Hope and Blessings In The Lord

“Seek the Lord while He may be found,

Call upon Him while He is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way,

And the unrighteous man his thoughts;

Let him return to the Lord,

And He will have mercy on him;

And to our God,

For He will abundantly pardon.”

[1]

“Your sun shall no longer go down,

Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;

For the Lord will be your everlasting light,

And the days of your mourning shall be ended.”

[2]

“For as the earth brings forth its bud,

As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,

So the Lord God will cause righteousness

And praise to spring forth before all the nations.”

[3]

For since the beginning of the world

Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,

Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,

Who acts for the one who waits for Him.”

[4]

[1] Isaiah 55:6-7

[2] Isaiah 60:20

[3] Isaiah 61:11

[4] Isaiah 64:4

Law & Grace

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law, he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” [1]

“Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.” [2]

“…I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” [3]

Our Lord Jesus cherished and obeyed God’s laws. He contended with evil. He poured out His soul to save sinners. He was numbered with transgressors while dying between two criminals. He took the sin of humankind upon Himself. He gives His righteousness to us who believe in Him. This is grace immense and free. He lives. Daily, He makes intercession for us. O to be like Him, cherishing and keeping God’s laws and yet full of grace and forgiveness towards all people.

Our Lord Jesus cherished and obeyed God’s laws. He contended with evil. He poured out His soul to save sinners. He was numbered with transgressors while dying between two criminals. He took the sin of humankind upon Himself. He gives His righteousness to those who simply believe in Him. This is grace immense and free. He lives. He makes intercession for us who daily cross lines that God does not want us to transgress. O to be like Him – cherishing and keeping God’s laws and yet full of grace and forgiveness towards all people.

[1] Psalm 1:1-3
[2] Proverbs 28:4
[3] Isaiah 53:12

Determined

To do right, to sing, to rejoice, to share good news, to declare, “Our God reigns!” Because all the earth shall see the salvation of our God

“Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is My law: do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but My righteousness will be forever, and My salvation from generation to generation.” [1]

“Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” [2]

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” [3]

“The Lord has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” [4]

Praise the Lord!

[1] Isaiah 51:7-8
[2] Isaiah 51:11
[3] Isaiah 52:7
[4] Isaiah 51:10

In God We Trust

“The Name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. Before a down fall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” [1]

The Lord’s Name is an impenetrable shield for the righteous, but the riches of the wealthy is a wall that can be overcome. Humility leads to honor whereas pride precedes a fall.

“Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. For the Lord is our judge. The Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is He who will save us.” [2]

Salvation is of the Lord!

“Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” [3]

This is why we trust in the Lord and not in worldly riches.

[1] Proverbs 18:10-12
[2] Isaiah 33:2, 22
[3] 1 John 5:4-5, 12, 14

Standouts because of Him who Stand with Us

Standouts...
Because of Him who stands with us.
Standouts…
Because of His Spirit in us.
Hope-filled...
because He shall return.
We shall behold Him...
And we shall be like Him

“Dear Friends, we are children of God, and what we will be, has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: we know it by the Spirit, He gave us.” (1 John 3:2-3, 16, 23-24)

Expecting The Lord To Return

“My Dear Children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

“We know that we have come to know Him (Christ) if we keep His commands. Whoever says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys His Word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him: whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” [1]

“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.” [2]

“And now, dear children, continue in Him (Christ), so, that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He (Christ) is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.” [3]

[1] 1 John 2:1-6
[2] 1 John 2:9-11
[3] 1 John 2:28-29

Happy The Lord Is My God

“Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and He saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” [1]

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” [2]

“All that we have accomplished, You have done for us.” [3]

“Even in darkness light dawns for the upright (see note), for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.” [4]

“Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes, with the princes of His people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord.” [5]

Note: God has shined His light in dark places for me. He has given me grace when burdens were too heavy. He has lifted me up from the dust and ash heap. He has made me happy when no one else could.

[1] Isaiah 25:9
[2] Isaiah 26:3
[3] Isaiah 26:12
[4] Psalm 112:4-5
[5] Psalm 113:5-9

Fight the Good Fight with Might

Why? Because: “Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’” [1]

My son-in-law shared with me the results of a survey that was taken recently. The survey wanted to determine if people deemed faith better than doubt. The result was negative. The people who were surveyed felt that doubt was better. Better to be analytical! Better to be skeptical! Faith was not viewed positively.

Rejecting the Biblical view of God and His Law allows for freedom to live lust-filled lives.

The Lord calls us His Church to hold to the Christian faith amidst skepticism. He says, “Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” [2]

“We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.” [3]

The Lord urges us like a good coach does for his team, saying, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” [4] We need to depend on God’s grace to overcome in these last days. We need to fill our minds with the knowledge of God in these last days. Otherwise, we too, will descend into the drain of despair and debauchery.

We are in a war for the salvation of souls… both for our own and for the souls of those who are apt to believe in God with us.

Let us fight for the glory of Christ and for the salvation of souls. “To Him (Christ) be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” [5]

[1] 2 Peter 3:3-4
[2] 2 Peter 3:8-9
[3] 2 Peter 3:13-14
[4] 2 Peter 3:18
[5] 2 Peter 3:19

Revelation of Christ's Kingdom

“(You) are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” [1]

“Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” [2]

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” [3]

“Then the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” [4]

[1] 1st Peter 1:5-7
[2] 1st Peter 1:13
[3] Isaiah 9:6-7
[4] Revelation 11:15

Outlasting the Last Days

"Where there is no revelation (or prophetic vision), the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law." [1]

As I hear of humanity passing laws that "liberate" people from being restrained by God's Word, I think of times in Biblical history and of post-biblical history when other generations did the same. It never ended well. In fact, it is a work of the devil to convince people to overthrow God's authority in their lives.

