Christ’s Righteousness Nullifies Self-Righteousness

 “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, And that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; Yet trouble came.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭3‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Job cried, “The worst of my fears has come true, what I’ve dreaded most has happened. My repose is shattered, my peace destroyed. No rest for me, ever—death has invaded life.”  God had Himself pointed out to satan of the uprightness of Job.  Job had lived in the fear of God and done everything to maintain his righteousness before God.  Ultimately what Job feared came upon him.  None of his righteousness helped him as he faced the onslaught of all that satan brought upon him.  Though he cried, maintaining his righteousness before God, yet he questioned God in the midst of his grief and suffering.   

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. In the new covenant, it is through the gift of righteousness that we receive through faith, what Jesus did on the Cross and we get God’s deliverance and protection, not by our own righteousness.  For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ.  Let’s believe and receive Christ’s gift of righteousness.  Amen!

Authority that Comes with Intimacy with God

 “And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬

One day, when they said those words, the demon in the man replied, “I know about Jesus, and I recognize Paul, but who do you think you are?” Then the demonized man jumped on them and threw them to the ground, beating them mercilessly. He overpowered the seven exorcists until they all ran out of the house naked and badly bruised.  True authority comes from relationship with Jesus Christ, not just using formulas and techniques.  Evil spirits know about the depth of our relationship with God.  The reason Jesus saved us is so now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.  The spirit realm sees how we relate to God and based on that they respond to us.  Hypocrisy gives demons power over us but intimacy with God and our confident identity in Christ gives us the authority we need to contend with darkness.  May we enjoy intimacy with our God.  Amen!

Jesus Restores All Things

 “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Job’s wife said, “Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you? Curse God and be done with it!”  Here was Job smitten with boils from the sole of his feet to the crown of his head, soon after the death of all his children and destruction and loss of all his wealth.  His wife, unable to take all the sorrow wanted Job to die cursing God, but Job did not listen to her.  Yet Job didn’t curse God and later said, “God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with Him”, which he did because there was no Mediator at that time.  We know that it was satan who brought all the calamity and sorrow albeit he took permission from God.  Instead God restored to Job twice as much as he had before and children from the same wife who told Job to curse God and die.  God sent His Son to be our Mediator and to restore all things to fulfilment.  Scripture says that Jesus descended and He also is the One Who  ascended above the heights of heaven, in order to begin the restoration and fulfillment of all things.  Thank You Jesus, You restore all things.  Let’s believe it.  Amen!

The Great I AM Assures Us of His Presence

 “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭18‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭KJV

One night, the Lord spoke to Paul in a supernatural vision and said, “Don’t ever be afraid. Speak the words that I give you and don’t be intimidated, because I AM with you. No one will be able to hurt you, for there are many in this city whom I call My own.”  Preaching to the Jews, the apostle Paul had faced such a strong resistance that the Great I AM appeared to him and assured him of His Presence.  Paul went on to preaching to the non-Jews as well.  Jesus clearly told Paul to preach the words that He gave Paul to speak.  Because Paul was obedient to the vision, he had success in preaching the Gospel of Christ and planting the many churches that he did, as well as writing the epistles that he did.  Today, in the secular and humanistic culture of activism that we live in, it is only listening to the great I AM speaking directly to us and we being obedient to Him, being assured of His Presence, that we can bring the light of the glorious Gospel to the perishing.  Amen!

Those Hid in Christ Cannot be Accused

 “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can’t lose!”  Here God pointed out Job to satan as one who feared God to walk in an upright manner before Him.  The quick retort came from satan that God especially protected Job.  This was before God became the Son of Man to become sin for mankind and give in exchange His righteousness on the Cross.  Because of this He has wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the Cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.  Now satan cannot accuse those of us who have put our faith on what Christ has done for us on the Cross.  Let’s give this wonderful news to all the world.  Amen!

