Christ Magnified our Joy

 “Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV

As Isaiah prophesied, “Lord, you have multiplied the nation and given them overwhelming joy! They are ecstatic in your presence and rejoice like those who bring in a great harvest and those who divide up the spoils of victory!”  God has magnified joy to everyone who receives the Light.  As the Light  of Jesus shines on the earth, it will bring in a harvest of joy and rejoicing.  The people of God are about to arise and spoil the kingdom of darkness, even as Israel spoiled Egypt and went out rejoicing.  God will cause our joy to overflow like those distributing loot after a battle.  Great will be the conversions, the increase and our rejoicing.  Many sons will be brought into glory as the increasing Light of Dawn appears.  With both harvest and victory in battle, people rejoice in what God has done.  A sign of the moving of God among us to fulfil this promise, is an outbreak of joy!? He fills our mouths with laughter as a sign that the great ingathering of the harvest is here.  They joy before God and are ecstatic in His Presence because He has released a heart of worship today.  The Gospel brings joy and those who receive good news, rejoice.  This is the joy of the Feast of Tabernacles.  The two great joys of the human heart come at a time of harvest and a time of victory.  As the increase is brought in, victory is experienced.  What greater joy is there in heaven and earth when souls are saved?  Amen!

Jesus Stood to Welcome Stephen in Heaven

 “and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭7‬:‭56‬, ‭58‬, ‭60‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke recorded, ““Look!” Stephen said. “I can see the heavens opening and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God to welcome me home!” Then they pounced on him and threw him outside the city walls to stone him. His accusers, one by one, placed their outer garments at the feet of a young man named Saul of Tarsus. He crumpled to his knees and shouted in a loud voice, “Our Lord, don’t hold this sin against them.” And then he died.”  Jesus sits at the right hand of God, but when He saw Stephen give his last breath for the Gospel, He stood to welcome His martyr into his eternal reward.  Stephen’s graduation was Saul’s initiation who later would go on to become Paul the apostle after his conversion when he met with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus.  As Stephen was about to die, the words that came out of him were the same which Jesus said to forgive His killers for they didn’t know what they were doing.  Let’s consider the example that Jesus, our Lord, has set before us. Let His mindset become our motivation. He existed in the form of God, yet He gave no thought to seizing equality with God as His supreme prize. Instead He emptied Himself of His outward glory by reducing Himself to the form of a lowly servant. He became human! He humbled Himself and became vulnerable, choosing to be revealed as a Man and was obedient. He was a perfect example, even in His death—a criminal’s death by crucifixion! Because of that obedience, God exalted Him  and multiplied His greatness! He has now been given the greatest of all names! The authority of the Name of Jesus causes every knee to bow in reverence!  Amen!

Believe in the Risen Christ

 “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭8‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “Now, suppose someone says, “Consult mediums and spiritists who moan and mutter their incantations in their ritual pits; after all, isn’t it right for people to seek oracles from their gods by asking the dead about the destiny of the living?” You are to answer them: “Listen to the teaching and instruction of the Lord! If their speech does not line up with His word, they will have no light of dawn!”  In our culture today, there are many mediums and spiritists who offer knowledge of your personal future.  In fact they offer their services in hotels and resorts even!  Tell such people of the living God, Isaiah tells.  We are to tell everyone of the Risen Christ.  The light of dawn is the hope of Jesus Christ that grows inside of us.  The path of the righteous is like the light of a sunrise shining in the eastern sky.  It increases from dark to dim to bright - but the path of the righteous is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.    In times of calamity, let’s make sure we quiet our heart and seal up the Word of God in our soul.  The dawning of Christ’s glory is coming.  For us, the early rays of morning light are already shining.  Let’s believe in the Risen Christ.  Amen!

God Resists the Proud

 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke records, “Stephen, who was a man full of grace and supernatural power, performed many astonishing signs and wonders and mighty miracles among the people.”  Stephen was not a gentile but a Greek speaking Jewish believer, for later when he addressed the high priest and others in the temple, he said, “fellow Jews and fathers”.  Stephen is from the Hebrew Zephaniah which means “Yah has treasured him”.  Although he was a powerful minister of the Word, Stephen was humble to accept the task of serving as a deacon.  God used Stephen to work miracles of power through his ministry, even though he was a deacon and not an apostle.  The miraculous is not for the few but for the many.  God looks at the hidden motives, the thoughts and intents of our heart to see whether it is giving true glory to God or not.  Humility in the heart is what counts with God and if it’s anything else, it doesn’t work with God. The Word of God tells us to be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  Let’s choose to have a servant’s heart of serving our true Master and giving all the glory to Him, not just in words but with all our heart and be ready to be used by Him for the miraculous.  Amen!

