The Blessing of God

In Leviticus 26:1-13, the Lord speaks of sins to avoid and blessings to receive. He is the Lord. This is His world. It is His creation. The blessings are His to grant or to withhold.

The devil is one who told our first parents Adam and Eve that they could go against God’s rule and still prosper. The devil lied. Nothing has changed. He still propagates lies against God.

In this context, those who propagate a disregard for God and God’s rule are not leading us to blessings, but to curses. Leviticus 26:14-39 lists the curses that come to those who disregard God, His rule and live in opposition to Him.

So, let us pray for our country and for all peoples of the world. We are one human race created in the image of God. Many have embraced the Lord and His Word. Many worship Him and pray to Him daily. Let us ask the Lord to add people to His body the Church. And may we, His Church, be diligent to KNOW Him, WORSHIP Him, and SERVE Him. GOD is GOOD, and all blessings flow from HIM.

“Blessed is the person You choose,
And cause to approach You,
That he may dwell in Your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Of Your holy temple.

By awesome deeds in righteousness, You answer us,
O God of our salvation,
You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth,
And of the far-off seas;
Who established the mountains by His strength,
Being clothed with power;
You who still the noise of the seas,
The noise of their waves,
And the tumult of the peoples.
They who dwell faraway are afraid of Your signs;
You make the morning and evening rejoice.

You visit the earth and water it,
You greatly enrich it;
The river of God is full of water;
You provide their grain,
For so You have prepared it.
You water its ridges abundantly,
You settle its furrows;
You make it soft with showers,
You bless its growth.

You crown the year with Your goodness,
And Your paths drip with abundance.
They drop on the pastures of the wilderness,
And the little hills rejoice on every side.
The pastures are clothed with flocks;
The valleys also are covered with grain;
They shout for joy, they also sing.” [1]

[1] Psalm 65:4-13

What if the Lord Returned Today?

Would you KNOW for sure, nothing doubting, that you would go to heaven?

Is it possible to KNOW for certain that you have eternal life? That is a very great reward, right? Who deserves it?

The truth of the matter is no human deserves or earns eternal life. Eternal life is the gift of God according to Ephesians 2:8 in the Bible.

When we believe in Jesus, we KNOW that we have eternal life both by the promises in God’s Word in the Bible, and by the witness of His Holy Spirit, whom He gives to those who believe in His Name...

“The testimony that God has given us is eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” [1]

“He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself.” [2]

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” [3]

In Christ, even though we die, we live again.

What is our part in this great salvation?

First, we must repent of sin. Sin separates us from God. Isaiah 59:2 says, “Your iniquities have separated you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”

The Gospel tells us that Jesus took away our sins on the cross. The Gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, was resurrected on the third day, was seen by witnesses for 40 days, and afterwards, He ascended to heaven from where He will return to judge the living and the dead.

Second, we are to believe in and confess that Jesus is our Lord. Then, we have eternal life.

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” [4]

Jesus is able to keep us from stumbling and present us faultless before God. [5]

[1] 1 John 5:11-12
[2] 1 John 5:10
[3] Romans 8:16
[4] Romans 10:9-10
[5] Jude 1:24

My Hong Kong Youth for Christ (HKYFC) Experience (1985-1987)

The Lord has been so incredibly gracious to me throughout my life.

My opportunity to work alongside Hong Kong Youth for Christ Director David Chu as his assistant is one such example.

I would love to see similar developments happen for our young people in Kirksville.

For example...

Graphic art seminar to give young people tools to promote with posters and other materials the Gospel sharing ministry.

Public speaking seminar to give young people tools to speak before hundreds.

Acting seminar to give young people tools to do skits for evangelistic meetings.

Music and singing seminar to give young people tools for music ministry.

Writing and publishing seminars to give young people tools to promote the Gospel.

Evangelism and Discipleship seminars to give young people tools to win souls to Christ and disciple them.

HKYFC was blessed with three departments of staff: Evangelism, Follow-up and Training.

HKYFC had access to do programs in 450 schools in Hong Kong as well as at detentions centers, shopping malls, and public venues with high volumes of people traffic.

We need to develop ministry skills and identify venues where we can minister to young people.

HKYFC reached many souls for Christ on a weekly basis.

I am looking to the Lord for our young people. “Lord, please help us to help them. Help us to give them tools that will help them serve You and to be blessings to this world for many years to come. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.”

Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy...

“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

Lord, Send a Revival!

“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” [1]

Paul warned of tough times in the last days. People will love themselves and their money. They will scoff at God, act religiously, and reject the power that could make them godly. [2]

People will be inward looking instead of outward looking!

What can change such a culture? Such an ingrained way of life?

One day, our Lord gave Ezekiel a vision. He saw a valley filled with dry bones. The Lord told Ezekiel to tell the dry bones that they would live again. When he did as the Lord commanded, the bones came together as skeletons. Muscles and skin formed over the bones, and the breath of life came into them. [3]

The Lord breathes spiritual live into dead souls as they hear the Gospel. This Gospel comes to them through Spirit-filled and Spirit-led people who love God and neighbor.

Revival comes by the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of Bible-believing and Bible-speaking Christians. The Holy Spirit moves as people devote themselves to Bible reading, prayer and to being witnesses for Christ.

Concerning prayer, E.M. Bounds said, “The prayers of God’s saints are the capital stock in Heaven by which Christ carries on His great work upon [the] earth.”

Revival comes as God’s people believe for it, pray for it and work for it.

“Lord, please send a revival!”

[1] Hosea 10:12
[2] 2 Timothy 3:1–5
[3] Ezekiel 37:1–14

Winning Spiritual Battles

Every human being has a common adversary. He is the devil. The Bible does not portray him as a grotesque and chill-raising creature...

“Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” [1]

Hunters do not scare prey from a trap. They lure prey to a trap. Satan tempted Jesus with food when He was hungry. He tempted Jesus to misuse spiritual power. He tempted Jesus with the kingdoms of the world. Each shiny temptation was a lure to a trap, namely, the great loss that comes when one betrays God’s leadership for Satan’s. Jesus rebuked the devil. [2]

So, the Lord urges us to prepare for battle...

“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.” [3]

The armor we wear is spiritual because we are not contending with people, but with evil itself. Our goal is to defeat the devil from winning the minds of people away from God to his way of thinking. This battle began when Satan convinced our first parents, Adam, and Eve, to exchange God’s narrative for his lie. Scripture states that this battle is ongoing...

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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.” [4]

So, what are our weapons?

“Stand therefore, having the belt of truth, having the breastplate of righteousness, and having on your feet the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit...” [5]

We need God’s truth, His righteousness, His Gospel, faith, salvation (be saved by God), God’s Word – the Bible, and prayer. We need to pray to God. Prayer can be challenging work. It can be wearisome, but we need to pray. Our prayers rise to God like incense. He turns our prayers into firepower that yield results. [6]

We hear a lot about resistance movements these days. We need to resist the devil...

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” [7]

How do we win? By steadfastly (never letting up) believing in Christ...

“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” [7]

[1] 2 Corinthians 11:14
[2] Matthew 4:1-10
[3] Ephesians 6:11-12
[4] 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
[5] Ephesians 6:14-18
[6] Revelation 8:3-5
[7] James 4:7
[8] 1 John 5:5

Jesus Transforms Cross-bearers

Once, Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” [1]

It is we, not Jesus, who are judged by our answer. In fact, we answer this question daily by what we believe and do.

Peter knew that Jesus is the Christ of God. The Messiah from the heart of God, not the Messiah from the desire of man!