Boldness to Preach the Resurrection of Christ

 “Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭18‬ ‭KJV

Philosophers of the teachings of Epicurus, and others called Stoics, debated with Paul. When they heard him speak about Jesus and His resurrection, they said, “What strange ideas is this babbler trying to present?” Others said, “He’s peddling some kind of foreign religion”.  Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who espoused a radical materialism that claimed people should live for pleasure and materialistic gain, denying an afterlife as the gods had little interest in or concern for humanity.  Stoicism in contrast, is a passive determinism of emotional indifference that focuses on self control, mastering emotions and passions to realise peace within oneself.  Stoics believe you realise your full potential by living by sheer reason and divine principle which they call logos.  But Paul was bold and preached the Gospel of Jesus’s resurrection.  The Gospel has stood the test of time because almost every university and college founded in the west, originated in a Christian setting.  May we continue preaching the Gospel like Paul did, boldly.  Amen!

Seeking Peace, Prosperity & the Good of All People

 “For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.”

Esther 10:3. KJV

Mordecai the Jew ranked second in command to King Xerxes. He was popular among the Jews and greatly respected by them. He worked hard for the good of his people; he cared for the peace and prosperity of his race.  The essence of good leadership is to work for good, prosperity and peace for all the people under the leader, as Mordecai did.  In the world system we live in, the good of all people is a far cry from what God requires of good leadership.  As Scripture tells us, leaders are to be compassionate shepherds who tenderly care for God’s flock and who feed them well, for they are given the responsibility to guide, protect, and oversee. Let leaders consider it a joyous pleasure and not merely a religious duty, leading from the heart under God’s leadership—not as a way to gain finances dishonestly but as a way to eagerly and cheerfully serve.  Let’s learn to be servant leaders as our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is and pray for the Kingdom of God to increase in our planet today under our Good Shepherd Who laid down His life for us.  Amen!

The Leading of the Holy Spirit

 “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬

The Holy Spirit had forbidden Paul and his partners to preach the word in the southwestern provinces of Turkey, so they ministered throughout the region of central and west-central Turkey. 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.  Asia and these provinces are in Turkey and its capital Ankara is where the province Galatia was.  We don’t know how the Holy Spirit kept Paul and his partners from going to Bithynia, north west of Turkey.  It could have been a warning through a dream or a vision, but it was the Holy Spirit Who was guiding them.  He is the Lord of the Harvest Who prepares, imparts, gifts, anoints and sends out His servants to gather the nations to Jesus Christ.  Here He is “the Spirit of Christ”.  True and lasting fruit in ministry comes through the work and leading of the Spirit of Jesus.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  Amen!

The Church’s Intercession Releases God’s Sovereign Power

 “Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the king’s order came into effect. This was the very day that the enemies of the Jews had planned to overpower them, but the tables were now turned: the Jews overpowered those who hated them!  Just when the oppressed feel that all is lost, our sovereign God overrules any authority.  The LORD is far from the wicked: but He hears the prayer of the righteous.  Today, the Church, the Body of Christ is called to pray for the oppressed because our sovereign LORD hears us and the effective, fervent prayer of the righteous avails much.  There are many oppressed in our land, our cities, our neighbourhood for whom the tables can be turned when the Church, the righteous ones in Christ, pray for this transformation to happen.  Let’s pray for this.  Amen!

Our Personal Relationship with the Risen Christ & Personal Meditation of His Word

 “And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭15‬:‭32‬-‭33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then Judas and Silas, who were both prophets, spoke to them affirming words that strengthened the believers. After the four men spent some time there, the church sent them off in peace to return to the apostles in Jerusalem.  The ministry of the New Covenant prophet is to speak an abundant and a rich word whose sole purpose is to strengthen the Church.  After doing that Judas and Silas went back to the apostles in Jerusalem.  The Lord Jesus had said that towards the end of the age many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Therefore, by their fruit we will recognize the false prophets.  In this day of digital media there are so many prophetic voices coming forth.  The only way to discern is through our personal meditation of the Word of God and our personal relationship with the resurrected Christ.  May we hear Jesus talking directly to us.  Hallelujah!

Praying to the Lord of the Harvest

 “for how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬

Queen Esther pleaded with king Ahaseurus for the lives of the Jews condemned to death by the king’s decree.  “How can I stand to see this catastrophe wipe out my people? How can I bear to stand by and watch the massacre of my own relatives?”  Through Esther’s intercession the Jews survived and her testimony is included in the Scriptures of how God did the impossible.  Today, the Lord Jesus Christ has remitted the sin of all mankind on the Cross so that judgment has been taken away for those who believe in Christ and we have passed from eternal death to eternal life.  This good news awaits all people and God has ordained the Body of Christ, the Church, to make disciples of all the nations, preach the glorious Gospel to the nations.  As Esther interceded for her people, Jesus tells us to “pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.”  That’s our intercession that the harvest in our nation will be plenty because the Lord of the harvest has raised many labourers to bring in the harvest.  Let’s join the labour force and seek for the end-time harvest in our nation.  Amen!

