A Kingdom For Saints

“The saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” [1]

From whom do the saints receive the kingdom? From God Himself!

“The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” [2]

Who shall inherit the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heavens? The Messiah gives it to those who have brought their sins to Him to be washed away by His redeeming blood. “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” [3]

Luke says to us who follow Him, “You are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me.” [4]

Let us keep anticipating the Lord’s return! As the rays of the sun dispel the darkness of night, His arrival shall vanquish evil, and release glorious goodness. “The greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High!”

Praise the Lord!

[1] Daniel 7:18
[2] Daniel 7:27
[3] Revelation 1:5-6
[4] Luke 22:28-29

The Difference Making Holy Spirit

The king said to Daniel, “I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.” [1]

And when a new king took power from that one, it was written about Daniel, “Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.” [2]

What set Daniel apart from others? The answer is God's Spirit!

Of course! As a person loves God, keeps His commandments, and God’s Spirit helps him, excellent fruit comes forth.

Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” [3]

If we love JESUS, if we keep His commandments, He prays the Father to send us the Helper, that is, the Spirit of truth. He dwells with us and in us. With the Spirit of God in us we are no longer orphans. We are living with the help of God our Father, the advocacy of Jesus the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

[1] Daniel 5:14
[2] Daniel 6:3
[3] John 14:15-18

Loyal To The Lord

“...You are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me...” [1]

Throughout history, loyalists to the Lord have encountered trials, but the Lord is loyal to His loyal followers. He shall reward us in like manner to the rewards He received from His Father.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego are fine examples of loyal followers of the Lord. In their day, a king made an idol of gold. It was ninety feet tall and ten feet wide. He ordered his officials to join the dedication of this image. He commanded them to worship the image. He warned them, “Whoever does not fall down, and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” [2]

“How twisted!” This man threatened people with fire if they did not worship him. This is the final destiny of followers of false gods. “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” [3]

Most fell down and worshiped the gold image. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were the exceptions. It was reported to the king, “They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” [4]

The king warned them, “If you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” [5]

They replied, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” [6]

They were thrown into the fiery furnace. To his surprise, the king saw a fourth man in the fire with them. He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” [7]

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego exited the fire, the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

The king praised God, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him.” He added, “There is no other God who can deliver like this.” Then, he promoted them. [8]

Loyal followers of the Lord may experience trials for a season, but in the end, we experience God’s deliverance and promotions from Him. Praying for God’s grace to help us all be loyal to the Lord!

[1] Luke 22:28-29
[2] Daniel 3:6
[3] Revelation 20:15
[4] Daniel 3:12
[5] Daniel 3:15
[6] Daniel 3:17-18
[7] Daniel 3:25
[8] Daniel 3:28-30

Enter via the Narrow Gate

Jesus was teaching in cities and villages as He journeyed toward Jerusalem. Someone asked Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” [1]

Jesus responded, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.” [2]

The narrow gate according to Jesus is, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” [3]

During the days that Jesus walked through the cities and villages of Israel, many attended synagogue services. Many had the Scriptures and could quote passages, but what they lacked was a personal relationship with the God of the Scriptures. He was standing before them in the person of Jesus Christ and they rejected Him. He told them that many from all over the world would accept Him and believe in Him. Those who did, would be blessed to eat with Him, with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the prophets in the kingdom of God.

What really matters is what we do with Jesus. Those who embrace Him with love, worship and service will be the “first” in the kingdom of God. They will enter the kingdom of God thanks to the narrow gate. That's because Jesus Christ (the narrow gate) is the only Savior from sin. A person must believe in Him to be saved.

[1] Luke 13: 22-23
[2] Luke 13:24-30
[3] John 10:9

Rich Toward God

“The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So, is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” [1]

“THINGS the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need... THINGS. But SEEK the KINGDOM of GOD, and... things shall be added to you.” [2]

“If you choose money over love, you will always be poor.” – Unknown

“Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to pursue love. To be rich in love, especially towards You, but also to the people around us.”

[1] Luke 12:16-21
[2] Luke 12:30-31

The Vital Importance of Professing Christ

“...Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” [1]

Is your name written in heaven?

“There shall by no means enter it [the heavenly Jerusalem] anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” [2]

How does one’s name get written into the Lamb’s Book of Life? The answer is by believing in the Lamb of God and following Him while here on earth. And who is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin that keeps people from entering New Jerusalem. The Lamb is none other than the King of kings and Lord of lords Jesus Christ.

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man [Jesus Christ] whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him [Jesus] from the dead.” [3]

Don’t wait another moment. Ask God to forgive your sins based on what His Son Jesus did for you on the cross... He sacrificed Himself to wash away your sins. Receive His forgiveness! And place your trust in Christ alone to save you both in this life and in the next. Those who confess Christ before people, He confesses before His Father in heaven. This is how one's name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

“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.” [4]

[1] Luke 10:20
[2] Revelation 21:27
[3] Acts 17:30-31
[4] Matthew 10:32-33

The Gift Of Loving

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” [1]

“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” [2]

“Let all that you do be done with love.” [3]

“Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much! Help us to love others as You love them. Thank You for giving up Your Son unto death to pay in full our sin debt against You. Help us to love those who sin against us. Keep us from harming those around us. May Your great love for people be the starting point from which we do all that we do. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”

[1] 1 John 4:8-11
[2] Romans 13:10
[3] 1 Corinthians 16:14

What A Miracle!

I remember the day when I first truly believed that Jesus Christ IS Lord and Savior. It happened on a day of August of 1979. The Lord graciously brought me to the place where I spoke to Him and asked Him to take my life, save it from sin and hell and use me for His glory! Immediately, a peace came over me. A peace like I never experienced before. I KNEW He was REAL. I knew the creation I had seen everyday was HIS handiwork. Praise the Lord!

But that day was only the beginning! He is still transforming me. Helping me to see and understand better ways to love Him and to love those around me. Praise GOD for sending His Son into the world to reveal Himself and His ways to us.

I am very grateful to God for my wife Sherry. She has been a dear soul to me. I count her as one of the Lord’s greatest blessings to me. God has placed so much love in my heart for her. I pray that the Lord will bless her.

I praise the Lord for giving me a new heart and spirit.

Here is what the Lord says to us, “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, says the Lord God. Therefore turn and live!” [1]

“YES LORD, I turn to YOU and I LIVE!”

[1] Ezekiel 18:30-32

Authority & Power to Heal Sickness

“Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, ‘Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.’

When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, ‘I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!’ And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.” [1]

Jesus authorized the Centurion’s servant to be healed and it was done. He also commended the centurion's faith in the hearing of those around Him. Jesus marveled at the man because He was not a Jew. He was a Gentile! Yet, He had greater faith in the Jewish Messiah than many of His own people.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God! He has authority and power over all created things. In fact, He created and sustains all creation...