A falling away from faith in God precedes the appearance of son of perdition. The son of perdition (destruction) opposes God. He convinces others to completely reject the Bible and to follow him instead of Christ.

"Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (the Day of Christ) will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." [2]

What should we do?

We need to preach the Gospel. We need to hold regular weekly prayer meetings. We need to pray for the eyes of unbelievers to be opened to the truth of God. Without revelation, people cast off restraint.

"Holy Spirit empower us to present Christ to the lost in a language and in a mannerism that they will receive Him."

Finally,

"...Stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle." [3]

And here's a blessing...

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work." [4]

Also, keep in mind... "the Lord will consume (the anti-Christ) with the breath of His mouth and destroy (him) with the brightness of His coming." [5]

[1] Proverbs 29:18 NKJV
[2] 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NKJV
[3] 2 Thessalonians 2:15 NKJV
[4] 2 Thessalonians 2:16 NKJV
[5] 2 Thessalonians 2:8 NKJV

The Greatest Riches

“Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he (Moses) looked to the reward.” [1]

There came a point in the life of Moses, when, by the grace of God, he preferred being insulted for his faith in God over owning the treasures of Egypt. What? Egypt was the wealthiest nation on earth. How could he esteem insults for Christ more so than the treasures of Egypt?

GRACE

God gave Moses grace to serve unhappy and oppressed slaves. God gave him grace to have good-will towards them. By relying on the power and guidance of God, Moses freed the Israelites from serving the fleshly desires of Egyptians.

God gave Moses grace to bring them to His holy mountain to serve Him. [2] God wanted these former expendables to enjoy a special relationship with Him. They would be His special treasure above all people on the earth. [3]

The Israelites liked the liberation part, but not so much the part of closeness with God. Closeness with God requires loving God more than the world. God got the people out of Egypt. That was the easy part. Now, He needed to get Egypt out of them.

I found myself identifying with the Psalmist as he prayed, “I have become as a wonder to many, but You are my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.” [4]

Thanks to the grace I have in Christ Jesus, I am a treasured possession of God. AND Christ is my treasure. I don’t have much to offer Him in return for all His benefits to me. I am currently morphing into a senior citizen. But guess what, that is okay. God does not cast us off when we become old. He does not forsake us when our earthly value wither. No, God draws near to us. In fact, Moses was over 80 years old when God used him to lead the slaves out of Egypt. So, I am depending on God during my senior years to do great things for those around me. Rather than lamenting or complaining, I am depending on God more.

PRAISE… to my Lord Jesus… “Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day.” [5]

[1] Hebrews 11:26
[2] Exodus 3:12
[3] Exodus 19:5
[4] Psalm 71:7-9
[5] Psalm 71:8

Deliverance From Disasters

Major hurricanes hit Hong Kong and Texas this week…

“Let not the floodwater overflow me, nor let the deep swallow me up; and let not the pit shut its mouth on me.” [1]

“No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death.” [2]

I praise the Lord for delivering my Hong Kong and Texas friends from disasters. Not one lost his or her life.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah Our God is the God of salvation; and to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.” [3]

“We are… those who believe to the saving of the soul.” [4]

[1] Psalm 69:15
[2] Ecclesiastes 8:8
[3] Psalm 68:19-20
[4] Hebrews 10:39

Pouring out My Heart to God

Pouring out my heart to God

Lifting my hands to Him

He hears

He answers

I praise Him

“Hear my cry, O God;

Attend to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I will cry to You,

When my heart is overwhelmed;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter for me,

A strong tower from the enemy.” [1]

“Truly my soul silently waits for God;

From Him comes my salvation.

He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my defense;

I shall not be greatly moved.

My soul, wait silently for God alone,

For my expectation is from Him.

He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my defense;

I shall not be moved.

In God is my salvation and my glory;

The rock of my strength,

And my refuge, is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah” [2]

“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

Thus, I will bless You while I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name.” [3]

[1] Psalm 61:1-3

[2] Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8

[3] Psalm 63:3-4

I Will Call Upon God

“As for me, I will call upon God,

And the Lord shall save me.

Evening and morning and at noon

I will pray, and cry aloud,

And He shall hear my voice.

Cast your burden on the Lord,

And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” [1]

“Whenever I am afraid,

I will trust in You.

You number my wanderings;

Put my tears into Your bottle;

Are they not in Your book?

In God (I will praise His Word),

In the Lord (I will praise His Word).” [2]

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me…” [3]

[1] Psalm 55:16-17, 22

[2] Psalm 56:3, 8, 10

[3] Psalm 138:8

Praising & Serving The Lord

“Whoso offers praise glorifies Me, and to him that orders his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.” [1]

“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life.” [2]

“God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” [3]

[1] Psalm 50:23

[2] Proverbs 22:4

[3] Hebrews 6:10

Make Me Your Messenger

“Yet if there is an angel at their side, a MESSENGER, one out of a thousand, SENT to TELL THEM HOW to BE UPRIGHT, and HE IS GRACIOUS to that person and SAYS to GOD, ‘SPARE THEM FROM going down to THE PIT; I have found A RANSOM for them—let their flesh BE RENEWED like a child’s; let them BE RESTORED as in the days of their youth’—then THAT PERSON CAN PRAY TO GOD and FIND FAVOR with HIM, THEY WILL SEE GOD'S FACE AND SHOUT FOR JOY; HE WILL RESTORE them TO FULL WELL-BEING.

