against Paul and his ministry partner Silas, beat them severely and threw them in prison. What a terrible response to a divine miracle! What did Paul and Silas do? They kept on praying and praising God in songs, and the Lord did another miracle. He divinely set them free. [2]

Evil exploiters tried to bind up the Gospel from spreading with prison bars and chains, but the Lord broke their bars and chains, and even more unbelievers believed in Jesus.

“The keeper of the prison… supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.’ …And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” [3]

That prison guard “believed in God with all his household." [4]

May our Heavenly Father break chains of injustice and shake foundations of prisons that try to hinder unbelievers from receiving and believing the Good News of salvation that is in Jesus Christ.

[1] Acts 16:25-26
[2] Acts 16:16-24
[3] Acts 16:27-28, 30-31
[4] Acts 16:34

God’s Love Moved Him to Action

“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. 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.” (Rom. 5:6-10)

Prayer: “Thank You Heavenly Father for Your love for us that compelled You to give Your Son’s life for us sinners. Thank You for justifying us by His blood and saving us from the wrath that is due us. Thank You for reconciling us to You when we were Your enemies. Thank You for saving us. Now, please use our lives to boldly bring Your Good News to others. This we pray in the Name of Jesus Your Son. Amen.”

Dedicated to the Proclamation of the Gospel

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different Gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a Gospel other than the one, we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:6-9)

Legalism - no! License to sin - no! Living by the grace of Christ - YES!

The Righteous One (Jesus Christ) paid the debt for the unrighteous ones (us) to bring us to God! The message of the Gospel is about Jesus Christ!

“Lord Jesus, help us to sing and speak Your praises! You alone are worthy! You are the Lamb who was slain for our sins. There is no other Savior besides You. You alone are the Savior of the world. No matter how people respond, even if no one responds, we dedicate ourselves to the proclamation of Your Gospel. We depend upon Your grace to keep us focused and fruitful. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.”

Kiss to the Son of God

“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against His anointed, saying, ‘Let us break Their chains and throw off Their shackles.’

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath, saying, ‘I have installed My King on Zion, My holy mountain.’

I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father. Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; You will dash them to pieces like pottery.’

Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling. Kiss His Son, or He will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for His wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.” [1]

If we join with those who reject and rebel against the Father and the Son, we will shatter into pieces like a broken pot when we see Him. When we stand before the Lord Jesus Christ in His glory, we will be speechless. All nations shall be given to Him. The best thing we can do while alive is to serve the Lord with holy reverence and celebrate His rule. The word “worship” in the Bible means “to kiss to.” We are to kiss to the Son of God and take refuge in Him. Salvation is 100% of Him and 0% of us.

“Blessed (happy) are all who take refuge in Him.” [2]

[1] Psalm 2:1-12

[2] Psalm 2:12

Know the Truth

One day, Jesus ministered to people who were deceived by Satan. They believed that they belonged to God, but they belonged to Satan. Satan had laced their knowledge of the Old Testament with many false understandings. So much so, that they were exceedingly puffed up about their “excellent” understanding of God. However, when they met God face to face in the person of Jesus Christ, they rejected Him.

What did Jesus do? Did He avoid confrontation with them? No, He told them that they needed to hold to His teaching to be His disciples. If they became His disciples, they would know the truth, and the truth would set them free. [1]

Rather than listen to the voice of God, they told Jesus, “We are descendants of Abraham.” “We are not slaves.” They assumed that they belonged to God because they were born into the right religious heritage.

Jesus told them that they were slaves of sin. He told them that a slave of sin has no permanent part in God’s family, but a son does. He told them that they needed the Son (Him) to set them free from sin. [2]

Without Jesus no one can break the yoke of sin. HE IS the sin-bondage breaker. There are many kinds of sinful bondages. There are sinful bondages to drugs, to illicit sex, to worldly desires, to self-exaltation and to pride in one’s religion. Their hatred of God’s Messiah was the sin of all sins. Godly people do not want to kill God when He shows up.

When Jesus sought to set them free, they refused to let Him. They stuck by the line, “We are children of Abraham. He is our father.” Jesus countered, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what he did.” Abraham never tried to kill the voice of God when God spoke to him. He listened to and obeyed God. Jesus told them that they were doing the works of their father the devil. They wanted to kill Him because their father was a liar and murderer. Jesus told them, “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” [3]

They called Jesus a Samaritan, a slur that meant He did not have pure doctrine like they did. They called Jesus demon possessed. Jesus countered, “I am not possessed by a demon. I honor My Father and you dishonor Me. I am not seeking glory for Myself; but there is one who seeks it, and He is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys My word will never see death.” [4] Jesus told them the truth. He gave them the opportunity to hear and obey His Word, and as a result, never see death. They rejected both His message and Him.