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” [2]

“Thank You Lord Jesus for creating us, sustaining us, and caring for us. Thank You for all the miraculous healings of human bodies that You have done throughout the ages and for the healing You will be doing today around the world. All praise, glory and blessing be unto You. We marvel at Your great love for us!”

[1] Luke 7:6-10
[2] Colossians 1:15-17

Blessings & Woes

Jesus calls those who follow Him to see suffering from a different perspective. Jesus declares the poor, hungry and weeping blessed.

“Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.” [1]

“The poor are not promised wealth – but something more valuable: God’s kingdom. The hungry and weeping will have their present situations reversed, becoming filled and laughing. Their current situation does not reflect their actual blessed state. Jesus promises blessings to those who face persecution.

The woes are a warning to those who place their trust in their comfortable situation. It is this independence from God that places them in a woeful situation, possibly without them even realizing it.” [2]

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” [3]

The blessings and woes of Jesus are comparable to the blessings and curses of Moses. [4] Both messages encourage us to make obedience to God the main issue. Jesus encourages obedience to God even when obedience doesn’t seem to yield blessings.

Jesus clarified the kind of obedience that God is looking for when He went on to say, “Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore, be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” [5]

Selfless love in a world full of hatred and greed is bound to incur some blow back, but in the end, such a person will be greatly rewarded by God for all eternity.

[1] Luke 6:20-23
[2] Julia Van Den Brink: “Luke’s beatitudes and woes: are they covenant blessings and curses?”
[3] Luke 6:24-25
[4] See Deuteronomy 28
[5] Luke 6:35-36

The Greatest Crisis To Resolve

Social media companies and political fundraisers spend billions of dollars to bring us into line with their way of thinking. They want our thoughts, emotions and energies to flow in a particular direction. They seem to always being creating a crisis that only they can solve.

Ungodly leaders were not the main concern of Jesus when He came to earth. He multiplied food for the hungry, but that was not His main concern. He healed many sick, but healthcare was not His number one concern. So, what was our Lord’s primary concern when He walked among us?

Jesus said, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” [1]

The main concern of Jesus was that those heading for an eternity without God would be saved.

“He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” [2]

Jesus urged His disciples to pray for laborers to do the work of saving souls.

“Dear Lord Jesus, You said that those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. You did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repent. [3] You sent your apostles to open eyes. To turn people from darkness to light! To turn people from the power of Satan to the power of God! You want people to receive forgiveness for their sins! An inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in You! [4] Please connect us with lost souls and may Your Holy Spirit speak through us to them. Please open blind eyes! Please set captive souls free from bondages to sin! May Satan’s power gives way to Your power! May sinners repent and receive Your forgiveness. May they experience the joy of salvation! This I pray in Your Name Lord Jesus. Amen.”

[1] Luke 19:10
[2] Matthew 9:37-38
[3] Luke 5:30-32
[4] Acts 26:17-18

Warning, Warning, Warning

The Lord gave Ezekiel a vision of four living creatures. He saw the glory of the Lord. Then, the Lord gave him a commission. He was to speak to His people in Babylon. The challenge was that they were in no mood to listen to what he had to say.

The Lord told Ezekiel, “Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.” [1]

The Lord gave Ezekiel a scroll to eat. He was to absorb and internalize it. Let it energize him to speak for God. The topics in the prophetic message were lamentations, mourning and woe. [2]

“Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat and remained there astonished among them seven days. Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me.’” [3]

Seven days! He did not want to speak. But after seven days, the Lord reminded him that this was his mission.

As Ezekiel sat among the people, he realized that the Lord was not kidding when He said, “The house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me.” [4] The Babylonian conquest and decimation of their nation had not softened their hearts towards God. Becoming captives of others yielded no humility in them. They continued to ignore Ezekiel’s warnings from God. He continued to faithfully warn them to repent.

“Dear Heavenly Father, please help us Your sentinels by the power of Your Holy Spirit to keep on warning those who do not want to be warned. To keep on loving them as You love them! To You be all the glory, honor, and praise! In Jesus’ Name, we pray.”

[1] Ezekiel 2:6-7
[2] Ezekiel 2:9-10; 3:3
[3] Ezekiel 3:15-17
[4] Ezekiel 3:7

Reflecting God’s Glory

God created us people in His image to reflect His glory on the earth. When we bring glory to God, we fulfill our primary purpose.

Jesus taught, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” [1]

When we ask God to intervene in our lives and do miracles to help us, we are in a sense asking Him to be glorified in our lives.

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” [2]

Those who are victorious over the beast, over his image, over his mark and over his number (666), stand on a sea of glass with harps of God, and sing:

“Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.” [3]

So, let our purpose be to glorify the Lord...

“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth.” [4]

[1] Matthew 5:16
[2] Psalm 50:15
[3] Revelation 15:2, 4
[4] Psalm 57:5

21st Century Jeremiah Book Now Available

My book is now available to order via:

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At the website above, type “21st Century Jeremiah” in the search window and it will bring it up.

I pray that this book will inspire love for God.

Forgiveness of Sin and the Holy Spirit

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” [1]

The Bible teaches that we are born with a sin nature. It is natural, but not advantageous, for sinners to sin.

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” [2]

Rather than wait for purgatory to be purged of sin as some teach, King David asked the Lord to purge his sin in the here and now.

Hyssop was used to apply the blood of the Passover lamb to the door posts of one’s home. When the angel of the Lord saw the blood of the lamb on the entry posts of people’s homes, he did not strike anyone dead. [3] So vital it is that our sin be purged by the blood of a lamb that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be THE LAMB of GOD who takes away the sin of the world.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” [4]

King Saul took God’s grace in vain. He was not faithful to the Lord. God did take His Holy Spirit from Saul. An evil spirit came upon him so that he began to persecute his son-in-law, David. He made every effort to kill David but failed. He ended up taking his own life. After all this, David sinned by taking the life of one of his faithful soldiers, and by committing adultery with the soldier’s wife. He repented. David experienced severe consequences for these sins, but the Lord did not take His Spirit from David. God forgave his sin.

“Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.” [5]

Grateful for God’s grace, David proceeded to tell sinners about the Lord. In a sense, he is still doing so as people read the Psalms which God inspired him to write.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.” [6]

David was broken and contrite in regards to his sin. God saw that! God accepted his repentance.

Later on, David’s son, Solomon wrote, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be healthy for your flesh and strengthen your bones. Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” [7]

Rather than think highly of self, think highly of the Lord. Give unto the Lord the glory that He so richly deserves!

