Overcomers through Faith

 “And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭9‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Gibeonites tricked the Israelites into making a treaty with them because they were afraid of the Israelites who were destroying every enemy that came against them.  Joshua and his leaders neither discerned nor consulted the Lord and made the rash covenant with the deceiving Gibeonites.  In Christ, let’s beware of deception because satan is the father of lies and he hates the Body of Christ, knowing that he has nothing against us.  The only weapon satan and his cohorts have is to deceive through lies and false symptoms, even to the extent of twisting the Word of God.  But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ because He already defeated satan through His Blood Sacrifice at the Cross.  Let’s be established in our relationship with the Lord Jesus, based on the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit.  The clincher of course is the faith in us. You see, every child of God overcomes the world, for their faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world.  Amen!

Being Spiritually Minded is Life

 “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV

So now every righteous requirement of the law can be fulfilled through the Anointed One living His life in us. And we are free to live, not according to our flesh, but by the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit! Those who are motivated by the flesh only pursue what benefits themselves. But those who live by the impulses of the Holy Spirit are motivated to pursue spiritual realities.  All that requires of us has been satisfied by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  The life of Jesus in us is enough to satisfy God.  The power of our new life is not the works of our weak humanity, but the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit released in us.  Those who are in the flesh see Him only in the flesh, but those who are in the Spirit, see Him in the Spirit.  Let’s be spiritually minded now that we are born of the Spirit.  Amen!

Discipline in Christ

 “And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The day we received Christ, our names were enlisted in the army of the Lord.  We are God’s Kingdom as royal priests.  The Kingdom of God and the kingdom of satan are in collision till the final victory when Christ will come and rule the earth.  Let’s carefully follow our Heavenly Joshua’s victory principles as we get keys from Joshua’s earthly battles.  He rose up early and mustered the people.  A warrior must train his body and mind for a disciplined and orderly life.  In Christ we are fighting well organised enemies whom Christ has already defeated through the Cross.  Our part is to bring ourselves under the discipline of the Holy Spirit in order to manifest Christ’s victory.  After every victory, Joshua and all God’s prophets offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.  In Christ, we heap praises and thanksgiving at every victory.  The attitude of gratitude is the shortest way to create havoc in the spirit world by showing off the Cross of Christ and His Blood Sacrifice.  Let’s flow in the gifts of the Spirit, not taking it for granted and praying in the Spirit more than others.  Let’s say what Paul did, “I subdue my body and get it under my control, so that after preaching the good news to others I myself won’t be disqualified.”  Amen!

God’s Righteousness in Me

 “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul, explaining about his old man transformation into the new man, says, “I’m a mystery to myself, for I want to do what is right, but end up doing what my moral instincts condemn.”  As the old man, he identified with the people of Israel under the law, prior to receiving Christ.  This is not the present experience of those who are delivered, but describes the condition of the undelivered person.  No human can bring about this deliverance, which is why Paul says “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”  Then he answers it himself, “I give all my thanks to God, for his mighty power has finally provided a way out through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! So if left to myself, the flesh is aligned with the law of sin, but now my renewed mind is fixed on and submitted to God’s righteous principles.”  Let’s thank God that we have the privilege to bury our old man, instead of dragging it around, and now live a condemnation-free life of the new man.  Hallelujah!

Dominion over Sin

 “Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭7‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Israelites learned a bitter lesson after the fall of Jericho, when they tried to possess the city of Ai, a small Canaanite city.  They faced a shameful defeat when their army which was victorious over the great city of Jericho, could not stand before the small city of Ai.  They had stolen the accursed things and thought that God would still fight a victorious battle for them.  This gives us an alarm to walk in purity and obedience.  Life in Christ never tolerates sin in any form, never gives license to licentious living.  Defilement weakens God’s people.  When we are in Christ, all God’s strength is ours.  Let’s detest defeat and continue to have dominion over sin, never allowing defeat in any form.  Our glorying is not good.  Let’s know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump.  Let’s live holy for our God is holy.  Amen!