“He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed.’” [2]

Jesus didn’t want His identity popularly known before the proper time. How could the crowds embrace a suffering Messiah? Many expected or hoped that He would be a political messiah.

But His Messiahship was planned before the world began.

“[You were redeemed] with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you.” [3]

“And be raised the third day.” [4]

His suffering and death was not an end. It was a beginning.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” [5]

Before a man died on a cross, he had to carry his cross (or at least the horizontal beam of the cross) to the place of execution. No one took up a cross voluntarily. It was impressed on him.

Jesus calls us to voluntarily take up our cross. The cross symbolizes self-denial. It is not about self-promotion or self-affirmation. The cross means to live as an others-centered person. “Daily!” No one could be crucified daily. Jesus was speaking metaphorically.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” [6]

You don’t lose a seed when you plant it, you set it free to be transformed into what it was always intended to be.

Giving our lives to Jesus and living as others-centered people does not take our lives from us, it transforms our lives into something new and better. [7]

[1] Luke 9:20
[2] Luke 9:21-22
[3] 1 Peter 1:19-20
[4] Luke 9:22
[5] Luke 9:23
[6] Luke 9:24
[7] Much of the commentary derived from the Enduring Word Commentary

Jesus Transformed His Life

There was a man without clothes living among tombs. A demon often seized him. He was bound with chains and shackles. Sometimes, he broke these chains. The demon would drive him like a person drives a car into the wilderness. He suffered for a long time.

On the day that Jesus met this man, He commanded the unclean spirit out of him.

At first, the man fell before Jesus and cried out, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!”

When Jesus asked him his name, he replied, “Legion.” A Roman legion was 6,000 highly organized soldiers. Ready for battle! Scripture says that many demons had entered the man. The demons begged Jesus not to command them into the abyss. An abyss is mentioned in Revelation 9:11 as a place where many demons are locked up.

There was a herd of pigs nearby. So, they [the demons] begged Jesus to permit them to enter the pigs. He permitted them. Then, the demons went out of the man and entered the pigs. The herd of pigs bolted down a steep place into a lake and drowned.

Now, the man from whom the demons had departed, sat at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. He wanted to be with Jesus, but Jesus gave him a mission. He told him, “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” The man proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. [1]

Jesus transformed this man’s life. His life was once full of pain and loneliness, but after he met Jesus, he could enjoy being among people. His life was productive. He helped others to know Jesus.

What would you like Jesus to do for you or for someone you love?

[1] Luke 8:26-39

Jesus Transforms Tears into Joy

“Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ’Do not weep.’” [1]

Many disciples and a large crowd! More than the twelve were disciples of Jesus in some sense.

Pall bearers were transporting a dead man out the city gate presumably to a cemetery. The deceased was the only son of his mother. She was a widow. Her grief was great.

Jesus said to her, “Do not weep.”

The Lord once said to a dying king, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you.” [2]

The Psalmist wrote, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” [3]

Jesus transforms tears that fall to the ground like seeds to produce crops of joy.

Jesus has compassion on this widow. The English word for compassion means to “suffer with.” The Greek word in the original text “σπλαγχνίζομαι” means to have the bowels yearn, i.e., feel sympathy, to pity: —hence to be moved with compassion. [4]

Jesus instantly understood the situation and had sympathy upon the widow.

Luke emphasizes Jesus’ deity by referring to Him as Lord.

“Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’ So, he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen up among us;’ and ‘God has visited His people.’ And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding regions.” [5]

Jesus looked at the boy and spoke to a dead person as if he were alive. “God gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” [6] “He who was dead sat up and began to speak.”

Jesus transformed funeral processions into celebrations. This was also true for Jarius’ daughter and Lazarus. D.L. Moody was asked to conduct a funeral service, so he decided to study the gospels to find a funeral sermon delivered by Jesus. However, Moody searched in vain, because every funeral Jesus attended, He broke up by raising the dead!” [7]

May our Lord Jesus transform your tears into joy!

[1] Luke 7:11-13
[2] 2 Kings 20:5
[3] Psalm 126:5
[4] Strong’s Concordance
[5] Luke 7: 14-17
[6] Romans 4:17
[7] Luke 8:41-56, John 11:1-45, and Enduring Word Commentary

The Lord Transforms Pits into Praises

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.

He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.” [1]

The Psalmist was in a horrible pit. His feet were stuck in miry clay. The imagery is of being in a disgusting dark hole. He is not able to free himself. He needs someone to rescue him. To whom does he turn? For whom does he wait? The Lord! And the result is...

A new song to sing!

The Lord transformed his pit into praise!

Other examples of tragedies transformed into anthems of tribute include...

“I can only Imagine” – a triple platinum winning song

By Bart Millard after his father died of cancer

“What a Friend we have in Jesus”

By Joseph Scriven after his beautiful fiancée drowned the day before their wedding. [2]

“It is well with my Soul”

By Attorney Horatio Spafford after his business burned down in the Chicago fire and his four daughters drowned at sea. [3]

Bart, Joseph, and Horatio composed praise songs to God. “Many will see it and fear and will trust in the Lord!” People witnessed the power of God resurrecting these men from their tombs of despair and many placed their faith in God as well. Their witness for Christ came from hearts able to sing with new glory.

What horrible pit and what miry clay do you need the Lord to transform into a new song? Wait patiently! Our Lord is a master composer. He turns sighs into songs!

[1] Psalm 40:1-3
[2-3] lifewayresearch.com - unknown back stories to three well-loved hymns

Do You Need a Miracle?

Jesus does miracles!

After speaking to a crowd from a boat parked near a shoreline, Jesus said to Peter, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter responded, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net.” “When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.” [1]

Jesus transformed a pro-longed night of fruitless effort into a morning of great yield.

“A man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately the leprosy left him.” [2]

Jesus transformed a moment that would stump any normal human, namely being asked to heal leprosy on the spot, to an immediate healing for the man.

“Men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.” [3]

Jesus is speaking to people in a house and people drop a paralyzed man down on a bed in front of Him. What a strange situation! But, no, Jesus healed the man. Weirdness becomes wonderful!

“After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So, he left all, rose, and followed Him. Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, ‘Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’” [4]

Jesus could have ranted about the government when He saw the tax collector, as most people did in those days, but instead He converted Levi, and some of Levi’s cohorts into believers and servants of God.

What dire situation do you need Jesus to resolve today? Ask! Ask Jesus for your miracle! Trust in Him to hear and act upon your request!

[1] Luke 5:4-6
[2] Luke 5:12-13
[3] Luke 5:18-19
[4] Luke 5:28-32

Faith in Action – The Great Commission

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” [1]

The Great Commission is about faith in action. Jesus Christ has “All authority in heaven and on earth.” This means when we rely on Him, God’s will get done.

Jesus transforms spectators into speakers. Dry bones become alive bones... a mighty army by His Spirit...

“So, I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. So, I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.” [2]

We move forward in power of Christ’s words and His Spirit.

Many Christians have made incredible sacrifices. Mission fields are everywhere. In the 21st century, the even internet has become a mission field where people can share Christ's love.

In verse 19, Jesus speaks of the Trinity. He calls us to baptize people in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Priests in the Old Testament washed in a basin before proceeding to do their priestly services for God and others. Christ “has made us kings and priests to His God and Father.” We are “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, proclaiming the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.” [3]

In verse 20, Jesus commissions us to teach His teachings. As we do, our Lord supports us: “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This fact has proven trustworthy throughout the centuries as millions of believers have heard, accepted, and shared the Good News of Jesus Christ. Though Christ has ascended to heaven, He is present with us by His Spirit.

This is faith in action!