And THEY WILL GO TO OTHERS AND SAY, ‘I HAVE SINNED, I have PERVERTED WHAT IS RIGHT, but I DID NOT GET WHAT I DESERVED. GOD HAS DELIVERED ME FROM going down to THE PIT, and I SHALL live to ENJOY the LIGHT of LIFE.’” (Job 33:23-28)

I praise GOD for sending people to me to tell me to BELIEVE in JESUS CHRIST! Now, I am SAVED from my SIN and from the PIT. “Now, Lord, please make me Your MESSENGER to others.”

WE SEE JESUS

“WE SEE JESUS,

Who was made a little lower than the angels...

For the suffering of death,

CROWNED with GLORY and HONOR;

That HE by the GRACE of GOD...

Should taste death for every man.”

WE SEE JESUS...

“For it became HIM,

FOR WHOM are ALL THINGS,

And BY WHOM are ALL THINGS,

In BRINGING MANY SONS unto GLORY,

To make the CAPTAIN OF their SALVATION...

Perfect through suffering.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers...

Of flesh and blood,

HE also HIMSELF LIKEWISE took part of the same;

That through death HE might DESTROY him...

That had the power of death,

That is, the devil;

And DELIVER them...

Who through fear of death...

Were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Wherefore IN ALL THINGS...

It befit HIM...

To be made like unto HIS BROTHERS,

That HE might be a merciful and faithful high priest...

In things pertaining to God,

To make RECONCILIATION FOR the SIN...

Of the PEOPLE.

For in that HE Himself has suffered being tempted,

HE IS ABLE to HELP them that are tempted.”

Hebrews 2:9-10, 14-15, 17-18

How’s Your Spiritual Climate

If you observe the people that you live among saying or acting in the following manner, “What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?” [1] Then, you are in a spiritually dark climate.

In a spiritually bright climate people enjoy serving and honoring the Father and His Son Jesus Christ because they have received the blessed Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers us to worship God and fills us with ample faith to speak to God. He reminds us that God is our Creator and He sustains the entire universe. When we pray to Him in the Name of His Son Jesus, He does more than we ask or imagine. [2]

We rely on air conditioners to cool hot air and heaters to heat cold air. Let us rely on GOD ALMIGHTY the CREATOR of the universe to transform the spiritual climate in which we live.

“Father, we pray in the Name of Your Son Jesus, please grace those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to see Your great light. Please brighten the spiritual climate of those around us by the light of Your glorious presence. Graciously, help that one we have been praying for to open up to You. And may that one become two, and those two become four, and so on, and so on, until the climate around us changes from spiritually dark to spiritually bright.”

[1] Job 21:15
[2] See Ephesians 3:20

Soul-safe in Christ’s Care

“Unto You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.” [1]

The soul-safe place is in Christ’s care.

“For Your Name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.” [2]

Iniquity is a terrible sin. Iniquity is an inequality continuously happening in a relationship. One person is complaining all the time and treating the other poorly, while the other is sacrificing and treating the other with great value. We, humans, tend to demand much from God, but give Him only heartache in return. And what does God ask of us? He expects us to love mercy, be fair with one another and to walk with Him in humble way. [3] God’s two great rules of thumb are to love Him and to love people. Our Lord showed us how to love God and others in the Gospels. Praise God for pardoning our iniquity. Praise Him for giving us His Holy Spirit to help us walk as He walked… loving others more than ourselves.

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, which will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.” [4]

I cannot think of any better gift than to see JESUS and then, be welcomed by Him into heaven forever. As the Psalmist said…

“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” [5]

Therefore, let us…

“Wait on the LORD:
Be of GOOD COURAGE,
And HE shall STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART:
Wait, I say, on the LORD.” [6]

[1] Psalm 25:1
[2] Psalm 25:11
[3] Micah 6:8

[4] Psalm 27:4

[5] Psalm 27:13
[6] Psalm 27:14

Blessed to be Forgiven by God

Let us embrace the blessing of God’s forgiveness... the blessing of having a conscience free from past guilt...

“’Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’” [1]

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [2]

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.” [3]

“I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ And You FORGAVE the iniquity of my sin. Selah” [4]

“You [God] have cast all my sins behind Your back.” [5]

“Thank You Heavenly Father for sending Your Son to be our Savior from sin and for forgiving all our sins.”

[1] Isaiah 1:18
[2] 1 John 1:8-9
[3] Psalm 32:1
[4] Psalm 32:5
[5] Isaiah 38:17

A Charge to Keep – A Crown to Receive

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

Preach the word!
Be ready in season and out of season.
Convince,
Rebuke,
Exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.
Be watchful in all things,
Endure afflictions,
Do the work of an evangelist,
Fulfill your ministry.

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

2 Timothy 4:1-2, 5, 8

Countering the Terrible Times of the Last Days

“Mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” [1]

What do you do with the evil dangerous people of these last days? The Bible says to have nothing to do with them. Spend time in God’s Word instead. “As for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of… the Holy Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” [2]

Another way to counter the terrible times of the last days is to be committed to giving thanks to the Lord…

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. To Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. Who by His understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. Who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. Who made the great lights—His love endures forever. The sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. The moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.”