Finally, Jesus told them that He was the Messiah. He did this by referring to Himself as “I AM.” “I AM” (Yahweh) is the name God gave Moses to call Him. Jesus told the Jews, “Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I AM!” At this, they picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus hid Himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.” [5]

Are you more enamored with a particular brand of “God” than with listening to and following the Lord Jesus Christ? Today, Jesus is saying, “Hold to My WORD! Be My DISCIPLES! Then, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

[1] John 8:31-32
[2] John 8:34-36
[3] John 8:39-47
[4] John 8:48-51
[5] John 8:58-59

Holy Spirit Witnessing

Paul the Apostle once asked a group of believers, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So what did Paul do? He laid hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. [1] Do you have the Holy Spirit? This is a serious matter because according to the Bible, “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” [2]

The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts the world of three essential truths:

1. He convicts the world for not believing in Messiah. Without faith in Him a person cannot be saved. The Holy Spirit convicts people of their need of Christ. [3]

2. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of righteousness because the world cannot currently see Messiah. [4] The Church is not orphaned. God the Holy Spirit is working in and through us to show the world what is right and what is wrong in God’s eyes. The Holy Spirit gives the Church power to testify for Messiah. be His witnesses when the Holy Spirit comes on us. [5] Jesus said that whoever believes in Him would do even greater works than He did while on earth because He was going to the Father. [6] The Holy Spirit prophesies through the Church and gives God’s people dreams and visions. [7]

3. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of judgment because the prince of this world is judged. [8] The devil and his followers are doomed. Every tree that does not bring forth the fruit of Christ will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. [9] He convicts people that this world is ending, and that Christ’s kingdom is coming.

We need the Holy Spirit. “Heavenly Father, please fill us with Your promised Holy Spirit! Please convict the world of it’s need of salvation! In the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!”

[1] Acts 19:2, 6
[2] Romans 8:9
[3] John 16:8-9
[4] John 16:10
[5] Acts 1:8
[6] John 14:12
[7] Acts 2:17-19
[8] John 16:11
[9] Matthew 3:10

Being Still Before God

People asked Jesus, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.” [1]

Once, during an illness, I lamented because I could not help the homeless. That was my work at that time. Can you relate with the homeless? Can you relate with someone who lacks even a dime to buy something to eat? What some in these situations say is, “Being treated poorly by those who are blessed adds to my pain.”

People asked Jesus what kind of work gains God’s approval. He replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” Jesus is the One the Father has sent to us to save us from our sin. God justifies believers in His Son.

All things were created by Jesus and in Him all things hold together. After Thomas saw Jesus alive from the dead, He testified, saying of Jesus, “My Lord and my God.” When a jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” [2]

God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. We may want to help rather than be helped, but perhaps being incapacitated is more necessary for us. The Lord says, “Remain in Me the Vine and you will bear much fruit.” [3]

What kind of fruit came forth from the Thomas who testified of Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” History tells us that he took the Gospel to India. In fact, my son-in-law and his family come from the part of India where Thomas had a big impact on the people. When we testify that Jesus is our Lord and God, He brings forth good fruit through us. He, not we, makes it happen. And it may not be as we expected it would happen. It is His grace working through us and He receives the glory!

Faith in Christ is the work God approves! There are many ways to exhibit faith in Christ. Being still and knowing that He is God is one way.

“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah” [4]

[1] John 6:28-29
[2] Colossians 1:16-17; John 20:28; Acts 16:30-31
[3] John 15:5
[4] Psalm 46:10-11

New Life After A Crisis

During a crisis, the mind wants to figure out what went wrong and who is to blame. It wants to pin the tail on the culprit. Was it something you did or something you did not do? Did someone else or some circumstance beyond your control cause the crisis? Processing what went wrong and who is to blame can be a short chapter in the story of your life or it can be a long one. The length of this chapter depends on how significant the loss was to you and how clueless you are as to what to do next, and on how long you are willing to stay in this chapter.

You need a solution to your state of mind soon because life does not stop for no one. It’s a flowing river. Work is good, especially manual work. Activity and being among people helps keep you from depression. Depression can swallow you up. It is like a black hole that wants to swallow you. Stay away from it.

God spoke of a plumb line to Amos the prophet. A plumb line is what brick layers use to determine if they are building a wall correctly. “Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. And the Lord said to me, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘A plumb line.’ Then the Lord said: ‘Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore.” [1] The problem with Israel is that did they did not want the Lord to speak into their lives anymore. We need the Lord to plumb us, so we can take corrective action before we fall to pieces. A crisis season is a time to let the Lord take corrective action in your life because you are not able to handle the crisis on your own.

God wants you to be blessed. He is a good God. He works out all things for the good of them who love and trust in Him.

Keep praising and thank God throughout the crisis. Count your blessings. Focus what is good and not on what is bad. The “God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” [2]

The devil wants you to hate yourself or someone else for your circumstances, but praise God for who you are, for those around you and for your circumstances. If someone you loved experienced a disaster, would you condemn and criticize them? No, you would figure out ways to encourage and help them. So do that for yourself. Do not be so hard on yourself. Thank God that He loved you so much that He sent His own dear Son to save you. Jesus, your Savior, has been through the deepest depth of pain and agony for you. He knows what you are going through. He wants to bring you out. He wants to bring you closer to Himself and closer to His purpose and mission for you in the process.