“Surely He scorns the scornful but gives grace to the humble.” [8]

“Yes Lord, help us to be humble. To accept that what You say is true, and to act upon it. Please forgive our sins and fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit to lead others to You. For it is in the Name of Jesus, that we pray. Amen.”

[1] Psalm 51:5
[2] Psalm 51:7
[3] Exodus 12:22
[4] Psalm 51:10-11
[5] Psalm 51:13
[6] Psalm 51:17
[7] Proverbs 3:7-10
[8] Proverbs 3:34

The Lord Defends His Servant

“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. [1]

Joshua was doing priestly service. Satan stood at his right hand to oppose him. He hates it when God’s people stand with the Lord.

“The Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebukes you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?’” [2]

“The name Satan literally means adversary or opponent. He stands against us in spiritual battle. Satan wanted to destroy Simon Peter, sifting him like wheat but Jesus prayed for Peter and stood beside him and did not allow Satan to carry out every evil intention. The Lord rebukes Satan. When Satan accuses, Christ pleads. The Lord is a very present help in time of trouble.

“Michael the archangel said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you.’ The example here shows us a model for spiritual warfare. We should battle Satan with the Lord’s authority. In His authority we fight from a place of victory, more than fighting for victory.” [3]

“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him.’ And to him He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.’” [4]

Satan was pointing to Joshua’s filthy clothes and declaring him unfit to serve the Lord. No problem, “Joshua’s ministry was not based on his own goodness or merit. He had been rescued as a brand plucked from the fire. Indeed, Satan had a lot to accuse Joshua of, but Joshua had an even greater advocate, namely the Lord.

Joshua not only enjoyed having his iniquity removed, he also was given a positive righteousness – clothed with rich robes. The thought of being clothed by God in righteousness runs from Genesis to Revelation.” [5]

“I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.” [6]

“The turban was part of the High Priest’s garments and on the front, it had a gold plate inscribed with the phrase HOLINESS TO THE LORD.” [7] In God’s eyes Joshua was holy. He had been declared useful by the Lord for His service.

How should we respond to the Lord’s help? By praising Him: “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.” [8]

[1] Zachariah 3:1
[2] Zachariah 3:2
[3] Enduring Word Commentary with references to Ephesians 6:10-18; Luke 22:31-32; Jude 1:9
[4] Zachariah 3:3-4
[5] Enduring Word Commentary with references to Genesis 3:7, 21; Revelation 7:13-14
[6] Zachariah 3:5
[7] Enduring Word Commentary with reference to Exodus 28:36-38
[8] Psalm 47:6-8

Caring As The Lord Cares

The Prophet Jeremiah’s care for people was great. He wrote, “For the hurt of the daughter of My people, I am hurt. I mourn. Dismay has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then isn’t the health of the daughter of My people recovered?” [1]

When he reached out to those on the verge of perishing, they replied, “We will walk after our own plans… we will each follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.” [2]

Was the care that God gave him for people an exercise of futility? Should he have concluded, “Love is not a worthy cause?

The Lord’s promise to those who care deeply for others is this: “Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing, will certainly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves.” [3]

The ministry of divine love, though painful, yields great joy. While the Prophet Jeremiah may have not seen the fruit of his labors during his lifetime, his tears have turned to joy. He is with the Lord now and his earthly efforts are still bearing good fruit today.

Caring as the Lord cares is a worthy cause!

[1] Jeremiah 8:21-22
[2] Jeremiah 18:12
[3] Psalm 126:5-6

Glorifying God!

God designed us to bring Him glory! If we fail to give Him glory, we fail in our primary purpose!

What was Gehenna? It was the place where items that no longer served their purpose were thrown and burned.

Are you? Am I? Glorifying God?

The temptation of these last days is to “blaspheme the name of God” and to refuse to “repent and give Him glory.” [1] To doubt God! To defy and denounce Him!

Let us defy defiance of God and glory in giving Him glory! As the Psalmist said, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” [2]

As Paul said, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” [3] Let us boast about what Jesus for us on the cross!

Jesus advised us, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” [4]

Let us glorify the Lord in such a way that others want to join us in bringing God glory!

[1] Revelation 16:9
[2] Psalm 34:3
[3] Galatians 3:14
[4] Matthew 5:16

Overcoming the Forces of Darkness

“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” [1]

These evil principalities, powers, dark rulers, and spiritual hosts of wickedness want to keep people from believing in Christ.

“If our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” [2]

“Heavenly Father, please open the eyes of the spiritually blind. Please shine Your light upon those sitting in darkness. I as this in the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ.”

I have found it helpful when witnessing to lost souls to use my authority from the Lord to bind the devil in the Name of Jesus. To plead the blood of Jesus shed for them. We overcome the forces of darkness by the blood of the Lamb. We want the Lord to pierce the darkness in their soul and reveal Himself to them. I pray the Holy Spirit to blow upon them like a mighty wind and reveal to them through my witness that Jesus Christ is indeed their Lord and Savior.

[1] Ephesians 6:12
[2] 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

Jesus Christ Yesterday, Today, and Forever

The woman had a seemingly incurable illness for 12-years. The remedies given to her by many physicians had only added to her suffering. Her money was gone. Her health was growing worse day by day. Finally, news came to her of a Rabbi named Jesus. He had divine power to heal sicknesses. When she spotted Him in a crowded public area, she snuck up behind Him and touched His garment. She believed, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

She touched His garment. Immediately, she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. Praise the Lord!

Immediately, Jesus knew that power had gone out of Him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched My clothes?” His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You ask, “Who touched Me?”

Jesus spotted her. The woman was afraid. She was trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told Him the whole truth. Would He condemn her? No, He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” [1]

While Jesus was still speaking with the woman, people inform a man who had previously asked Jesus to heal his daughter that the daughter is now dead. A woman was just healed from her prolonged and incurable disease, but now a father is grieving because his daughter is dead. The bearers of bad news suggest to the father, “Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

Jesus said to the father, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”

When Jesus arrived at the dead girl’s home, people were in turmoil. They were crying and wailing loudly. Jesus entered the home. He diagnosed the girl as sleeping not dead. The mourners stopped their weeping long enough to ridicule Jesus. He put them outside the house. He brought the father, mother, Peter, James, and John to the child. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” The girl immediately arose and walked. She was 12 years old. The people were greatly amazed! [2]

The woman with the incurable disease and the dead girl were healed on the same day thanks to Jesus. The girl was born in the same year that the woman contracted her illness. Two ladies with unresolvable situations experienced resolve thanks to Jesus. One lady sought out Jesus and drew near and touched Him when she had the opportunity to do so. The other young lady was beyond the point of being able to ask Jesus for help. Thankfully, her father sought out Jesus, found Him and brought Jesus to her.