[1] 2 Timothy 3:1-5
[2] 2 Timothy 3:14-17
[3] Psalm 136:1, 4-9

GOD & JOB

Have you heard of Job? The Bible says that he “was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” [1]

Job had ten children and 11,000 animals. He was the greatest of all the people of the East. [2]

The devil wanted to destroy Job’s good relationship with God, so he sought permission from God to takeaway all Job’s blessings. He told God, “Stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” So, God gave Satan permission to touch Job’s possessions but not his person. [3]

Satan’s agents, the Sabeans, stole Job’s 500 oxen and 500 donkeys, and slew their caregivers. [4]

He made fire fall from heaven and burned up Job’s 7,000 sheep and their caregivers. [5]

Satan’s agents, the Chaldeans, stole Job’s 3,000 camels, and killed their caregivers. [6]

Satan caused a great wind to destroy Job’s oldest son’s house. All ten of his children died that day. [7]

What did Job do after this? He fell to the ground and worshiped God. He said: “’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.’ In all this Job, did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” [8]

Then, Satan asked God to touch Job’s bone and his flesh so that Job would “Surely curse You (God) to Your face!” The Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” “So, Satan struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” [9]

“In all this, Job did not sin with his lips.” [10] Job loved God even after Satan stole his possessions and his health.

The next test was the greatest challenge to Job’s relationship with God. His three friends began to pit God’s integrity against Job’s. Job defended his behavior towards God. This dialogue between Job and his three friends continues for 30 chapters. Then, a young man jumps in on conversation. He talks for six chapters. Finally, God speaks for four chapters. He reminds Job that He is God and that He is the Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things. Job repented of questioning God’s integrity. The Lord told Job’s three friends that they did not speak right about Him as Job did. He commanded them to offer a sacrifice and to ask Job to pray for them. They obeyed the Lord. [11]

We can never out-give God. Whatever we sacrifice for Him, He always gives us more in return. “The Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed. the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” [12]

I have observed this pattern during my life, and so have others. Usually, after times of great trials comes seasons of great blessings.

“The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.” [13]

Job ended up with 22,000 animals, ten children, and he saw his children’s children unto the fourth generation. He lived 140 years. [14]

“Blessed be the Name of the Lord!”

[1] Job 1:1
[2] Job 1:2-3
[3] Job 1:10-12
[4] Job 1:14-15
[5] Job 1:16
[6] Job 1:17
[7] Job 1:18-19
[8] Job 1:20-22
[9] Job 2:4-7
[10] Job 2:10
[11] Job 42:1-8
[12] Job 42:10
[13] Job 42:12
[14] Job 42:12-17

The SPIRIT of GRACE and of SUPPLICATIONS

“And I will POUR upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the SPIRIT of GRACE and of SUPPLICATIONS: and they shall look upon ME whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for HIM, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for HIM, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” [1]

The SPIRIT of GRACE and of SUPPLICATIONS leads us to see JESUS! Especially to see Him in His sufferings for our sins and for our salvation.

For example, in the early months of 1997, my family of six was living on the fifth floor of a school in Guangzhou City, China. We experienced many trials. From overwhelming heat and humidity to swarms of mosquitos that had to be fought off by burning smoking coils of repellent and sleeping under mosquito nets. Sometimes our meal rice that smelled so good to a hungry tummy tasted horrible to a sensitive pallet because of tiny particles of sand in it. Sometimes the choice vegetable served to us by the school “chef” was celery floating in oil. Then, there was the always the not-so-hidden clues that the government was surveilling us.

Amidst this lifestyle fraught with difficulties, the Holy Spirit led us to divine moments of rapture as we listened to songs of the Savior who suffered on a cruel cross to save us and the world from sin. I had a cassette player and scores of cassettes with songs to celebrate the love of God demonstrated to us by His Son. These songs were our oasis in the dry desert. Songs like: “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood” (William Cowper); “At the Cross” (Isaac Watts); “Jesus Paid it All” (Elvina M. Hall); “Whiter than Snow” (James Nicholson); “The Love of God” (Frederick M. Lehman); and “What a Friend we have in Jesus” (Joseph M. Scrivener).

I did not always know how to pray but the Holy Spirit did. As the Scripture says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” [2]

“Look on ME . . . whom they have pierced.’ Look at the only begotten Son of God suffering for us! See His pierced hands and feet! Pierced for our sin. Look at Him with hymns! Look at Him with prayers! Look at Him with praise! Look at Him and tell others what you see!

The angel told John, “For it is the SPIRIT of prophecy who bears testimony to JESUS.” [3] “The Holy Spirit is truly ‘God the Evangelist,’ drawing sinners into fellowship with Christ. Knowledge of Christ and fellowship with Him is what the Holy Spirit’s ministry is all about. His ministry leads us to see our need of Christ so that we embrace Him in faith and love.” [4]

“Yes, Heavenly Father, may the Spirit of grace and supplications work in and through us to bring us and others close to Christ. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”

[1] Zechariah 12:10
[2] Romans 8:26
[3] Revelation 19:10
[4] J.I. Packer: The Holy Spirit and Salvation

Prayer Versus War

Our small group discussion was about helping those who hurt rather than judging them for not matching our expectations. If God was so offended by human sin that He chose to condemn humans rather than show them mercy, who could stand?