Christ Our Immanuel

 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “The Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold—the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son and will name Him God Among Us.”  There is nothing miraculous about a young woman having a baby, it happens every day.  However, the uniqueness is the prophecy of the virgin birth of the Messiah.  No child with a human father could be the fulfilment of Immanuel, “God among us”.  This prophecy was specifically the virgin Mary giving birth to the Son of David of the tribe of Judah.  Immanu El” is “God became One of us”.  A new nature is about to be planted in the soil of humanity.  It will begin as a Man but will soon become a company of men and women.  Immanuel is the partnership of heaven and earth, God and humanity.  This is also the prophecy of the virgin Bride of Christ of the last days.  Paul prophesied that God has betrothed us to One Husband, that we be presented as a chaste virgin to Christ.  This is the Father’s will for us who have Christ in us and have identified with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.  Amen!

The Church is Being Built

 “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke recorded, “The apostles performed many signs, wonders, and miracles among the people.”  These were the disciples who were now filled with the Holy Spirit and were doing all that Jesus had done.  Jesus had told His twelve disciple on the night that He was betrayed, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”  This was to build His Church for the Church is Jesus’s Body of which He is the Head.  Jesus had said that the gates of hell will not prevail against Him building His Church.  At this time when the Church began, through the apostles,  many believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.  Till today the gates of hell have not prevailed against the Church as down the ages many believers have continued to join the Church.  As Paul said, that God gave gifts to the Church, “And Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”.  Let’s believe in the miracles, signs and wonders God does through believers even today - who may be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers - to bring many souls into His Church for He is the Living God.  Amen!

Be Holy for God is Holy

 “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah saw God, “And one called out to another, saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, Commander of Angel Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!”  The seraphs in the very Presence of God make the threefold repetition of the word holy as a reference to the way God manifests His holiness: - in heaven; in this world; and in the ages to come.  Today we see the triune God being praised: Holy (Father), Holy (Son), Holy (Spirit).  This sacred chant has been heard down the ages in church history in worship.  God is known as the Holy One of Israel.  Isaiah saw the sinfulness of man and the seraphim saw the glory of God.  Today, because of the finished work of Christ on the Cross, because of the Name of Christ, we are greatly blessed, because the Spirit of glory and power, who is the Spirit of God, rests upon us.  God said that He is holy and called us to be holy.  The Blood of Jesus sanctifies us into holiness and we are to follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.  Let’s live godly and holy lives because we who are Christ’s disciples, carry the Presence of God.  Amen!

Our Personal Experience with the Life-Giver & the Covenant of Life

 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬

Dr. Luke records, “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.” The council members were astonished as they witnessed the bold courage of Peter and John, especially when they discovered that they were just ordinary men who had never had religious training. Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with Him.”  Just a few days ago the disciples were hiding for their life from the authorities and even when Jesus had told them to tarry in Jerusalem till they were endued with power from on high, yet they disobeyed and went back to fishing in the lake at Galilee.  At this moment, after they received the power of the Holy Spirit, they were courageously withstanding the temple authorities and insisting there was no man who could claim to be the Messiah other than Jesus.  The coming of the Holy Spirit in power had made them experience the Life-Giver and they remembered the Covenant of Life Christ had made with them.  Unless each one of us who call ourselves the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ have our own personal life experience with the mighty Holy Spirit, our preaching Bible verses has no power and will not bring the fruit God desires for us.  Let’s remember the Covenant of Life that Christ has made for us personally and receive the Holy Spirit power in our lives.  Amen!

The Absolute Standard of God’s Word

 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who replace darkness with light and light with darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and see themselves as clever and shrewd.”  In that time among the Israelites and in our culture today, the moral code is reversed.  Sin is accepted as something good and not content with abandoning what is good, they must label good as evil.  Those who abandon the absolute standards of God’s Word find a reversal of every true virtue.  Good is mocked and evil is embraced.  Light is ridiculed and darkness is worn like a cloak.  The sweetness of God is called bitter; the bitterness of sin is called sweet.  Who will outwit Eternal Wisdom and who can outsmart Infinite Wisdom?  God will resist the proud of heart.  The Wisdom that comes from above is without pride for Christ through the Cross became for us Wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”  Amen!