Jesus Eliminated Sin

 “knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Could it be any clearer that our former identity is now and forever deprived of its power? For we were co-crucified with him to dismantle the stronghold of sin within us, so that we would not continue to live one moment longer submitted to sin’s power.  We come to the realisation that our old identity of sin from Adam is dead and gone and the body of sin no longer has dominion over us for it has been annulled.  Now to beg God for victory over sin, is a refusal to understand that we have already died to sin.  Our joyful task is to believe the good news rather than to seek to “crucify ourselves.”  Sin is not suppressed by the Cross, it is eliminated.  Upon this “water” God commands us to step out and walk upon it, for we are now in Christ.  Let’s believe and receive everything Christ won for us through the Cross.  Hallelujah!

Our Faith Shout brings Victory

 “So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭6‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Joshua commanded the millions of the children of Israel to not speak one word till he would command them to shout.  For six days they silently marched around the city.  It was only on the seventh time, the trumpets were blown and the people shouted with all their might, that the Jericho city wall collapsed.  Then the children of Israel went in and took the city in victory!  In Christ when we face our Jericho wall, we don’t speak any negative or doubtful word.  Our silence at such times, increases our inner strength and the peace of Jesus that can never be taken away.  When we speak, we share effectively every good thing that belongs to us in Christ.  When people shouted, the walls collapsed.  We shout our victory out even before our wall collapses, and then we see our victory.  We shout out our faith, boldly proclaiming what we have in Christ, and then we see our victory manifest.  Let’s speak our faith-word for the word is near us, in our mouth and in our heart.  Hallelujah!

Life Reigns in Christ

 “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Yet death reigned as king from Adam to Moses even though they hadn’t broken a command the way Adam had. The first man, Adam, was a picture of the Messiah, who was to come. Now, there is no comparison between Adam’s transgression and the gracious gift that we experience. For the magnitude of the gift far outweighs the crime. It’s true that many died because of one man’s transgression, but how much greater will God’s grace and His gracious gift of acceptance overflow to many because of what One Man, Jesus, the Messiah, did for us!  Death is a temporary monarch that exercises dominion over humanity, but one day it will be completely deposed and removed through Jesus Christ.  Death passes to all who are in Adam.  Life passes to all who are in Christ.  Each is a corporate head of a race of people, either in Adam or in Christ, the contrast between Adam’s transgression and Christ’s redemption.  May we all share  this good news of being in Christ with all, so that none perish.  Amen!

Demonstrate Miracle to Manifest Enemy’s Defeat

 “And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬

As believers in Christ, God wants us lead a life of miracles.  God wants His people to covet HIs miracle power.  The same God Who terrified the enemies of the children of Israel at Joshua’s time, is the One Who silences our enemies today.  The Lord answered the prayers in the early Church to heal the sick, raise the dead, open blind eyes and deaf ears, the lame walked, the mute spoke and many more.  Let’s, in the new covenant, continue in this same power because miracles confirm the defeat of the enemy.  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.  We as the Body of Christ, need to demonstrate miracles now more than ever before.  Enemies are rising up, challenging God’s Word and God’s people.  Bible standards are ridiculed and rejected by the wisdom of this world.  Sin is increasing uncontrollably.  Persecutors are rising up breathing murder threats against believers in Christ. Rise up, and show Christ’s power in you today.  Hallelujah!

Justified by the Blood of Jesus Christ

 “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This declaration was not just spoken over Abraham, but also over us. For when we believe and embrace the One who brought our Lord Jesus back to life, perfect righteousness will be credited to our account as well. Jesus was handed over to be crucified for the forgiveness of our sins and was raised back to life to prove that He had made us right with God!  The Blood of the Cross is the means of our justification and the resurrection is the proof that God now sees believers as righteous in His sight.  The Holy Spirit sees the Blood of Jesus through our faith and seals us back into the image of God, once and for all removing the fallen mindset which resulted from sin.  How great is our God!  Let’s not go back into the sin culture Jesus rescued us from, but steadfastly believe that His Word is spirit and life to us as we live by His Word.  Hallelujah!

Walking in the Miraculous

 “that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭4‬:‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Joshua told the children of Israel, “The LORD God has done these miracles so that all the earth will be in awe of the mighty power of Yahweh and that you might always obey Yahweh your God!”  The two miracles - the parting of the Red Sea and the miracle crossing of the Jordan - carry a message for the entire world to learn.  As believers in our heavenly Joshua, our Lord Yeshua, we can learn from the symbolism of these miracles.  The Red Sea parting shows us deep lessons of our salvation from sin, as does the Jordan crossing.  We were co-buried with Christ in baptism into His death (Jordan), and now we are co-raised with Him on the “dry ground” of resurrection territory.  We were buried with Him in baptism, in which we also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  Miracles convince the world of the Lordship of Jesus.  We build these memorials for the next generations to believe in Christ.  Let’s walk in the miraculous because we are in Christ and the Holy Spirit releases miracles through us.  Hallelujah!