Equipping & Edifying the Church

 “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

When the apostles understood what was happening, they were mortified and tore their clothes as a sign of dismay. They rushed into the crowd and shouted.  In the book of Acts, it clearly states that there were more than twelve apostles who were recognised by the Church.  Barnabas is described multiple times as an apostle.  Scripture says that apostles and prophets will minister and equip the Body of Christ until we are complete and restored into Christ’s fullness.  He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.  What a privilege we have that through the knowledge of the Son of God, we reach the stature of the perfect man through the fullness of Christ.  Amen!

Saved From Wrath through Christ

 “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭7‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So Haman was hanged on the very gallows that he had built for Mordecai. And the king’s hot anger cooled.   Justice caught up quickly with Haman.  God is just and perfect in all His ways, that’s why we ascribe greatness to Him.  The more so in Christ because Jesus was judged and bore the punishment for all mankind’s sins. You see, in the good news, God's restorative justice is revealed. And as we will see, it begins with and ends in faith. As the Scripture declares, "By faith the just will obtain life." Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.  We can only understand the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the finished work of the Cross, if we understand that Christ was judged on our behalf personally for each sin of ours.  We have  now been justified by His blood, and we are now saved from wrath through Christ.  Amen!

Overcome Self-Life and Release God’s Life Within You

 “But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV

But Elymas, whose name means “sorcerer,” stood up against them and tried to prevent the governor from believing their message. Saul, also known as Paul, stared into his eyes and rebuked him. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he spoke.  From here onwards Saul is referred to as Paul.  Saul means “sought after”, and Paul means “little”.  This name change is descriptive of what happened within Paul, leaving behind greatness in his own eyes and being content to be insignificant.  This is a journey every believer must take.  Then only we can release the power of the Holy Spirit, as Paul did, when he spoke powerfully to Elymas the sorcerer who tried to prevent the governor from believing.  The governor believed when he saw the power coming from Paul.  Let’s yield to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, and abandon the cravings of our self-life.  Amen!

Be Humble, Agree with God’s Word & Do It

 “Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, “Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV

So Haman took the robe and horse; he robed Mordecai and led him through the city square, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man whom the king especially wants to honor!”  Here was Haman honouring Mordecai whom he hated, instead of hanging him on the gallows he had got made for Mordecai.  Haman could not believe that this was what was happening!  The power that Haman supposed he had seemed to have gone.  Now he had to honour Mordecai on behalf of the king.  Scripture is very clear on this issue that pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.  God’s grace is only available to those who turn to Him in meekness, knowing their need for Him.  Grace and truth came through the Lord Jesus Christ, and He said, “blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”  May we learn to agree with the Word of God and walk in humility and meekness to receive the blessings God has promised us.  Amen!

Awake to Righteousness

 “And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

when all at once an angel of the Lord appeared, filling his prison cell with a brilliant light. The angel struck Peter on the side to awaken him and said, “Hurry up! Let’s go!” Instantly the chains fell off his wrists.  The word used “smote” or “struck” was used in prophecy for Christ going to the Cross, “I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”  Jesus was pierced in His side to awaken hearts to God.  Peter was awakened from his sleep by an angel who struck him on his side.  As the Church prays, may hearts in our nation be awakened to Jesus, that our sins have already been paid for by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Sow to Life in God’s Spirit

 “Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬

His wife Zeresh and all his friends said, “Build a gallows seventy-five feet high. First thing in the morning speak with the king; get him to order Mordecai hanged on it. Then happily go with the king to dinner.” Haman liked that. He had the gallows built.  Both the husband and wife together sowed into hate and death with self aggrandisement that they controlled their life and narrative.  Human beings very easily buy into that deception that they have the power in their lives to control everything.  Scripture clearly warns us not to be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever we sow, that shall we also reap.  For when we sow to the self, selfishness and self service, we reap corruption, but when we sow to the life of God’s Spirit, which is love, compassion and service to others, we reap everlasting life.  Let’s humble ourselves under the mighty Hand of God that He may exalt us in due time.  Amen!