Between October 16 and October 28 of1962, the USA and USSR were on the brink of a thermonuclear war. The USSR placed ICBM’s with nuclear warheads in Cuba. The USA demanded that the USSR remove the nuclear missiles, or the USA would remove them by force. After a 13–day standoff, the USSR removed the missiles and the USA promised not to invade Cuba. The USA also removed our ICBM’s from Turkey that were pointed at the USSR. If this standoff had went the other direction, many people in the USSR and USA would have been totally decimated.

Now, fast forward nearly 55 years later to July 31, 2017. China, Russia, and the USA are building up for a potential war over another small country with ICBM’s, that is, North Korea. Prior to the Cuban Missile Crisis, President Kennedy approved a national day of prayer. Christians prayed and the war was averted.

The best option to a resolve a crisis is prayer not war. Pray earnestly for the lives of people. Believe that GOD IS the answer. Our real enemy is Satan. He hates people because we are made in the image of God. He would have us kill each other. He would love for fire to fall from the sky on people and destroy them.

Let us humble ourselves. Let us seek God. Let us pray for our nation and for the nations of other peoples. May the Lord quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. May the Good News of Christ’s death and resurrection be proclaimed. May our churches be places where compassion, forgiveness, and healing take place.

“Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—He remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked.”

Psalm 146:5-9

Loyalty Versus Lawlessness

The anti-Christ’s goal is to force people to keep his commandments and to reject God’s. He wants the whole human race to worship him not God.

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” [1]

While looking for an appropriate image to illustrate a point of a sermon, I noticed an image of the band called KISS. My sermon topic was on being rescued by the Lord from stormy seas. I was looking for a picture of a ship at sea. The KISS picture I noticed was an advertisement to join an ocean cruise with them. As I looked at the picture, I realized that Satan uses theatrics, shock, and awe, as well as the promise of fleshly pleasure, to gather followers to himself. Lovers of truth reject these temptations. They denounce the devil and all his ways. They have no desire to join with relatives, friends, and acquaintances who love lawlessness.

The anti-Christ’s goal is to get us to keep his commandments and to reject God’s. Therefore, God offers us a benediction: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” [2] “Yes, Lord, please keep us from temptation and deliver us from evil. For Yours alone is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

[1] 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
[2] 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Cry Out To God

“Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord.” [1]

Have you ever poured out your heart to God? I did in August of 1979, and my life was changed. Christ gave me new life. Now, I live and have hope based on the merits of Christ and not on my own deeds.

Our Lord Jesus Christ took my sin and my punishment on Calvary’s cross and gave me His righteousness and His favor with God His Father. He cleared the way for me to have a personal relationship with God. It does not mean that I am better than anyone else. It just means that God has forgiven me and given me His Holy Spirit. By daily reliance on His Spirit which He gave to me, I can cry out to GOD from the depths of my heart, and He hears and helps me.

I am very thankful that JESUS CHRIST is my Lord and Savior.

“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is LORD OF ALL and RICHLY BLESSES all who call on HIM, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the Name of the LORD will be SAVED.’” [2]

[1] Psalm 130:1
[2] Romans 10:12-13

When a Nation Returns to God

“All the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for His people, because it was done so quickly.” [1]

“The Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.” [2]

“The hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out... the Word of the Lord.” [3]

“The Lord... healed the people.” [4]

“The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, His holy dwelling place.” [5]

[1] 2 Chronicles 29:36
[2] 2 Chronicles 30:9
[3] 2 Chronicles 30:12
[4] 2 Chronicles 30:20
[5] 2 Chronicles 30:27

The Best Gain is to Gain Christ

“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord...

Our citizenship is in heaven. 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.”

Philippians 3:8-9, 20-21

Leaving Behind a Blesséd Legacy

Solomon was the wisest of all men in his time. He wrote thousands of wise sayings, but he also suffered from blindness. A blindness to his desire to please himself! He confessed in that he withheld no pleasure from himself. He had 300 wives and 700 concubines. They turned his heart to other gods. [1]

After he died, the people of his kingdom said to his son, “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us and we will serve you.” [2]

Solomon may have been great in his own eyes and in the eyes of other national leaders, but the people under him were ready to revolt. When his son told the people that he would add to the weight of their yoke, they revolted, and the nation split into two nations.

Unfettered personal ambition shattered the nation. Wise counselors told Solomon’s son, “If you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” [3] His son rejected wisdom.

“Certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him and defied Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was soft of heart and could not withstand them.” [4] The devil hits young people with peer pressure to do wrong. The worthless scoundrels in Rehoboam’s youthful life persuaded him to abandon God’s Word. Later, when he was king, he persuaded the people of his country to do the same.

“When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.” [5]

The Lord allowed an enemy nation to come against Rehoboam and his people with the goal that they would turn back to Him. A prophet of the Lord said to Rehoboam and his princes, “Thus says the Lord, ‘You abandoned Me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.’” [6] This strategy worked. “Then, the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, ‘The Lord is righteous.’ When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the Word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: ‘They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him, that they may know My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.’” [7]

Praise the Lord that He does not write people off forever who abandon Him and His Word. He provides for them powerful incentives for them to return to Him. When they return to the Heavenly Father, they find that HE is the Good Shepherd. The Lord leads those who follow Him to a meaningful and good life.

May the Lord continue to bless people with skills and strengths, but also keep us humble before Him. Then, we will truly leave behind a good memory in the hearts of those who knew us. And He, our Father in Heaven, will have been glorified by what we did with our lives.

