The Power God Gives to Those Who Believe in Christ

 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Mark’s Gospel ended with this command, Jesus said to His disciples, “As you go into all the world, preach openly the wonderful news of the Gospel to the entire human race! Whoever believes the good news and is baptized will be saved, and whoever does not believe the good news will be condemned. And these miracle signs will accompany those who believe: They will drive out demons in the power of My Name. They will speak in tongues. They will be supernaturally protected from snakes and from drinking anything poisonous. And they will lay hands on the sick and heal them.”  The Gospel is such wonderful news of the God Who loves mankind more than His own life, the God Who has loved us with an everlasting love and has accepted mankind in His Beloved Son, Jesus.  Those who believe and receive, rush to be baptised into Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection.  Then He gives the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and even when poison is give, the resurrection life of Christ in us has no effect.  Every tormentor leaves and sickness departs when we lay hands on the sick or cast out devils.  What power God has given His children who believe so that they set such captives free.  Amen!

Wisdom to Resist the Religious System & the Traditions of the World System

 “Now is she without, now in the streets, And lieth in wait at every corner.)”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The wisdom from above says, “Her type can be found soliciting on street corners on just about any night.”  This parable not only warns against the obvious evils of adultery and immorality, but is also a warning to the anointed young people in ministry, not to be seduced by the religious system.  Wisdom looks from the window (revelation and insight) of her house (the true Church of Jesus) and sees a young person (not fully mature) who has placed his or herself in the path of sin.  This makes such a person vulnerable to the seduction of the “harlot” system of a works-based religion that entices into partnership, covering and ordination with this system.  This “harlot” religious works-based system is loud and stubborn (the old carnal life never dealt with), and will not remain in her house (the true Church of Jesus); but lives in the darkness of compromise which is the way that leads to death.  The “harlot” doesn’t remain faithful to the husband (our Bridegroom-God). Let’s be uncompromisingly loyal and faithful to our True Bridegroom-God, our Lord Jesus Christ, giving Him first love in every area of our life which He purchased with His Blood.  Amen!

Receiving Christ Qualifies Us as God’s Children

 “And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭15‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark recorded, “Now, Pilate was holding in custody a notorious criminal named Barabbas, one of the assassins who had committed murder in an uprising. The crowds gathered in front of Pilate’s judgment bench and asked him to release a prisoner to them, as was his custom.”  In Aramaic Bar-Abbas means “son of a father” or “son who is like his father”.  This is the picture of every son of Adam, our father.  The true Son of the Father was crucified that day.  One man wanted a political revolution, the Other a revolution of love filling the hearts of all men.  It is hard for us to understand and comprehend fully the loving heart of God by sending His Son to die in the place of the sons of Adam including Bar-Abbas.  This was to avert the judgment over mankind through the punishment that Jesus took.  Therefore, as many as received Jesus Christ, to them He gave the right to become children of our Father, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Behold what manner of love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are.  Amen!

Keep Sharing the Gospel Despite Opposition

 “A naughty person, a wicked man, Walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, He teacheth with his fingers;”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The wisdom from above says, “Here’s another life’s lesson to learn from observing the wayward and wicked man.  You can tell they are lawless.  They’re constant liars, proud deceivers, full of clever ploys and convincing plots.  In the Hebrew this gives a picture of those who wink their eyes, shuffle their feet, and point their fingers - such are the devious ways of the wicked.  Jesus encountered them when with such maliciousness, the Pharisees tried to entrap Him with a cunning ploy of asking whether Jews should pay tax to Rome or not!  Jesus knew they were testing Him and He silenced them completely.  The evil one was totally silenced when Jesus was sacrificed on the Cross as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.  Today the devil connives to stop believers from sharing the Gospel by sending his messengers to burn churches and stop believers by persecuting, imprisoning or even killing them.  But as Jesus said, “I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  The prophet prophesied “Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end..”. Hallelujah!

New Covenant, a Better Covenant Established on Better Promises

 “And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Mark records, Jesus said to them, “This is My Blood, which seals the new covenant poured out for many. I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the day comes when we drink it together in the Kingdom feast of My Father.”  This new covenant is a better covenant because it is established on better promises.  In this new covenant, God freely gives us forgiveness, life, salvation and every heavenly spiritual blessing.  Jesus serves His disciples the Bread and the Cup which means He is serving us His death and resurrection.  This is now our feast and constant supply of God’s life.  We are now in the realm of the Kingdom of God.  The Holy Spirit brings us into the Body of Christ and into the reality of God’s Kingdom realm.  It is growing and increasing in scope, and every time believers drink of the Cup of Communion, Jesus is present with us.  It is the Lord’s Table not ours.  Jesus now drinks with us in a new way, and not just once a year at Passover, but every time we worship Him by taking communion.  Amen!

The Only Way to Remove the Sting of Sin

 “For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, And her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on hell.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above teaches, “Remember this: The lips of a seductress seem sweet like honey, and her smooth words are like music in your ears. But I promise you this: In the end all you’ll be left with is a bitter conscience. For the sting of your sin will pierce your soul like a sword. She will ruin your life, drag you down to death, and lead you straight to hell.”  This kind of person seduces, deceives and drags to hell.  For the believer, the promiscuous person can be a picture of the false anointing of the religious spirit that attempts to seduce us, weaken our message, and rob the anointing of God from our ministries.  Of course there is also a clear and dire warning for all to stay sexually pure or face the consequences.  Wormwood is bitterness and when bitterness and unforgiveness is harboured in the heart, conscience becomes hardened piercing the soul.  That life becomes a hellish experience dragging to death.  But the Gospel is, that the sacred Blood of the Messiah thoroughly cleanses our consciences! For by the power of the eternal Spirit He has offered Himself to God as the perfect Sacrifice that now frees us from our dead works to worship and serve the living God.  This is the only way to remove the sting of sin that makes our conscience bitter unto death - the perfect Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on your and my behalf and receiving the forgiveness of sin.  Amen!

Guard against Deception

 “And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark recorded, when Jesus sat on the mount of Olives overlooking the temple in Jerusalem, “Jesus answered, “At that time deception will run rampant. So beware that you’re not fooled! For many will appear on the scene claiming my authority or saying about themselves, ‘I am God’s Anointed,’ and they will lead many astray. You will hear rumors of wars nearby, with more rumors of wars to come. Make sure that you are not thrown into a panic or give in to your fears, for these things are destined to happen. Prepare for it, but still the end is not yet.”  Jesus prepared us for the times we’re living in.  Many will speak on behalf the Lord Jesus Christ but without the fruit of people coming into the Kingdom of God through the Gospel.  The strategy of satan is the same today as before, to make people believe a lie.  Jesus Christ is the ONLY  way to salvation but the compromise of this truth is so rampant that it puts the Cross of Christ to no effect.  The bleeding Christ on the Cross is a sign of weakness to the world but to us who believe, it is the power of God to salvation.  Sin is not a problem to the world but that is the reason why God came into the world to deal with it.  Anyone who indulges in sin lives in moral anarchy, for the definition of sin is breaking God’s law.  God’s commandment is what Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  It is the lack of love that causes hate, fear, wars and destruction.  Let’s believe Jesus and walk in faith, hope and love; the greatest power is love that forgave us our sins.  Amen!