Spread the Gospel

 “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. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭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. The mighty power of the Lord was with them as they ministered, and a large number of people believed and turned their hearts to the Lord.  Antioch was a Roman military garrison and a commercial centre, as well as an art and culture place as the capital of the Syrian kingdom.  The early church prospered greatly here and was a headquarters for the apostles.  Antioch remained a strong witness for evangelisation for many centuries and sent missionaries to Persia and throughout the Roman empire.  Every believer in the early church was a missionary at the great cost of following Christ.  They lay down their lives to serve Him and make Him known among the nations.  Not just the apostles but all believers did their part in spreading the Gospel wherever they went.  May we, in our generation, know how imperative it is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Surrendering to God Your Free Will

 “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Esther sent back her answer to Mordecai: “Go and get all the Jews living in Susa together. Fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, either day or night. I and my maids will fast with you. If you will do this, I’ll go to the king, even though it’s forbidden. If I die, I die.”  In the time of crisis, Esther chose to trust God, surrendering her own will to God, even her own life as she laid it on the line to the breaking of the law of the land, because of her position as queen of Persia.  This was a foreshadow of how Jesus Who was the Son of God, surrendered His will to God the Father, in the garden of Gethsemane as He prayed.  He went away again, and prayed again the same prayer as before-pleading with God but surrendering to the Father’s will.  That’s why we look only at Jesus, the Originator and Perfector of the faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.  Let’s surrender our will to God for His will to be done in our lives.  Amen!

Receiving God’s Vision with Obedience

 “And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭10‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The voice spoke again. “Nothing is unclean if God declares it to be clean.” The vision was repeated three times. Then suddenly the linen sheet was snatched back up into heaven.  From this vision Peter understood that God has declared every human being to be of special worth and dignity.  The entire world needs the Gospel.  The four corners of the sheet are the four corners of our earth.  The clean animals represent the Jews, God’s people, and the unclean animals to Peter, were the gentile nations.  So Peter got the heavenly message that God was about to send him off with the men at the door of that house, even though they had been labelled “unclean” by the Jews.  Three times the vision was given to Peter to understand the will of God, just as three times he denied Christ and three times Jesus restored Peter’s love for Christ!  All of us disciples of Christ must be ready to receive visions from God that convey His will on earth and which jolt us out of our limited outlook!  The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth to understand cryptic messages from God through visions.  Amen!

Antisemitism brings a Curse

 “And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬

Haman then spoke with King Xerxes: “There is an odd set of people scattered through the provinces of your kingdom who don’t fit in. Their customs and ways are different from those of everybody else. Worse, they disregard the king’s laws. They’re an affront; the king shouldn’t put up with them. If it please the king, let orders be given that they be destroyed.  Haman sowed hate and division as he plotted the extermination of the Jews.  Antisemitism has been around since ages but God knows to keep His covenant to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  Israel has survived as a nation to this day!  No nation, no people group, no king, no government, can stand against the might, power and will of our Almighty God Who keeps His covenant of blessing and Who is just and perfect in all His ways.  Amen!

Limitless Grace for the Humble

 “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

The Lord Jesus said to Ananias, “Go at once to the street called Abundance and look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. You will find him at Judah’s house. While he was praying, he saw in a supernatural vision a man named Ananias coming to lay hands upon him to restore his sight.”  The conversion of Saul the legalistic to Paul the grace preacher is 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 deadening effect on our hearts.  Like Saul, we have to fall off our “high horse” and bite the dust before our blinded eyes can see.   May we feast on the limitless grace that is in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Holy Spirit leads us to, as His sons and daughters.  Amen!