[1] Ecclesiastes 2:10; 1 Kings 11:3-4
[2] 2 Chronicles 10:4
[3] 2 Chronicles 10:7
[4] 2 Chronicles 13:7
[5] 2 Chronicles 12:1
[6] 2 Chronicles 12:5
[7] 2 Chronicles 12:6-8

Fill This House with Your Glory

“Indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters, and singers were as ONE, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and PRAISED the LORD, saying: ‘For HE is GOOD, for HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER,’ that the house, the house of the LORD, was FILLED with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the GLORY of the LORD FILLED the HOUSE of GOD.” [1]

“Dear Heavenly Father, please join our hearts together with such who enjoy worshipping You with music and songs, and with praises. Let us be in Your house where Your glory fills the place. In the Name of the Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.”

[1] 2 Chronicles 5:13-14

Testimony / Testimonio / 見 證 / شَهادَةُ الله

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” [1]

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” [2]

[1] 1John 5:11-12 NIV

[2] Galatians 6:14 NIV

“Y el testimonio es este: que Dios nos ha dado vida eterna, y esa vida está en su Hijo. 12 El que tiene al Hijo, tiene la vida; el que no tiene al Hijo de Dios, no tiene la vida.” [1]

“En cuanto a mí, jamás se me ocurra jactarme de otra cosa sino de la cruz de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, por quien el mundo ha sido crucificado para mí, y yo para el mundo.” [2]

[1] 1Juan 5:11-12 NVI

[2] Gálatas 6:14 NVI

“ 這 見 證 就 是 神 賜 給 我 們 永 生 ； 這 永 生 也 是 在 他 兒 子 裡 面 。 人 有 了 神 的 兒 子 就 有 生 命 ， 沒 有 神 的 兒 子 就 沒 有 生 命 。[1]

“但 我 斷 不 以 別 的 誇 口 ， 只 誇 我 們 主 耶 穌 基 督 的 十 字 架 ； 因 這 十 字 架 ， 就 我 而 論 ， 世 界 已 經 釘 在 十 字 架 上 ； 就 世 界 而 論 ， 我 已 經 釘 在 十 字 架 上 。” [2]

[1] 約 翰 一 書 5:11-12 CUV

[2] 加 拉 太 書 CUV

وَشَهادَةُ اللهِ هِيَ أنَّهُ قَدْ أعطانا الحَياةَ الأبَدِيَّةَ، وَهَذِهِ الحَياةُ هِيَ فِي ابنِهِ. فَمَنْ لَهُ الإبنُ لَهُ الحَياةُ، وَمَنْ لَيسَ لَهُ ابنُ اللهِ، لَيسَتْ لَهُ حَياةٌ [1]

وَأمّا أنا فَأرجُو أنْ لا أفتَخِرَ إلّا بِصَلِيبِ رَبِّنا يَسُوعَ المَسِيحِ. فَفِيهِ صُلِبَ العالَمُ بِالنِّسْبَةِ لِي، وَأنا صُلِبْتُ بِالنِّسبَةِ لِلعالَمِ. [2]

[1] ﻳﻮﺣﻨﺎ ﺍﻻﻭﻝ 5:11-12
[2] ﻏﻼﻃﻲ 6:14

I LOVE YOU GOD

God, Your love is better than life

I see Your power and glory

I lift up my hands to YOU...

“You, GOD, are MY GOD,

EARNESTLY I SEEK YOU;

I THIRST for YOU,

My WHOLE BEING longs for YOU,

In a dry and parched land

Where there is no water.

I have seen YOU in the sanctuary (the holy place)

And BEHELD YOUR POWER and YOUR GLORY.

Because YOUR LOVE is BETTER THAN LIFE,

My LIPS will GLORIFY YOU.

I will PRAISE YOU as long as I live,

And IN YOUR NAME

I will LIFT UP MY HANDS.”

Psalm 63:1-4

Christ's Power Rests on Who

“I know a man IN CHRIST who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third HEAVEN. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was CAUGHT UP to PARADISE and HEARD INEXPRESSIBLE THINGS that no one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.” [1]

“He (CHRIST) said to me, ‘My GRACE is SUFFICIENT for YOU, for MY POWER is MADE PERFECT in WEAKNESS.’ Therefore I will BOAST all the more gladly about MY WEAKNESSES, so that CHRIST’s POWER may REST on ME.’” [2]

[1] 2 Corinthians 12:2-5
[2] 2 Corinthians 12:9

A Word for the One who Lives to Glorify God

“David became more and more powerful, because the Lord Almighty was with him.” [1]

“Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.” [2]

[1] 1 Chronicles 11:9
[2] 1 Chronicles 12:22

Pleasing Sacrifices to God

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” [1]

Living sacrifices for the Lord! Holy bodies acceptable to God!

The Old Testament standard for sacrificial animals offered to God was unblemished, unmaimed and without sickness.

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” [2]

Not think more highly of ourselves than we should! A holy sacrifice! How?

There are two important words to ponder in Romans 12:1, 3. They are “mercies” and “grace.” God’s mercy and grace! Being sanctified for the Lord’s service is a work of the Holy Spirit. We can bring our body to the altar, but we need the Lord to bring the fire.
John the Baptist said of Jesus, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” [3]

We can pray...

“Create in me a PURE HEART, O God, renew a STEDFAST SPIRIT within me. Do not cast me from Your PRESENCE. Do not take Your HOLY SPIRIT from me. Restore to me the JOY OF Your SALVATION. Grant me a WILLING SPIRIT, to sustain me.” [4]

And be assured that...