Wisdom & Understanding is a Gift in God’s Word

 “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, Forsake ye not my law. Get wisdom, get understanding: Forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The wisdom from above says, “Listen to my correction, my sons, for I speak to you as your father. Let discernment enter your heart and you will grow wise with the understanding I impart. My revelation-truth is a gift to you, so remain faithful to my instruction. So make wisdom your quest— search for the revelation of life’s meaning. Don’t let what I say go in one ear and out the other.”  We listen to God’s Word as though it is Jesus Christ speaking directly to us.  He is the Everlasting Father and we are called His sons.  Truly the Scriptures are a gift to us.  No other generation has had the availability of the Word of God with such ease as this generation.  It is however the revelation of the truth of God’s Word that is a gift and comes to us through our meditating on it day and night and doing what it says - that’s the secret of success in life.  The more time we spend with our Lord Jesus, the more we will receive revelation as Peter, James and John were revealed the glory of God at the mount when Jesus was transfigured and they heard the Father’s voice. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.  But of Him we are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.  Amen!

The Kingdom of God is a Present Reality

 “And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark recorded, “When Jesus noticed how thoughtfully and sincerely the man answered, He said to him, “You’re not far from the reality of God’s kingdom.” After that, no one dared to question him again.”  Jesus tells the man that the Kingdom of God is within reach.  It is a present reality, not just a far-off concept.  The religious scholars were hawk-eyed concerning Jesus, always questioning His authority and His interpretation of Scripture.  They taught a theology without the reality of Christ, the Messiah.  Today many preachers are caught in the trap of preaching and teaching Christ without a personal relationship with Him.  There is no fruit in such preaching and teaching.  Every teaching of the Kingdom of God needs to be weighed by the reality of Christ, not the traditions of men.  The fruit comes when we understand our mission is to open the eyes so that many may turn from darkness to light and from the kingdom of satan to the Kingdom of God; and that they may receive forgiveness of all their sins and have a place among those who are set apart for a holy purpose through having faith in the risen Christ Jesus.  Amen!

Jesus Christ to us is Wisdom, Health & Freedom from Sin

 “Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Proverbs is the wisdom we have in Christ, “Don’t think for a moment that you know it all, for wisdom comes when you adore Him with undivided devotion and avoid everything that’s wrong. Then you will find the healing refreshment your body and spirit long for.”  Fearing the LORD is making a will decision to avoid everything wrong and to depart from evil, so that we can love and adore Him with true focus, not distracted by anything or anyone.  The knowledge that God gives through His Word is amazing!  Health is in our navel as every baby in the womb gets the blood supply through the navel.  New cells are made in the marrow of our bones.  As the navel and bones picture the life flow of our bodies, so the navel and bones are a picture of our inner being.  Jesus told us “Believe in Me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!” Jesus was prophesying about the Holy Spirit that believers were being prepared to receive. But the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out upon them, because Jesus had not yet been unveiled in His full splendor.”  Because of faith in the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Holy Spirit came to dwell in us so that our inner being is empowered by resurrection power of our Lord Jesus.  Let’s keep ourselves focused on adoring our Lord Jesus so that we walk in the divine resurrection power given to us by faith.  Amen!

Fruitful Lives in Christ

 “and seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark wrote, “He noticed a leafy fig tree in the distance, so he walked over to see if there was any fruit on it, but there was none—only leaves (for it wasn’t yet the season for bearing figs).”  The fig tree is first mention when Adam and Eve used fig leaves as a “covering” to hide their nakedness when they fell into sin.  It also became a hiding place for Zacchaeus, who climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus.  The tree with leaves but no fruit can also be a symbol of the religious system that was in Israel at that time.  From here Jesus went  to drive out the money changers from the temple, who were rotten fruit.  Jesus said, “For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.”  Jesus ensured through the Feast of Firstfruits that the Holy Spirit will empower every believer to have a fruitful life.  The Holy Spirit helps us to abide in Jesus Who said, ““I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”  Let’s be the fruitful branch that bears much fruit.  Amen!

Faithful to the New Covenant of our God

 “To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The wisdom from above says, “Only wisdom can save you from the flattery of the promiscuous woman— she’s such a smooth-talking seductress! She left her husband and has forgotten her wedding vows.”  Clearly a warning to all those who commit adultery, though there is a deeper meaning here.  The book of Proverbs tells us of two women: the adulteress and the virtuous woman at the end of this book.  Both are a parable of two systems in the Church.  One is religious and alluring, tempting the young anointed ones to come to her “bed” of compromise, and which nullifies the Word of God.  The other is the holy Bride, virtuous and pure, keeping her first love of her “wedding vows” to Christ alone.  Her “house” is the House of the Lord.  One system brings shame and despair and the other brings favour, honour and glory.  It is wisdom that protects us from one and unites us to the other.  As we approach the end of this age, may we be the faithful ones who are victorious as we persevere for our faith and may our names be found in the Book of Life.  Amen!

Bless the Children and the Coming Generations

 “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark wrote, “The parents kept bringing their little children to Jesus so that He would lay His hands on them and bless them. But the disciples kept rebuking and scolding the people for doing it. When Jesus saw what was happening, He became indignant with His disciples and said to them, “Let all the little children come to Me and never hinder them! Don’t you know that God’s kingdom exists for such as these? Listen to the truth I speak: Whoever does not open their arms to receive God’s kingdom like a teachable child will never enter it.” Then He embraced each child, and laying His hands on them, He lovingly blessed each one.”  The laying on of Jesus’s hands was the impartation of a blessing.  Parents should always bring their children to be blessed by Jesus as it is His desire to bless children.  The disciples could not see people the way Jesus sees them.  We, who have a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus and know that the resurrected Christ dwells in us, must needs release His blessing especially on children even today.  We are blessed to bless others especially children.  Amen!

True Wisdom

 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon has written most of these wise sayings.  “We cross the threshold of true knowledge when we live in obedient devotion to God. Stubborn know-it-alls will never stop to do this, for they scorn true wisdom and knowledge. Pay close attention, my child, to your father’s wise words and never forget your mother’s instructions. For their insight will bring you success, adorning you with grace-filled thoughts and giving you reins to guide your decisions.”  The “fear of the Lord” implies submission, awe, worship and reverence.  You will pass from darkness to wisdom’s light by the “fear” of the Lord.  A fool is one who hates true wisdom and correction, with no desire to acquire revelation knowledge.  What will bring us wisdom is the words of our Father (God) and our mother (the Church, the freewoman - as we’re the seed of Abraham, the children of promise like Isaac the child of promise).  The adornment on our neck is our willing obedience that guides our decision, in contrast to being stiff-necked or proud.  Let’s submit to the Holy Spirit in surrender as He leads us to do God’s will.  Amen!

See God’s Kingdom Powerfully in Christ

 “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭KIV

Mark recorded, “Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, there are some standing here now who won’t experience death until they see God’s kingdom realm manifest with power!” After six days, Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, Jacob and John, and hiked up a high mountain to be alone. And Jesus’ appearance was dramatically altered, for he was transfigured before their very eyes! His clothing sparkled and became glistening white—whiter than any bleach in the world could make them. Then suddenly, right in front of them, Moses and Elijah appeared, and they spoke with Jesus.”  This manifestation of the power of the Kingdom of God is seen in three dimensions as - Jesus’s transfiguration and the appearing of Moses and Elijah on the mountain; Jesus’s resurrection and ascension into glory inaugurating a new era of God’s Kingdom power; the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which brought to birth the Church of Jesus Christ and extending the Kingdom of God to all the earth. Jesus said that the good news of the kingdom of God will be spread all over the world, and may we co-labour with God to increase it in our generation.  Amen!

Let Everyone Breathe Praises to the LORD

 “Let every thing that hath breath Praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭150‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This the last of the Hallelujah psalms to commemorate the second temple, “Let everyone everywhere join in the crescendo of ecstatic praise to Yahweh! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!”  When the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, man became a living being.  The breath that mankind has to live on planet earth, is from God.  But when sin came and tarnished mankind, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to planet earth to make us new creatures to bring the Kingdom of God to this planet earth.  So Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again…born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, now the Spirit of life breathes into us and liberates us from sin and death.  This is the breath as a new creation, that causes us to praise God with all our being.  Now the Spirit that God breathed into our hearts is a jealous Lover who intensely desires to have more and more of us.  That is why we praise Him with all our being.  Amen!