Mercy through Faith in Christ’s Blood

 “whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus’ God-given destiny was to be the sacrifice to take away sins, and now He is our mercy seat because of His death on the Cross. We come to Him for mercy, for God has made a provision for us to be forgiven by faith in the sacred Blood of Jesus. This is the perfect demonstration of God’s justice, because until now, He had been so patient—holding back His justice out of His tolerance for us. So He covered over the sins of those who lived prior to Jesus’ sacrifice.  The mercy seat becomes the sacrificial, redemptive work of Christ on the Cross.  The mercy seat was the lid to the ark of the covenant, which was carried throughout the wilderness for years and finally found a home in the temple of Jerusalem.  The “blood of mercy” was sprinkled on the mercy seat yearly on the Day of Atonement, which covered the sins of the people, until Jesus sprinkled His Blood on the mercy seat in the heavens.  Only the high priest went into the holy of holies to sprinkle blood upon the mercy seat.  Yet Jesus was publicly offered as the satisfaction for sin’s consequences.  We come to the Lord Jesus for mercy in the new covenant as He is our propitiation through faith in His Blood.  Hallelujah!

A Life of Miracles

 “And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Joshua led the Israelites crossing over the Jordan into the promised land, he told them of the great miracle that this was!  Life in Yeshua is a life of miracles and supernatural experiences.  The very purpose of God’s indwelling Presence in us is to manifest His power and wisdom to the world.  God shows the world through miracles that His children are great - miracles are God’s credentials for His believers and His ministers. Jesus began His ministry with the miracle in Cana, the first of the many extraordinary miracles He performed in Galilee that revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.  As we want the living and resurrected Christ to be revealed through us, let’s put our trust in Him to have faith for miracles.  Jesus wants each one of us to reveal Him to others who don’t know Him, so that they fall in love with Him and experience the greatness of having Him live through us.  Amen!

What Pleases God Comes from Faith

 “to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For those living in constant goodness and doing what pleases Him, seeking an unfading glory and honor and imperishable virtue, will experience eternal life. But those governed by selfishness and self-promotion, whose hearts are unresponsive to God’s truth and would rather embrace unrighteousness, will experience the fullness of wrath. Anyone who does evil can expect tribulation and distress—to the Jew first and also to the non-Jew.  Doing what pleases God comes from faith.  We must first believe in Jesus, the Anointed One, then our life and works will bring honour to Him.  All those who reject Jesus Christ and the truth that the wrath of God fell upon Him on the Cross for all our sins, will face the lake of fire forever, Jews and non-Jews alike, because their names were not found in the Book of Life.  This will be along with the devil and his cohorts.  Amen!

Transformed by Faith

 “And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent out two spies who arrived at Jericho and entered the house of Rahab the prostitute and lodged there.  Shittim in Hebrew is acacia, the thorny, piercing tree whose hardwood was used to make the tabernacle furniture including the ark of the covenant.  Rahab was an innkeeper too and the meaning of her name is “overcome” or “overcomer”.  She possessed the spirit of prophecy and had the revelation that God was giving the land to Israel.  One of the spies was Salmon, from the tribe of Judah, who later married Rahab.  God rewarded Rahab by having prophets and kings as her descendants.  Rahab, woman of faith, protected the spies at the risk of her own life.  This valiant woman knew the power of God to cleanse and transform her to represent in the old covenant, the virtuous and radiant Bride of Christ, in the new covenant.  May we recognise the power of the Blood Sacrifice of Jesus and the Holy Spirit to change us, in the new covenant, and transform us as the Bride Jesus is longing for, whatever our background might be.  Hallelujah!