“The sacrifices of God are a BROKEN SPIRIT, a broken and a CONTRITE HEART—these, O God, You will not despise.” [5]

“Dear Heavenly Father, we need You to transform us from sinners to saints. We offer ourselves to You. Please bring the fire of Your Holy Spirit afresh upon us and transform us. Make us holy and pleasing sacrifices to You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.”

[1] Romans 12:1
[2] Romans 12:3
[3] Matthew 3:11
[4] Psalm 51:10-12
[5] Psalm 51:17

Spiritual Warfare

Let us rely on God’s power to win the information war, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish stronghold.” [1]

Keeping Christ first in our thoughts and conversations: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” [2]

Our weapons include faith in God’s promises, prayer, the testimony of Jesus, His atoning blood, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the blessing of our Father’s abiding presence which gives us a peace that passes all understanding.

[1] 2 Corinthians 10:3-4
[2] 2 Corinthians 10:5

DIVINE DELIVERANCE

When the devil’s agents ridicule and threaten God’s people, it is time to PRAY.

“Hezekiah PRAYED to the Lord: ‘LORD, the GOD of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, You ALONE are GOD over all the kingdoms of the earth. YOU have made HEAVEN and EARTH. GIVE EAR, LORD, and HEAR; OPEN YOUR EYES, LORD, and SEE; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to r-i-d-i-c-u-l-e the living GOD. It is true, LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, Lord our God, DELIVER US from his hand, so that ALL the KINGDOMS of the earth may KNOW that You ALONE, LORD, are GOD.’”

“That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a 185,000 in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king.”

2 Kings 19:15-19, 35-37

Be Reconciled To God

“HE (Christ) died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but FOR HIM who died for them and was raised again. Therefore, if anyone is IN CHRIST, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the NEW IS HERE!

We IMPLORE you on CHRIST’S behalf: be RECONCILED to GOD.

GOD made HIM (Christ) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that IN HIM we might become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD.”

2 Corinthians 5:15, 17, 20-21

Elijah, Elisha, Jesus & the Church

I see in Elijah and Elisha a type of Jesus and the Church. When Elisha knew that the Lord was going to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, he stuck by his side. [1] This is what the disciples did. They stayed with Jesus until He was taken up into heaven.

When Elijah said to Elisha, “’Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?’

Elisha said, ‘Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.’” [2]

When Elijah was taken up to heaven by chariot and horses of fire, Elisha was there. Elijah’s mantle fell to him. He picked it up and immediately was anointed of God to do a miracle. He parted the Jordan River. The sons of the prophets who saw this miracle declared, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” [3] This is what after Jesus ascended to heaven. Ten days after His ascension into heaven the Spirit of Jesus fell on the disciples and on all in the upper room and they were filled and indwelt by His Spirit. This is the day the Christian Church was born – the Day of Pentecost.

Elisha received a double portion of the Spirit of Elijah. If you count the miracles of Elijah, there are seven. If you count the miracles of Elisha, there are fourteen. The last miracle of Elisha happened after he was dead. Men placed a dead man in his tomb, and when the dead man contacted Elisha’s bones, he came back to life. [4]

Jesus said to His disciples before His ascension into heaven, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” [5] The Church has done greater works because after Jesus went to heaven, He gave His Spirit to Christians so that we can continue His ministry here on earth. Miracles have been done by Christians through the centuries since Christ ascended into heaven, and these miracles are continuing until today.

The stops at Bethel, Jericho and Jordan by Elijah on his rapture day have special meaning.

Bethel means “House of God.” Bethel is where the Lord appeared to Abraham, and then later to Jacob.

Jericho is where the walls of a seemingly invincible city collapsed after Joshua and the people of Israel marched around that city for seven days. By the way, Joshua is the Hebrew pronunciation of Jesus, and the name means “the Lord saves.” This story represents the lasts days, when after the seven angels sound their trumpets, the kingdoms of this world will collapse before the Lord.

Jordan is where John the Baptist announced the coming of the Messiah and it is where Jesus was baptized. It is also where the voice of God the Father was heard from heaven declaring that Jesus is His Son, and it is where the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove.

The Bible points to Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. In the end, He wins.

[1] 2 Kings 2:1-6
[2] 2 Kings 2:9
[3] 2 Kings 2:10-15
[4] 2 Kings 13:21
[5] John 14:12

He Raises The Dead

God raises the dead and He can raise you up from whatever situation that you are in that seems beyond resolution.

“Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him. So she said to Elijah, ‘What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?’ And he said to her, ‘Give me your son.’ So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying and laid him on his own bed. Then he cried out to the Lord and said, ‘O LORD my GOD, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?’ And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and CRIED OUT to the LORD and said, ‘O LORD MY GOD, I PRAY, let this CHILD’S SOUL COME BACK to HIM.’ Then the LORD HEARD the VOICE of Elijah; and the SOUL of the CHILD CAME BACK to him, and HE REVIVED. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, ‘SEE, YOUR SON LIVES!’ Then the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now by this I know that you are a man of GOD, and that the WORD of the LORD in your mouth is the TRUTH.’”