Personal Revelation of Who Christ Is

 “And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark records, “He asked them, “But who do you say that I Am?” Peter spoke up, saying, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!” Then He warned them not to breathe a word of this to anyone. From then on, Jesus began to tell His disciples that He, the Son of Man, was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer great injustice from the elders, leading priests, and religious scholars. He also explained that He would be killed and three days later be raised to life again.”  Simon Peter heard the question Jesus asked, and answered it.  Simon means “he who hears” for he was the first one who heard the revelation from the Father that Jesus is the Messiah, God’s Son, Jesus’s true identity.  The Messiah had to suffer great injustices of beatings, mockings, rejection and illegal trial.  For the Messiah to suffer was contrary to every belief system among the Jews as they believed the Messiah to be the King of Israel, surrounded with glory, not suffering.  Jesus prophesied His death at other times also and each time the disciples were confused and unable to understand and Jesus explained every time the cost of following Him.  Unless we have a revelation of Who Jesus is to us personally, we won’t be able to understand why He had to suffer, die, be buried and rise again.  May we hear the Father’s revelation to us personally. Amen!

The Unrestrained Joy of Our Salvation in Christ

 “Let them praise his name in the dance: Let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: He will beautify the meek with salvation.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭149‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is a Hallelujah psalm sung when the second temple was inaugurated.  “Break forth with dancing! Make music and sing God’s praises with the rhythm of drums! For He enjoys His faithful lovers. He adorns the humble with His beauty, and He loves to give them victory.”  Dancing,making music and singing, is connected with unrestrained joy.  Unrestrained joy is a profound exuberant, spiritual response to God’s Presence, salvation, and blessings, transcending circumstances to become a "joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory". It is an outward expression of an inward reality, a dance of victory in God’s Presence.  These expressions of joy are the dancing, shouting, singing, praising and laughing.  It was seen in David dancing with all his might when bringing the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem; and the Magi upon seeing the star “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy".  As Luke tells us, “ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”  Jesus Himself said, “How content you become when you weep with complete brokenness, for you will laugh with unrestrained joy.”  In the new covenant we are commanded to rejoice and again to rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.  Let the salvation we have personally experienced, not be covered up with religious duty, but let the source of our joy be anchored in the Lord’s Presence, His glorious salvation, and His goodness, rather than external circumstances.  Amen!

Jesus Christ Heals Even Today

 “And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; and were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭7‬:‭32‬-‭37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Mark recorded, “Some people brought to Him a deaf man with a severe speech impediment. They pleaded with Jesus to place His hands on him and heal him. So Jesus led him away from the crowd to a private spot. Then He stuck His fingers into the man’s ears and placed some of His saliva on the man’s tongue. Then He gazed into heaven, sighed deeply, and spoke to the man’s ears and tongue, “Ethpathakh,” which is Aramaic for “Open up, now!” At once the man’s ears opened and he could hear perfectly, and his tongue was untied and he began to speak normally. Jesus ordered everyone to keep this miracle a secret, but the more He told them not to, the more the news spread! The people were absolutely beside themselves and astonished beyond measure. And they began to declare, “Everything He does is wonderful! He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!”  Jesus led the man away from the unbelief of the people around, to work His miracle and healed him with His saliva.   (Later, the wicked people would spit on Jesus in public.)  Jesus then told the man not to tell others, but he did.  Now Jesus tells us to spread the good news, and we don’t.  Let’s love Jesus and obey Him.  Amen!

All Creation & All the Earth Declares Christ’s Glory

 “He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: He hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the LORD from the earth, Ye dragons, and all deeps:”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭148‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A Hallelujah psalm to commemorate the building of the second temple, “He established the cosmos to last forever, and He stands behind His commands so His orders will never be revoked. Let the earth join in with this parade of praise! You mighty creatures of the ocean’s depths, echo in exaltation!”  All creation is beautiful to God and Jesus the Lord of all creation towers above it, for all things exist through Him and for Him. And that God made Him, pioneer of our salvation, perfect through His sufferings, for this is how He brings many sons and daughters to share in His glory. In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who His children are.  At the end, all creatures in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea will be speaking. The whole creation will speak, “Praise and honour belong to the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb! Glory and power belong to God for ever and ever!”  Whenever we praise Him, we join with all creation even the dragons in the deep - all creation - to praise Him for ever. There is  salvation in no other, for there is no other name under heaven except the Name of Jesus.  All heavens declare His glory.  Amen!

It’s All About the Lord Jesus Christ Only!

 “And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark recorded, “He was unable to do any great miracle in Nazareth, except to heal a few sick people by laying His hands upon them. He was amazed at the depth of their unbelief! Then Jesus went out into the different villages and taught the people. Jesus gathered His twelve disciples and imparted to them His authority to cast out demons. Then He sent them out in pairs with these instructions:”.  Nazareth was the only place recorded in the Gospels that Jesus was unable to do miracles because of their unbelief.  This is one of the two instances where Jesus was amazed at the response of faith - here it is the total lack of faith, unbelief in fact.  In another place, an unbeliever, the Roman centurion, who recognised Jesus’s authority and showed great faith in Jesus’s Word, amazed Jesus.  In Jesus’s hometown, Nazareth, the people knew Jesus as He grew there, but this familiarity stopped them from believing in Him.  There is no record of Jesus ever returning to Nazareth.  He made Capernaum His base of ministry while in Galilee.  Jesus’s response to unbelief was to teach His disciples to impart to them His authority so that the Gospel would extend to every part to bring the Kingdom of God.  Today’s Christian preachers and teachers respond to the Gospel with that same familiar spirit and start making disciples for their own ministry or denomination, and lack the power of God unto salvation.  Let’s take Jesus at His Word and teach and preach to others to make 
Jesus known and make disciples for Him and build people up for the extension of God’s Kingdom.  It’s all about the Lord Jesus Christ ONLY.  Amen!

Repent of Unbelief

 “He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭147‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A Hallelujah psalm written to commemorate the rebuilding of the temple.  “He heals the wounds of every shattered heart. He sets His stars in place, calling them all by their names. How great is our God! There’s absolutely nothing His power cannot accomplish, and He has infinite understanding of everything.”  This is how the old covenant psalmist saw God, as One Who is great and Who heals the broken-hearted.  The God Who knows every precise movement of the stars in the universe, is our God Who loves us and redeemed us.  It is our unbelief that stops us from knowing God in His power.  Jesus said clearly, “The world's sin is unbelief in Me.”  Let’s fix our gaze on the simultaneous kindness and strict justice of God. How severely He treated those who fell into unbelief! Yet how tender and kind is His relationship with us. Let’s keep on trusting in His kindness; otherwise, we also will be cut off. Let us labour therefore to enter into the rest that Christ won for us through the Cross, and let’s repent of every form of unbelief.  Amen!