Gospel is the Power of God to Salvation

 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul announced, “I refuse to be ashamed of the wonderful message of God’s liberating power unleashed in us through Christ! For I am thrilled to preach that everyone who believes is saved—the Jew first, and then people everywhere! This Gospel unveils a continual revelation of God’s righteousness—a perfect righteousness given to us when we believe. And it moves us from receiving life through faith, to the power of living by faith. This is what the Scripture means when it says: “We are right with God through life-giving faith!”  Salvation came to us through the Jewish people in our Lord Jesus Christ, historically.  For the Jew it meant moving from faith in the Torah and doing well, to faith in the works of Yeshua, the Living Torah, Who alone brings us into salvation’s power - it is through faith in the finished work of the Cross, that the righteous enter into Life, Jew or non-Jew alike.  There is no other way.  Jesus asks us to only believe in Him!  Thank You, Jesus!

God’s Encouragement in Nervous Situations

 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV

God again encouraged a nervous Joshua, “I repeat, be strong and brave!  Do not yield to fear nor be discouraged, for I Am Yahweh your God, and I will be with you wherever you go!”  God had told Joshua that he would possess a vast territory and no one would defeat him.  Yahweh would be with him just as He was with Moses and He would never fail Joshua, nor abandon him.  Yahweh said that Joshua would enjoy prosperity and success and He would be with him wherever he went.  What Yahweh promised Joshua, He fulfilled and now in our better Joshua (Jesus), He has fulfilled greater promises through His Holy Spirit in the better covenant.  Now may the God Who brought us peace by raising from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ so that He would be the Great Shepherd of His  flock; and by the power of the Blood of the eternal covenant may He work perfection into every part of us giving us all that we need to fulfill our destiny. And may He express through us all that is excellent and pleasing to Him through our life-union with Jesus the Anointed One Who is to receive all glory forever! Amen!

Imitate Paul as he Imitates Christ

 “So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭28‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When the people of the island heard about this miracle, they brought all the sick to Paul, and they were also healed.  Paul was actually a prisoner of Rome, but he was the one setting everyone free.  It is without doubt that Paul preached the Gospel with signs and wonders, leaving the island healed, in more ways than one.  Also included was the Roman governor of the island, Publius’s father.  The Lord Jesus started His ministry with this declaration, prophesied through Isaiah hundreds of years ago - “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon Me, for the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.”  The Lord Jesus desires that this anointing be released in every believer down the ages, so that He is seen by the world around us through His Body, the Church!  Paul took this seriously and even as a prisoner in the world system, he brought true freedom to the people he encountered, so that they came into the Kingdom of God.  Let’s obey the Lord Jesus as Paul did, and be used to bring people to Christ, in spite of our earthly circumstances.  Amen!

God Himself Buried Moses

 “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭34‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Moses died there in the land of Moab, Moses the servant of God, just as God said. God buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor. No one knows his burial site to this very day.  Moses’ burial place had to be unknown or the children of Israel would have made it into idolatry.  Even in the heavenly realm Moses’ death made the devil dispute over Moses’ body.  The devil’s accusation was that Moses had sinned against God even though he had given the law, so how could God Himself bury him?  God commissioned the archangel Michael, when there was a dispute with the devil over the body of Moses, by not insulting or slandering the devil, but simply saying, “The Lord Yahweh rebuke you!”  So Michael took Moses’ body away, and God Himself buried him in an unknown place in Moab.  This was so that after His resurrection, Jesus would be the Head of the Body, the Church: Who is the Beginning, the Firstborn  from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.  Let’s know how to put the devil to flight by using the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, just as Jesus did.  Amen!

The Joy of Communion in the Storm

 “And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭35‬-‭37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

There was a typhoon and the ship on which Paul, as a prisoner, was being taken to Rome, tossed and floundered.  For two weeks or more they were in this precarious condition, throwing wheat, foodstuff and cargo into the sea.  They had been without food, when Paul was told by the angel of God that they will survive.Then Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them, broke it and began to eat. There were 276 people who ate until they were filled, and were strengthened and encouraged.  Paul served communion on board the ship.  This was an astounding miracle.  After this, they were shipwrecked but near the land where they all swam to. All survived as Paul had said.  God is sovereign and desires that believers who trust in Him, would release the God-faith that has been placed in us, through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Let’s release miracles in this weary world, so people in darkness would see that God is Light.  Hallelujah!