Hope in the Lord! He will do much more than you can ask or imagine. Be humble and patient. Trust in God during the waiting period. He uses waiting periods to build our inner strength. The tension of having an unmet need or want against the tension of waiting patiently for God to come through is like an exercise machine that stretches your muscles so that you become stronger. Trials stretch you and hurt you, but afterwards, with God’s help, you bounce back better than before.

Meditate on God’s promises. Read the Bible. Go to church. Tithe. Pray. Worship God. God inhabits His praises. Start praising God in the midst of your trials. Though it seems that He is slaying you, He is not. He is making you more like Himself. The best gift God can give you is to make you more like Him because He is wonderful. He is perfect. He is happy!

Jesus holds the universe together and He can hold you together. He sustains all plant and animal life. He can sustain you. He is the author of family relationships. He can help you with your family relationships. You need family. They are God’s gift to you.

Your crisis will not last forever. Slowly, new life will come just like trees and flowers bloom after winter. If the crisis had not come a new day would not have come. God wanted something better for you than what was happening. That is why He allowed the crisis to come. He sees the big picture. We tend to only see what is happening to us in the moment. We cannot foresee all the blessings that the Lord has in store for us.

Your Heavenly Father is a good father. He delights in blessing you. Though He hides His face for a moment, His face reappears more bright and favorable than ever before afterwards. Your Heavenly Father loves you and wants to prosper you along life’s journey.

The Lord gave Habakkuk joy in the midst of crisis. He wrote: “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, either shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” [3] May the Lord do the same for you!

[1] Amos 7:7-8
[2] 1 Peter 5:10
[3] Habakkuk 3:17-18

Dare to be a Daniel

“Dare to be a Daniel” means to obey the Word of God in the presence of those who violate it. Daniel’s obedience to the Word of God was a witness to those around him.

Daniel had been captured and taken by force from his country. He was forced to serve those who destroyed his nation. He could have been stubborn, but he was not. He sought the prosperity of the people that he lived among. He had read the writings of the prophet Jeremiah. [1] Jeremiah told the Jews living in Babylon to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which the Lord sent them. Pray to the Lord for city, because if the city prospers, they too would prosper.” [2]

Daniel was a witness when it came to healthy eating habits. He said to the man in charge of his diet, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.” [3] He risked his life when he asked to be excused from eating the king’s unhealthy food. Nebuchadnezzar was a cruel tyrant. However, the king allowed Daniel to eat his special diet because after a ten-day test period, his diet of vegetables and water gave him a healthy appearance.

Our body is God’s gift to us. Some people mock those who do not smoke, drink alcohol, take drugs or eat unhealthy foods, but those who exercise good stewardship of their body generally experience good health and strength.

Daniel was a witness for the Lord by his faith. When the wise men of Babylon could not interpret the king’s dream, he asked his three friends to pray diligently for him. [4] He believed that God could reveal the dream to him if they prayed to God. God did reveal the meaning of the king’s dream to Daniel.

Daniel was a witness for the Lord because he refused to be dishonest or unfair. His co-workers “could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.” [5] Daniel simply did what was right.

Daniel was a witness for the Lord because he refused to compromise his faith in God. One day, his government passed a law that made prayer to anyone except the king a crime punishable by death. Daniel continued to pray to the Lord three times a day and he did it openly. [6] Daniel was arrested and thrown into a lion’s den, because he continued to pray to God. The Lord shut the mouths of the lions. Daniel was rescued from the lion’s den. Then, those who schemed against him were thrown into the lion’s den. The lions immediately ate them. [7]

Daniel was a witness for the Lord because he listened to the Lord. As Daniel was waiting silently before the Lord, the Lord revealed to him future events that would happen before the end of time. [8]

Daniel depended on the Lord to make him strong when he was weak. When his circumstances were beyond his control, he depended on the Lord for victory. He preferred death to compromising his relationship with God, but he also trusted in God’s goodness.

So, what does it mean to dare to be a Daniel? It means to be a witness for the Lord.

[1] Daniel 9:2
[2] Jeremiah 29:7
[3] Daniel 1:12
[4] Daniel 2:17-19
[5] Daniel 6:4
[6] Daniel 6:10-12
[7] Daniel 6:21-24
[8] Daniel 7-12

A Savior & Defender Who Rescues

“When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, He will send them a Savior and Defender, and He will rescue them.” [1]

There are so many voiceless people. When they speak, no one seems to listen. For example, a man from Sudan told us of the horrific things that are being done to people in Sudan. He escaped by God’s grace, but still suffers nightmares from his experiences. He wonders why the majority of the world’s people are silent about these atrocities.

The Lord cares for abused people; for people who do not know how to speak up for themselves! He is a Savior and Defender to rescue them when they cry out to Him. Many just need someone to tell them who the Lord is. That is our part!