Our Lord has given us a gift to share. He is with us. The first two letters of the word GOD from left to right are G-O and the last two letters of GOD from right to left are D-O. Every follower of Christ has been commissioned and anointed. Now, Let’s GO and DO!

[1] Matthew 28:18-20
[2] Ezekiel 37:7-8, 10
[3] Revelation 1:8, 2 Peter 2:9

Resting in the Lord

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” [1]

“The word rendered in the margin ‘tender grass’ (דשׁא deshe) refers to the first shoots of vegetation from the earth - tender grass. The flock in young and luxuriant grass, surrounded by abundance, and having satisfied their wants, lying down with calm contentment.” [2]

“He leadeth me to the still waters (Hebrew, מי מנוכת - waters of rests, or refreshments). Quiet and gentle waters, running in small and shallow channels, which are opposed to great rivers, which both frighten the sheep with their great noise, and expose them to being carried away by their swift and violent streams. Such is the difference between the gentle waters... and noisy torrents and overflowing floods of worldly and carnal enjoyments.”

“The consolations of God, the joys of the Holy Spirit, are those still waters by which the saints are led, streams which flow from the fountain of living waters, and make glad the city of our God.” [3]

“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.” [4]

“The Lamb, who is amid the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” [5]

The goal of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is to bless us. Descending tears turn to leaping fountains when He is leading us, and we are following Him.

[1] Psalm 23:2
[2] Barnes Commentary
[3] Benson Commentary
[4] Psalm 46:4
[5] Revelation 7:17

Not Guilty – Victorious!

This morning, Mark 15, just happened to be one of my devotional chapters to read. I read of the chief priests stirring up a crowd (swaying public opinion – creating a false narrative) against Jesus. They accused Him in a court of law of being dangerous to people. Yet, they were the ones who requested a known murderer and leader of rebellion to be released in His stead. They won the battle of swaying public opinion for the moment. They got Jesus crucified even though all evidence and scrutinization by cross examination declared Him not guilty...

“Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.

There was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.”

Pilate: “Do you want me to release to you [Jesus] the King of the Jews?”

He knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

The chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.

Pilate: “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”

They: “Crucify Him!”

Pilate: “Why, what evil has He done?”

They (more emphatically): “Crucify Him!”

“Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.” [1]

There’s a saying, “You can’t keep a good man down.” Jesus was no exception! On the third day after His death, He arose from the dead. He was seen by over 500 witnesses alive. He ate, drank and conversed with people for 40 days, and then, ascended to heaven.

After His ascension. He sent His Holy Spirit upon those who believe in His Name. A little less than 2,000 years later, His movement is still spreading all over the world. Some people, a few, might remember the names of Caiaphas the high priest and Pilate the Roman governor... the authorities who sentenced Jesus to death for insurrection... but multitudes remember and know of the Name of Jesus, believe in Him, confess Him and worship Him every day!

Better yet, we learn from a divine vision given to the Apostle John by the risen Jesus, that the best is yet to come. Right up until the end of time multitudes of people are believing in Him...

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb [Jesus Christ]!’” [2]

Glory to God!

[1] Mark 15:6-15
[2] Revelation 7:9-10

The Matchless Worth of Christ

Throughout my life, I have been blessed to attend churches where songs of praise to the Lord for salvation and many other blessings are sung. The Lord has blessed me with people who love the Lord and enjoy His presence. Glory to God!

The following verses from my morning time in God’s Word speak of the glory of God’s presence...

“So, the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And He [the Lord] said, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” [1]

“As for the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”

“I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”

“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

“Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings.”

“As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” [2]

“...At the house of Simon the leper...
A woman with an alabaster flask of...
Very costly oil of spikenard.
She broke the flask and poured it on His head.

Some were angry.
Some said, ‘Why this waste?’

But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone.’
‘Why trouble her?
She has done a good work for Me.
The poor are with you always.
Whenever you wish you may do them good;
But Me you do not always have.

She has done what she could.
She has anointed My body for burial.
Assuredly, I say to you...
Wherever this Gospel is preached...
In the whole world...
What this woman has done...
Will also be told as a memorial to her.” [3]

“The high priest asked Him...
‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?’
Jesus said, ‘I am.’
‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at...
The right hand of the Power,
And coming with the clouds of heaven.’” [4]

[1] Exodus 33:11, 14
[2] Psalms 16:3, 8, 11; 17:8, 15
[3] Mark 14:3-9
[4] Mark 14:61-62

Sabbath Keeping

Sabbath (Hebrew: שַׁבָּת‎ shabbat) means to rest.

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you.

Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Therefore, the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’

And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.” [1]

Eight points from the seven Bible verses above:

1) The Lord Himself set the precedent for the Rest Day. He rested on the seventh day of creation. (Exodus 31:17)

2) Rest Day keeping is a sign of our relationship with God. (Exodus 31:13)

3) It is a day to know the Lord. (Exodus 31:13)

4) It is the Lord who sanctifies us (makes us holy), so we need time in His presence – hearing from His Word the Bible, worshipping Him and praying to Him. (Exodus 31:13)

5) It is holy to you. Holy means to be set apart. We are to set apart one day per week for special fellowship with the Lord and His people. (Exodus 31:14)

6) God emphasized the importance of Rest Day by issuing the death penalty to Rest Day breakers (Exodus 31:14-15). The truth of the matter is that if we do not rest in the Lord for our salvation, we will be lost eternally. This is why the penalty was severe. Later, when the Pharisees treated people severely over breaking their view of Sabbath Day infractions. Jesus told them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” [2] Jesus is Lord of the Rest Day. Sabbath is about Him. HE is the blessing in it FOR us.

7) It is a covenant between God and His people. A mutual relational commitment of taking time to focus on one another (Exodus 31:16).

8) The importance of the Sabbath is emphasized by the fact that it was last dialogue the Lord had with Moses before giving him the Ten Commandments written on stones (Exodus 31:18).

[1] Exodus 31:12-18
[2] Mark 2:27-28

Condemnation and Commendation

Jesus used two scenarios to teach us behavior God condemns and behavior He commends.

Condemnation...

“Then He said to them in His teaching, ‘Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” [1]

“Beware” is a word used to evoke absolute attention. Watch out! Danger! Stop! Turn around! Don’t go this way! Imagine a poison label! The skull and crossbones image! God condemns their lifestyle... some explanations...

Long robes – enjoying leisure while others work
Love greetings in marketplace – center of attention
Seats of honor - perks of status and privilege
Devour widow’s houses – conning the poor out of money
Lengthy prayers – For people’s attention not God’s

The Apostle Paul also warned us of imposters...

“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” [2]

Deceivers end up being deceived. In fact, all the praise they receive on earth will turn into fiery condemnation when they stand before the God of Love.

Commendation...

“Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites (Jewish $2), which make a quadrans (Roman $2). So, He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” [2]

This widow was most concerned about one in her audience, namely God. In fact, the rich people in this scene might have looked down on her because she only gave $2. But Jesus, being the Son of God, knew that she put in everything she had. She could have kept $1 for herself and gave $1 to God, but no she wanted God to have it all. God was taking care of her. She knew she could not outgive God. She was a woman of faith. She was a woman of worship. Like the woman who put the expensive anointing oil on Jesus, she recognized the matchless worth of God. She lived to glorify God. Jesus commended her.

Love, Bless, Do Good and Pray for...

"You have heard that it was said,
‘You shall love your neighbor
And hate your enemy.’
But I say to you...

Love your enemies.

Bless those who curse you.

Do good to those who hate you.

Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

That you may be sons of your Father in heaven;
For He makes His sun rise on the evil
And on the good.
He sends rain on the just
And on the unjust.
For if you love those who love you,
What reward have you?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
What do you do more than others?
Do not even the tax collectors do so?

Therefore you shall be perfect,
Just as your Father in heaven is perfect." [1]

The two great commandments on which our Lord said hangs all others is to love God and to love our neighbor. We must live to love God and people. We must pray that the wrongs others commit against us will not cause us to stop loving, blessing, doing good and praying for them.

Prior to His words about loving our enemies, Jesus described some scenarios that His listeners might experience...

"Whoever slaps you on your right cheek,
Turn the other to him also.
If anyone wants to sue you
And take away your tunic,
Let him have your cloak also.
And whoever compels you to go one mile,
Go with him two." [2]

Why? Because the value of love is great!

I saw this kind of love demonstrated in China by Christians.

One reported of how his father, a pianist and surgeon, had piano wire tied around his fingers and connected to a ceiling fan. The ceiling fan was turned on to the destruction of his skillful fingers.

A brother was stabbed in the buttocks with a pitchfork repeatedly while his torturers yelled at him to chant, "Long live Chairman Mao."

A young medical doctor in a cancer ward was warned not to share her faith in Jesus Christ with her dying patients. She was sent to re-education camp for two years. Love compelled her to share.

A sister was told she must terminate her unborn child. She was not given permission by the state to become pregnant. Except for the grace of God that baby would have been terminated. The Lord made a way for her baby to be born and for her to leave her country.

By the grace of God, the cruel treatment of these "enemies" did not steal faith, hope and love from the hearts of these Christians. They were able to forgive those who wanted to cancel them. They knew that the King of Love will someday cancel the culture of hatred and lies. In the meantime, their mission was to love and to win people to their Savior Jesus Christ. What an impact they made on my life and on the lives of those around them. Amidst so much hatred and pain, they promoted love, forgiveness, reconciliation and healing.

"Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to love, bless, do good and pray for people. Thank You Lord Jesus for demonstrating love and forgiveness for enemies while on the cross. By Your grace and Holy Spirit, we love, bless, do good and pray for our enemies."

[1] Matthew 5:43-48
[2] Matthew 5:39-41

Set Apart by and for God

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.” [1]

The Lord brought the Israelites out from Egypt, out from slavery, out from cruel and harsh treatment, and brought them to Mount Sinai and made a covenant with them.

He began by saying…

“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” [2]

“Obey My voice” – God was and will keep speaking to them through His Word.

“Covenant” – The Ten Commandments [3] and the sacrifice of animals for forgiveness of sin. [4] When the Ten Commandments are eventually written on tablets of stone, they are placed in the ark [5], which is subsequently known as “the ark of the covenant” [6]. Atop the Ark of the Covenant is a mercy seat where the blood of sacrificed animals is placed.

These covenant people are God’s treasure – a prized possession

They are a kingdom of priests to God – He’s King of the kingdom

They are priests to God – ministering to Him & representing Him

They are a holy nation - set apart to represent God to others

Those who are holy have been set apart from the common or ordinary to be sacred, devoted to, belonging exclusively to the holy God. Because they are holy, they are not to contaminate themselves with worship of other gods or practices that are forbidden by God.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Peter applies this covenant relationship of people with God to believers and followers of Jesus Christ. He says…

“You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. You were once not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” [7]

Then, Peter advises us…

“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” [8]

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making us Your special treasure. Your priests! Your holy nation! Delivered from darkness to light! Shown mercy! Help us by good works to impact those around us so that they are glorifying You when You visit them. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.”

[1] Exodus 19:4
[2] Exodus 19:5-6
[3] Exodus 20:3-17
[4] Exodus 20:24
[5] Deuteronomy 10:5
[6] Numbers 10:33; 14:44; Deuteronomy 10:8; 31:9, 25-26
[7] 1 Peter 2:9-10
[8] 1 Peter 2:11-12

Effective Witnessing for Jesus Christ

The Holy Spirit helps us to be effective witnesses for Christ. He leads us to people and gives us the words to speak to them. He prompts where to go, what to do and what to say.

The Holy Spirit may use problems in people’s lives to give you opportunities to help them and demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, in as much as you have shown love to the least of my brothers and sisters, you have shown it to me (Matthew 25:40).

The Spirit used the “good works and alms deeds” of “a certain disciple named Tabitha” in a way that “many believed in the Lord” (Acts 9:36-42).

The Holy Spirit leads us to help people so they that become more receptive to the Lord. He may prompt you to visit someone who is a shut-in. You can listen to and pray in your heart for someone with a problem. The Spirit may lead you to read him/her Psalms; talk about the love and miracles of the Lord; and tell him/her of the sacrifices of Jesus to save his/her soul.

As we pray and stay in close fellowship with the Lord, the Holy Spirit helps us.

In all that we do, “whether in word or deed,” the Holy Spirit leads us to bring glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17).

Prepare to give everyone who wants to know, your reason for believing in Jesus Christ; but do it with love and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

Two Wraths, Two Storms, Two Wins for God

Pharaoh’s once proud nation - ruined.
His slaves, his cheap labor - gone.
He defied God and lost.
Frogs, locusts, and gnats…
God’s servants defeated him.

But wait!
What’s this?
People are saying to Pharaoh…
“Why have we done this?
Why have we let Israel go from serving us?”

They mobilize…
The mightiest military on earth.
Going after those slaves in the wilderness.

The freed slaves see Pharaoh.
His mighty army is approaching.

They say to Moses…

“Why have you so dealt with us?
Didn’t we say, ‘Let us alone…
That we may serve the Egyptians?’
It was better for us to serve the Egyptians than…
To die in the wilderness.”

Moses tells the people…

“Fear not!
Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord…
Which He will accomplish for you today.
The Egyptians whom you see today,
You shall see again no more forever.
The Lord will fight for you,
And you shall hold your peace.”

The Lord caused the sea to go back…
By a strong east wind all that night.
The waters were divided.
The children of Israel went into the midst of the sea…
On dry ground!
The waters were walls to their right and to their left.

But…

The Egyptians pursued them…
Into the midst of the sea,
All Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

The Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians…
He troubled them…
He took off their chariot wheels…

The Egyptians said… 

“Let us flee from the face of Israel.
The Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”

The Lord said to Moses…

“Stretch out your hand over the sea.”

The sea returned to its full depth.
The Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the sea.
Not so much as one of them remained. [1]

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
To Him who divided the Red Sea in two,
For His mercy endures forever;
And made Israel pass through the midst of it,
For His mercy endures forever;
But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
For His mercy endures forever.” [2]

“And a great windstorm arose,
The waves beat into the boat,
The boat was filling.
Jesus was asleep.
They awoke Him and said to Him…
“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Jesus arose and rebuked the wind,
And said to the sea,
“Peace, be still!”
The wind ceased.
There was a great calm.
He said to them, “Why are you so fearful?
How is it that you have no faith?” 

They feared exceedingly.
They said to one another,
“Who can this be,
Even the wind and the sea obey Him!” [3]

The Lord calmed the wrath of Pharaoh and of the sea
Two mighty storms
Two mighty wins for the Lord.
What wrath? What storm? Are you facing?

The Lord has a great track record of winning.
Look to Him!
Ask Him to help!
Enjoy the victory!