Christ is More than a Servant of God

 “And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭33‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Moses, man of God, blessed the people of Israel with this blessing before his death.  Moses was very humble, more than any man in the face of the earth.  So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.  Indeed, Moses served God faithfully in all He gave him to do. His work prophetically illustrates things that would later be spoken and fulfilled.  Moses gave the law from God which is the righteousness of the law and the person who does those things shall live by the law.  But Christ is more than a Servant, He was faithful as the Son in charge of God’s house. He gave us the righteousness by faith in the finished work of the Cross.  And now we are part of His house if we continue courageously to hold firmly to our bold confidence and our victorious hope. Jesus is worthy to receive a much greater glory than Moses, for the one who builds a house deserves to be honored more than the house he builds.  God took Moses’s service in the old covenant but in the new covenant, in Christ, we are part of a much greater glory as sons of glory, and we are here to bless others. Amen!

Seeing & Hearing the Lord Jesus

 “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭26‬:‭16‬ ‭KJV

“Get up and stand to your feet, for I have appeared to you to reveal your destiny and to commission you as My assistant. You will be a witness to what you have seen and to the things I will reveal whenever I appear to you.”  Paul gave his testimony to king Agrippa of what the risen Lord Jesus said to him.  The Lord Jesus told Paul that he had seen Christ and he would see Christ again.  Christ would appear before Paul’s eyes again as He promised future appearances to Paul.  This is the relationship the Lord Jesus Christ desires from everyone of His followers and it is not just for the twelve disciples only.  Anyway, Paul was not one of the twelve.  This is our passion for the Lord Jesus that we have encounters with Him where He shows us what is required of us.  Let’s lean on Him completely as the Holy Spirit leads us to the oneness that Jesus promised us when He prayed, “…the glory which You gave Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You  have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me.”  Amen!

The LORD God Guards Israel

 “When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, When he separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the people According to the number of the children of Israel. For the LORD's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When the High God gave the nations their stake, gave them their place on earth, He put each of the peoples within boundaries under the care of divine guardians. But God Himself took charge of His people, took Jacob on as His personal concern.  This is part of the song of Moses, prior to his death in the land of Moab and the LORD God burying him.  The LORD God set the boundaries of all nations and His angels guard these nations but Israel, He guards Himself. We know that dark days of war are ahead for the children of Israel and until they see what Jesus said to them, ‘..you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord’, they will then receive His salvation for them.  In the meantime, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and the Church continues to pray for many Jews to receive Jesus as their Saviour and come into the Kingdom of God. Maranatha, come Lord Jesus!  Amen!

Preaching the Gospel to All

 “And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cæsarea to salute Festus.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭25‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Several days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea for a visit with Festus.  Bernice was a Jewess, a sister of king Agrippa and the older sister of Drusilla, wife of Felix.  Festus had now succeeded Felix, and Paul had asked Festus to be tried at Caesar’s court in Rome.  Festus had agreed to send Paul to Rome but in the meantime Paul had the opportunity to preach the glorious Gospel to Agrippa and Bernice.  These were decadent rulers whom Paul did not condemn but rather gave the Gospel of grace in Christ.  So Paul could preach the Gospel to kings and queens with as much fervour as with intellectuals at the Areopagus and the jailor in Philippi; the business person Lydia; and the cripple from birth at Lystra.  To all strata of society, the Gospel is to be preached.  The Holy Spirit brings conviction and repentance in the hearts of people when the Gospel is preached by believers in Christ.  That’s why Jesus said “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.”  Let’s take the help of the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel and to witness for our Lord Jesus Christ with power.  Amen!

From One Generation to Another

 “And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬

Then Moses summoned Joshua. He said to him with all Israel watching, “Be strong. Take courage. You will enter the land with this people, this land that God promised their ancestors that He’d give them. You will make them the proud possessors of it. God is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t worry.”  When the older generation is passing on, God ensures that His will and purpose continues in the coming generation.  This transition was inspired by God Himself because His will and purpose for mankind will never change.  He is the unchanging God Whose purpose is that mankind may know eternal life and to know and experience God as the Only True God, and to know and experience Jesus Christ, as the Son Whom God has sent.  In Christ, this is our responsibility to raise the coming generation to be witnesses for God in the power of the Holy Spirit, as Moses did for Joshua.  Amen!

Gospel of Christ is the Power of God

 “And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭24‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Several days later, Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. They sent for Paul and listened as he shared with them about faith in Jesus, the Anointed One. As Paul spoke about true righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became terrified and said, “Leave me for now. I’ll send for you later when it’s more convenient.”  Drusilla was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I and sister of Agrippa II.  As a Jewess, she was likely the source of Felix’s understanding of the Way of Christ.  Felix was so troubled in his conscience that he dismissed Paul for a more convenient time, which never came.  God, in His mercy gives opportunities to hear the Gospel, but will never interfere with mankind’s free-will.  Judgment awaits those who wilfully reject Christ after hearing the glorious Gospel because it is the power of God to salvation.  Amen!