The Siloam Family Health Center in Nashville is an amazing ministry run mostly by Christian volunteers. The caregivers attempt to heal the wounded inwardly and outwardly. We thank God for Mrs. Jayne Haynes. She gave us a tour of the center and introduced us to key people who serve there. She testified of miracles of love that had occurred. Attached is a photo of Siloam’s “Core Value” statements. Good values for people to embrace.

[1] Isaiah 19:20

Rejoicing to Suffer for the Name of Jesus

Can you imagine driving a box truck that was so full of Bibles that it was rocking back and forth like a boat in water as you drove it down the road? Can you imagine unloading that box truck full of bags of Bibles into the hands of over 170 full Gospel businessmen?

I drove that box truck. I unloaded it. I traveled with such a group to China. We rejoiced because we placed over 13,000 Bibles into the hands of Chinese believers. Later that evening, we heard the testimony of four Chinese preachers. They reported 39,000 converts that month. Our effort had only supplied a third of the Bibles that were needed for one-month of Chinese church growth.

I saw some Full Gospel businessmen with tears in their eyes as the four Chinese preachers exuded joy that they had been imprisoned multiple times for the sake of the Gospel. Some in our delegation had been talking about material-blessings from God. These four rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ! This is what apostles did, “They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name.” [1]

I heard Adrian Rogers on BBN (Bible Broadcasting Network) rejoice that Jesus holds all things together. [2] He keeps the sun at just the right distance from the earth so that we neither freeze to death nor burn up. He keeps our hearts beating within our chest day after day. He took on human flesh and dwelt among us. He showed us what God is like. He died on the cross for our sins. He is the firstborn from the dead in that He arose from the dead and is alive forevermore. Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades. He gives believers in Him eternal life.

Yes, there is good cause to be thankful and to serve the Lord with gladness. Our God reigns! “Heavenly Father, please grant us Your grace to have attitudes of gratitude for opportunities to suffer for the Name of Your Son Jesus! You, together with the Holy Spirit, three-in-one, are worthy of glory, laud, and honor!”

[1] Acts 5:41
[2] See Colossians 1:12-22

The Kingdom of Christ not Animal Farm

Old Major, a prize-winning boar, gathers the animals of the Manor Farm for a meeting in the big barn. He tells them of a dream he has had in which all animals live together with no humans to oppress or control them. The animals embrace Major’s vision with enthusiasm. When he dies only three nights after the meeting, three younger pigs—Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer—formulate his main principles into a philosophy called Animalism.

Eventually, the animals defeat farmer Jones in a battle. They renamed the property Animal Farm. The workhorse Boxer adopts the saying, “I will work harder” as his motto.

After a series of misfortunate events, Napoleon assumes leadership of Animal Farm and declares that there will be no more community meetings. From that point on, he asserts, the pigs alone will make all of the decisions—for the good of every animal.

With Napoleon’s leadership unquestioned, the workhorse Boxer has taken up a second motto, “Napoleon is always right.” Napoleon begins expanding his powers, rewriting history to make Snowball a villain. Napoleon also begins to act more and more like a human—sleeping in a bed, drinking whisky, and engaging in trade with neighboring farmers.

The original Animalist principles strictly forbade such activities, but Squealer, Napoleon’s propagandist, justifies every action to the other animals, convincing them that Napoleon is a great leader and is making things better for everyone—despite the fact that the common animals are cold, hungry, and overworked.

Years pass on Animal Farm. The pigs become more and more like humans—walking upright, carrying whips, and wearing clothes. Eventually, the Seven Commandments inscribed on the side of the barn, are reduced to one principle, namely, “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Napoleon also changes the name of Animal Farm back to the Manor Farm, claiming that this title is the “correct” one. Looking in at the party of elites through the farmhouse window, the common animals can no longer tell which are the pigs and which are the humans. [1]

In what ways are we seeing this story played out today?

While on this earth, our Lord Jesus Christ never required superior treatment. Instead, He taught and lived according to the principle that the greatest one among you is the one who serves.

Jesus is the rock that Daniel prophesied about. He seems a small rock compared to the mighty rulers of the world, but His kingdom eventually shatters their empires and becomes a mountain that fills the whole earth.

“While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.” [2]

“Thank You Heavenly Father for sending Your Son Jesus Christ into the world to show us how a servant of You leads. Thank You Father for promising to replace the corrupt kingdoms of this evil world with the righteous kingdom of Your Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You Lord Jesus for interceding for us at the right hand of the Father. We trust in You. Even so, come Lord Jesus come!”

[1] Sparknotes.com
[2] Daniel 2:34-35

Jesus Not Isis

On September 29, 2014, while Sherry and I were praying against the evil works of Isis, it came to me that Isis was a goddess worshipped by the people of the ancient Egyptian, Greco, and Roman empires. Jewish believers called her the goddess of lust. Isis means Throne. [1]

Satan leads people to behead others. Such beastly behavior is described in the Bible. [2] Such activity is a sign that the Lord’s return is near.