What unresolvable situation are you or your loved one dealing with today? Why not look to Jesus for help? Ask Him to help! Believe in His power and in His compassion. Nothing is impossible with Jesus.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” [3]

[1] Mark 5:25-34
[2] Mark 5:35-43
[3] Hebrews 13:8

United With God

“Thus says the Lord: “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness...” [1]

The people were afraid. Their earthly economy and security seemed to be ending. A conquering nation was about to overcome their capital. The prophet of the Lord was in prison. The Lord gave Jeremiah a message of grace in this ominous moment. Though life as they knew it was ending, the Lord promised to be gracious to them in the new life that was coming.

“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.’” [2]

They would survive the calamities and even enjoy a time of music and rejoicing. The Lord’s everlasting love and lovingkindness towards them would be the key to their longevity.

“Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old, together; for I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow. I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.” [3]

In the Lord’s presence, there is rejoicing and dancing. He turns mourning into joy. He greatly comforts us. He takes our sorrow and gives us His joy. He gives His goodness to us.

“I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.” [4]

This is what the Lord does. He gives us a download of spiritual replenishment.

“This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” [5]

Knowing the Lord comes on the heels of His forgiveness. When we ask the Lord to forgive our sins, He does forgive them. In fact, He forgets them. And once our sin is purged, He gives us the greatest blessing... the blessing of knowing and loving Him. God and us united!

[1] Jeremiah 31:2
[2] Jeremiah 31:3-4
[3] Jeremiah 31:13-14
[4] Jeremiah 31:25
[5] Jeremiah 31:33-34

An Amazing Savior!

“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you.’” [1]

The four friends of the paralytic brought him to Jesus for healing. The first thing Jesus did was forgive the man’s sins. Was his sin the sin of unbelief? The Scripture says, “When He saw THEIR faith,” Jesus forgave the man’s sins.

“Some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, ‘Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” [2]

The scribes were in-charge of interpreting Scripture. They questioned why Jesus pronounced the man’s sin forgiven. Without the shedding of blood there was no forgiveness according to Moses. How could Jesus declare God’s forgiveness without a priest sacrificing an animal on his behalf?

“But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, ‘Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’—He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this!’” [3]

Jesus was and is God. He is the Son of God! He has the power to forgive sins. He has the power to heal dysfunctional body parts. Not only this, but He was also and is the atoning sacrifice that the Old Testament sacrifices pointed to. He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.

People of faith are still bringing themselves and others to Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins and for the healing of their dysfunctional body parts. Our Lord Jesus is still forgiving sins and healing broken bodies today as we come to Him, present ourselves to Him, seek His forgiveness, and believe in His authority and ability to do miracles.

“All were amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this!’” [4]

Jesus is Messiah! He is the Son of God. Let us be amazed and glorify God because He does miracles like we have never seen before. He forgives our sins and heals our bodies.

[1] Mark 2:5
[2] Mark 2:6-7
[3] Mark 2:8-12
[4] Mark 2:12

Intervention Preceding From Intercession

“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there... HE PRAYED.” [1]

After Jesus prayed before daylight in a solitary placed, what transpired?

“And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and casting out demons.” [2]

Preaching happened! Demons were cast out of religious places of worship. Captives were set free. People could live and produce fruit for God once again! Praise the Lord!

“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” [3]

What does Jesus do now that He is heaven at the right hand of the Father? He intercedes for us. If the Son of God intercedes for us, should we not do the same for others? We should! Let’s join Him in His intercessory ministry, especially to pray for the Gospel to be shared with the lost and for captives of evil to be set free.

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” [4]

The Holy Spirit is also an intercessor. One day I was prayer walking here in Kirksville and the Lord said to me, “I created the world through words, but I do My ministry work among people through prayer.” So, let us pray for one another.

“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” [5]

Why pray for the Lord’s people? Because we are the primary targets of the evil one. He wants to take us out so that we are no longer able to proclaim the Gospel that sets captives free from sin.

Let us boldly pray for one another, especially for our witnessing ministry. That the Lord will connect us with the right people whose hearts He has prepared to hear the Gospel. That we will have the boldness and right words to say when such opportunities open up to us. That the Lord will fill our churches with worshippers. That the Lord will produce more disciples and more laborers for the spreading of His Gospel. Let us intercede so that numerous divine interventions occur.

[1] Mark 1:35
[2] Mark 1:39
[3] Romans 8:34
[4] Romans 8:26-27
[5] Ephesians 6:18

The Lord Weighs the Hearts

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.” [1]

Assuming themselves right without checking their facts with the Lord, was the crisis during the last days of Jeremiah’s Jerusalem. The prophet had been calling them to return to loving God and to loving God’s ways, but to no avail. They did not count loving God as a factor for determining if they were on an upward or downward trajectory.

Jeremiah said: “...This is the 23rd year in which the word of the Lord has come to me; and I have spoken to you, rising early, and speaking, but you have not listened. And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear. They said, ‘Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord has given to you and your fathers forever and ever. Do not go after other gods to serve them and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands; and I will not harm you.’ Yet you have not listened to Me,” says the Lord, “that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.” [2]

The prosperity indicator that they ignored was God. They disregarded His importance. God spoke to their nation for 23 years through His prophet Jeremiah. In fact, He spoke to them via many of His servants, but they refused to regard His words as important.

“Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Because you have not heard My words, behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,’ says the Lord, ‘and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against these nations all around, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, a hissing, and perpetual desolations. Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp. And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” [3]

Babylon was going to overcome them. Babylon was an actual nation in those days, but its name is also used as a metaphor in the Bible for people who exalt themselves against God and who try to be gods unto themselves. Characteristics of Babylon include the loss of mirth and gladness, the loss of weddings, the loss of production (millstone moving) and the loss of light (a metaphor for wisdom and understanding).

The Lord told the people of Jerusalem that they were about to enter a 70-year season of life in a foreign land that would induce in them a return to loving Him, loving His ways, and loving one another. God did His best with trying to coach them away from choosing the hard way back to Him, and back to one another, but in the absence of their cooperation, He allowed cruel Babylon to break through in their spiritual lives in ways that His caring prophets could not.

[1] Proverbs 21:2
[2] Jeremiah 25:2-7
[3] Jeremiah 25:8-11

LOVE

“It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel.” [1]

“Heavenly Father, please grant that we would love rather than strive.”

“Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?” [2]

“Heavenly Father, please grant that we would be faithful to You... to proclaim Your goodness.”

“...Make every effort to add to your faith... mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [3]

“Heavenly Father, please restore to us and to our nation mutual affection and love. That we would be thoughtful towards one another and care for one another in neighborly ways. And may we become a people who enjoy gathering together in Your Name to worship You once again. Please breakthrough into our lives with Your amazing grace and lovingkindness. All these things, I ask in the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.”