Deep Relationship with the Word of God

 “But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Moses preparing to depart, tells the children of Israel that the word is right here and now—as near as the tongue in your mouth, as near as the heart in your chest. Just do it! Look at what I’ve done for you today: I’ve placed in front of you Life and Good Death and Evil. God never interferes with the free-will He has given us.  The choice is ours alone.  Paul too as he shared the Gospel told the people what Moses had said here that the one who obeys the Word of God must live by the Word.  In Christ we have the blessed righteousness that comes to us through grace by faith as we make our choice to live by the Word which is full of God’s Life and goodness, keeping us from death and evil.  Jesus our Lord, put it clearly, “But if you live in life-union with Me and if My words live powerfully within you—then you can ask whatever you desire and it will be done.”  What a promise! Let’s think the Word, speak the Word and live the Word.  Amen!

Serve Christ with Excellence

 “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭23‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV

That night our Lord appeared to Paul and stood before him and said, “Receive miracle power. For just as you have spoken for Me in Jerusalem, you will also speak for Me in Rome.”  The Lord Jesus is so loving and kind, He doesn’t abandon His servants.  In fact, He works with His apostolic servants.  He appeared to Paul and throughout church history He has appeared to His servants to encourage and give them direction for the expansion of the Kingdom of God.  In fact, Paul received direction later on too, when he told that ‘God’s angel visited me last night, the angel of my God, the God I passionately serve. He came and stood in front of me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. You are destined to stand trial before Caesar. And because of God’s favor on you, He has given you the lives of everyone who is sailing with you.’  This is our God Who will never abandon or forsake us and help us to serve Him with excellence.  Amen!

Christ Conscious

 “that thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God, and into his oath, which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day: that he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭29‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Moses renewed God’s covenant with God’s people, recited the songs of God and heartily blessed the children of Israel before his departure.  Moses was frustrated with their hard and stubborn hearts after forty years in the wilderness as they couldn’t obey God’s commandments.  Only in Christ, in the new covenant do we get a new heart by Jesus’s Blood where God’s laws are written in it.  It is a change of covenant where only Jesus became the Mediator of it - no more sin-consciousness, only Jesus the Son-consciousness!  It was good that Jesus ascended to heaven to send us the mighty Holy Spirit Who helps us to be Christ-conscious.  Now it is the triumphant song of the new creation.  In Christ, every spiritual blessing has become ours being joint-heirs with Christ.  Only Jesus Christ is our Lord Who conquered death, He is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.  Hallelujah!

Only God can Demolish Stubbornness

 “And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭22‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul was describing to the Jews in the temple in Jerusalem, of his conversion experience many years ago on his way to Damascus to destroy the Christians on orders from the high priest in Jerusalem.  Paul describes how Ananias came and said to him, “The God of our ancestors has destined you to know His plan and for you to see the Holy One and to hear His voice. For you will be His witness to every race of people and will share with them everything that you’ve seen and heard.”  Only God can change the stubborn heart to that of complete surrender to the will of God.  That’s Paul’s testimony that when he heard the Voice of God, it was still fresh to him.  When he heard the Will of God through Ananias, he surrendered himself to God completely.  Such is the power of God over mankind, without coming against the free will God has given us.  Let’s cooperate with God and surrender to His plans and will, it is always for our good.  Our God is good.  How great is our God.  Amen!

God Honours Christ-Followers

 “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭28‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God called His chosen people to be blessed under the old covenant when they obeyed the law.  But now in the better covenant, through the Blood sacrifice of the Lamb of God, we have much more and it is for His chosen people from every nation and ethnicity, not just for the Jews only!  The Lord sets His people on high above all nations of the earth.  It was God Who set  on high Abraham, Joseph, David, Daniel, and so many more throughout history.  In Christ, the ordinary fishermen were turned into apostles and so it is today.  In Christ, it is God’s ambition to set our life and ministry above others.  That’s how we shine as the light of the world before all people.  Jesus said, “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I Am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honour.”  Our Father delights to honour His chosen ones who follow the Lord Jesus Christ.  Hallelujah!