Our Passion for Jesus

 “And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭21‬:‭37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Paul was being led to the entrance of the compound, he said to the commander in Greek, “May I have a word with you?” The commander replied, “So you know Greek, do you?”  Paul had known, for it had been prophesied to him, that he would be arrested in Jerusalem.  Still he chose to go.  The passion for Jesus, his Redeemer, got Paul so charged up that he gave his testimony in excellent Hebrew, to the Jews in the temple at Jerusalem.  Of course they couldn’t tolerate Jesus as the Messiah, and would have stoned him to death.  If it wasn’t for the Roman commander who who took him away, Paul would have been dead meat.  The Roman commander in charge of six hundred soldiers, was surprised that Paul spoke such fluent Greek, only for the highly educated.  The people living in Israel didn’t speak Greek at that time.  Paul, an educated Jew from Turkey, spoke to the commander in the common language of the Roman Empire.  As believers with a passion for the preaching of the Gospel, let every education, talent, skill, experience and attitude be used to glorify Christ in us.  This is the mystery of Christ in us the hope of glory.  Hallelujah!

God Chose Us in Christ

 “And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭27‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then Moses and the Levitical priests addressed all Israel as follows: “O Israel, be quiet and listen! Today you have become the people of the Lord your God.”  Here were a slave people and God chose them to become His people, keeping His covenant that He made with Abraham.  Now, here is all humanity, slaves to sin and the god of this age.  Yet God chose to shed the Blood of the Lamb of God through the new covenant where Jesus said, “This is My Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.”  Therefore now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, in that He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.  That is why we bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.  Hallelujah!

We Serve a Living God

 “And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭20‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Sitting in an open window listening was a young man named Eutychus. As Paul’s sermon dragged on, Eutychus became drowsy and fell into a deep slumber. Sound asleep, he fell three stories to his death below.  Eutychus means ‘lucky’ or ‘fortunate’.  ‘Lucky’ died because of his fall and was lifeless when Paul reached this pre-teen boy.  Eutychus became a picture of some believers today who, because they view themselves as ‘well off’, sit carelessly where they shouldn’t, growing drowsy, falling asleep, and enduring a disastrous fall.  But God has grace and power to raise even the foolish ones back to life.  When Paul had raised Eutychus back from the dead, he went back upstairs and served communion, ate a meal with the disciples there, finished his teaching until dawn.  This miracle filled them all with enormous joy.  Let’s move in the power of God, healing and raising the dead, so that everyone knows that we serve a living God, Who hears and answers our prayers.  Amen!

God’s People High Above All

 “and to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭26‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is what the Lord God Almighty willed for His chosen people.  Life in Christ is far above all people in praise, fame and honour.  Under the old covenant, God promised to set His people high above all nations of the earth, if they obey every single detail of His commandments.  In Christ in the new covenant, we are already set above all the people and the nations and as we walk in these privileges, we see the full manifestation of this high position.  We will be highly praised above all others because we are the crown of His creation, His workmanship.  We are above all in name and fame because our God is interested in making our name great and famous as the Name above all names dwells in us and God has highly exalted Him.  We are above all in honour as we walk in the light of the new creation revelation.  Then God makes us honourable vessels for Christ’s glory.  The believers were wonderfully united as they met regularly in the temple courts in the area known as Solomon’s Porch. No one dared harm them, for everyone held them in high regard.  Amen!

When the Holy Spirit Comes

 “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Paul laid his hands on each of the twelve, the Holy Spirit manifested and they immediately spoke in tongues and prophesied.  The impartation of the Holy Spirit and His gifts are here being transferred from Paul to these believers as he adjured them not to  minimize the powerful gift of the Holy Spirit that operates in their life, for it was imparted to them by the laying on of hands of the elders and was activated through the prophecy they spoke over them.  This laying on of hands in the Church encourages us to fan into a flame and rekindle the fire of the spiritual gift God imparts to us when spiritual leaders moving in the power of the Holy Spirit lay hands.  This is what Jesus said to His disciples when He rose from the dead, “But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and you will be seized with power. You will be My messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces —even to the remotest places on earth!”  This is how the Gospel goes in the power of the Holy Spirit to the ends of the earth.  Jesus has not changed in the way the Gospel spreads in power.  Let’s walk in the obedience of faith to spread the Gospel.  Amen!