Jesus revealed that in the last days many will be under the mesmerizing influence of “Babylon, the Mother of Harlots.” She will sit on the leaders and peoples of the world and steer them like a cowgirl steers a horse. She will steer those in power to persecute and kill those who refuse to bow to her. [3]

In the Bible, God describes good and bad behaviors. He does not want our faith to be sifted like wheat by the devil. Our Heavenly Father helps us to discern between good and evil because He wants us to inherit eternal life.

Spiritual seduction and intimidation are tools of the devil to compromise followers of Christ. He wants to destroy faith in Christ. We overcome his evil deeds by the blood of the Lamb, by the Word of our testimony, and by being willing to die for our faith in Christ. [4]

The spirit of Babylon, the Mother of Harlots, influences earthly rulers to betray God. [5] This harlot spirit was embodied in the life of Queen Jezebel. It used Jezebel seduce King Ahab to worship idols and persecute the prophets of God. [6] It used the daughter of Herodias to seduce King Herod and afterwards demanded the head of John the Baptist on a platter. [7] It will influence leaders in the last days to slay God’s messengers and servants. [8] How will the unsaved hear the Gospel and be saved if God’s messengers are slain?

The Lord Jesus Christ revealed to us that just before He returns, Babylon, the Mother of Harlots will be drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. “In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.” God eventually destroys her with fire. [9]

Woman was created by God to be man’s helper. The devil hates God. Therefore, to do one of the most dastardly deeds he could do, he flipped God’s helpmate for man to become man’s hurt mate. The devil seduced woman to sin. Afterwards, she gave man the forbidden fruit and he too sinned against God. The devil’s goal is to ruin love relationships between God and people, and between people and people.

John the Baptist stood against the spirit of harlotries. He told King Herod that it was unlawful for him to have intimate relationships with his brother’s wife. John dared to speak against the spirit of harlotry. He dared to defy the spirit of Jezebel.

Inspired by Satan, Herodias commanded her daughter to dance for King Herod. After her dance, Herod offered to her up to half of his kingdom. Imagine if she had taken his offer! She would have reduced his financial holdings by half. God warns us, “By means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; and an adulterous will prey upon his precious life.” [10]

An employee at a rehab center once said of the men in the program, “They do not have a substance abuse problem. They have a woman problem.” Behind almost every addiction is a relationship that went awry.

One day, Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out the buyers and sellers. His love for people moved Him to do something. While in the temple, He cried out, “My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.” Afterwards the blind and the lame came to Jesus in the temple, and He healed them. [11] This is what we need today. We need Jesus to come into the temple of our hearts and cleanse them from every evil influence. We need Him to heal us.

The devil is the king of thieves. If he cannot capture us with one lure, he will try another. For example, using lust for sumptuous food, lust for unnecessary wealth, or lust for temporary fame. If temptations fails, he uses intimidation. It has been said that if a person gives the devil an inch, he will become a ruler.

We need to pray as our Lord taught us, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Rely on the HOLY SPIRIT! Stay in God’s Word! Be faithful to God! Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” The Apostle Paul was familiar with suffering, he wrote, “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” [12]

[1] Wikipedia
[2] Revelation 20:4
[3] Revelation 17
[4] Revelation 12:11
[5] Revelation 17:1-4
[6] 1 Kings 16:31; 18:4; 19:1-2; 21:5-25; Revelation 2:20
[7] Matthew 14:3-11
[8] Revelation 17:6
[9] Revelation 17:6; Revelation 18:24; Revelation 18:8
[10] Proverbs 6:26
[11] Luke 19:45-46
[12] Matthew 6:13; 10:28; 2 Corinthians 4:17

God’s Grief for Sinners Yields Good News

“Turn away from Me; let Me weep bitterly. Do not try to console Me over the destruction of My people.” [1]

While reading from the books of the prophets, I sometimes experience God’s grief. God warns people to repent of sin to spare them from sin’s consequences. Sadly, many think everything will be okay, even if they ignore God’s warnings. They choose to walk in the devil’s darkness rather than in God’s light.

The most gripping image in history to me is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, dying on a cross, for sinners like me. While nailed to the cross, deceived people mocked and insulted Him. Yet, Jesus, the Son of God cries out through the pain, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” [2]

The good news is that death and grave could not hold Christ. Three days after being executed, He resurrected. He is the only founder of a religion whose dead body cannot be found. Many witnesses saw Him alive again from the dead. Some of these witnesses of His resurrection were killed for proclaiming that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Messiah and Savior of the world.

May the Holy Spirit anoint us with our Lord’s grief for lost sinners. Give us visions of them burning in hell for eternity... never able to escape. May we be inconsolable for their sakes so that Christ’s love for them compels us to share with them the message of salvation. May our Lord grace them with ears to hear.

The good news about God’s grief for sinners is that it moves us to share the message of Messiah with them. God promises, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” [3]

[1] Isaiah 22:4
[2] Luke 23:34
[3] Psalm 126:5-6

A Poem for Prophets

Our Lord Jesus said…

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you,

saying all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven,

for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” [1]

Noah condemned the world and became heir of righteousness.

My kingdom is not of this world,

if it were, people would fight for Me.