[1] Proverbs 20:3
[2] Proverbs 20:6
[3] 2 Peter 1:5, 7-8

In God Alone is our Life and Hope

Rejoicing in God’s Word… being happy to be identified with Him:

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16

The enemy of humanity’s soul opposes those who delight in God’s Word and speak it faithfully for people to hear it. Thankfully, the Lord is aware of the schemes of the wicked even more than we are.

 
“I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible.” Jeremiah 15:21

I Know that My Redeemer Lives (hymn by Samuel Medley, verses 3-6, 8):

He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above,
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears,
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heav’nly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives, all glory to His name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

 
The Lord assures us that people (despite the evil one’s schemes) will come to know His hand and His might, and KNOW that HIS NAME is LORD.

“Therefore behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know My hand and My might; and they shall know that My name is the Lord.” Jeremiah 16:21

“Dear Heavenly Father, please manifest to those who don’t know You, Your truth, and the power of Your hand, the power of Your might, and that Your Name alone reigns over all creation. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen.”

Preposterous Outrageous Yet Wonderful

God’s love moves Him to pursue even when we try to evade Him. He offers to us an uncommon opportunity for a renewed relationship with Him...

“They say, ‘If a man divorces his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man’s, may he return to her again?’ Would that land not be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; yet return to Me, says the Lord.” [1]

“Though you have been unfaithful, return to Me.” The Lord does not want us to perish in our sin. He does not want a heaven without us, but we have to turn to Him if we want to be saved.

“...You have polluted the land with your harlotries and your wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there has been no latter rain. You have had a harlot’s forehead; you refuse to be ashamed. Will you not from this time cry to Me, ‘My Father, You are the guide of my youth?’” [2]

Just as Adam and Eve’s sin defiled paradise, so our sins defile the places where we live. Rain being withheld can serve as a metaphor for anything that we depend on for our well-being. The Lord can withhold such blessings to make it easier for us to reconsider our need for Him. He wants us to rely on Him for help. He WANTS to be our FATHER.

“...I am merciful, says the Lord; I will not remain angry forever. Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God, return, O backsliding children, says the Lord; for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” [3]

The Lord assures us that if we return to Him that He will not treat us as our sins deserve. He will bring us to a better place. He will give us good shepherds who feed us excellent spiritual food.

“Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns.” [4] For seed to produce, it needs to fall on ground that has been broken up and on ground that has been cleared of weeds. These are metaphors for a heart that is tender towards the Lord and a heart that has been cleansed of the love of the world’s sinful pleasures.

“O my soul, my soul! I am pained in my very heart! My heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.” [5]

The Lord experienced much heartache for the people of Jerusalem. War was coming, but it could easily have been averted if they repented of sin and returned to the Lord.

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your outrage against betrayal. You should not be content to be treated this way. Thank You also for Your great love, mercy, and compassion towards us. That You are ready to forgive us, embrace us, identify with us, and guide us! Thank You! Praise You! Help us to love, honor and serve You as we should. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.”

[1] Jeremiah 3:1
[2] Jeremiah 3:3-4
[3] Jeremiah 3:12-15
[4] Jeremiah 4:3
[5] Jeremiah 4:19

Where Is The Love?

God called Jeremiah to be a mouthpiece for Him. He reluctantly obeyed the Lord due to a sense of his youthful inexperience, but the Lord promised to be with Him.

God gave Jeremiah a lament. God’s lament was that He was a lover who loved His people well, but they were an unfaithful and kept their distance from Him.

“What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me...?” [1]

“I brought you into a bountiful country, to eat its fruit and its goodness. but when you entered, you defiled My land and made My heritage an abomination. The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ and those who handle the law did not know Me; the rulers also transgressed against Me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after things that do not profit.” [2]

“Has a nation changed its gods, which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory for what does not profit.” [3]

“My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” [4]

“Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the Lord your God, and the fear of Me is not in you, says the Lord God of hosts.” [5]

“I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?” [6]

“But you said, ‘There is no hope. No! For I have loved aliens, and after them I will go.’” [7]

“They have turned their back to Me, and not their face. but in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise and save us.’ But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble; for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah.” [8]

“In vain I have chastened your children; they received no correction.” [9]

“My people have forgotten Me days without number.” “Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent, surely His anger shall turn from me.’ Behold, I will plead My case against you because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’” [10]

“The Lord has rejected your trusted allies, and you will not prosper by them.” [11]

“Dear Heavenly Father, You with Your Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are the source of pure love. Please forgive us for not loving as we should. Please help us to honor You by loving You and by inspiring others to do the same. We do love You want, but to love You more. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.”

[1] Jeremiah 2:4
[2] Jeremiah 2:7-8
[3] Jeremiah 2:11
[4] Jeremiah 2:14
[5] Jeremiah 2:19
[6] Jeremiah 2:21
[7] Jeremiah 2:25
[8] Jeremiah 2:27-28
[9] Jeremiah 2:30
[10] Jeremiah 2:32, 35
[11] Jeremiah 2:37

REPENT & BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS

“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the Good News of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. REPENT, and BELIEVE in THE GOOD NEWS.’” [1]

Many turned to the Lord through the ministry of John the Baptist. He was blessed with a large following. His imprisonment could have spoiled the momentum that was building, IF the people who heeded his preaching began to doubt the value of the movement of God’s Spirit. Jesus did not allow the movement to wane. He continued preaching, “The kingdom of God is hand. Repent and believe the Good News.” Don’t listen to the naysayers. Repent of pessimism! BELIEVE the GOOD NEWS!

The instruction of wisdom is to hold God in high regard. Don’t give into evil. Don’t succumb to humanity’s attempt to dethrone God! Don’t yield your tongue to perversities! Listen to what the Lord is saying! BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS of HIS REIGN...

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.” [2]

JESUS told His disciples that those who surrender that which is most precious to them for God and God’s work will prosper. They will receive a hundredfold blessing on earth and eternal life with God when this life is over...

“Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” [3]

Speaking as someone who went to preach the GOOD NEWS in Hong Kong in June of 1985 with just $200 in my pocket, and a lot of faith in the goodness of God, I can say most assuredly that I have never been able to out give God. We went to Hong Kong with one baby and returned to the USA 12 years later with four children, and more than a $1,000 in our pocket. In the meantime, many lost souls heard the GOOD NEWS in Hong Kong and Guangzhou City. Many believed in JESUS. The key point here is that the Lord prospered us not for our own ego’s or vanity’s sake. He prospered us as we BELIEVED in HIS GRACE and SHARED HIS GOOD NEWS!