Be the True Light of Christ in You

 “If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭25‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The laws that judge in a country for judgment that justifies the righteous and condemns the wicked has turned around nowadays.  The manipulation of justice in many countries is now justifying the wicked and condemning the righteous.  We bewail at what the world is coming to.  The Church which is the Body of Christ is here to proclaim the righteousness of God, which is, that all judgment against God by mankind, fell upon Jesus.  For here is the way God loved the world—He gave His only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life. God did not send His Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it! So now there is no longer any condemnation for those who believe in Him, but the unbeliever already lives under condemnation because they do not believe in the Name of the only Son of God. And here is the basis for their judgment: The Light of God has now come into the world, but the people loved darkness more than the Light, because they want the darkness to conceal their evil.  Amen!

Shining the True Light into the World

“After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Paul left Athens he traveled to Corinth which is about seventy eight kilometres apart.  Corinth was a large commercial centre with trade links all over the entire ancient world.  It was the home of the famous Isthmian Games and the temple of Aphrodite, which held a thousand temple prostitutes.  Corinth was known for its debauchery.  Yet, it was in the midst of this depraved culture, God breathed a church to become light to the people of their city.  Jesus touched the harlots, tax collectors and corrupt people, but instead of it influencing Him, their lives were changed.  As Christ lives in us, let’s be the light of the world as Jesus called us to be.  Instead of compromising with the worldly cultures and systems, let’s be the transforming change this world needs and dispel the darkness that is in the world, by sharing Christ, the True Light, with others.  Amen!

Treat Your Hired Workers with Respect

 “Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭24‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

In the culture that we live in, it is easy to fall into the trap of treating servants as lesser beings, sometimes being harsh and unkind to them.  God teaches us to be compassionate and kind to all, regardless of their status.  In the new covenant, Paul put this into practice.  In jail, he had come across the runaway slave, Onesimus, whom he led to Christ.  Paul found out that Onesimus had stolen and run away from  Philemon his trusted friend who was head of a home church in Colossae.  So Paul got Onesimus to go to Philemon with a letter, saying, “welcome Onesimus, no longer as a slave, but more than that, as a dearly loved brother. He is that to me especially, and how much more so to you, both humanly speaking and in the Lord. So if you consider me your friend and partner, accept him the same way you would accept me. And if he has stolen anything from you or owes you anything, just place it on my account.”  Such is the love of Christ in us that motivates us to treat those who work for us as equals before God.  Let’s be kind and compassionate just like Jesus is, to our fellow beings, treating them with respect.  Amen!

Preaching the Gospel

 “And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? 

‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭19‬ KJV‬‬

So they brought Paul for a public dialogue before the leadership council of Athens, known as the Areopagus. “Tell us,” they said, “about this new teaching that you’re bringing to our city. So Paul stood in the middle of the leadership council and said, “Respected leaders of Athens, it is clear to me how extravagant you are in your worship of idols.”  The Areopagus was a governing body of intellectuals overseeing Athens, like the board of education, city council, ethics committee, foreign relations council, religious and philosophical community, all rolled into one.  Also known as Mars Hill, it was not just a location but a gathering of a council of people overseeing the spiritual atmosphere of Athens, a Greek temple of human thought, a house of religion.  Paul immediately zeroed in on their extreme religious, superstitious, liberal thinking, and told them that their kind of worship was of no use.  Then he introduced the God Who loves them and wants them to know Him personally.  This is our Gospel even today - bringing people to the realisation that there is the One Who loves them and desires a personal relationship with them because in Christ He removed sin, which hindered mankind from knowing Him.  Amen!

A Heart Issue, Not An Intellectual Matter

 “Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭23‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The same God today loves us, and His Blood protection is on all those who believe and receive Him.  As many as received Jesus Christ, to them gave God the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.  As simple as this truth is, the human mind finds it difficult to believe it.  Balaam’s curses were turned into blessings and God does the same today.  Every condemnation, every curse, every ritual of witchcraft, in fact every evil assignment of the devil is cancelled against all those who have received Christ in their hearts.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in Jesus Christ will never be disgraced.”  It is a heart issue not an intellectual one.  Amen!