He Is El Elyon - God Most High

 “But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark recorded, “When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran to Him and threw himself down before Him, shouting at the top of his lungs, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! Swear in God’s name that You won’t torture me!” (For Jesus had already said to him, “Come out of that man, you demon spirit!”) Jesus said to him, “What is your name?” “Mob,” he answered. “They call me Mob because there are thousands of us in his body!” The demons always recognised Jesus as God’s Son.  God is the Most High as Melchizedek the priest of El Elyon blessed Abram, “He spoke over him a special blessing, saying, “Blessed is Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, whose power delivered your enemies into your hands!”  There is no one higher than our God. Knowing this the devil tried hard to get Jesus to worship him, ““All of these kingdoms I will give to You,” the accuser said, “if only You will kneel down before me and worship me.” But Jesus said, “Go away, satan! For the Scriptures say: Kneel before the Lord your God and worship only Him.” At once the accuser left Him, and angels suddenly gathered around Jesus to minister to Him. Jesus made a public spectacle of all the powers and principalities of darkness, stripping away from them every weapon and all their spiritual authority and power to accuse us. And by the power of the Cross, Jesus led them around as prisoners in a procession of triumph. He was not their prisoner; they were His!  Hallelujah!

Let the Church Do What the Lord Jesus Christ Does

 “The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: The LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: The LORD loveth the righteous: The LORD preserveth the strangers; He relieveth the fatherless and widow: But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭146‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is the first of the Hallelujah psalms and is attributed to the prophets Haggai and Zechariah at the dedication of the second temple after the return from exile, completing the last five psalms of the book of psalms in Scripture.  “You open the eyes of the blind, and You fully restore those bent over with shame. You love those who love and honor You. You watch over strangers and immigrants and support the fatherless and widows. But You subvert the plans of the ungodly.”  The Lord Jesus had spoken this at the synagogue, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”  This is the mandate to the Church today to fulfil what the Lord Jesus spoke then and take the help of the Holy Spirit for this.  Let’s do it.  Amen!

Revelations in Our Quiet Time with Christ

 “but when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬-‭34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark wrote, “yet when it springs up and grows, it becomes the largest plant in the garden, with so many large spreading branches, even birds can nest in its shade.” Jesus used many parables such as these as He taught the people, and they learned according to their ability to understand. He never spoke to them without using parables, but would wait until He was alone with His  disciples to explain to them their meanings.”  This parable describes the growth of God’s Kingdom.  It may appear in the beginning as small and insignificant, but it will grow until it becomes the greatest Kingdom of all.  God’s Kingdom is growing on the earth and not diminishing.  God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel, “Lord Yahweh says: “I will take the highest branch from a cedar tree. I will break off from the very top a tender shoot and plant it Myself on a high and lofty mountain. I will plant it on the highest mountain in Israel, where it will put out branches and bear fruit and grow into a stately cedar tree. Every kind of bird will find a home in it. Yes, in the shade of its branches the birds will make their nests. And all the trees of the field will know that I, Yahweh, Am the One Who brings the tall tree low and raises the low tree high, Who withers the green tree and makes the withered tree sprout again. I, Yahweh, have spoken.”  Jesus still delights to mystify those who follow Him, but He waits until we are alone with Him, and then He reveals the wonders of His grace and truth to our hearts.  Let’s spend time alone with our Lord Jesus to receive the mysteries of His Kingdom.  Amen!

His Mighty Power to Raise Christ from the Dead

 “Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The LORD upholdeth all that fall, And raiseth up all those that be bowed down.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭145‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote on the greatness of God, “You are the Lord who reigns over your never-ending kingdom through all the ages of time and eternity! You are faithful to fulfill every promise you’ve made. You manifest yourself as kindness in all you do. Weak and feeble ones you will sustain. Those bent over with burdens of shame you will lift up.”  David lived centuries before the Gospel of grace was revealed yet he had a personal revelation of the greatness of God’s grace because of his relationship with Him.  Even though David was king, he knew that it was God Who ruled Israel through him.  When he made mistakes and fell, David repented and turned to God Who picked him up and raised him.  David recognised that it was only the greatness of God Who raised him up from a shepherd boy to being the king of Israel.  In the new covenant, Paul explains the greatness of God, “I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! This is the mighty power that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted Him to the place of highest honor and supreme authority in the heavenly realm!”  May we never downgrade the greatness of God revealed to us believers through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen!

God’s Love Brings Purpose to Our Existence

 “and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: and Simon he surnamed Peter;”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark recorded, “and have authority to heal the sick and to cast out demons. He appointed his Twelve and gave Simon the nickname Peter the Rock.”  These twelve disciples served God’s Kingdom, became apostles or “sent ones” and the Jesus chose seventy more to preach the Gospel.  None of them were fully mature or equipped for the Holy Spirit had not yet come to empower them.  Disciples are raised that they may walk continuously with Jesus; preaching with the genuine love for others preaching the truth of God’s Word and walking in the power to heal and cast out demons.  Today, this is the same that the Lord Jesus requires from His disciples.   Leaders today need to raise up others and not centre their ministry around themselves. The legacy of a spiritual leader is made up of those whom he or she has released and sent forth to proclaim Christ.  Following Jesus means living out the purpose for which He created each one.  By giving Simon the new name “Peter”, Jesus gave him the purpose of his existence, having a strong, rock-like faith, even though He knew Peter would deny Him later!  Such is the love that Jesus has for each one of us that He puts His confidence in us.  Thank You, Lord!

God Always Leads Us Triumphantly in Christ

 “I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: Upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: Who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭144‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David sang this song as he came to face Goliath the giant.  “My God, I will sing You a brand-new song! The harp inside my heart will make music to You! I will sing of You, the One Who gives victory to kings— the One Who rescues David, Your loving servant, from the fatal sword. Deliver me and save me from these dark powers who speak nothing but lies. Their words are pure deceit, and you can’t trust anything they say.”  David had such confidence in God because of his relationship with Him and He remembered God’s deliverance with a thankful heart and declared it.  In the new covenant, the Lord Jesus has told us to be of good cheer because He has conquered through the Cross the evil that besets us and now thanks be to God, He always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  This is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all.  Thanks be to God, Who always gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s defeat every evil giant in our life.  Hallelujah!

Following Christ & Joining Him

 “And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphæus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark recorded, “As He walked along, He found Levi, the son of Alphæus, sitting at a tax booth, collecting taxes. He approached him and said, “Come follow Me.”  Immediately he got up from his booth and began to follow Jesus.”  The name Levi means “joined”, “united” and Levi is the same person as Matthew, who wrote the Gospel bearing his name.  Alphæus means “changing”.  It is obvious that Matthew’s allegiance is changing from being a servant of Rome to being joined to Jesus as His future apostle.  Jesus came that we will change from being servants of sin to becoming children of God in the new life His death, burial and resurrection brought us and thus being joined to Him.  When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.  Those who are joined to the Lord are one spirit with Him.  This was Matthew’s destiny and so it is of all who choose to follow Christ.  Amen!

Christ’s Will be Done

 “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: For thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭143‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this psalm when his son Absalom chased him after usurping his throne.  “Save me from all my enemies, for I hide myself in You. I just want to obey all You ask of me. So teach me, Lord, for You are my God. Your gracious Spirit is all I need, so lead me on good paths that are pleasing to You, my One and Only God! Lord, if You rescue me, it will bring You more glory, for You are true to Your promises. Bring me out of these troubles!”  We live in an age where the younger generation is impatient with the older generation and honour and care for parents and the elderly is a forgotten value.  However, it is as old as Scripture when David’s son Absalom was impatient and usurped his father’s throne.  Absalom’s end was quite sad and so it is with those who dishonour their parents and disregard their elderly.  David, nevertheless, turned to the LORD and trusted Him to rescue him.  Because of David’s faith in God, his prayer was answered.  In the new covenant and because of Christ’s finished work on the Cross, we have God’s faith in us to believe in all His promises.  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.  I live by Christ’s faith, not mine.  Amen!