[1] Exodus 13 with quotes from verses 6, 11-14, 21-28
[2] Psalm 136:13-15
[3] Mark 4:37-41

The Lord’s Neighborhood Transformation Plan

There was a preacher who opened a church in a community that had none. The town’s people were living in fear and under the control an abusive and exploitive man. The preacher had been a ruffian himself before the Lord converted and transformed his life. The Lord filled him with resolve to fight for the well-being of the families in this town. Thanks to the Lord’s goodness and grace, the preacher won the support of the town’s people. Together, by trusting in the Lord, the dirty deeds of darkness were exposed and greatly diminished by the light of the Gospel in that community.

Moses was 80 and Aaron was 83, when they confronted the King of Egypt about his treatment of the working class. They confronted him with God’s power and resolve. Eventually, even the king’s evil-spirited magicians realized he could not win against God…

“Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, ‘This is the finger of God.’” [1]

The Psalmist warns of the futility of building a home and maintaining a city without the Lord’s help…
“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” [2]

Wealthy and wise King Solomon, advocated for law-keeping and justice…

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.” “Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord.” [3]

People need the Lord to reveal to them the WHO and WHY of law and order. He is the WHO that brings justice. He is the WHY who reveals to people that law and order yields happiness.

“At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him [Jesus] all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons…” [4]

The evil spirits in the abovementioned city were cast out by Jesus. He healed the symptoms of sin’s curse upon the city, namely sickness, and He rooted out the source of evil, namely the evil spirits. The whole city gathered at a doorway. Jesus practiced open door ministry. He still does today through those whom He has called and equipped to serve Him and others.

[1] Exodus 8:19
[2] Psalm 127:1
[3] Proverbs 29:18, 26
[4] Mark 1:33-34

Overcome Evil With Good

The Lord advises us in His holy Word, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." In a sense this is what the Lord led Moses and Aaron to do. They confronted a demonic despot with the goodness of God.

Moses and Aaron said to Pharaoh, ‘Let my people go."

The Pharaoh replied, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go. Why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!”

Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Is this why You sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not rescued Your people at all.” [2]

At first, confrontation with the king of slaves yielded setbacks for God’s people, but eventually, as they continued to believe God and continued to confess Him before Pharaoh, the Lord did signs and wonders until he let them go. Moses and Aaron did not overcome the Pharaoh in their own strength. They were elderly. Their work was to trust the Lord. The Lord gave the victory.

The Holy Spirit inspired King Solomon to write, “Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully. Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.” [3]

The Holy Spirit inspired King David to write, “If the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us. Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” [4]

Jesus Christ, the crucified one, experienced evil from the hands of evildoers, but overcame their evil deeds by resurrecting from the dead, and by making His victory ours.

Two Mary(s) at the tomb.
A violent earthquake,
An angel rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance like lightning,
His clothes were white as snow.
Guards shake with fear and become as dead men.

The angel said to the women,
“Do not be afraid,
For I know that you are looking for Jesus,
Who was crucified.
He is not here;
He has risen, just as He said.

Come and see the place where He lay.
Then go quickly and tell His disciples:
‘He has risen from the dead.
He is going ahead of you into Galilee.
There you will see Him.’
Now I have told you.”

The women hurried away from the tomb,
Afraid yet filled with joy,
They ran to tell His disciples.

Jesus said to His disciples,
“All heavenly and earthly authority…
Has been given to Me.
Therefore, GO…
Make disciples of all nations,
Baptizing them in the name of…
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Teaching to obey everything…
I have commanded you.
Surely, I am with you always,
To the very end of the age.” [5]

"Thank You Jesus for staying with us until end!"

Victories come as we go forth in confidence of our Lord's blessing on our labors. “Those who sow with 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.” [6]

[1] Romans 12:1
[2] Exodus 5:1-4, 22-23
[3] Proverbs 28:5, 8, 14
[4] Psalm 124:2-3, 6-8
[5] Based on Matthew 28:1-8, 19-20
[6] Psalm 126:5-6

Oh, Blessed Communion, Fellowship Divine

“’Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true sayings of God.’” [1]

The word marriage conveys a blessed communion. A blessed fellowship! It’s what God has always wanted with us, namely togetherness.

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.’” [2]

I like to sing the following hymn to celebrate this truth:

“For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever bless’d.
Alleluia, alleluia!

Thou wast their rock, their refuge, and their might,
Thou, Christ, the hope that put their fears to flight;
’Mid gloom and doubt, their true and shining light.
Alleluia, alleluia!

Oh, bless’d communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine,
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west.
Soon, soon to faithful servants cometh rest.
Sweet is the calm of paradise the bless’d.
Alleluia, alleluia!

But lo! There breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array,
As God to glory calls them all away.
Alleluia, alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
All praising Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, alleluia!” [4]

[1] Revelation 19:7-9
[2] Revelation 21:3
[3] “For all the Saints, who from their labor rest” Author: William Walsham How (1864)

Last Time Ministries

“Beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [1]

Remember… what? Recall what the apostles of Christ taught.

“How they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” [2]

Mockers are sign of the last time. What is their cause? Sensual pleasure, ungodly lusts and causing divisions! The Holy Spirit is the One who creates in someone a clean heart, and joy of salvation. They need the Holy Spirit. [3]

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” [4]

Do what? Build your faith in Christ. Let the Spirit inspire and lead your prayers. Love God! Look for the mercy of Christ that leads to eternal, not temporary, life. Have compassion on some! Compassion is to suffer with, to empathize with. Discern carefully which “some” to have compassion on. Save others with appropriate fear. If they are in the fire of sin, you must be careful not to be burned. Pull them out without being defiled by sin.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and forever.”

Ultimately, each person is saved from stumbling in sin, and presented faultless to God with joy by Christ. He is the Wise One. He alone saves souls. To God be glory, not mocking, both today and forever!

[1] Jude 1:17
[2] Jude 1:18-19
[3] Psalm 51:10-13, Ezekiel 36:26-27
[4] Jude 1:20-23
[5] Jude 1:24-25

When Will The End Be?

Jesus had been in the temple that day. His disciples showed Him the buildings of it. Jesus told them that not one stone of this building would be left here upon another. [1]

After that, He was sitting on the Mount of Olives. [2] They could see the temple from there.

King Herod employed 10,000 workers to expand and beautify the temple. Its gold roof reflected sunlight. Its white marble walls appeared as snow. Its beautification ended in 63 AD. Its destruction occurred in 70 AD. It was set on fire by the Romans during a Jewish insurrection. The Romans pulled its wall stones apart to extract the gold that had melted among them. Not one stone was left upon another.

The disciples probably assumed that the end of the temple would be the end of the world. They wanted to know when this end would come. Jesus did not give them a day or time. He gave them signs. Road signs! When you come to these signs, the end is near.

The first sign was deception. [3] Many people would come in His name. Many people would be deceived. [4] Deception precedes robbery. A person does not willingly surrender treasure. He or she must be deceived out of it. So, the first sign is deceivers. People will exchange the true Messiah for a fake one.

Reports of wars and rumors of wars is the next sign. Jesus tells them do not be troubled. “These things must come to pass.” [5]

Nations will fight. Famines, diseases, and earthquakes will follow. “The beginning of sorrows.” are literally the beginning of labor pains. [6] The things mentioned above will become more frequent and more intense before Jesus returns.

Then, disciples of Jesus will experience tribulation, murder, and hatred by all nations for His name’s sake. Many will offend, betray, and hate one another. [7]

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Persecution would reveal the traitors within the Church as well as the enemies without.”

Many false prophets will deceive many. The love of will grow cold because of the lawless conditions. [8]

Lawlessness that results in lovelessness is the worst of pestilences. Outward persecution cannot steal the Church’s influence, but without love, it becomes no different than any other business.

“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” [9] Herein is success! Endure! Hold on! Do not be robbed of your faith in Christ! Abide in Christ and you will have what you need.