R storation & Fulfillment of All Things

 “whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Dr. Luke recorded, “For He must remain in heaven until the restoration of all things has taken place, fulfilling everything that God said long ago through His holy prophets.”  Restitution is the restoration of all creation to the state of existence before the fall.  Jesus had to be born as the Son of Man Who descended and He is also the One Who ascended above the heights of heaven, in order to begin the restoration and fulfillment of all things.  Jesus Himself had said, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory..” There is an appointed time of the restitution of all creation and that’s why God’s Word has been given to us, which is the very Breath of God.  All Scripture is God-breathed, given by divine inspiration and is profitable for instruction, for conviction of sin, for correction of error and restoration to obedience, for training in righteousness, learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage.  This is the heart restoration for us to be prepared with, so that we are an integral part of the restoration of all creation.  Let’s abide in God’s Word all the time.  Amen!

The Fire of Love for Jesus our Lord

 “when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “And the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem by a Spirit of justice and by a Spirit of burning.  Zion’s daughters are prophetically spoken for the churches of Christ. God’s people dwell in Zion which is the New Jerusalem.  Sadly, the daughters of Zion had become haughty, synonymous with filth which is translated as a drunkard’s vomit or human excrement.  The Lord is willing to cleanse them so they are humble and repentant and He does this by the Judging Spirit and by the Burning Spirit. The Spirit’s breath is the blast of justice and the blast of fire coming to cleanse God’s people.  The Spirit of Judgment releases holy vision to see things as God sees them.  Decisions will be made by the justice of God, not the prejudices of men.  It is not that He merely executes justice but that He demonstrates perfect discernment to see what is holy and what is not.  The Spirit of fire will thoroughly cleanse God’s remnant and make them holy by refining fire.  A fire of passionate love for Jesus Christ will cleanse the Church.  The fire of love as a seal over our hearts will keep us pure from temptation and end time distractions.  God will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.  Amen!

Mature Believers, the Church & the Holy Spirit

 “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke’s record of Pentecost is, “Then all at once a pillar of fire appeared before their eyes. It separated into tongues of fire that engulfed each one of them.”  This is the pillar of fire that led Israel from bondage into the promised land.  The same pillar of fire manifested here to intimate a new beginning from dead religious structures into the powerful life of the Holy Spirit.  Each believer received an overpowering flame of fire, signified by the shaft of light that rested and engulfed them.  It was as though each one received how own personal pillar of fire that would empower him and lead him throughout his life.  This was the promise Jesus gave to His disciples of “the One like Me”, Who would be sent by the Father and never leave them.  Today every believer is indwelt by the Spirit of Christ.  This was the birthday of the Church of Jesus Christ.  As Paul explained, “But when the Spirit of Christ empowers your life, you are not dominated by the flesh but by the Spirit. And if you are not joined to the Spirit of the Anointed One, you are not of Him.”  The Church has been called for newness of life, past the stage of repentance and now to be led by the mighty Holy Spirit through the powerful Word of God to speak righteousness into every situation.  “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.”  Let’s believe the Word of God and be the Church God wants us to be.  Amen!

The Righteous in Christ Do Well

 “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah’s prophetic word, “Yet reassure the righteous; it will go well with them! They will fully enjoy the reward of their deeds.” This was Isaiah who prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and Judah, at a time when there were no signs of it, for it actually happened more than a century later through the Babylonian empire.  Through prophecies, God taught, that the lovers of God, even in a time of difficulty, can enjoy the sweet fruits of seeking God and serving His Kingdom.  They will reap the good seeds they planted, for seeds turn into fruit.  The fruit of their deeds is the holy confidence that God is with them, even in a season of judgment.  We can know it will go well with us, for the message of God is this: “Tell the righteous they can still be joyful and it will be well with them.  Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in Him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with His super-abundance until you radiate with hope.  Let’s sow words of encouragement to bring the fruit of joy!  The people in today’s world are fearful and anxious, and anxious hearts are very heavy, but a word of encouragement does wonders - may we be speakers of the good news, the Gospel of Christ our God of Hope.  Amen!