Because you are of My world,

The current world rejects you even as it rejected Me. [2]

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…

God’s special possession!

I called you out of darkness into My marvelous light!

My kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. [3]

Live for eternal not temporary things.

Focus on where you want to be.

You want to be where I am…

Follow Me.

I speak into chaos and say “Let there be…”

I bring to pass what needs to be.

Do not fear.

Trust in Me.

I am with you.

[1] Matthew 5:10-12
[2] Hebrews 11:7; John 18:36; 1 Peter 2:1-8
[5] 1 Peter 2:9; Daniel 7:14

Purity Until Christ Returns

The devil’s perspective of the human body is completely opposite of God’s. The devil seeks to defile the human body. God seeks to purify human heart.

Next time you watch a movie or look up the news on the internet, ask yourself, is this woman or this man I am seeing devoted to God, to spouse, to children? If not, why I am inviting her or him into my life? Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. So, when you see a person always look past their outward appearance into their heart. How is that heart influencing my heart?

God designed us in His image. Within the Triune God there is harmony, love, joy, and peace. God delights to bring men and women together in holy matrimony and to grace them with children to parent. Loving relations achieved within a family unit is a taste of what life within the Trinity and within heaven is like.

God is glorified in husbands and wives love each other in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer until death does them part. Spouses who love one another and shun lustful looks at others are enjoying a blessing from God.

The devil is the enemy of committed marriages between one man and one woman. He hates those who dress modestly and reserve their bodies for their spouse. He urges people to steal the hearts of others by flaunting their skin before them. He knows that if he can destroy families, he can destroy the human race. The devil delights in robbing people of pure relationships that God had intended for them.

“When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.” [1]

Godly men chose women according to their outward appearance instead of by their hearts. They sang songs about the flesh’s beauty. They lavished fame and fortune on immodest beauties. They talked about them. They worshipped them. Godly men stopped choosing godly women. If a woman wanted a man, she had to focus her attention on being outwardly beautiful and neglect the development of the inward beauty that comes from God. Marital and familial intimacy suffered because everyone was focused on outward pleasures rather than relational ones.

“Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.’” [2]

People defied God. They rejected His counsel. They were carnally minded.

“The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.” [3]

They were heroes of rebels against God. They loved the praise of men. They lived for sinful pleasure.

“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that He had made human beings on the earth, and His heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.’” [4]

This great wickedness began with a shift from committed family relationships to a focus on pleasing self. If they had patterned their lives after the intimacy that exists within the Trinity, they would have enjoyed spiritual blessings from the Lord. They would have enjoyed divine intimacy with God and one another.

“Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” He was faithful to God and his family. He focused on inward godliness rather than outward beauty. He was committed to his wife and children. “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.” [5]

If it weren’t for Noah, the whole race would have been wiped out. What about our generation today? Is God finding among us people who walk faithfully with Him? Are we more like Noah and his family?

Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” [6]

Jesus could return at any moment. We should live circumspectly. May the Lord help us to do so.

[1] Genesis 6:1-2
[2] Genesis 6:3
[3] Genesis 6:4
[4] Genesis 6:5-7
[5] Genesis 6:8-9
[6] Matthew 24:37

Dealing With Disrespect

Guidance for Leaders at Teen Challenge

By Allen Turley

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14

What are expressions of disrespect and what are healthy responses to disrespect? The list below is adapted from Dr. Lucian Leape.

Disruptive behavior is angry outbursts, verbal threats, demeaning comments; swearing; throwing or breaking objects, bullying, shaming, and condemning or criticizing in front of others, and the threat or infliction of physical force or contact. Or it may be a blatant and flagrant disobedience to a rule. The body language says, “What are you gonna do about it?”

Humiliating or demeaning treatment involves patterns of behavior that include ignoring authorities, sarcasm, insensitive jokes, or remarks, making faces to others when authorities aren’t looking. They demean authorities, especially in front of others.

Passive-aggressive behavior includes negativistic attitudes and passive resistance to requests or instructions. They refuse to do tasks or deliberately delay responding, making others wait on them. They can be critical of authority and others. They may go out of their way to make others look bad while acting innocent.

Passive disrespect involves uncooperative behaviors that are not overtly mean. Often it means that they just do nothing. These people may express disrespect by being chronically late, responding slowly to requests, and or unwillingness to cooperate and work as a team with others.

Dismissive treatment is expressed by being flippant or indifferent towards authorities, thus making it very difficult to work with them.

We should not tolerate or encourage disrespect by overlooking it, laughing at it, or becoming a willing party to it. A person could be the best authority in the world, model respect perfectly, be Jesus incarnate and people would still show disrespect at times. We should, however, examine our personal behaviors and practices and the culture of the ministry to see if we are doing things that bring out the worst in people.

Address disrespectful behavior consistently. Develop and rehearse a consistent response plan.

Know the rules. Know the policies your ministry has enacted to keep people safe. Maintain a log to document negative behaviors to help others leaders to see the unhealthy patterns.