Led by the Spirit of God

 “after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When they got as far west as the borders of Mysia, they repeatedly attempted to go north into the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to enter.  We do not know how the Holy Spirit kept them from going to Bithynia, but it could have been a warning given by means of a dream or vision.  In any case, it is obvious the Holy Spirit was guiding His missionaries.  He is the Lord of the harvest Who prepares, imparts, gifts, anoints, and sends out His servants to gather the nations to Jesus Christ.  Acts of the Apostles is best understood as the book of Activities of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus.  True and lasting fruit in ministry comes through the work and leading of the Spirit of Jesus.  Let’s learn to be led by the Holy Spirit for we are the sons of God.  Amen!

Love One Another as Christ Loves You

 “And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭22‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬

God teaches the Israelites, just brought out from hundreds of years of slavery and a slave mentality, to live peaceably in a family.  Here, God’s instruction is that if a brother has gone away from his flock, to keep an eye on them and if a sheep or ox or donkey go astray, to find it and restore it.  Whether a brother or neighbour, this basic instruction in community living is to be lived.  Building a loving and caring community is as important as loving and serving the true and living God.  Jesus clearly said, “honor your father and mother, and love those around you as you love yourself.”  This is the new covenant behaviour, that we have been called to live a life of freedom and not to view this wonderful freedom as an excuse to set up a base of operations in the natural realm. Let’s constantly love each other, committed to serve one another. For all the law can be summarized in this: “Demonstrate love to your neighbor, even as you care for and love yourself.” But if you continue to criticize and come against each other over minor issues, you’re acting like wild beasts trying to destroy one another!  Let the love of Christ be our motivation to love others - God is love.  Amen!

We Are Invited to Co-labour with Almighty God

 “and Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭15‬:‭40‬-‭41‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul chose Silas as his partner. After the believers prayed for them, asking for the Lord’s favor on their ministry, they left for Syria and southeast Turkey. Every place they went, they left the church stronger and more encouraged than before.  Silas or Silvanus accompanied Paul in his second missionary journey after Barnabas and Paul split over Mark.  The apostle Silas was acknowledged in church history as one of the seventy apostles whom Jesus sent out.  After his missionary journey with Paul, he remained in Corinth and ministered there until his death.  Human failings do not disqualify us from co-labouring with God in the proclamation of the Gospel, it is only unbelief in God’s power that disqualifies us.  Let’s be those who believe that we serve an almighty supernatural God and the world systems and human failings are nothing to Him.  God’s will, will always transcend man’s free will, and will always be done on earth as it is in heaven and we have the privilege to co-labour with Him by surrendering our will to His. Amen!

Jesus Absorbed the Wrath of God on Himself for You & Me

 “And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭21‬:‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The sin worthy of death had the consequence of being hung to death on a tree.  Only death was the answer to such people in the old covenant.  The good news is the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  How, you might say? Christ has paid the full price to set us free from the curse of the law. He absorbed the curse completely as He became a curse in our place. For it is written: “Everyone who is hung upon a tree is cursed.” Jesus Christ dissolved the curse from our lives, so that in Him all the blessings of Abraham can be poured out upon gentiles. And now through faith we receive the promised Holy Spirit Who lives in us.  How amazing is our Lord Jesus Who took upon Himself every curse of mankind as the wrath of the judgment of God against sin fell upon Him at the Cross where He hung to die.  This is the new covenant which can never be broken, signed by the Blood of Jesus, our Lord.  But thanks be to God Who gave us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ when He conquered sin, curse and death as He rose again from the dead.  Death could not hold Him.  Hallelujah to our Lord Jesus Christ, glory to God!

Being Restored Into Christ’s Fullness

 “Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭14‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV

Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra and Paul had just healed the man crippled in both feet and the crowd was stunned into honouring them by bringing garlands and sacrificing bulls to them.  When the apostles understood what was happening, they were mortified and tore their clothes as a sign of dismay.  Rushing into the crowd, they shouted telling “stop”!  Along with Paul, Barnabas is described multiple times as an apostle.  For God has appointed some with grace to be apostles, and some with grace to be prophets, and some with grace to be evangelists, and some with grace to be pastors, and some with grace to be teachers.  Their calling is to nurture and prepare all the holy believers to do their own works of ministry, to enlarge and build up the Body of Christ. These grace ministries will function until we all attain oneness into the faith, experiencing the fullness of what it means to know the Son of God, finally to become one into a perfect man with the full dimensions of spiritual maturity, fully developed into the abundance of Christ.  This is God’s perfect will for us.  Let’s cooperate with Him till we are complete and restored into Christ’s fullness.  Let many apostles rise in the Church today.  Amen!