The Resurrection Power of the Kingdom of God

 “to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Luke’s record of Jesus’s disciples, “After the sufferings of His Cross, Jesus appeared alive many times to these same apostles over a forty-day period, proving to them with many convincing signs that He had been resurrected. During these encounters, He taught them the truths of God’s Kingdom.”  Jesus appeared to His followers at least eleven times an taught them the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.  For Jesus had told the disciples, “it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven”.  The number forty is significant for it speaks of transformation and completeness through testing.  Jesus was tempted for forty days; the deluge during Noah’s day lasted forty days and nights; Moses met with God for forty days on Sinai; Israel wandered for forty years; and Elijah fasted for forty days.  Jesus spent forty days appearing to His disciples to teach them that a day of completeness and transformation had arrived.  It took them forty days to comprehend that Christ’s Kingdom was spiritual, not political.  The world is still waiting to see “many convincing signs” from our lives signifying that we too have been raised from the dead.  Spiritual fruit and spiritual power provide these signs. Let’s  proclaim the Kingdom of God with power not just with words only.  Amen!

Every Knee Shall Bow & Every Tongue Confess that Jesus Christ is LORD

 “and upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, and upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall utterly abolish.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied that God Almighty was, “against all the high mountains and all the lofty hills, against every high tower and every fortress wall, against all the trading ships of Tarshish and all the impressive sailing vessels. People’s arrogance will be conquered and brought low, and those proud of heart will be humiliated. Only One will be exalted in that day: Yahweh! Every worthless idol will utterly pass away.”  Governments and kingdoms of this earth are like hills and mountains.  Even the highest of human governmental authorities will bow to the One called Yahweh,  the LORD Almighty.  High towers represent the godless academia that towers intellectually above others; and the strongholds in the mind of humans, thoughts of self-importance that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.  Rebels against God built a tower in Babylon, seeking to be independent of God.  The ships of Tarshish were the largest of ships, able to take the longest voyages and the greatest cargoes.  They typify the great commercial empires built by humans.  The economic system, the commerce of earth, will be brought to the feet of Jesus as He establishes His eternal Kingdom where righteousness and justice rule.  Those who bow before idols will one day bow low before the Lord Jesus, the true God.  Idols are nothing for there is no god but One.  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  Amen!

Hearing God Daily Through His Word

 “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.”

‭‭John‬ ‭21‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple records, “Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Peter heard him say that, he quickly wrapped his outer garment around him, and because he was athletic, he dove right into the lake to go to Jesus!”  It was John, the one whom Jesus loved, that recognised the voice of Jesus.  Perhaps it was Peter’s discouragement that prevented him from recognising the voice of the Master.  Peter’s name was Simon which means “he who hears”.  Our hearing Jesus’s voice is hindered when we are confused and filled with doubts.  Each one of us who are disciples of our Lord Jesus, cannot move in doubt and confusion.  Peter ran to Jesus even when he denied Jesus.  Only Jesus can remove our doubt, confusion and depression and build our faith in Him as Peter received this faith.  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.  Let’s run to the Word of God, be strong in our faith in Christ for every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world. So who are the world conquerors, defeating its power? Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and hear Him everyday.  Amen!

God Sent Christ to be Our Single Sacrifice

 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied to Israel, “And Yahweh keeps saying: “Why such countless sacrifices—what use are they to Me?  I’ve had My fill of your burnt offerings of rams and your fattened animals. I find no delight in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats! When you come before My face, who asked you to come trampling on My courtyards? Stop bringing your meaningless offerings. Your burning incense stinks! Your sin-stained celebrations, your new moon festivals, Sabbaths, your various pious meetings—I can’t stand them! With all My soul I hate your new moon festivals and your feasts; they are nothing but a burden that I’m sick and tired of carrying.”  Outward sacrifices are empty if there is no inward reality - God cannot be bought.  He looks at the heart and requires offerings given in holiness and truth.  God wants to kill that “fattened” part of us that is stuffed only with the letter of the Word but not the humility taught by the Word.  God has a soul with emotions and desires and He doesn’t associate with hypocrisy and being fake.  What should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender ourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart. For this becomes our genuine expression of worship.  Amen!

Believe & Meditate on God’s Word to Receive

 “For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.”

‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple recorded, “For until then they hadn’t understood the Scriptures that prophesied that He was destined to rise from the dead.”  Some believers are in that situation of not understanding Scripture because they don’t bother to meditate on the Word of God and can’t understand it. David prophesied, “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.  I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.”  Also, “For You will not leave My soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.”  Isaiah’s famous prophecy, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. 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.”  Hosea prophesied, “After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight.”  The disciples believed the Word.  Today, we just have to believe in Christ’s finished work and have our personal encounter with the Word to experience the risen Christ daily.  Amen!

Christ Loves Us Passionately & Personally

 “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as the grave: The coals thereof are coals of fire, Which hath a most vehement flame.”

‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬

Solomon’s song says, “Fasten me upon your heart as a seal of fire forevermore. This living, consuming flame will seal you as my prisoner of love. My passion is stronger than the chains of death and the grave, all consuming as the very flashes of fire from the burning heart of God. Place this fierce, unrelenting fire over your entire being.”  Sealing us in His heart, is Christ making us His love prisoner in the cell of His eternal love.  Christ’s passion is a most vehement flame, a mighty flash of fire - it is the Mighty Flame of the Lord Most Passionate.  We must accept that Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!  Let’s receive this love for it is Christ’s love that fuels our passion and holds us tightly, because we are convinced that He has given His life for all of us. This means all died with Him.  That’s why we are sealed in His heart and forever prisoners of His eternal love.  Let’s believe and receive His love personally.  Amen!

Love Caused the Disciple to Witness Christ’s Crucifixion

 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!”

‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John, the beloved disciple recorded, “So when Jesus looked down and saw the disciple He loved standing with her, He said, “Mother, look—John will be a son to you.”  Although unnamed, this was most certainly John the apostle.  John, the apostle of love, was the only one of the Twelve, who stood near the Cross and witnessed the crucifixion.  Love doesn’t quit or run away, or hide from pain.  It endures all things, overcomes all things, and empowers us in all things.  John didn’t run from the suffering of the Saviour.  We must be those who will stand next to Jesus even if the entire world is against us. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance and love will last forever! Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.  Let’s receive this love that the Holy Spirit has shed abroad in our hearts and flow with God’s love, to love our Saviour and to love others with God’s love.  Amen!

Bearers of Good News

 “How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! The joints of thy thighs are like jewels, The work of the hands of a cunning workman.”

‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s song says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the sandaled feet of this one bringing such good news. You are truly royalty! The way you walk so gracefully in my ways displays such dignity. You are truly the poetry of God—His very handiwork.”  All those who bring the good news of salvation in Christ are the true royalty, filled with grace and truth which comes from Jesus, with the Spirit of sonship received by faith.  Everyone in the Body of Christ who bring the Gospel to hungry hearts, are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers and they bring with beautiful feet, the words of life.  As the prophet said, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  Christ is reigning in our hearts and may we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness whilst on earth.  Amen!

The Victorious One, the Heir of a Powerful Family

 “They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.”

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple recorded, “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. (Now Judas, the traitor, was among them.) He replied, “I Am He.” And the moment Jesus spoke the words, “I Am He”, the mob fell backward to the ground!”  Jesus, the Nazarene and this came from “nussraya” which in Aramaic means “victorious one” or “heir of a powerful family” and Nazareth in Hebrew which means “branch”.  This truly was a powerful moment as the great I Am spoke His Name before those who sought to seize Him.  When He spoke these soldiers didn’t trip over each other in surprise but these strong men fell backward to the ground by the power of God.  Jesus was in charge that night as the Captain of the Host of the Lord.  They could not seize Him unless He permitted them to do so.  What a wonderful Saviour, Who willingly submitted to the hands of cruel men, to bring us the gift of salvation.  In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious!  Amen!

Our Sincere Devotion to Christ Helps Us Overcome

 “Turn away thine eyes from me, For they have overcome me: Thy hair is as a flock of goats That appear from Gilead.”

‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s song says, “Turn your eyes from me; I can’t take it anymore! I can’t resist the passion of these eyes that I adore. Overpowered by a glance, my ravished heart—undone. Held captive by your love, I am truly overcome! For your undying devotion to me is the most yielded sacrifice.”  The Hebrew word for “overcome” is Rahab.  Like the harlot, who was chosen, favoured, saved from Jericho’s destruction, and included in the genealogy of Jesus, so we have “overcome” His heart.  No one would have thought Rahab would be so honoured - and many say that about us today.  We have overcome many things but to overcome His heart is love’s delight for we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of our testimony.  Hair in Scripture is a picture of our devotion to Christ like Mary.  It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Let’s obey with fear and trembling and with sincere devotion to Christ, and enjoy Him delighting in us.  Amen!