Don’t take it personal. Their expression of disrespect is about them, NOT you, EVEN IF it is directed at you. Their actions are their own responsibility. If we take comments personally, we will be defensive and reactive and quickly lose control, giving them exactly that for which they hoped!

Never get into a power struggle or shouting match. Don’t argue. If the conversation feels like it is slipping toward a power struggle, find a way to change the course, even if it means stepping back for a time to regroup. This will demonstrate to the person that whatever they hoped to accomplish by being disrespectful or yelling is off the table until they speak with respect. This sends a clear message that disrespect doesn’t work and won’t be tolerated

Remove the argument from the crowd. Don’t embarrass a person in public. Don’t send a message that you don’t care for their feelings.

Don’t attempt to add a quick jab at the end. Fighting for the last word in an argument only prolongs the argument and adds fuel to the fire.

Avoid lecturing, nagging, sarcasm. They don’t work.

Don’t try to bring it to a quick end without dealing with the issue. In the press for time we often want to jump to an authoritative declaration to end it quickly and move on. Try to understand where the person is coming from and help them understand the issues they need to deal with.

Don’t use language that puts the person on the defensive. It is much better to focus on what you don’t understand by using “I” statements and “feeling” statements rather than, “you” statements. This way you don’t pin them into a corner or assess blame, but rather seek to understand their actions.

Ask open-ended questions. Good questions will help the person understand the source of their negative attitude and behavior for themselves.

Examine Biblical truth with the person regarding the specific issues that need to be addressed.

Accept that changing negative behavior takes considerable time and effort, so be patient with behavioral changes. Although some changes can take place quickly, most take time. (Don’t think so? Take a look at your own life.) Also, accept that the commitment of this time and effort is a worthwhile endeavor. Helping a person to dispel disrespectful behaviors is a slow progress, but you will be giving the person a life-lesson that no one has had the courage or strength to teach before.

Stay the course and rebuild trust. People become loyal to people that treat them with respect, even when they may not deserve it. Remember you are helping them unlearn negative relational attitudes and patterns of behavior that are entrenched in their minds. You are helping them to see that they are not handling things correctly.

Involve others. The best ideas for dealing with particular issues will come from presenting the needs of one person to a few others for discussion, ideas, and team planning.

Leave room for the Holy Spirit. This one should be first, but I have left it for last so that hopefully it will be remembered above all others. As we pray and remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit, He works in the person’s heart and mind and gives us insight and creativity that we would not have otherwise had.

Defiant people may attempt to escalate a situation for many different reasons. Often, they are not afraid of conflict and escalating matters to the point of conflict will ultimately cost you far more dearly than it will them. Often, they don’t mind punishment. Some don’t want to be there and would be happy if you kicked them out. The situation is win-win for them. They break the rules and get kicked out. They are happy on both counts. And to top it off, they showed your weakness by getting you angry. Disruptive people will look for any opening to create chaos. So, be ready. Be on your guard. Plan. Practice.

Now, set aside time to write out and plan your response to disrespect. Role-play your plan in your own mind or with another person – possibly thinking of a person that you have had or are having problems with now.

Four Guidelines For Mission

God gave me the purpose for my mission on a slow boat to China. On an overnight ferry from Hong Kong to Guangzhou to be precise! My Bible open, I asked the Lord to give me a Scripture to stand on for the mission that was about to begin.

“God said, ‘I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.’” [1]

My mission was to lead the people out of bondage to a place of worship to God.

On our first Sunday in Guangzhou, a knock came at our door. A man and his sister asked if they could visit. We were about to worship God and I told them so. The man replied, “That is why we are here.” From week one, worship began. Our mission purpose was to lead people to worship God.

Jesus taught me about commitment to the mission while attending a lecture at the San Yu Hotel. An American pastor was holding a Bible Study in a hotel meeting room under the guise of a free English class. About 80 college-aged people were in attendance.

The People’s Liberation Army owned the hotel. I was amazed and terrified at the same time. Amazed that we were talking about Jesus freely and boldly inside the Lion’s Den! Terrified that we were going to be arrested!

Then, the Holy Spirit said to me, “The God of heaven, will set-up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” [2] “You may or may not have to stand before earthly authorities, but everyone will stand before ME.” Knowing that every knee will bow, and tongue confess Jesus Christ as Lord, strengthened my commitment to the mission.

As I drank a soda, a dirty boy, wearing rags for clothing, came up and pointed to the can in my hand. He was mute. I poured the last drop of drink into my mouth and gave him the can. I assumed that he was collecting cans for recycling, but to my surprise, he took the can and held it above his mouth and waited for a drip. He was thirsty. He needed a drink.

Then, God spoke to my heart and said, “This is why you risk imprisonment and death. It is for children like him.” “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” [3] God’s love for people fueled the mission.

One day, I got off a bus too soon. Rather than wait for another bus, I walked. As I did, I saw a building boarded up. It caught my attention. I stopped and stared at it. It had been a church. Then, it came to me that while in high school I had wrote a long story about a crusader whose goal was to open a condemned church building in a city that lacked a church. Two years into our mission and seven years after writing that story, God had me doing what I wrote about. I never pictured it happening in China. God inspired me to write a story in my teens to prepare me for what happened in my twenties.