The War is Already Won

 “and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭20‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The priest will say to army, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them.  That’s how battles were fought in the old covenant.  In the new covenant for those who are born of the Spirit, our warfare is spiritual.  Although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion, as soon as you choose complete obedience.  We do not fear because Jesus has already destroyed every work of the devil through the finished work of the Cross.  Hallelujah!

Hearing God’s Will for You

 “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

While they were worshiping as priests before the Lord in prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “I have called Barnabas and Saul to do an important work for me. Now, release them to go and fulfill it.”  If you desire to know the will of God for you, do what the early Church believers did!  The believers in Christ ministered to the Lord as priests in worship and the Holy Spirit as Lord of the harvest sent out labourers into the harvest field.  The Holy Spirit speaks in many different ways.  Perhaps He spoke through a prophecy by one of the prophets there, or a divine Voice may have interrupted their worship.  God’s Spirit still speaks today in any way He chooses.  When believers who know they’re sanctified by the Blood, and set apart for God’s Kingdom, it behoves them to assemble together and worship the Living God Who speaks to them to do His will.  Let’s expect to hear from God and obey with the obedience of faith, just like Barnabas and Saul, also known as Paul, were separated to do God’s will.  Amen!

The Power of Agreement

 “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭19‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If you are being accused, the evidence of one witness shall not matter but two or three witnesses will establish the matter.    As we know, satan is constantly accusing us and condemning us with deception.  Once we have repented and been baptised, the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.  In the court of Heaven where the accusation has reached, our witness is Jesus, the One who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled Blood, which speaks of forgiveness.  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these Three are One. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the Water, and the Blood: and these three agree in one.  Let’s remember the power of Jesus’s Blood and the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, to contend and put to naught any accusation from the enemy.  That’s how we are victorious in Christ.  Hallelujah!

Walking the Talk

 “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭12‬:‭25‬ ‭KJV

After Barnabas and Saul had delivered the charitable offering for relief, they left Jerusalem, bringing with them a disciple named Mark (who was also known as John).  This is the Mark who wrote the second Gospel included in the New Testament.  John or Yochanan was his Jewish name; Marcus was his Roman name.  Because he once abandoned Paul during a missionary journey, Paul refused to take him again.  But later, Mark and Paul were fully restored in their ministry together.  Paul acknowledged Mark’s contribution to the spread of the Gospel when he wrote his last letter to TImothy, “That leaves only Luke with me, so find Mark and bring him with you, for he is a tremendous help for me in my ministry.”  This is how Paul knew to resolve conflicts humbly.  He told Titus, “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”  What Paul wrote in his epistles, he lived it as well, walking the talk!  Let’s be those who not only hear the Word but do it as well.  Amen!

Declare & Decree the Victory in Christ

 “For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭18‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God warns all believers in Christ to not follow the practices of unbelievers.  As the Israelites entered the promised land, they were not to practice what the Canaanites did.  Even today, we as believers in Christ, are forbidden divination, sorcery, fortune telling, witchcraft and the like.  God alone is the Revealer of every secret for His people, not to tolerate demon spirits communicating with His people or people consulting the spirits of the dead.  Life in Christ is not ignorant of the ever increasing occult powers in the world today.  Let’s discern and not tolerate anything that comes from evil.  Jesus Himself said that in the last days many deceivers, false prophets and Christs will arise, deceiving even believers in Christ as many depart from their faith giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.  As believers in Christ, let’s test all spirits, stay in the Spirit, operate in discerning of spirits, keep looking at Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.  God calls all believers in Christ, to aggressively eradicate all evil; to submit to God, resist the devil to flee from us.  Let’s declare and decree the victory in Christ. Amen!