Let us TRUST GOD and share THE GOOD NEWS of what JESUS did for us and for the SALVATION of the WORLD!

[1] Mark 1:14-15
[2] Proverbs 8:13-21
[3] Matthew 19:29

Worshipping God Is Better Than Vanity

The definition of vanity is having a lot of pride or conceit in your appearance or achievements. It also means worthless, emptiness, or something without value just like life apart from God is nothing.

Competing with others and living for self-praise is vanity. We must be on guard from vanity.

Remember God is Your Creator. Praise and adore Him! We are made in His image. The devil got caught up in himself and began to compete with God which led to his rebellion against God and his war against God. Self-worship is vain and dangerous. If you have been vain, repent and ask God to forgive you.

“The human heart has so many crannies where vanity hides, so many holes where falsehood lurks, is so decked out with deceiving hypocrisy, that it often dupes itself.” [1]

What does the Bible say?

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” [2]

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” [3]

Don’t make yourself an idol: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” [4]

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” [5]

“Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless–like chasing the wind.” [6]

“Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, for he will get nothing in return.” [7]

“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways.” [8]

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to His loved ones.” [9]

“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” [10]

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” [11]

“What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?” [12]

“Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” [13]

“Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive us for vain glory seeking. Help us to seek to only bring You glory all our days. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.”

[1] John Calvin - biblereasons.com/vanity
[2] Proverbs 31:30
[3] Proverbs 16:18
[4] 1 John 5:21
[5] 1 John 2:16
[6] Ecclesiastes 4:4
[7] Job 15:31
[8] Psalm 119:37
[9] Psalm 127:2
[10] Galatians 5:26
[11] Philippians 2:3-4
[12] 1 Corinthians 4:7
[13] Galatians 6:14

Forsake Wicked Ways

“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]

Great things happen when wicked people forsake wicked ways and turn to the Lord for mercy and forgiveness.

God’s thoughts and ways are far above ours...

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” [2]

But God wants to share His thoughts and ways with us to prosper us:

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” [3]

Joy and peace, singing and clapping come from the Lord to those who follow His leading:

“For you shall go out with joy and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” [4]

[1] Isaiah 55:6-7
[2] Isaiah 55:8-9
[3] Isaiah 55:10-11
[4] Isaiah 55:12-13

The Importance of Repentance

“Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.” [1]

Jesus called sinners to repentance. Sin is an evil fruit. It destroys those who partake of it.

Throughout the Old Testament, God called His people to bring animal sacrifices to atone for their sins. Atonement for sin was a key function of the tabernacle and the priesthood.

Sin must be atoned for with blood: “Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” [2]

When Jesus instituted communion, He told His disciples, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” [3]

Jesus reached out to the last, the least and the lost, but His message to everyone was the same. Sin must be repented of. It must be atoned for. The Old Testament animals sacrifices were a type of His sacrifice, but they were imperfect. They had to be done over and over again. The sacrifice of Christ for our sins was a ONCE-FOR-ALL sacrifice.

Jesus “does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did ONCE FOR ALL when He offered up Himself.” [4]

“Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place ONCE FOR ALL, having obtained eternal redemption.” [5]

“...But now, ONCE at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” [6]

“So Christ was offered ONCE to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” [7]

“...We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.” [8]

So, Jesus rebuked and pronounced woes over the cities that did not repent. [9] Sin separates people from God. Jesus brings people close to God through the forgiveness of their sins, but proud people rejected this theology of Jesus, which, by the way, is the theology of the Bible.

But to those who come to God on God’s terms, Jesus says, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” [10] Once, sin is atoned for, there is wonderful fellowship with God and with His people.

John Wesley, at the height of the great awakening, preached that people are depraved due to sin and need to be converted by Christ to become new creations. Many sinners found forgiveness and renewal thanks to John’s Holy-Spirit-led and Biblically based preaching. May the Lord bring such preaching to the USA ONCE AGAIN.

[1] Matthew 11:20
[2] Hebrews 9:22
[3] Matthew 26:28
[4] Hebrews 7:27
[5] Hebrews 9:12
[6] Hebrews 9:26
[7] Hebrews 9:28
[8] Hebrews 10:10
[9] Matthew 11:21-24
[10] Matthew 11:30

The Surrendered Life

Jesus taught us what to expect as we serve Him in this sinful world. He told us that what He experienced, we too would experience. However, in the end, God will make the truth known...

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” [1]

When evil comes at us, Jesus urged us to weigh between the lesser of two evils. He said...

“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.” [2]

Yes, antagonists may inflict physical and emotional duress on us as we proclaim Christ, but those who die without Jesus Christ will definitely experience a life much worse than that.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” [3]

The ill-treatment that sometimes comes to us who proclaim Christ is not a reflection of God’s love for us. It comes to us from Satan who hates the servants of Christ. These times are opportunities to show how greatly God loves sinners. Keep loving them. You are experiencing what Jesus experienced. God is maligned and ill-treated daily. The truth about you is that you are more valuable to God than many sparrows. He not only has your back, He also has your hair. He knows the number of hairs are on your head.

“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.” [4]

This is the crux of the matter. Do we want Jesus to confess us before the Father in heaven? If so, then, we need to confess Him before people. This is our primary objective.

“He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” [5]

Jesus promises us that if we lose our life... if we yield it for His cause... if we surrender our lives to Him for His use, there will be a good outcome. He will ensure it happens. God will give us a better life than the one we left behind for Him.

[1] Matthew 10:24-26
[2] Matthew 10:28
[3] Matthew 10:29-31
[4] Matthew 10:32-33
[5] Matthew 10:39

Come Humble Ones To Jesus

“When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” [1]

Bring them on! Kind and caring souls brought struggling people to Jesus. Demons had made their lives horrible. Jesus spoke a word and the demons departed from them. Others were battling infirmities. Jesus healed them.

Yes, God wants us to be whole. He also cares for our souls. Only He saves our souls from everlasting torment and brings us to heaven.

The worst disaster or crisis to avert in this life is the crisis of faith. Without faith in Christ it is impossible to be saved eternally. Jesus Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life. We must believe in Him to be saved.

Saving faith in Jesus is not a mere intellectual assent to information from the Bible, but a conversion of the soul thanks to a divine work of God in one’s heart. We each need the revelation that Jesus is God’s Messiah. He is the Savior of the world. This divine revelation prompts to action.

Like the humble souls in the Gospel, seek Jesus for a miracle. Jesus is the answer for your dilemma. Our Lord Jesus will respond to you with love and grace.

[1] Matthew 8:16-17

Faith in Good News

“The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” [1]

The Kingdom of God was near in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus told the disciples of John the Baptist... “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” [2]

What was needed then, and what is needed now is repentance and faith in the Good News.