Through Faith We have Resurrection & Holy Spirit Power

 “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: and there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Mark a spiritual son of Peter the apostle, wrote this Gospel under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  “The moment Jesus rose up out of the water, John saw the heavenly realm split open, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. At the same time, a voice spoke from heaven, saying: “You are My Son, My cherished One, and My greatest delight is in You!” Immediately after this He was compelled by the Holy Spirit to go into an uninhabited desert region.”  The Lord Jesus was buried in baptism, symbolically into death (the Jordan) so that He might minister not in the natural way of men, but in the way of resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit.  The dove, an emblem of the Holy Spirit, pictures both meekness and purity.  The implication is that the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus and never left Him.  David had prophesied of the Messiah, ““I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”  God is affirming it now as the Lord Jesus came up out of the waters of Jordan.  Then, the mighty Holy Spirit compelled the Lord Jesus to go into the desert wilderness for forty days, just as Moses, David, Elijah had done before - the great champions of Israel’s history.  The Lord Jesus is our example to face the trials and testings of our life in the resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen!

Being in Christ is Being Beloved

 “I cried unto the LORD with my voice; With my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭142‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David prayed this psalm from hiding in the cave, “God, I’m crying out to You! I lift up my voice boldly to beg for Your mercy. I spill out my heart to You and tell You all my troubles.”  David knew this secret of focusing on Yahweh in the midst of being overwhelmed by his troubles.  He was confident that when he came to God for mercy he would receive it.  David means “beloved” and he had that intimacy with Yahweh where he knew that his requests to God would be answered and dealt with.  The Son of David, our Lord Jesus, was transfigured on the mount and there was a cloud that overshadowed Him with Peter, James & John; and a Voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Beloved Son: hear Him.”  The Son of the beloved is the Beloved Son of God, Who through His shed Blood has made a way for all mankind to have an intimate relationship and has called them beloved.  He has sent us His Holy Spirit Who comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.  God hears and answers us even today and calls us beloved because we are in Christ, the Beloved Son of God.  Amen!

Obedience Precedes Authority in Christ

 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All authority of the universe has been given to Me. Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I Am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”  There is this sentence missing but is there in the Aramaic, “As My Father has sent Me, so I send you.”  Jesus showed by example that authority is preceded by obedience from a free will.  God never compelled Adam and Eve to obey when the snake deceived them.  But they lost the righteousness, authority and dominion God had given them.  It took Jesus’s obedience to God by dying on the Cross for mankind’s disobedience to restore that righteousness, authority and dominion back to us.  Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell everyone everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey Him, bringing glory to His Name.  Let’s know our authority in Christ by obeying Him, and bringing glory to His Name.  Amen!

Humbly Take Correction & Pray for Them

 “Let the righteous smite me; It shall be a kindness: And let him reprove me; It shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: For yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. When their judges are overthrown in stony places, They shall hear my words; for they are sweet.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭141‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this poetic psalm, “When one of your godly ones corrects me or one of your faithful ones rebukes me, I will accept it like an honor I cannot refuse. It will be as healing medicine that I swallow without an offended heart. Even if they are mistaken, I will continue to pray. When the leaders and judges are condemned, falling upon the rocks of justice, then they’ll know my words to them were true!”  This was David, the king of Israel, willing to take correction without taking offence.  But the King of kings, our Lord Jesus Christ, took our punishment on the Cross so that by faith we would be set free.  He did this with joy in His heart, knowing that His creation - all of mankind - would be liberated.  After His resurrection, He sent His Holy Spirit, to convict us and make us more like our Lord Jesus.  The Holy Spirit, through the five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, equips all believers for works of service, to build the Body of Christ, the Church.  Together, these ministries help in growth and maturity so that every member of the Body of Christ discovers and operates in their own God-given gifts by working in harmony and unity to help the Church fulfil its mission and become more like Christ.  Let’s be humble to take correction and pray for others even when they’re wrong or unkind, just as David did.  Amen!

God the Saviour Bled to Death for You

 “and set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Matthew wrote the Gospel in Hebrew but Hebrew ceased to be the spoken language of the Jews on their return from exile in Babylon around 450 BC. “Above His head they placed a sign that read, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, King of Israel.” Two criminals were also crucified with Jesus, one on each side of Him.”  This sign was written in Aramaic (the language of the common people), Latin (the official language of the Roman Empire), and in Greek (the language of the visiting Alexandrian Jews).  The first letter of each of the four words written were Y-H-W-H (Y’shua Hanozri Wumelech a Yehudim).  To write these letters YHWH (also known as the Tetragrammaton), was the Hebrew form of writing the sacred Name “Yahweh”.  No wonder the chief priests were so offended by this sign and insisted that Pilate change it.  This was a sign given to Israel, for over Jesus’s head on the Cross was written “Y-H-W-H!  God the Saviour bled to death for you.”  The prophet had said, “Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”  That’s our God Who bled to death for us who were transgressors and set us free, dead to sin and alive to righteousness.  Amen!

Relationships are Important to God

 “I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And the right of the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: The upright shall dwell in thy presence.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭140‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this psalm when he was hiding from king Saul.  “For I know, Lord, that You will be the hero of all those they persecute, and You will secure justice for the poor. Your godly ones will thank You no matter what happens. For they choose and cherish Your  Presence above everything else!”  We learn from David how to cope with jealousy, which is to turn to God and trust Him through the tough times, without the ill-will that results from it.  Our Lord had to face this too from the religious establishment.  Even Pilate knew that it was because of jealousy that the chief priests and elders had handed Jesus over to him.  Instead of allowing the negativity of being jealous, we can of our own free will turn it to being jealous for the Lord’s Presence.  That’s the godly jealousy that Paul talked about when he said “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”  Instead of gossiping, denigrating, creating an ill-will scenario, or even being self-righteous, self-centred, proud, and inflating the ego, let’s change the negativity to building up people so that they too can enjoy God’s Presence like we do.  Relationships are important to God and we co-labour with Him to build people up to have a relationship with Him.  Amen!

Union & Communion

 “for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “For this is the blood that seals the new covenant. It will be poured out for many for the complete forgiveness of sins. The next time we drink this, I will be with you and we will drink it together with a new understanding in the Kingdom realm of My Father.”  This was the renewed covenant which had been earlier prophesied.  After each disciple took the cup and drank from it, they passed it to the next one.  This was a love covenant between Jesus and each of His disciples, and it sealed the affection they had for one another.  We are now in the realm of the Kingdom of God.  The Holy Spirit brings us into the Body of Christ and into the reality of the Kingdom of God.  It is growing and increasing in scope, and every time believers drink of the cup of communion, Jesus is present with us.  It is the Lord’s table, not ours.  This was a prophecy of what would happen in just a matter of days from then, as believers would break bread together in remembrance of what Jesus did for them.  Jesus now drinks with us in a new way, and not just once a year at Passover, but every time we worship Him by taking communion.  Amen!

The Wonderful Knowledge of God’s Power

 “Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this psalm, “You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness You follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. You have laid Your hand on me! This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength.”  David calls the Yahweh as all-knowing and omniscient, Who besieged him before and behind.  David knew the experience of God protecting him from what may come in the future and what has happened in the past.  Our God is powerful and it was His power that raised Jesus from the dead and has given us this same resurrection power for eternity.  Jesus says: "My grace is all you need, for My power is greatest when you are weak." In order to feel the protection of Christ's power which is in His shed Blood, let’s depend on His grace.  In all our weakness it is the leading of the Holy Spirit that reveals Christ’s power in our weakness.  The knowledge of God is too wonderful but it is through Christ’s grace and Holy Spirit leading that we can lead victorious life in spite of our weakness.  Amen!