God confirmed that my mission originated with Him.

[1] Exodus 3:12
[2] Daniel 2:44
[3] 1 John 4:18

Faithful Stewards of God’s Mysteries

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” [1]

The Corinthians struggled with the concept of ministry. “When one says, 'I am of Paul,' and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?” [2] Paul urged them to think of leaders as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Our goal is not to impress you. Our goal is to serve Christ and be faithful stewards of God’s Word.

Paul urged the Corinthians not to be quick to judge. “Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.” [3] In due time the Lord will bring to light what is dark to you. He will reveal the hearts of people. A servant of Christ may be spot on in his teaching and practice, and yet incur many trials...

“We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.” [4]

My own experience has been that the more effectively that I witness for Christ, the more apt I am to experience trials of various kinds that lead to a loss of respect among those who are proud and competitive. I can’t change that. However, by leaning on the Lord and by having a good relationship with Jesus, I can continue to work hard, bless people, and be kind to them.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” [5]

One sign of God’s kingdom at work is the power to love when love it not easy. God’s power is revealed through those who faithfully serve Christ and keep sharing His Word, the Bible, no matter what trials come their way.

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithful stewards who humbled themselves to serve Your Word. Please bless the faithful servants and stewards of Christ who are teaching, preaching, praying, and serving people today. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”

[1] 1 Corinthians 4:1
[2] 1 Corinthians 3:4
[3] 1 Corinthians 4:5
[4] 1 Corinthians 4:12-13
[5] 1 Corinthians 4:20

Brussels Sprouts for Jesus

“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please Himself but, as it is written: ‘The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.’” [1]

During a preaching class at Trevecca Nazarene University, there was a discussion about Triumphalism. Triumphalism is a belief that he who does right always wins. The teacher warned us against trying to make a Bible text say what the world says and believes.

For example, the Lord says in His Word to please our neighbor for their good. Build them up! This is what He did. But then, He laments because those who hate him are more than the hairs on his head. Why would a good neighbor be insulted and hated?

I liken this situation to Brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts are often hated while ice cream, cakes and cookies are greatly beloved. Neighbors who care for the spiritual well-being of those around them are often treated like Brussels sprouts. They are not about pleasing themselves. They are about doing what is best for people.

Jesus Christ gave His best for the people of Jerusalem, but they hated Him, bruised Him, shredded His flesh, insulted Him, and nailed Him in naked fashion to a tree. Did He fail? No, He was a very good neighbor. So, why didn’t He triumph?

After His death on the cross, two of His disciples went walking towards Emmaus. They were sad. Jesus had told them beforehand that He would resurrect from the dead, but they did not believe Him. It seemed to them that goodness had failed.

However, after Jesus revealed to them that He was alive, they were excited. Jesus did conquer sin, Satan, and death. He did win, but only after a seeming defeat.

After His victory, Jesus told us to go and preach His Gospel to the whole world. He told us that we too would experience setbacks, but that He would be with us. Jesus helps us to forgive and love those who mistreat us. This kind of love tastes bad to the self-serving people around us, but it is good for them.

What did Jesus say to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus? After Saul fell off his high horse, Jesus said to him, “Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of Me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” [2]

Jesus gave Saul the mission of rescuing neighbors from darkness and from the power of Satan and turning them to Christ. And guess what? Darkness and Satan do not give up people without a fight.

God’s faithful servants have been misunderstood and mistreated throughout the ages. Take the prophets! They are often portrayed as poorly dressed cranky men, but they were bright and selfless people. They were good neighbors to duped people. Despite having few friends, they kindly told others how to enjoy a good relationship with God. They refused to play the part of neighbors who acted as though nothing was wrong when in fact very much was horribly wrong.

Perhaps, some non-Christians agree that we should be good neighbors, but what about the second part? The part about responding to insults as Jesus did? Are we ready for that?

If our neighbors are under Satan’s power, they will throw our proverbial Brussels sprouts back at us. They will demand from us chocolate. They will hurt our feelings. We made ourselves vulnerable to them. We did our best for them. They gave us hatred in return for our love.

To love our neighbor as Jesus does requires prayer, commitment, and of course His Spirit of love fueling us. Despite our best efforts to love them and do them good, they may still reject Christ and us. Should we change our flavor? Should we stop being Brussels sprouts for Jesus and join the dark side of candy and cakes?

I can’t answer for you, but as for me, I never want to go back to the dark side. I want to be the kind of neighbor Jesus has been for me. He loved me in spite of my unfair treatment of Him. He never gave up on me.

“Heavenly Father, please forgive me for failing to love my neighbors as I should. Please help me to love them even as Your Son showed me to do. Please fill me afresh with love for You and my neighbor. For the glory and honor of You God, in the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!”

[1] Romans 15:2-3
[2] Acts 26:16-18