What is the Good News?

The Good News is that God so loves the world that He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die for our sins and to resurrect from the dead so that we may have a happily ever afterlife with God.

This Good News should not be glossed over. Should not be put on a shelf! Should not be taken for granted! Should not be doubted! It is to be believed!

Jesus has written your name in the Book of Life! Why? Because you simply believe that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and your sin. Your confidence is in His merits not your own. We KNOW that He has made His eternity our eternity as well.

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” [3]

Jesus prepares a place for each of us who believe in Him! It’s a place in His Father’s house. We get to be with the Father of all life and the Father of all creation forever and ever.

Let us pray...

“Teach me Your way, Lord, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your Name. I will praise You, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your Name forever. For great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.” [4]

[1] Mark 1:15
[2] Matthew 11:5
[3] John 14:1-3
[4] Psalm 86:11-13

The Love of God

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” [1]

LOVE! “Yes, Heavenly Father, we love You with heart, soul, and mind, but confess that our love is too small. You who are worthy of so much more love than we give. We want to love You much more than we do.”

“...the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” [2]

“Thank You Holy Spirit for pouring into our hearts love for God.”

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” [3]

“Yes, Lord Jesus, to overcome the tendency to be self-oriented, we need Your grace to forgive and to help us to be more others oriented like You are.”

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” [4]

“Yes, God, continue to root out imperfect love. Love that does not reach the intended recipient due to fear! Thank You Lord Jesus that You cast fear aside, knowing love would yield You pain! You chose love. You became a living sacrifice for sinners so that we might be saved.”

“When we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” [5]

“Thank You God for this great demonstration of Your love for us.”

“O Lord Your Tenderness,
Melting all my bitterness,
O Lord, I receive Your love.
O Lord, Your loveliness,
Changing all my ugliness,
O Lord, I receive Your love.” [6]

[1] Matthew 22:37
[2] Romans 5:5
[3] 2 Corinthians 13:14
[4] 1 John 4:18-19
[5] Romans 5:6-8

The Kingdom of God is at Hand

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” [1]

“Jesus endured temptation both so that He could identify with us, and to demonstrate His own holy, sinless character.” [2]

“If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” [3]

“It isn’t that Jesus refused supernatural help in feeding Himself; He was more than happy to eat what the angels brought Him when the time of testing was over. It wasn’t a matter of refusing supernatural help; it was a matter of submitting to His Father’s timing and will in all things.” [4]

“Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down...’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” [5]

“Satan tempted Jesus to ‘force’ the Father into a supernatural event. Satan appealed to the desire within every man to sense approval from God and to have that approval publicly demonstrated.” “This warns us against demanding something spectacular from God to prove His love or concern for us. He has already given the ultimate demonstration of His love for us at the cross, and He can do nothing more “spectacular” than that.” [6]

“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.” [7]

Many kingdoms are under the devil’s power because they are deceived. Some worship false gods invented by the devil. Some have been influenced by the devil to become addicts of sinful pleasures: sex, drugs, alcohol, ego, etc. Those who oppose faith alone in God are many. They come against the man or woman, boy or girl who follows Christ. The devil tempted Jesus to join his gang. Why not enjoy the social welfare of the devil instead of the pain of social conflict that comes with following Christ?

“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” [8]

Jesus calls those caught in the devil’s web of lies and fearmongering to repent. Repent of the sinful pleasures that the devil’s has you addicted to. Repent of the unbelief in Christ that he’s feeding you. God’s kingdom is at hand. The time to get right with God is now. When Christ returns, it will be too late. You will be excluded from His everlasting kingdom of glory unless you repent and surrender your life to Christ! Surrender to Christ as your Lord and King. He will save you from this evil world and bring you into His everlasting kingdom where righteousness, peace, and joy reign.

[1] Matthew 4:1
[2] Enduring Word Commentary with references to Hebrews 2:18; 4:15
[3] Matthew 4:3-4
[4] Enduring Word Commentary with reference to Matthew 4:11
[5] Matthew 4:5-7
[6] Enduring Word Commentary with reference to Romans 5:8
[7] Matthew 4:8-11
[8] Matthew 4:17

Humility and the Fear of the Lord! Yes!

"By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life."

The enemy of our souls would like us to believe otherwise than what Proverbs 22:4 states above, but Jesus said that the devil is a liar and a thief. Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly.

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

"He [the devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." (John 8:44)

The devil is one who offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus was about to begin his ministry here on earth. The liar and thief sought to buy him out, but Jesus was not buying from him. He knew that in the end, He inherits all the kingdoms of the world. Our Lord had a higher purpose and that was to die on a cruel cross for the sins of Adam's race. To redeem us! To make a way for us back to God. To bless us!

Yes, by humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life. It is better to be humble, fear the Lord and do what is right than to join with liars and thieves. They and their father, the devil end up in the lake of fire while the servants of the Lord enjoy glory and blessings in His presence forevermore.

"Dear Heavenly Father, please grant us the wisdom and discernment to always choose the way of humility before You and the way of submission to Your will that You may bring about for us all Your good plans for our lives. For it is in the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ that we pray. Amen."

Give the Steering Wheel to God

The people in Isaiah’s day were being urged by God and His servants to let go and let Him, but at first, they despised God’s Word. They continued to rely on sinful motives. God warned them that their bad choices would result in a sudden collapse...

“Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: ‘Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perversity, and rely on them, therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach ready to fall, a bulge in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.’” [1]

God urged them to return to resting in Him if they wanted to be rescued. Be quiet. Be confident. “I will be your strength.” But they hardened their hearts against God...

“For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’ But you would not.” [2]

So, the Lord decided to wait. He wouldn’t force what was good for them upon them. He waited to be gracious to them. There would come a point when the people would stop striving and turn to Him. Then, He would be gracious to them. Then, He would have mercy on them. Blessed are those who wait patiently on the Lord...

“Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.” [3]

As the people waited upon the Lord, they heard Him speaking. He gave them directions. Life became easier with God Almighty the Creator in-charge. They threw aside their idols...

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. You will also defile the covering of your images of silver, and the ornament of your molded images of gold. You will throw them away as an unclean thing; you will say to them, ‘Get away!’” [4]

Not only was life better with God in the driver seat, they also experienced His healing power...

“In the day that the Lord binds up the bruise of His people and heals the stroke of their wound.” [5]

“Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive us for trusting in our faulty human pride, and please grant us the wisdom and strength to return to You, rest in You, be rescued by You and led by You. And please do graciously heal our bruises and wounds. For it is in Name of Jesus Your Son that we pray. Amen.”