The Fullness of Christ in Believers is Imperative

 “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple records, “So with deep love, I pray for My disciples. I’m not asking on behalf of the unbelieving world, but for those who belong to You, those You have given Me.”  How could it be that Jesus loves the world and gave Himself for the sin of the world, yet emphasises that He is praying for His disciples and not praying for the world?  Jesus’ coming into the world brings life to those who believe and judgment to those who do not.  The implication is that the key to reaching the world is the life, maturity, unity and love of the disciples.  This does not mean that Jesus doesn’t love the world, but that the world will only be reached when the disciples come into the fullness of Christ and in unity of the faith.  This is what consumes the heart of Jesus as He prays for them, before He went to the Cross.  The glory of God is revealed through the surrendered lives of all God’s disciples even today!  Amen!

Put On the Garment of Righteousness

 “I sleep, but my heart waketh: It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, My dove, my undefiled: For my head is filled with dew, And my locks with the drops of the night. I have put off my coat; How shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; How shall I defile them?”

‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s song says, “After this I let my devotion slumber, but my heart for him stayed awake. I had a dream. I dreamed of my beloved— he was coming to me in the darkness of night. The melody of the man I love awakened me. I heard his knock at my heart’s door as he pleaded with me: I have already laid aside my own garments for you. How could I take them up again since I’ve yielded my righteousness to yours? You have cleansed my life and taken me so far. Isn’t that enough?”  In Hebrew this means “My head is filled with dew and my hair with the drops of the night.”  This is the picture of Jesus as the Gethsemane Man, the One Who prayed all night for us.  Garments are used as a picture of righteousness.  Filthy garments are a symbol of unrighteousness or self-righteousness.  Clean white garments are a picture of the righteousness of Christ.  The Shulamite laying aside her coat or garments is symbolic of what happens when we come to know Jesus as Saviour - we lay aside our self-righteousness and take up His garments of true righteousness.  That’s why many who are so filled with self-righteousness are weak in declaring with confidence the true Gospel of righteousness that we have which comes from knowing Christ, the power of His  resurrection, and the participation in His sufferings. It includes being conformed to His  death.  Let’s nail to the Cross every self-righteousness in us prophesy “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”  Amen!

Passed from Judgment & Embraced Christ’s Righteousness

 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple recorded Jesus’s words, “And when He comes, He will expose sin and prove that the world is wrong about God’s righteousness and His judgments. ‘Sin,’ because they refuse to believe in Who I Am.  God’s ‘righteousness,’ because I Am going back to join the Father and you’ll see Me no longer. And ‘judgment’ because the ruler of this dark world has already received his sentence.”  Sin, righteousness and judgment are related to three.  Sin is related to Adam for it was through Adam sin entered humanity.  “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—”. Righteousness is related to Christ because it comes through Him and He has become our righteousness.  Judgment is related to satan, for the pure works of Christ bring judgment to the works of satan.  If we do not embrace Christ’s righteousness, we will share satan’s judgment.  For God made the only One Who  did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God through our union with Him.  We are so blessed to have passed from judgment because we have embraced the righteousness of God in Christ.  Amen!

The Resurrected Christ Reflected in the Sacred Spices & Fruit

 “Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, With pleasant fruits; Camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; Calamus and cinnamon, With all trees of frankincense; Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:”

‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s song says, “Your inward life is now sprouting, bringing forth fruit.  What a beautiful paradise unfolds within you.  When I’m near you, I smell aromas of the finest spice, for many clusters of my exquisite fruit now grow within your inner garden. Here are the nine: pomegranates of passion, henna from heaven, spikenard so sweet, saffron shining, fragrant calamus from the cross, sacred cinnamon, branches of scented woods, myrrh, like tears from a tree, and aloe as eagles ascending.”  Every fruit and spice reflects the resurrected Christ.  Pomegranate is taken from a word that means “exalted”.  Solomon’s temple had pillars adorned with pomegranates.  Henna’s root word is “ransom price” or “redemption” - this fruit of mercy is seen in Christ’s maturing Bride.  Spikenard’s root word is “light” and Christ’s Bride is walking in the Light as He is the Light.  Saffron is the crocus, the lover’s perfume, costly and fragrant.  Calamus is a marsh plant known as “sweet flag” which produces fragrant oil and its root word is “purchased” or “redeemed”. Cinnamon emits a fragrance that is holiness to the Lord and was used in the sacred anointing oil of the priests and the tabernacle, an incense burned on the golden altar of the Holy Place.  Myrrh is a resin spice formed by cutting a tree, known as “tears from a tree” - it is a picture of the suffering love of Christ dripping down from Calvary’s tree.  Aloe is considered a healing balm - the Presence of the Lord in the Bride is released as a healing balm.  Jesus’s robes smelled of aloes.  Another name for aloes is “eagle wood” and like eagles we fly above our wounds, free from the past as we walk in intimacy with Him.  Amen! ‎