Jesus declares, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” [10] The task at hand for disciples of Jesus is to keep preaching (heralding) the Gospel of the Kingdom. Destruction is not the final sign. Saving lost souls by pointing them to Jesus… bringing the Gospel to the world… this is the final sign. Then, Jesus will return and bring with Him a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwells righteous, peace and joy!

“Dear Heavenly Father, please help Your people to endure. Helps us to reach the heavenly shores by Your grace. Help us to keep love alive on earth! Help us to keep telling people about Jesus Your Son. For this we pray in His Name. Amen.”

[1] Matthew 24:1-2
[2] Matthew 24:3
[3] Matthew 24:4
[4] Matthew 24:5
[5] Matthew 24:6
[6] Matthew 24:7-8
[7] Matthew 24:9-10
[8] Matthew 24:11-12
[9] Matthew 24:13
[10] Matthew 24:14

On the Way to Pray

On the way to pray…
A slave girl possessed with a spirit…
Met them.
She made money for her masters by fortune-telling.
She followed Paul and Silas.
She cried out, saying…
“These men are the servants of the Most-High God!
They proclaim to us the way of salvation.”
She did this for many days.

Paul, greatly annoyed, said to the spirit…
“I command you in the name of Jesus Christ…
Come out of her.”
He came out that very hour.

Her masters saw their hope of profit was gone.
So, they seized Paul and Silas.
They dragged them to the authorities.

They said to the magistrates…
“These Jewish men greatly trouble our city.
They teach illegal customs for Romans to observe.”

A mob was incited against Paul and Silas.
The magistrates had them beaten with rods.
They imprisoned them.
They commanded the jailer, “Keep them securely.”
He put them into the inner prison.
He locked their feet in the stocks.

At midnight Paul and Silas…
Prayed and sang hymns to God.
Prisoners were listening to them.

Suddenly! A great earthquake!
The prison shook.
All doors opened.
All chains were loose.
The jailer awakes.
“My have prisoners escaped.”

He draws his sword.
About to kill himself…
Paul shouts…
“Don’t harm yourself!
We are all here.”

The jailer falls before Paul and Silas.
He asks, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They reply, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
You and your household will be saved.”

They spoke God’s word to all who were in his house.
He treated their wounds.
They baptized him and his family.
He fed them at his house with great joy.
He and his entire family believed in God.

The magistrates said, “Let those men go.”
The jailer said to Paul, “Go in peace.”
Paul replied, “They beat us openly…
Romans citizens!
They threw us into prison.
Do they now release us secretly?
No indeed!
Let them release us.”

The magistrates were afraid…
Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
They pleaded with them to leave the city.
Paul and Silas departed to Lydia’s house.
They encouraged the Christians there…
They departed. [1]

The above story comprises 24 out of 31,102 verses in the Bible. Yet, this one small section testifies of many lives being impacted by God. Apostles, a slave girl, businessmen, government leaders, a jailer and his family, prisoners, and Christians meeting in the home of Lydia all had a story to tell after this day. Any day that begins with prayer in the Name of Jesus can develop into a story that lasts for generations to come.

[1] Acts 16:16-40 in poetic form.

Preparing For Paradise

Food, drink, beautiful scenery, and companionship. Adam and Eve were living in paradise, that is, until the devil deceived them out of their inheritance from God. [1]

After Adam and Eve sinned, God asks Adam, “Where are you?” [2]

Where Adam is and where God wants him to be is still the most important question today!

Paradise has been lost due to sin. We are living in exile from paradise. God’s heart is to restore us to paradise. On the cross Jesus said to the believing thief next to Him, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” [3] That is what the death of Jesus on the cross for our sin is about – paradise restored to every believer.

Walter Brueggemann in his book “Hopeful Imagination – Prophetic Voices in Exile” speaks of the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel in terms of shepherding God’s exiled people. The events of 587 BC are decisive to their prophetic writings. This is when the temple and the holy city of Jerusalem were destroyed. Descendants of King David were dethroned from ruling and Jerusalem’s top minds and leaders were deported to Babylon.

These despairing people saw nothing new, hoped nothing new, and spoke of nothing new.

The goal of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel was to help the people of faith to make two crucial and difficult moves, to relinquish and receive.

The world as they knew it was gone forever, but the Lord was offering them a new world. They must let go of the world of King and Temple and receive a new world from God that it is hard for them to believe possible. It is also not of their design.

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” [4]

God has a plan to replace the wilderness with paradise. Part of the problem is that we are so used to the wilderness, it is the only world we know, we have no concept or imaginative power to comprehend what God wants to do.

Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel write some of the most beautiful poetry of what God is going to do for people in exile. Remember, we are all in exile. We are not living in the paradise God originally designed for us. We are not enjoying the intimate relationships that God originally created us to enjoy. But Jesus wants to say to us, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.” We must let go of our tight grip on the world Babylon sells us and trust God to receive the new world He is creating.

The new world order will be where God and the Lamb rule and people live in paradise. This is the world we are called as Christians to make our fellow man aware of. This is one of our key functions while we walk this earth – to make people aware of the coming kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Just as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel sought the Lord for artistic and poetic expressions to make God’s reality real to the people living in Babylon so must we. We are called to prepare people for the kingdom of God.

A new world is about to emerge where Jesus Christ rules as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Like John the Baptist, we are called to prepare people for His coming. God is ending our known world and inviting to us a new world where righteousness, peace, and joy reign.

The loss authority of David’s kingly descendants and the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem are analogous with the loss of the godly governors and Biblical law in America. We are living in a nation adrift from God. Like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, we need to draw on all the strength, wisdom and inspiration God gives us to be poet prophets to our generation.

We need to die to the old order of Babylon and come alive to what God is doing. He is doing a new thing for us too. Jesus is about to return. Roses do bloom in the wilderness as Isaiah says in chapter 35. Rivers do flow in the desert.

We need to defy the lies of Babylon that says that all you see is all you get. That material pleasure is the only real pleasure. Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die. We have a much brighter future with God than that.

We need to stop being double minded as though Jesus will not return. We need to believe that HE IS restoring paradise.

As we draw upon God through Scripture reading, prayer, group Bible Study, congregational worship, group prayer and fellowship in the body of Christ, God activates all our inspiration and resolve to live for the coming kingdom and not for this world.

“Adam, where are you?”

“We are right here Lord studying Your Word and preparing for paradise.”

[1] Genesis 2:8-10, 15, 21-25, 15; 3:1-6
[2] Genesis 3:9
[3] Luke 23:43
[4] Isaiah 43:18-19

At His Side

“Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God...” [1]

I am so thankful that “God said.”

God spoke to Jacob and He still speaks to us today through His Word the Bible.

I am so thankful that God said, “Arise, go up…”

We need the Lord to urge us to get up and go. For some of us our get up and go, got up and went a long time ago. We need fresh urgency from the Lord each day to rise up, go, and do.

“Make an altar.”

I am so thankful that the Lord calls us to the altar. The altar represents the place of sacrifice and the place of prayer. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, atoned for our sins on the cross, so now in His Name, we can approach the greatest throne that has or ever will exist. Namely, the throne of God. God’s throne is a throne of grace for all who come to Him in the Name of Christ.

God’s throne is above all thrones. In Psalm 2, God reveals that His Son has a day of reckoning for the earthly rulers who despised Him. They will not be able to halt His justice or vilify Him anymore. He will shatter their plots as when a clay pot is struck with an iron scepter. To avoid this shattering, they need to stop defying and denying and start worshipping Him:

“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed [Jesus the Anointed One – the Christ].