[1] Isaiah 30:12-13
[2] Isaiah 30:15
[3] Isaiah 30:18-19
[4] Isaiah 30:21-22
[5] Isaiah 30:26

Praises & Petitions of a Person who Glorifies God

“In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame. Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.” [1]

“Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day.” [2]

“I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits. I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.” [3]

“Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” [4]

“You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.” [5]

“In that day the Lord of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people, for a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.” [6]

“Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.” [7]

[1] Psalm 71:1, 3
[2] Psalm 71:8
[3] Psalm 71:14-16
[4] Psalm 71:18
[5] Psalm 71:20
[6] Isaiah 28:5-6
[7] Psalm 72:18-19

Blessings From The Lord

Death Swallowed Up
Tears Wiped Away
Gladness and Rejoicing
Perfect Peace
Strength
Earth’s Inhabitants Learning God’s Righteousness
God’s Face Shining upon Us
The Earth Yielding Her Increase
Seeing God’s Face
Walking in the Light of God’s Glory

Wonderful blessings from the Lord!

“He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken. And it will be said in that day: ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.’” [1]

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” [2]

“Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O Lord, we have waited for You; the desire of our soul is for Your Name and for the remembrance of You. With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” [3]

“God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah, that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us.” [4]

“They [God’s servants] shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” [5]

[1] Isaiah 25:8-9
[2] Isaiah 26:3-4
[3] Isaiah 26:8-9
[4] Psalm 67:1-2, 5-6
[5] Revelation 22:4-5

Harvesters For Jesus

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” [1]

Yes, the souls who need Christ are plentiful. Below are petitions based on Bible verses that Intervarsity put together to help harvesters to pray for the salvation of lost souls:

Heavenly Father, please help me become whatever kind of Christ-like servant _____ can identify with so that by all possible means he will be saved. [2]

Heavenly Father, please send more believers into ______’s life who will exemplify Christ and cause her to want to know Christ for herself. [3]

Heavenly Father, please open doors for proclaiming the mystery of Christ to ______. [4]

Heavenly Father, please enable me to speak Your Word to ______ with great boldness. [5]

Heavenly Father, please break the blindness on ______’s mind caused by the god of this age. Help him see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [6]

Heavenly Father, please break complacency in _____’s mind and help her to want to be changed. [7]

Heavenly Father, please grant ______ a noble and good heart, help him hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. [8]

Heavenly Father, please help ______ see with her eyes, hear with her ears, understand with her heart, and turn, and you will heal her. [9]

Heavenly Father, please me gently instruct ______ when he is in opposition to you, in the hope that you will grant him repentance leading him to knowledge of the truth, and that he will come to his senses and escape from the trap of the devil. [10]

Heavenly Father, please bring ______ to the point he declares with his mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believes in his heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and he will be saved. [11]

Heavenly Father, please give me opportunity and boldness to invite ______ to come home to You. [12]

[1] Matthew 9:37-38
[2] 1 Corinthians 9:22
[3] Matthew 9:38
[4] Colossians 4:3
[5] Acts 4:29
[6] 2 Corinthians 4:4
[7] John 4:15
[8] Luke 8:11-15
[9] Matthew 13:15
[10] 2 Timothy 2:25-26
[11] Romans 10:9
[12] Luke 14:23

The Devil’s Demise & The Savior’s Grace

“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” [1]

The influence and power of the deceiver of all the deceived, that is the devil, has an expiration date. When his time is up, he is cast into a kingdom ablaze with putrid smelling brimstone.

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.” [2]

One of the devil’s deceptions was that people should fear to offend him more than God.

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” [3]

Those who trusted in their works to save them are judged by their works. Their works fell far short of God’s expectation. Only the saving work of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross, can atone for our sins and wipe our criminal records clean.

“The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” [4]

Are our names in the Book of Life? Yes, if we believe in Jesus Christ...

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the RESURRECTION and the LIFE. He who BELIEVES in ME, though he may die, he shall LIVE.’” [5]

“Therefore HE is also able to SAVE to the uttermost those who come to God through HIM, since HE always LIVES to make intercession for them.” [6]

“For by GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH, and that not of yourselves; it is THE GIFT OF GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” [7]

[1] Revelation 20:10
[2] Revelation 20:11
[3] Revelation 20:12
[4] Revelation 20:13-15
[5] John 11:25
[6] Hebrews 7:25
[7] Ephesians 2:8-9

Who Is On The Lord’s Side?

“After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, ‘Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.’” [1]

Yes, praise the Lord! It seemed that the whole world was against Christ, and His servants, yet, in one day, that way of life ended.

“Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” [2]

“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude... saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 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.’ ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” [3]

The great multitude who worshiped and followed the Lamb, and are now with Him, rejoicing and glorifying God! “His wife has made herself ready.” This wife is a metaphor for saints of God. They remained faithful to their covenant with Christ. They were of a different culture. They had been in the world, but not of it. They were reborn by a work of conversion done in them via the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. While those who followed the devil experience demise, these experience joy at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Next, the heaven, is opened and the King of kings and the Lord of lords leads the armies of heaven against the nations who oppose Him. He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. [4]

The beast (the antichrist), the kings of the earth, and their armies, gather to make war against Christ, but lose. The antichrist and his false prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone, and those who followed them are slain by the words of Christ’s mouth. [5]

“Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!” [6]

[1] Revelation 19:1-2
[2] Revelation 19:3
[3] Revelation 19:6-7, 9
[4] Revelation 19:11-16
[5] Revelation 19:19-21
[6] Hymn: “Who is on the Lord’s Side? By Frances R. Havergal

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons... For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.” [1]

She fanned the flames of immoral passions and selfish living. She united the nations to exalt hedonistic lifestyles and to hate those who sought to keep themselves pure for the Lord.

“Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, My people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.’” [2]

Be in the world, but don’t be of the world. Don’t join in Babylon’s culture. Pray, the rather, that the Lord will take whatever part of Babylon might be in you from you. And pray for others who are enslaved to her ways.

“In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.” [3]

Though you do not delight in the demise of anyone, realize that the Babylonian culture has slain many of God’s servants. She delighted in humiliating and destroying the followers of Christ.

“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!” [4]

The day of divine correction has arrived. God is so slow to judge. He is full of compassion. He doesn’t want anyone to perish eternally, but justice demands that Babylon be brought low and that God’s saints, apostles and prophets be vindicated. God’s messengers spoke the truth at the cost of their very lives. They loved those who hated them. They faithfully pointed people to the Savior from sin: Jesus Christ. Babylon is brought low. God’s messengers are raised up.

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” [5]

[1] Revelation 18:2-3
[2] Revelation 18:4-5
[3] Revelation 18:24
[4] Revelation 18:20
[5] Revelation 22:20