Every Believer in Christ, A Missionary

 “And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

However, some of the believers from Cyprus and Cyrene, who had come to Antioch in Syria, preached to the non-Jews living there, proclaiming the message of salvation in the Lord Jesus.  Antioch was important from both a commercial and a military point of view.  It was the seat of the Roman governor-general with large garrisons and military supplies stored there.  It was a centre for art and culture, known for its beauty and recognised as the capital of the Syrian kingdom.  The church prospered greatly in Antioch, and became a Christian hub and headquarters for the apostles.  For many centuries in church history, Antioch remained a strong witness for evangelisation, sending missionaries into Persia and throughout the Roman Empire.  In the early days of the church, every believer was a missionary.  There was a great cost involved with following Christ.  They laid their lives down to serve Him and make Him known among the nations.  Not just the apostles, but all of the believers did their part in spreading the teachings of Jesus wherever they went.  Let’s spread the teachings of Jesus.  Amen!

Leaning on God

 “thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose….that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭17‬:‭15‬, ‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God knew that once His people came into the promised land, they would ask for a king.  God gave them His requirements for the future kings to live well.  They were to accept God’s choice from among their brethren.  Because Jesus came in the flesh and dwelt among us as our Brother.  He is God’s choice to be the King of kings and Lord of lords, so that in Christ every believer is chosen as God’s king and priest, though the ministry callings differ one from another.  To this end we lean on God’s strength for His counsel, strategy and help.  In Christ, it is God’s will that we receive His grace, wisdom and power to fulfill our ministry victoriously and build God’s Kingdom.  We seek God’s people to cover us as the corporate anointing keeps us alive and fresh for a prolonged ministry.  We study God’s Word to be constantly pure, focused and transforming from glory to glory.  Let’s be faithful to complete the ministry we received from our Lord Jesus as king and priest to God.  Amen!

The Power of the Gospel of God to all People

 “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭10‬:‭48‬ ‭KJV

So Peter instructed Cornelius, the Roman officer, and his entire household, to be baptized in the power of the Name of Jesus, the Anointed One. After their baptism, they asked Peter to stay with them for a few more days.  At last the Gospel broke through and penetrated into the non-Jewish cultures and people groups.  The Holy Spirit was now uniting Jewish believers and non-Jewish believers into one mystical Body of Christ on the earth.  Because of this, there would no longer be a distinction between Jew and non-Jew, but one family of believers formed by faith in Jesus Christ.  The three conversions of the Ethiopian dignitary, of Saul of Tarsus and of this Roman officer Cornelius, prove the power of the Gospel of God.  These three represent the three sons of Noah: Ham (Ethiopian), Shem (Saul), and Japheth (Cornelius) - as they were converted.  You have all become true children of God by faith in Jesus Christ! Faith immersed you into Christ, and now you are covered and clothed with His life. And we no longer see each other in our former state—Jew or non-Jew, rich or poor, male or female—because we’re all one through our union with Jesus Christ. And if you belong to Christ, then you are now Abraham’s “child” and a true heir of all his blessings.  Amen!

The New Covenant is Forever

 “Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭16‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus explained the permanent new covenant which God made with mankind through Christ, and of which the Passover was a sign.  “The truth is,” Jesus said, “Moses didn’t give you the Bread of Heaven. It’s My Father Who offers Bread that comes as a dramatic sign from heaven. The Bread of God is the One who came out of heaven to give His life to feed the world.”  Jeremiah had already prophesied of this to the Jews, “The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.”  Jesus, through His sacrifice on the Cross is the new covenant, ratified by His Blood.  This proves that by establishing this new covenant the first is now obsolete, ready to expire, and about to disappear.  So Jesus is the One Who has enacted a new covenant with a new relationship with God so that those who accept the invitation will receive the eternal inheritance He has promised to His heirs. For He died to release us from the guilt of the violations committed under the first covenant.  Amen!

The Holy Spirit Awakens our heart to See Jesus

 “And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭9‬:‭11‬-‭12‬. KJV

As the straightest street in Damascus, now known as Midhat Pasha Souq, this is the main thoroughfare.  Damascus is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, around 300 km northeast of Jerusalem.  The conversion of Saul the legalistic to Paul the grace preacher has a significant lesson for us.  We can be amazingly wrong while thinking we’re doing right!  The Holy Spirit awakens our hearts to feast on Christ, our Righteousness.  Religion has a deafening effect on our hearts.  Like Saul, we have to fall off our high horse and bite the dust before our blinded eyes can see.  Ananias which means, “the Lord’s gracious gift”, truly was the Lord’s gracious gift to Paul, who was healed by God’s gracious gift, as the Lord asks Ananias to live up to his name.  May the Lord make our home the house of praise (Judas) on the straight and narrow path, to reveal Jesus our Lord to this dying and perishing world.  Amen!