Our Highest Place is at Christ’s Feet

 “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded when Jesus gave this parable on the judgment of the multitudes, “When the Son of Man appears in His majestic glory, with all His angels by His side, He will take His seat on His throne of splendor, and all the nations will be gathered together before Him. And like a shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats, He will separate all the people.”  Jesus gave the fulfilment of the prophet Daniel’s vision which will happen at the second coming of Jesus.  ““I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a Kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His Kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”  This is the reality that every individual human being from the first to the last, from kings to servants, from the most to the least, will come before Him in the final judgment.  Those who believed in Him and His work on the Cross, who followed Him, will become part of His Kingdom.  Those who did not, will be turned away into eternal torment.  We rejoice that our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Hallelujah!

All Will Rise Before the Lamb of God to Praise Him

 “All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, When they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: For great is the glory of the LORD. Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: But the proud he knoweth afar off.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭138‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A psalm attributed to David, “One day all the kings of the earth will rise to give You thanks when they hear the living words that I have heard You speak. They too will sing of Your  wonderful ways, for Your ineffable glory is great! For though You are lofty and exalted, You stoop to embrace the lowly. Yet You keep Your distance from those filled with pride.”  That day is coming soon, as David said, when all kings and leaders of the earth will rise to give God thanks in the midst of His glorious Presence.  Scripture tells us that the enemies of God shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.  He is all powerful and all shall rise in His Presence and give glory to Him.  But those who are proud and who scorn the Word of God, treating it as a myth or fairy tale, will spend eternity in torment, sadly.  But David experienced the Living Word of God in his relationship with Him, so he could prophesy.  We, who have the Living Word in us and have a confident relationship with the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God, overcome and proclaim the victory we have in Christ.  Amen!

Enduring to the End

 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “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. “Yet through it all, the good news of heaven’s kingdom will be proclaimed all over the world, providing every nation with a demonstration of the reality of God. And after that the end of this age will arrive.”  The disciples asked Jesus when the end of the age will come and He gave them many signs.  He told of the lawlessness when people do what is right in their own eyes, disregarding rules, values, principles and the laws to govern peacefully.  This is beginning to happen even now and the life of compromise is being followed even in many churches.  For those of us who believe, we are to have an intimate relationship with our God Who forgave our sin to have a relationship with Him; also to dwell and abide in the Word of God, meditating on it day and night and obeying it; and being taught, guided, led by the mighty Holy Spirit dwelling in us.  This will protect us from the deception that is coming into the world in a greater measure now than ever before.  The other important point that Jesus made was to preach and witness to all even to the ends of the earth the glorious Gospel of the Kingdom and eagerly await for the coming of our King of kings - our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Zion - Where God Dwells with Us

 “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭137‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV

This psalm was written by an unknown after Jerusalem was destroyed during the Babylonian captivity or it may be attributed to Jeremiah.  “Along the banks of Babylon’s rivers we sat as exiles, mourning our captivity, and wept with great love for Zion.”  The Jews in captivity yearned for the majestic temple that Solomon built where the Ark of the Covenant was in the Holy of Holies signifying the Presence of God.  Inspite of that, the Jews turned to false gods and even turned the temple a place of worship to idols and the Presence of God left the temple.  That is why God used Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, to destroy the temple and the Jews taken into captivity.  Later, it was rebuilt and when Jesus came in the flesh, He was presented at the temple and later referred to it as His Father’s house.  During one Passover, Jesus cleansed the temple of money-changers and merchants selling sacrificial animals.  He used it as a place of teaching and once while talking to Pharisees and scribes, Jesus prophesied that the physical temple would be destroyed and that His body would be destroyed to make a new temple in three days, which will be the Presence of God.  That was fulfilled at the death and resurrection of Jesus.  When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, and disciples were filled, God’s Presence filled their bodies.  Today, all disciples who believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and invite the Holy Spirit in them, carry the Presence of God.  Paul reminds us, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”  Amen!

A Relationship with Christ Without Pretensions

 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, ““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. What blind guides! Nitpickers! You will spoon out a gnat from your drink, yet at the same time you’ve gulped down a camel without realizing it!”  The law of Moses only obligated tithing on grain, wine and oil.  The religious scholars added to the law their interpretation, which added vegetables and herbs to their list of what should be tithed.  Justice, grace which is loving kindnesses and faith and truth is what Jesus talked about.  The Aramaic for gnat and camel is similar and gnat becomes a metaphor for what is least and insignificant - swallowing a gnat will not hurt you.  But the camel becomes a picture of self-righteousness. To swallow a camel would indeed kill you.  Let’s not focus on insignificant things in our relationship with Christ but remove the huge block of those hindrances that stop us from being effective and fruitful.  Amen!

Sound Wisdom Found in God’s Mercy Endures Forever

 “To him who alone doeth great wonders: For his mercy endureth for ever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: For his mercy endureth for ever.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭136‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬

This psalm is traditionally attributed to king David and was sung at the dedication of Solomon’s temple and also by the armies of king Jehoshaphat.  “Give thanks to the only miracle-working God! His tender love for us continues on forever! Give thanks to the Creator Who made the heavens with wisdom! His tender love for us continues on forever!”  It tells of our God of mercy and wisdom.  Job prophesied the secrets of the two sides of God’s sound wisdom found in His mercy and justice in creation.  It was made visible in the new creation when Christ died in the flesh and rose again - victorious over sin and death.  The secret is of God’s wisdom found in His mercy and justice by becoming sin for humanity and giving us His righteousness in exchange, reconciling us to the holy God Who is our Father.  What mercy!  What grace!  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  Let’s give thanks to our miracle working Creator God Who in His mercy, wisdom and justice, erases our sin to make us a new creation in Christ.  Thank You, Jesus!

Change Into the Garment of Righteousness

 “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “Now, when the king entered the banquet hall, he looked with glee over all his guests. But then he noticed a guest who was not wearing the wedding robe provided for him.”  This was the parable of the wedding feast which Jesus gave.  This explains that God is the King Who prepares His Kingdom feast for His Son, Jesus Christ.  The servants who invited guests to the wedding are the prophets God sends to summon the people to enter into the love feast of Jesus, the wedding of the Lamb to the Bride of Christ.  Those invited to come from the streets had no opportunity to buy wedding clothes.  This wedding robe is a picture of the garment of righteousness that grace provides for us.  The man without the wedding garment had one provided, but he didn’t want to change into new clothes.  A change is necessary, for our King provides garments of white linen for us to wear, our wedding garments.  As the prophet said, “Wake up! Open your eyes! Beautiful Zion, put on your majestic strength! Jerusalem, the sacred city, put on your glory garments! Never again will the unclean enter your gates!”  As John the beloved disciple saw, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready!”  Amen!

True Worship of the True God

 “The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭135‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is a psalm written after the Babylonian exile.  “The unbelieving nations worship what they make. They worship their wealth and their work. They idolize what they own and what they do.”  Worshipping what is made by man is a deception.  True worship is of the true God, Who loves us so much that He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ to remove our sins and blessed all who believe in Him and set us free to worship Him.  Worship involves thanksgiving as a deliberate act even when we don’t “feel” like it in a challenging situation, and is about thanking God in advance, a sacrifice of thanksgiving!  With profound gratitude we lift our hands in worship making a public acknowledgment of God’s character and deeds and at times kneeling and blessing Him.  At times loudly raising our voice in loud adoration and sometimes with instruments of music; at other times boasting about our God with dancing and swaying, sometimes spontaneously making outbursts of joy with a total lack of self-consciousness.  True worship is our devotion to God based on a personal relationship with Him, loving and adoring Him.  Therefore, in view of the mercies of God, let’s present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is our true worship.  Let’s worship God with all our heart, soul and body for He alone is worthy of all our worship.  Amen!