Chosen by Our God for Such a Time as This

 “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.that”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As John the beloved disciple recorded, “You show that you are My intimate friends when you obey all that I command you. I have never called you ‘servants,’ because a master doesn’t confide in his servants, and servants don’t always understand what the master is doing. But I call you My most intimate and cherished friends, for I reveal to you everything that I’ve heard from my Father. You didn’t choose Me, but I’ve chosen and commissioned you to go into the world to bear fruit. And your fruit will last, because whatever you ask of My Father, for My sake, He will give it to you!”  When our obedience to our Lord Jesus becomes a habit, we will find intimacy in our personal relationship with Him.  No longer will we be guilty or ashamed, feeling condemned like a slave, but our emotions will be able to accept that we are chosen and beloved of God.  Actually, the Lord has cared for us from our mother’s womb.  We are more than a friend to Him for we are born again from His wounded side.  We grow into maturity and character, going into our calling and ministry, according to the will of the Father.  Amen!

Prayers of God’s People as Incense before God

 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant?”

‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV

Solomon’s song says, “Who is this one ascending from the wilderness in the pillar of the glory cloud? He is fragrant with the anointing oils of myrrh and frankincense — more fragrant than all the spices of the merchant.”  These spices  were the ingredients of the sacred anointing oil used by the high priest in the temple, as Scripture tells us.  Myrrh points to the suffering and death of Christ, while frankincense reveals the fragrance of His perfect life and ministry.  When the high priest burnt these spices before the ark of the covenant, the Presence of God came down there.  But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for He is the One Who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.    As John the revelator saw in his vision, our prayers are taken by the angel with a gold incense burner who came and stood at the altar, and a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God's people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne.  Today, in the new covenant we are called as priests and our prayers go up to our God as incense.  May our prayers be according to God’s will always.  Amen!

God Makes Believers His Dwelling Place

 “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.it wereso”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John, the beloved disciple recorded what Jesus said, “My Father’s house has many dwelling places. If it were otherwise, I would tell you plainly, because I go to prepare a place for you.”  Jesus says there are many homes and resting places in His Father’s household.  He had mentioned His Father’s house earlier when He had driven the money collectors out of the temple in Jerusalem, as He told the merchants, “Get these things out of here! Don’t you dare commercialize My Father’s house!”  The temple was God’s dwelling place on earth, among His people.  Today, in the new covenant, His dwelling place is the Body of Christ, the Church, and there is ample room for people from every nation and ethnicity and room to spare!  As Paul says so aptly, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in Whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in Whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”  Every believer is now one of the many dwelling places that make up God’s house.  Let’s believe what Jesus said, “Loving Me empowers you to obey My Word. And My Father will love you so deeply that We will come to you and make you Our dwelling place.”  Amen!

Christ is Our Beloved and We are His

 “Take us the foxes, The little foxes, That spoil the vines: For our vines have tender grapes. My beloved is mine, and I am his: He feedeth among the lilies.”

‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬

Solomon’s song says, “You must catch the troubling foxes, those sly little foxes that hinder our relationship. For they raid our budding vineyard of love to ruin what I’ve planted within you. Will you catch them and remove them for me? We will do it together. I know my lover is mine and I have everything in you, for we delight ourselves in each other.” These “foxes” are the compromises that are hidden deep in our hearts.  These are areas of our lives where we have not yet allowed the victory of Christ to shine into.  The foxes keep the fruit of His Spirit from growing within us.  He “feedeth among the lilies” means He takes delight to be a special Friend. That’s what Jesus said just before He was crucified.  “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”  Let’s simply believe Jesus and have a relationship with Him as of our Friend to lead the fruitful life He wants us to so that He delights in us.  Amen!

Our True Inheritance in Christ

 “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”

‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As John the beloved disciple recorded, “Jesus replied, “You don’t understand yet the meaning of what I’m doing, but soon it will be clear to you.”  Jesus had asked His disciples to remove their sandals so He would wash their feet.  By removing their sandals and washing their feet, Jesus was showing them that He was granting them a new inheritance - His own.  The sandal is often used in covenants of inheritance in Hebrew culture.  Every defilement would be removed so that they could “place the sole of their feet” upon the new covenant inheritance.  God told Moses to remove his sandals, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”  This was because Moses was about to receive a new inheritance - the holiness of God and the authority that came with it.  God told Joshua, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.”  After Jesus had washed the disciples feet, and taken His garments, He sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I Am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”  Let’s as believers and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ know our inheritance and when the world calls us “rice bag Christians”, we should be able to give them the glorious Gospel of their true inheritance in Christ.  Amen!