Be Generous

 “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭15‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Generosity to the poor is essential with God towards His people.  The poor and needy will always be in the world.  Both under the law and in the grace period, generosity is required.  In God’s family and household, there cannot be one single poor person, since everything seen and unseen belongs to God and He is our Father.  There is no discrimination or hierarchy, caste system or inequality in God’s Kingdom.  Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to shed abroad God’s love in our heart to not shut our heart towards those in need, and not be stingy.  Selfishness has no place in God’s family because Christ gave Himself to us selflessly, not grudgingly.  For we have experienced the extravagant grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although He was infinitely rich, He impoverished HImself for our sake, so that by His poverty, we become rich beyond measure.  Amen!

The Power of Grace

 “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But as Philip preached the wonderful news of God’s Kingdom realm, and the Name of Jesus the Anointed One, many believed his message and were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon believed and was baptized! Wherever Philip went, Simon was right by his side, astounded by all the miracles, signs, and enormous displays of power that he witnessed.  The magician Simon had boasted earlier that he was a great god amongst wizards.  Now Simon followed Philip everywhere and saw for himself with amazement and wonder as with great power gave Philip witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.  So, Peter and John came and laid hands on the new believers so that the Holy Spirit came upon them, filling each of them with power.  Simon wanted to purchase this power until he was rebuked and told to repent and simply believe.  Such is the power of grace, that no magic, witchcraft or wizardry can ever stand against it.  Praise the Lord!

Jesus our High Priest

 “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭14‬:‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Tithing started even before the law was given to Moses, through Abraham who gave tithes of all to Melchizedek after he blessed Abraham from the Most High God.  So Levi’s descendants, who received tithes on earth, gave tithes while yet to be born as Abraham’s descendants.  In the new covenant, Jesus is the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, Who lives forever and receives our tithes and offerings.  We don’t tithe to any church or denomination, we tithe directly to Jesus our High Priest.  Those who give cheerfully to God, He is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.  Jesus rebuked the hypocrites, “Great sorrow awaits you religious scholars and Pharisees—frauds and pretenders! For you are obsessed with peripheral issues, like insisting on paying meticulous tithes on the smallest herbs that grow in your gardens. These matters are fine, yet you ignore the most important duties of all: to walk in the love of God, to display mercy to others, and to live with integrity. Readjust your values and place first things first.”  God takes care of us when we trust Him with our tithes and offering.  Let’s generously show the love of Christ to the needy.  Amen!

Divine Encounter with the God of Glory

 “And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭7‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Stephen replied, “My fellow Jews and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham while he was living in Iraq and before he moved to Haran in Syria.”  The entire Hebrew family, and consequently the life of believers today, all began with a divine encounter as the God of glory appeared before Abraham.  It is this same glory that calls people to faith in Christ.  We, like Abraham, have been captured by the God of glory.  By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One Who called us to Himself by means of His marvellous glory and excellence.  All this we received by faith through Christ’s glorious work of the Cross.  Hallelujah!

Follow Jesus’s Gospel of Grace

 “and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We live in perilous times when there are so many doctrines being preached even within the Church, that the love of many is growing cold.  Jesus Himself said talking of our time, “And many lying prophets will arise, deceiving multitudes and leading them away from the path of truth. There will be such an increase of the sin of lawlessness that those whose hearts once burned with passion for God and others will grow cold. But hold your hope firmly to the end and you will experience life and deliverance.”  The Word of God is clear that God will never entertain any other doctrine but the doctrine  of our Lord Jesus Christ, His finished work of the Cross and the resurrection power given to us, the forgiveness of sins and His redemption, the glorious Gospel of grace.  This is the straight and narrow path which Jesus told us to enter because through the narrow gate is the only way and because the wide gate and broad path is the way that leads to destruction—nearly everyone chooses that crowded road!  Let’s be those who preach the true Gospel of grace, and nothing else.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Amen!