Victory Comes After Resurrection

 “And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “Jesus rode in the center of the procession—crowds going before Him and crowds coming behind Him, and they all shouted, “Bring the victory, Lord, Son of David! He is the blessed One sent from the Lord Yahweh! We celebrate with praises to God in the highest!”  This was taken from a psalm attributed to David, “Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.”  Hosanna, an Aramaic word which means “O save, bring the victory, O Lord!”  The crowds recognised Jesus as Yahweh’s Messiah.  By shouting out, “Son of David,” they were clearly expecting Jesus to immediately overthrow the Roman oppression and set the nation free.  Many want victory before the Cross, but true victory comes after resurrection!  Jesus was crucified in the flesh and when we, who are born again and new creatures in Christ, crucify our flesh, that is our old man, we become stronger and stronger. When our old man is crucified with Christ, the body of sin is destroyed, and we come out victorious. Amen!

Night Time Worship

 “Behold, bless ye the LORD, All ye servants of the LORD, Which by night stand in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the LORD. The LORD that made heaven and earth Bless thee out of Zion.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭134‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Traditionally this psalm is attributed to king David when he appointed Levites as the Ark was brought to Zion for bringing worship for the night watch duties and it is the final song of ascent.  “All His loving priests who serve and sing, come and sing your song of blessing to God. Come and stand before Him in the house of God throughout the night watch, lifting up your hands in holy worship; come and bless the Lord! May the Lord, Whom you worship, the mighty Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion’s glory!”  There is always a blessing from Yahweh when we worship by night.  Great miracles happen when we worship in the night time.  This is what happened to Paul and Silas, beaten mercilessly and imprisoned in stocks.  Yet, undaunted, they prayed in the middle of the night and sang songs of praise to God, while all the other prisoners listened to their worship.  Suddenly, a great earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. All at once every prison door flung open and the chains of all the prisoners came loose. Startled, the jailer awoke and saw every cell door standing open. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself when Paul shouted in the darkness, “Stop! Don’t hurt yourself. We’re all still here.” The jailer called for a light. When he saw that they were still in their cells, he rushed in and fell trembling at their feet. Then he led Paul and Silas outside and asked, “What must I do to be saved?” They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and all your family.” Then they prophesied the word of the Lord over him and all his family.  The worst case scenario changes into victory when we worship and sing praises to God even at night.  Amen!

Selfless Humility

 “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20‬:‭25‬-‭28‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Matthew wrote, “Jesus, knowing their thoughts, called them to His side and said, “Kings and those with great authority in this world rule oppressively over their subjects, like tyrants. But this is not your calling. You will lead by a completely different model. The greatest one among you will live as the one who is called to serve others, because the greatest honor and authority is reserved for the one with the heart of a servant. For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served but to serve and give his life in exchange for the salvation of many.”  This happened after James and John, because of their personal ambition asked to be enthroned with Jesus on His right and left in the hereafter.  Jesus told them that self promotion and ambition for power leads to jealousy, competition and oppression, which is quite the opposite of the Kingdom of God pattern.  It is a servant’s heart that God appreciates and showed it by example.  That’s why Paul, once the Pharisee of Pharisees, said, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”  Let this same attitude be in us which was in Christ Jesus of selfless humility.  Amen!

Unity in the Body of Christ

 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭133‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A psalm by king David, “How truly wonderful and delightful it is to see brothers and sisters living together in sweet unity!”  Jesus prayed just before He endured the Cross, for this unity in the Body of Christ, the Church. “Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of Your Name, the Name that You gave Me, so that their unity may be like Ours.”  This is the purpose of our God that all who believe in Him will come to the unity.  We endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. God’s purpose is that we all come in 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 fulness of Christ.  Let’s enjoy this unity that God desires and be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm our cherished unity.  We don’t allow self-promotion to hide in our hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than ourselves. Let’s put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  This is good and pleasant for our God - let’s be happy in unity with our God.  Amen!

Be God’s Friend Rather Than His Enemy

 “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Moses recorded, “The Pharisees were intent on putting Jesus to the test with difficult questions, so they approached Him and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” “Haven’t you read the Scriptures about creation?” Jesus replied. “The Creator made us male and female from the very beginning, and ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and live with his wife. And the two will become one flesh.’ From then on, they are no longer two, but united as one. So what God unites let no one divide!”  This was a clever test by the Pharisees as Jesus was in Judea and under Herod Antipas’ jurisdiction who had beheaded John for challenging his divorce. The Pharisees wanted Jesus beheaded too.  In a fallen world, divorce had been permitted by Mosaic law for adulterous immorality which breaks the bond of marriage.  Jesus reminded them the real reason for marriage as God had said at the creation of mankind even highlighting gender difference in the context of marriage.  The counterculture of the world today is against God.  Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  Let’s be a friend of God instead.  Amen!

Zion - God’s Chosen Dwelling Place

 “For the LORD hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: Here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭132‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.     “Lord, you have chosen Zion as Your dwelling place, for Your pleasure is fulfilled in making it Your home. I hear You say, “I will make this place My eternal dwelling, for I have loved and desired it as My very own! I will make Zion prosper and satisfy her poor with My provision. I will cover My priests with salvation’s power, and all My righteous ones will shout for joy!”  Zion was a Jebusite fortress which King David captured and came to be called the city of David.  In David’s time mount Zion had the Ark of the Covenant which in the old covenant was the Presence of Yahweh.  That’s why the psalmist prophesied that Yahweh has chosen Zion for His habitation.  This was the fulfilment of prophecy as God made the new covenant with all who follow Him in this same place during the last supper.  Zion was also fulfilment of prophecy as Pentecost happened here when the Holy Spirit came down with fire.  Zion is the place where Yahweh dwells as God the Father where the Ark of the Covenant was; as God the Son when He made the new covenant with all who follow Him; and as God the Holy Spirit when the power of God first came upon the disciples.  God is the same yesterday, today and forever!  Zion is a foreshadow of God’s dwelling place with His people in heaven - that’s the forever Zion.  Amen!

The Power of Agreement in Prayer

 “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “Receive this truth: Whatever you forbid on earth will be considered to be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be considered to be released in heaven. Again, I give you an eternal truth: If two of you agree to ask God for something in a symphony of prayer, My heavenly Father will do it for you. For wherever two or three come together in honor of My Name, I Am right there with them!”  This is the authority God has given us, that whatever we permit on earth must be that which is already permitted in heaven.  But before that, we have to come into agreement with each other and agreement with Christ in the midst of us through His Word.  It is a perfect symphony of agreement bound with God’s Word.  If we are not in agreement then we are not ready for it because we haven’t come into perfect unity.  Unbelief, doubt, double mindedness spoils that perfect unity.  Let’s trust God and His promises being “Yes” and “Amen”.  Let the words of our mouth and the thoughts and intents of our heart be in perfect agreement with God’s Word to fulfil heaven on earth. Amen!

See the Humility of the Lord Jesus Christ

 “LORD, my heart is not haughty, Nor mine eyes lofty: Neither do I exercise myself in Great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, As a child that is weaned of his mother: My soul is even as a weaned child.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭131‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

King David wrote this psalm, “Lord, my heart is meek before You. I don’t consider myself better than others. I’m content to not pursue matters that are over my head— such as Your  complex mysteries and wonders— that I’m not yet ready to understand. I am humbled and quieted in Your presence. Like a contented child who rests on its mother’s lap, I’m Your resting child and my soul is content in You.”  What the Lord loved about David was his humility.  He opened his heart to the Lord with all humility, hiding nothing.  David remembered where he came from and where God placed him - from a shepherd boy to the king of Israel.  That is because God Himself is humble and David knew that.  Jesus, God’s Son, came not to do His own will but the Father’s.  Just see His humility - He was born in a humble manger and He had nowhere to lay His head because He came not for His own comfort; He came to serve and not to be served; He said He is gentle and lowly; He rode on a humble donkey; He washed His disciples feet; though rich, He became poor for our sake.  At the Cross, Christ emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in human likeness, and humbling Himself to death, even the death of a criminal.  Where can man’s ego and pride stand before our God.  It is humility that attracts God’s grace to us - let’s remember that.  Amen!