Reach Out to Orphans & Widows for Christ’s Sake

 “And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Mordecai raised his cousin Hadassah, later Esther, since she had no father or mother. The girl had a good figure and a beautiful face. After her parents died, Mordecai had adopted her.  God had told Moses when they prepared to live in the Promised Land that  He desired orphans and widows to receive justice. He showed love to the foreigners living among them and gave them food and clothing.  This promise God has kept with all who trust Him, down the generations.  Esther was no exception and God arranged that her relative Mordecai would adopt and raise her with the knowledge of the God of Israel.  In the new covenant, we are urged, “True spirituality that is pure in the eyes of our Father God is to make a difference in the lives of the orphans, and widows in their troubles, and to refuse to be corrupted by the world’s values.”  The favour of God upon Esther to become the queen of Persia, is nothing short of reverence and awe of our Heavenly Father.  Let’s reach out to make a difference for orphans and widows in our scope of influence.  Amen!

Faith is not Complicated

 “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭8‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Philip replied, “If you believe with all your heart, I’ll baptize you.” The man answered, “I believe that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Son of God.” The Ethiopian stopped his chariot, and they went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, Philip was suddenly snatched up by the Spirit of the Lord and instantly carried away to the city of Ashdod, where he reappeared, preaching the gospel in that city. The man never saw Philip again. He returned to Ethiopia full of great joy.  This Ethiopian, a man of position, was drawn to read Scripture, believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and was baptised, which filled him with great joy.  So simple and yet we complicate and denominationalise it!  Let’s keep it simple!  Amen!

Every Tribe, Tongue & Nation to Bow to the King of kings

 “Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is the story of something that happened in the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled from India to Ethiopia—127 provinces in all way back from 486 to 465 BC.  India was so named because of the river Indus, quite far away geographically from the Jews.  Through the Jews came the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ and throughout history, the sovereign God impacted nations to know the Christ.  For this is how God loved the world: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.  So the Kingdom of God has come and the Gospel is being preached so that all believe and none perish and it continues to advance and the forceful take hold of it. We wait for the moment which the apostle John wrote in Revelation about Jesus, the Lamb of God, "Worthy are You..for You were slain, and by Your Blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”  We prepare for the moment when every tongue, every tribe, every nation will bow down and worship the King of kings and LORD of lords.  Amen!

God’s Timing is Perfect

 “Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭7‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭KJV‬

Stephen before the high priest recounted the history of the Jews.  “Are you going to kill me like you did the Egyptian yesterday?’ Shaken by this, Moses fled Egypt and lived as an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.  Moses missed God’s timing.  To know God’s will doesn’t mean you know God’s timing.  God made Moses a ruler and a judge, but it took forty years to prepare him.  Moses wanted the position forty years before he was ready.  No one can make himself ruler and judge - only God has authority to set leaders in place.  We cannot raise ourselves up with ministry responsibilities until God releases us.  God says, “By Me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.”  Today, through the finished work of the Cross of Christ, the mighty Holy Spirit has been given to all disciples to proclaim the resurrected Christ.  Let’s be led by the Holy Spirit to do that!  Amen!

Consecration of Priests to Represent God

 “Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭13‬:‭29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Nehemiah prayed to God after he found the corruption and desecration of the Levitical priests in Jerusalem.  “Remember them, O my God, how they defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priests and Levites.”  It was a serious offence before God Who is holy that His priests should represent Him wrongly.  In the new covenant, Paul said, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”  So did Peter corroborate Paul, “and consider..our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you…which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.”  These days bishops and church leaders preach contrary to Scripture and the whole world watches it.  May they stop dishonouring God Almighty, repent and turn to Him for forgiveness while there is time.  Hell is a reality that the true Church doesn’t want for anyone.  Let’s preach the Gospel for it is the power of God to salvation.  Amen!

True Leadership

 “And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The proposal of choosing seven men to serve so that the apostles gave attention to prayer and preaching the Gospel was beautiful.  Everyone in the church loved this idea. So they chose seven men. One of them was Stephen, who was known as a man full of faith and overflowing with the Holy Spirit. Along with him they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas from Antioch, who had converted to Judaism.  Stephen was not a gentile but a Greek speaking Hebrew believer in Christ.  Stephen in English is Tzephaniah in Hebrew which means, “Yah has treasured”.  When he addressed his hearers when the Supreme Council confronted him, he said, “My fellow Jews and fathers”.  Although he was a powerful minister of the Word, Stephen was humble to accept the task that of serving.  True freedom in Christ is not to indulge the flesh, but rather, to serve one another humbly in love - that’s Christ-like leadership.  May we learn true leadership by being humbly willing to serve one another in love.  Amen!