They say, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision [contempt – they think they can judge God in contempt of their courts, but it will be quite the reverse].

Then He shall speak to them in His wrath and distress them in His deep displeasure.

“Yet I have set My King [Jesus] on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord has said to Me [Jesus], ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You

The nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall [Jesus] break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’

Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear,

And rejoice with trembling. Kiss [worship] the Son [Jesus], lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” [2]

After the Lord spoke to Jacob, he spoke to his family and said, “Let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.” [3]

I am thankful that the Lord is with us during times of distress. I am thankful that He keeps us by His side.

Someone once asked President Abraham Lincoln if he thought God was on his side in the civil war. He responded, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.”

[1] Genesis 35:1
[2] Psalm 2
[3] Genesis 35:3

Avoiding Overthrow

“And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ [1]

The Lord graciously warned the people of the great city of Nineveh of a pending overthrow. 40 days early warning! They had a choice: take God seriously and act or disregard Him and be overthrown. No loophole to the declaration, legalese language or third option possible!

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit graciously worked alongside God’s Word, and convicted the nation’s heart. He also moved upon the nation’s king to believe and act after they did. Faith and repentance began with the PEOPLE and then, struck the king and his nobles…

“So, the PEOPLE of Nineveh BELIEVED GOD, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.”

“Then word came to the KING of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the KING and HIS NOBLES, saying…

‘Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and CRY MIGHTILY to GOD; yes, let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?’” [2]

Both PEOPLE and KING believed God’s Word and acted upon it. They repented, fasted, and prayed. They cried mightily to GOD. Not in glazed over, ho-hum manner. Like a giant Titanic ship, their city was going to sink unless God reversed the damage from their sin. They needed God’s forgiveness. They needed God’s intervention. They wanted to live.

“Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” [3]

God cannot lie. He is bound to keep His Word. Sin must be judged. But He does have an escape clause for those who do not want to perish in their sin. It is to believe in Him, repent of the sin, and seek God’s forgiveness. Then, God can choose to relent of acting upon His promise to judge sin, show mercy, forgive, and heal.

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” [4]

“Dear Heavenly Father, nothing is impossible with You. Please convict our nation by Your Word and Holy Spirit! Unconfessed and unrepented sin leads to overthrow! Please turn our hearts to Your Son, Jesus Christ, on whom You laid the sin of us all. Move us to cry out mightily, so that You may be able to rightly forgive our sins and heal our land. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.”

[1] Jonah 3:4
[2] Jonah 3:5-9
[3] Jonah 3:10
[4] 2 Chronicles 7:14

Praising God Amid Assembled People

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;
With my mouth will I make known…
Your faithfulness to all generations.

And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.
For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord?
Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,
And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.

Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.
In Your name they rejoice all day long,
And in Your righteousness, they are exalted.” [1]

“Since sin is the absence of praise, then salvation is the restoration of praise. Since sin is everything that violates communion, salvation is the restoration of communion.

Not only relationship with God is set aright through adoration but also potentially our relationships with each other, past, present, and future. When the assembly raises its voice to give honor, glory, and thanksgiving to God, we discover the strongest of objective bonds with others: the link through the reality of God.

Praising God unites us with other worshipers throughout the world.

Worship happens in assemblies of people. People who might not otherwise agree with each other or even like each other can be genuinely united with each other in praise of God. In union with one another, our eyes are not turned toward each other but toward the God in whom we together confess our faith.” [2]

[1] Psalm 89:1, 5-7, 15-16
[2] LaCugna, Catherine Mowry, God For Us ~ The Trinity & Christian Life, Harper Collins Publishers, © 1973, pp. 298, 343

The Trinitarian Life

“Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.” [1]

Jesus redrafted the boundaries of family, neighbor, and household, saying…

“Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother, sister, and mother.” [2]

“To answer the question of who Jesus Christ is, we look to how He acts to the shape of His relationships with others and with God.

Jesus was neither a doormat nor an autocrat, but free in Himself and from Himself to be open to other persons, despite those features that made them unacceptable in society.

The Gospels do not present a portrait of a feeble and irresolute man, someone who was so self-effaced as to command neither respect nor authority. Nor did Jesus importune Himself and demand the center of attention, forcing people to think and do things His way. Instead, He was a fiercely tender presence, passionate and outspoken, a charismatic preacher and healer. His words and life invited many of His listeners and friends into a different way of living.

Jesus was the gesture of God’s hand outstretched in love, mercy, and forgiveness. His ministry was devoted to healing and reconciling, intent on human flourishing, determined to bring the Good News of salvation to everyone, especially to the downtrodden. He promised that everyone who so desired would be given a place in the coming reign of God. Jesus was wholly devoted to the proclamation of God’s reign through service to others.

Jesus is the paradigm of what it means to live in the Name of God: Jesus’ whole reality was identified with God’s through serving and caring for others, even to the point of giving up His own life.”

“The achievement of communion (koinonia) is the proper work of the Spirit of God / Spirit of Jesus Christ. The Spirit gathers together in Christ persons who would not otherwise gather, making possible a true union of hearts and minds, the ground of which resides not in individual differences – age, gender, opinions, abilities – but in the very being of God.

The Spirit accomplishes unity-amidst-diversity, a communion that abolishes solitariness but not individuality. The uniqueness of the Spirit’s personhood lies in what the Spirit does: uniting everyone and everything with God through Jesus Christ.

It is impossible to think or speak of the Spirit except as the Spirit-of. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ; the Spirit of the Christian community.” [3]

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for modeling for us what it means to live for God and others. Please help us by Your Spirit to rebuild the Christian community to reflect Your life.”

[1] John 17:11
[2] Matthew 12:49-50
[3] LaCugna, Catherine Mowry, God For Us ~ The Trinity & Christian Life, Harper Collins Publishers, © 1973, pp. 293-295, 298

The Un-Castaways

Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a man sowing good seed in his field. [1]

After the crowd left, His disciples asked for further clarification about this parable.

He said: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.”

The title Son of Man refers to Daniel 7:9 where the prophet was given a vision of the coming Messiah. Jesus is the Son of Man. He is the Sower of good seed. The good seeds are His kingdom people. The tares are counterfeit wheat. They look like wheat but are not. They are sons of the wicked one… sons of the devil. The harvest is the end of the age… Judgment Day. Angels are the harvesters. Jesus give His angels authority and ability to separate the useful from the useless. The wheat will enjoy radiance. The tares will experience fire. [2]

“The Son of Man [Jesus] will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” [3]

Jesus went on to compare the kingdom of heaven to three more scenarios:

Treasure hidden in a field – worth all we have.
A pearl of great price - worth of all we have.
Good fish retained in contrast to bad fish discarded.

He reiterated that His angels shall remove the wicked from among the just at the end of the age. [4]

Then, Jesus said to His disciples, “Have you understood all these things?” They replied, “Yes, Lord.” [5]

Jesus taught with the goal of helping people make the right choice. The above parables are no exception. He is telling us point blank what the future holds for both those who receive Him and those who reject Him. To those who consider Him worth all they have… To those who know only He can make something good out of them… eternal happiness with God. To those who try to look like divine produce but are not of Him… the outcome is extremely undesirable.

In any case, a Day is appointed… I pray that we all will be ready.

Jesus said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." [6]

[1] Matthew 13:24
[2] Matthew 13:37-40
[3] Matthew 14:41-43
[4] Matthew 13:44-49
[5] Matthew 13:51
[6] John 6:37

Messaging Amid MIscharacterizations

There was once a high school girl who had a “Job” experience. Hateful classmates hacked her social media page. Posing as her, they posted accusatory lies on her Facebook page towards her friends. The result was that most of her friends defriended her. A few even physically assaulted her. Her Mom moved to new school district to protect her, but the harassment continued. She probably would have ended her life if the Lord had not intervened. He was her lifeline.