God Always Keeps His Word

 “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “But so that we don’t offend them, go to the lake and throw out your hook, and the first fish that rises up will have a coin in its mouth. It will be the exact amount you need to pay the temple tax for both of us.”  This miracle is a picture of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  The depth of the sea speaks to us of the depth of suffering Jesus passed through for us on the Cross.  The fish rose to the surface on its own and wasn’t “caught”.  In the mouth of our Lord Jesus is the full price of our sin debt, for He has declared the work of redemption finished, and our “tax” has been paid in full.  Now we have the same message in our mouth!  Peter had presumptuously told the tax collectors that Jesus would pay the temple tax, without asking Jesus first.  But Jesus backed up Peter’s word and performed a miracle to pay the tax.  Jesus got Peter “off the hook” by having him hook a fish with the exact amount of the tax for both Jesus and Peter!  Today we realise that God always keeps His Word - He has made us holy as His inner sanctuary for we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Amen!

Forgiveness of Sins through Christ Alone

 “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared. Let Israel hope in the LORD: For with the LORD there is mercy, And with him is plenteous redemption.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭130‬:‭3‬-‭4‬, ‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This psalm is attributed to David, “Lord, if You measured us and marked us with our sins, who would ever have their prayers answered? But Your forgiving love is what makes you so wonderful. No wonder You are loved and worshiped! He Himself will redeem you; He will ransom you from the cruel slavery of your sins!”  This was the cry of humanity in the old covenant.  The reason why Jesus had to be born as a Man, was because God’s wrath and judgment against mankind came upon Jesus.  God’s justice and righteousness never changed as only Jesus could be at the receiving end of God’s wrath at the Cross.  Who can stand before a holy God covered with sin?  Only Jesus, for He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.  There is no one else who has the power to save us, for there is only One Name to Whom God has given authority by which we must experience salvation: the Name of Jesus.  In Christ alone we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins.  Amen!

We Believe in Christ by Faith - It’s a Free-Will Choice

 “The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬, ‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “One day some of the Pharisees and those of the Jewish sect known as the Sadducees approached Jesus, insisting that He prove to them that He was the Messiah. “Show us a supernatural sign from heaven,” they demanded. A wicked and wayward generation always asks for signs, but the only sign I provide for you will be the sign of Jonah the prophet.” Then He turned away and left them.”  Of the three major sects of Judaism of that day - Pharisees, Essenes and Sadducees - the Sadducees were a small but influential group that philosophically denied the supernatural and gravitated instead toward political control of the people.  Jesus reminds these religious people from Scripture itself, of the “sign of Jonah” which was supernatural and pointed towards Himself!  Jonah was thrown into the sea and this points to Christ’s death.  Being swallowed by the fish for three days points to Christ’s burial.  Being expelled from the fish speaks of Christ’s Resurrection and triumph over death, which is the greatest “sign” God could ever give.  The Resurrected Jesus is the eternal sign that our sins are forgiven.  We can never stop thanking our supernatural God for Jesus forgiving every human being’s sin through the Cross.  It’s a free will choice to believe Him as God never forces any to believe Him - it is entirely by faith.  Amen!

Proclaim the Victory of the Word

 “The plowers plowed upon my back: They made long their furrows. The LORD is righteous: He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭129‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.        “They have hurt us more than can be expressed, ripping us to shreds, cutting deeply into our souls. But no matter what, the Lord is good to us. He is a righteous God who stood to defend us, breaking the chains of the evil ones that bound us.”  This was the experience of the Jews in Babylonian captivity where they endured great suffering.  But the writer of this psalm in Babylonian exile made this messianic prophecy telling us of how the Roman soldiers hurt and ripped Jesus’s back as a plower plows his field, making long furrows.  All this Jesus endured to bring mankind back to become His family with the same Father.  The sin of Adam brought humanity to follow the father of lies, that is the devil.  But Jesus rescued us so that as many as received Him became the children of God.  God’s plan will always prevail no matter whatever deception comes into the world.  That is why it is vital that God’s family dwells and abides in the Word to discern the wiles of the devil and proclaim the truth of the victory of the Cross instead.  Amen!

Jesus Came for the Whole World

 “And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “He encountered there a Canaanite woman who shouted out to Him, “Lord, Son of David, show mercy to me! My daughter is horribly afflicted by a demon that torments her.” But Jesus never answered her. So His disciples said to Him, “Why do you ignore this woman who is crying out to us?”  Canaan is modern day Lebanon and here refers to non-Jewish people.  Jesus was first sent for the chosen people, and then after His Resurrection and sending of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church, to the non-Jewish people.  This Canaanite woman recognised that Jesus is the Messiah and wanted her daughter delivered of demonic torment.  Jesus set the woman’s daughter free but first told her that He had come for the chosen people.  The goodness of God is such that Jesus not only delivered the daughter but brought the woman to the true worship of God.  The disciples wanted Jesus only for the Jews.  But 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.  The goodness of God endures forever.  Amen!

The Joy of Obedience to God

 “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; That walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭128‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.      “How joyous are those who love the Lord and bow low before God, ready to obey Him! Your reward will be prosperity, happiness, and well-being.”  David too had experienced the joy of obedience when he sang “I have proclaimed good news of righteousness and the joy that comes from obedience to You in the great assembly; Behold, I will not restrain my lips from proclaiming Your righteousness, As You know, O LORD.”  Jesus knew the blessings of obedience when He went to the Cross. It was for the joy that was set before Him that He endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Since He conquered death through the Cross, the door has been opened for all mankind to enter the Kingdom of God for all eternity.  This is the love that caused Jesus to endure the Cross.  All He asks is for us to believe in what He did.  As many as receive Him, to them He gives the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name.  Let’s believe in the death destroying power of the Cross.  Amen!

By Faith, Christ’s Power Works Through Us

 “and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭36‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “So they brought Him all their sick, begging Him to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And everyone who touched it was instantly healed!”  Jesus had calmed the storm just before this; the disciples confessed that He is the Son of God.  As He landed on the shore and word had gone around that He was there, multitudes crowded to Him.  The power of God exuded from Jesus so incredibly that merely touching His prayer shawl or cloak was bringing instant healing.  This same power is available to the Church today, for Christ, the Healer, lives in every believer just as He did with Peter and Paul when their handkerchiefs, pieces of cloth and even their shadows healed and delivered people.  Let every believer walk in the authority of Christ Himself.  Amen!

Children Are A Blessing

 “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; So are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭127‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon wrote this psalm. “Children born to a young couple will one day rise to protect and provide for their parents. Happy will be the couple who has many of them! A household full of children will not bring shame on your name but victory when you face your enemies, for your offspring will have influence and honor to prevail on your behalf!”  Children are as arrows in the hands of a warrior, it says in Hebrew, which means that our children will be our future protection and provision - so the more the merrier!  In that context, they are a blessing to parents in their old age.  That’s what God said when He created Adam and Eve.  God gave them His blessing and said: “Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth.”  The blessings of God have sustained those who acknowledge God and are His chosen people.  Therefore, each generation must tell their children about the good things the Lord has done through the finished work of the Cross of Christ and the new covenant He has made with us, and let’s all be a thankful people.  Amen!