1 Kings 18:17-24

Check Your Spiritual Compass

Stay on the right course before God. Do what is good for all involved so that they may be saved. “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” [1]

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” [2]

“This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right, and faithful before the Lord his God.” [3]

“For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” [4]

[1] 1 Corinthians 10:12
[2] Psalm 139:23-24
[3] 2 Chronicles 31:20
[4] 1 Corinthians 10:33

Shepherds who Receive the Crown of Glory

The Apostle Peter encourages pastors to care for flocks eagerly. Be examples of what we preach! He tells us that if we do this, we will receive a crown of glory when the Chief Shepherd, Jesus, returns.

“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; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” [1]

“Lord Jesus, please help us to be shepherds who receive the crown of glory from You.”

[1] 1 Peter 5:2-4

Preaching Christ Crucified

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” [1]

It pleases God by the foolishness of preaching to save souls that believe. [2]

Preach Christ crucified! Christ is the power and wisdom of God to them which are called. [3]

Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. God has chosen base things of the world, and things which are despised, yes, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: so that no flesh should glory in His presence, so that He that glories, let him glory in the Lord. [3]

Yes, Lord Jesus, may it be so in our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

[1] 1 Corinthians 1:18
[2] 1 Corinthians 1:21-24
[3] 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, 31

Resurrected By the Power of God

“The LORD GAVE David VICTORY wherever he went. David reigned over all Israel, DOING what was JUST and RIGHT for ALL his PEOPLE.” [1]

“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised IMPERISHABLE; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in GLORY; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in POWER; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a SPIRITUAL body.” [2]

Sunday, Jesus opened the door for me to share God’s Word with seventy-seven men at a ministry for homeless and destitute men. The Spirit led me to emphasize resurrection by the power of God. At the moment of death, we are at our most helpless and vulnerable state. We can do nothing for ourselves. We must transfer all our faith to the POWER OF GOD.

The Spirit led me to ask the men, “Why don’t we rely on the power of God all the time? Let us continuously ask GOD to raise us up with HIS POWER. No matter how bad our circumstances are, even if we are dying, GOD has the POWER to GIVE us VICTORY. The LORD delights in those who TRUST in Him.” He works through believing believers.

By GOD’s POWER we can do what is JUST and RIGHT for ALL people. David, in the Bible, lived by faith in GOD. More than that he lived a life of praising and thanking GOD. He knew that His help was in the NAME of the LORD. GOD gave him the POWER to do what was JUST and RIGHT for ALL people.

We believe that GOD raises us the perishable. GOD glorifies the dishonored who TRUST in HIM. GOD resurrects the dead by HIS POWER. GOD GIVES the VICTORY. HE empowers us to do JUST and RIGHT for ALL people. Amen? GLORY to GOD!

[1] 2 Samuel 8:6, 14-15
[2] 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

Rejoicing in Suffering for Christ

Faking suffering for Christ’s sake while pursuing selfish perks is wrong.

“A certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’” [1]

Rejoicing to suffer for Christ’s sake is right.

“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” [2]

Let’s serve Christ. Let’s turn this world right-side up! Souls hang in the balance.

[1] Acts 5:1-4
[2] Acts 5:41-42

Live Under God’s Grace

“Count yourselves dead to sin

And ALIVE to GOD in Christ JESUS.

Do not let sin reign in your mortal body

So that you obey its evil desires.

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin

As an instrument of wickedness,

But rather OFFER YOURSELVES to GOD

As those who have been brought from death to LIFE;

OFFER every part of YOURSELF to HIM

As an INSTRUMENT of RIGHTEOUSNESS.

For sin shall no longer be your master,

Because you are not under the law,

You are UNDER GRACE.”

Romans 6:11-14

GOD IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS to BELIEVERS in CHRIST

“For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham BELIEVED GOD, and it [his faith] was accounted to him for RIGHTEOUSNESS.’ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but BELIEVES on HIM who JUSTIFIES the ungodly, His FAITH is ACCOUNTED for RIGHTEOUSNESS.

BLESSED is the one to whom the LORD shall NOT IMPUTE SIN.

Now it was not written for his [Abraham’s] sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It [RIGHTEOUSNESS] shall be IMPUTED to us, who BELIEVE in HIM who raised up JESUS our LORD from the dead, who was delivered up because of OUR OFFENCES, and was raised because of OUR JUSTIFICATION.” [1]

Hallelujah! Salvation is guaranteed to BELIEVERS in CHRIST. HIS righteousness is imputed to us by GOD. JESUS CHRIST is the LAMB of GOD who takes away the sin of the world.

[1] Romans 4:3-5, 8, 23-25

Being Righteous in God’s Sight

“…BY the DEEDS of the law

NO FLESH will be JUSTIFIED in His sight,

For BY the LAW is the KNOWLEDGE of SIN.

…NOW the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God

APART FROM the LAW is REVEALED,

Being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

Even the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God,

THRU FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST,

TO all and on ALL WHO BELIEVE.

For there is no difference;

For ALL HAVE SINNED

And FALL SHORT of the GLORY of GOD,

Being JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE…

Thru the REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS,

Whom GOD SET FORTH

As A PROPITIATION (an atoning sacrifice)

By HIS BLOOD,

Thru FAITH, to demonstrate HIS righteousness,

Because in HIS FORBEARANCE

GOD had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

To demonstrate at the present time HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,

That HE might BE JUST

And THE JUSTIFIER of THE ONE

Who HAS FAITH in JESUS.”

[1]

How to be righteous in God’s sight…

BELIEVE in the LORD JESUS CHRIST

And YOU SHALL BE

RIGHTEOUS in GOD’s SIGHT

[1] Romans 3:20-26