Thanks to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I understand that good people, even the Son of God, have suffered in this world. I also know that the Lord is very compassionate.

“Take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed, we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” [1]

The Lord confronted the men who misunderstood and mischaracterized Job. He told them to ask Job to pray for them. Then, the Lord restored all that Job lost, twice over. [2]

During a dialogue with an audience, Jesus framed the story of good versus evil in the following way: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” The devil is the thief. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. [3]

Thankfully, though Jesus suffered cruel treatment from evil men, He came back from the dead to speak of love and forgiveness. He instructed us His followers to love and forgive as well.

The Lord urges us His sufferers to commit our souls to God. “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. [5] In due season, He will turn the tide of battle that is against us. “The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” [6]

[1] James 5:10-11
[2] Job 42:8-10
[3] John 10:10, 14:6
[4] Deuteronomy 5:10
[5] 1 Peter 4:19
[6] 1 Peter 5:10

The Messiah

“When John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’

Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” [1]

John was imprisoned because he had spoken to King Herod, saying, “It is not lawful for you to have her [Herodias, your brother Phillip’s wife].” Herod wanted to put him to death, but feared his citizens, because they counted him as a prophet. [2]

Perhaps, John was wondering why Jesus did not do something about this situation. Herod committed adultery. Everyone knew it. He was a corrupt leader. Perhaps, John wanted his followers to be assured that Jesus was their Messiah. John had previously told his disciples that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He believed that Jesus was the Messiah. [3]

Jesus told John’s messengers to tell him of the poor people hearing Gospel and of the hurting people being healed. He closed with this remark, “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Ministry to the poor and needy is what the Messiah does.

Jesus went on to speak highly of John. He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist…” [4]

John was right to confront Herod about his adulterous affair. Such a self-indulgent leader was bound to neglect the care of the people entrusted to him.

Then, Jesus addressed the general attitude of His time by saying, “What shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying:

‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” [5]

The common complaint was that neither John the Baptist nor Jesus did all that people expected them to do. Jesus said the people were acting like children when they expected their leaders to follow their lead.

“Wisdom is justified by her children.” Wise choices will be realized in due season. Wait for it!

Afterwards, Jesus thanked His Heavenly Father for the revelations that He gives to babes and hides from the so called wise and prudent. Then, He issued an invitation…

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” [6]

The main mission of Christ was to reveal God to people and to ease their heavy burdens. He is gentle and lowly in heart. His work yields rest for the soul.

The difference between Herod and Jesus? Herod lived in a palace and made demands that people serve his self-indulgent interests. Jesus lived amidst hurting people, taught them about God and healed their hurts.

[1] Matthew 11:2-6
[2] Matthew 14:3-5
[3] John 1:29, 31-33
[4] Matthew 11:11
[5] Matthew 11:16-19
[6] Matthew 11:25-30

The Transcendency of God

“Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?” [1]

God is Creator and Sustainer of all things. He keeps planets, stars, sun, and moon in place. He oversees animals while they give birth to their young. He knows the birds of the air and the fish of sea. He made them and sustains them. There is no one comparable to God.

And yet, the Lord is very patient with those who disregard Him and His ways. He bore with great long-suffering the evil deeds of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. And when He did decide to judge them, He remembered the prayers of Abraham for his nephew Lot who lived there.

Lot was unaware of what was about to happen when two angels arrived. He was sitting at the gate of his city. He bowed to them and invited them to lodge at his house. They were reluctant to do so, but after he strongly insisted, they did so. He baked for them and they ate. However, before dawn, the angels urged Lot to get his family out of the city. He was reluctant to leave, so the angels grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand and his two daughters’ hands and led them outside the city. The Bible says, “The Lord being merciful to him.”

One angel said to him, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” Lot still did not realize the severity of the moment. He asked the angels for permission to flee to a city instead of to the mountain. The angel gave him permission. He fled. Then, brimstone and fire fell from the Lord. [2]

“And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.” [3]

Abraham had prayed for Lot. The Lord heard his prayers.

“The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.” [4]

It is a blessing from God to have a revelation of who He is and what He can do. He gives us the air we breathe. He keeps our heart beating. He gave His Son to die for our sins on the cross. He does so much for us daily. We do well to regard what He says to us in the Bible.

Jesus spoke of Sodom to His disciples. He said that circumstances would be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for a city that rejected their message. [5]

In the same discussion, He said, “There is nothing covered that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known.” He urged them, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” He was quite plain about the outcomes for those who confess Him and those who deny Him. He said, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” [6]

“Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive us for the many times that we have disregarded You and Your Word. We do believe and confess You to be Creator and Sustainer of the universe. We confess that all creation is Yours to do with as You see right to do. We confess and believe that Your Son Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved from the consequences of sin. Please have mercy on us, and on our nation, O Lord, our Rock, and our Redeemer. For in Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.”

[1] Psalm 71:19
[2] Genesis 19:1-25
[3] Genesis 19:29
[4] Proverbs 10:27
[5] Matthew 10:13-15
[6] Matthew 10:26, 28, 32-33

The Elijah Principle

“Then the word of the Lord came to him [Elijah], saying, ‘Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.’” [1]

The key to Elijah’s ministry success was his conversational relationship with God. He spoke with God in prayer. God spoke His words to Elijah. Elijah followed God’s guidance. The Lord spared many of His servants from the political regime that opposed them…

“For so it was, while [Queen] Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.” [2]

Elijah spoke a message of divine judgment directly to Jezebel’s husband King Ahab. After that, the Lord led him to Brook Cherith for hydration. God commanded ravens to feed him at Cherith. God’s version of mail delivery drones brought him bread and meat (sandwiches). [3] As this source of provision ended, the Lord directed Elijah to go to Zarephath. This time, God commanded a widow to provide for him.

God leads his people one step at a time—as we walk in obedience. God does not normally lay out the long-term scenario. When Elijah spoke to Ahab, he had no idea what the next step would be. God made the next step clear as Elijah was faithful in what God had already given him to do.

As you take a step of obedience, then God will show you what to do next. That is the importance of the link between Cherith and Zarephath.

“Arise and go to Zarephath… I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”

I wonder what kind of picture Elijah envisioned as he traveled to Zarephath. At the Brook Cherith, God provided meat and bread. What kind of food would the widow provide?

When Elijah arrives in Zarephath, he meets the widow. She is gathering sticks. He asks her for a cup of water and some bread. She replies that she has no bread. She only has a handful of flour and a little oil in a jar. She is gathering sticks for a fire to prepare a meal for her and her son. Afterwards, she assumes they will die of starvation. [4]

Then, Elijah sees the Lord’s plan. He sent him to Zarephath to help this widow and her son survive the famine. In meeting her need, his need will also be met. When other leaders are acting cruel and inhumane, the Lord guides Elijah to care for the widow and fatherless. What does Elijah have for them? He has faith in God. He speaks God’s Word to them, and God intervenes. They do not run out of food or water. [5]

“Dear Heavenly Father, we love to commune with You… study Your Word and dialogue in it with other believers. We trust You, that come what may, You have a way to meet our needs and keep the ministry of Your Word thriving and producing testimonies for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.”

[1] 1 Kings 17:8-9
[2] 1 Kings 18:4
[3] 1 Kings 17:1-7
[4] 1 Kings 17:10-12
[5] 1 Kings 17:13-15