Let Go and Let God

 “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: For thy love is better than wine.”

‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s song says, “Let him smother me with kisses—his Spirit-kiss divine. So kind are your caresses, I drink them in like the sweetest wine!”  The name Solomon and Shulamite have the same meaning except that one is masculine and the other is feminine.  Solomon points us to the Perfect King, Jesus Christ.  We, who are born of the Spirit, are one spirit with our King, united with Him.  To enter the door of Jesus’s heart, we begin by saying “let Him”.  We only bring Him a yielded heart and let Him do the rest, for God’s loving grace means that Jesus is enough for us.  We don’t begin by doing, but by yielding.  The Spirit kiss is what made Adam, the man of clay, into the living expression of God.  Dust and Deity met when the Maker kissed His Spirit wind into Adam.  The Word of God is the kiss from the mouth of our Beloved, breathing upon us the revelation of His love.  His love is saving love, keeping love, forgiving love and embracing love.  We are intoxicated with His love as He breathes His Word into us as kisses.  So there are three witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these Three are One.  That’s why we are empowered to be equipped to overcome any situation in our life.  Amen!

Jesus Laid Down His Life for Us

 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬ ‭KJV

John the beloved disciple recorded Jesus’s words, “Let me make this clear: A single grain of wheat will never be more than a single grain of wheat unless it drops into the ground and dies. Because then it sprouts and produces a great harvest of wheat—all because one grain died.”  The “one grain” is Jesus Christ, Who will within days be offered as the Sacrifice for sin on Calvary’s Cross.  He will “drop” into the ground as “a grain of wheat” and bring forth a great “harvest” of “seeds”.  Some non-Jewish seekers requested to see Jesus through Philip and Andrew and Jesus gave this parable in answer.  Jesus was telling His disciples that the non-Jewish will see Jesus through those who follow Him as they too experience the dying and birthing experience.  The harvest among the nations will come when we disciples follow Jesus where He goes. For since we have become one with Him in dying as He did, in the same way we shall be one with Him by being raised to life as He was. We know what real love is from Christ's example in dying for us. And so we also ought to lay down our lives for our Christian brothers.  Amen!

Reverent Awe of Our Majestic Holy God

 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon ends Ecclesiastes by saying, “That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.”  The fear of the LORD is a deep, reverent awe and wonder toward God.  Rather than terror or dread, it is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit—inspiring profound love, obedience, and a desire to honor God's majesty.  As the psalmist said that the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endures for ever.  When Jesus was despised on the Cross, it was in obedience to His Father so that humanity’s sin was erased altogether through His Blood sacrifice; and then through Christ’s conquering death, the eternal life of God became ours by faith.  Now when Christ comes again, it will be with majesty, splendour, magnificence and glory and all will bow down in the fear of God.  It’s through knowing the fear of the LORD, that we persuade others to this glorious Gospel.  Let’s not take God’s love for granted but worship Him in reverent awe.  Amen!

Jesus, Our Resurrection and Life, Personally and as the Church

 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple recorded, “Martha,” Jesus said, “You don’t have to wait until then.  I Am the Resurrection, and I Am Life Eternal. Anyone who clings to Me in faith, even though he dies, will live forever. And the one who lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”  Jesus is God as His statement clearly says.  Resurrection is superior to life, for life can be defeated and ended.  But resurrection overcomes.  Life is the power to exist, but resurrection is the power to conquer all, even death itself.  We, who believe in Christ, must learn to live in Christ our Life, but also Christ our Resurrection, to conquer all things.  Paul said it so clearly, “And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus and to experience the overflowing power of His Resurrection working in me. I will be one with Him in His sufferings and become like Him in His death.”  As believers we never die forever!  John recorded as an eye-witness that Jesus is our great Saviour Who saved us from our sins and also from death.  Jesus is our Resurrection and our Life, on a personal level and also as the Church, His Body.  Amen!

Be Generous in Giving

 “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Solomon says, “Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.”  Solomon told thousands of years ago, what many billionaires do today!  Which is to donate generously!  In our times, people will do anything to acquire money because they worship it - mammon is idolised!  To part with money is impossible for such people as everything, every relationship, every communication is transactional based on money.  Jesus said, “Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you with such an overflowing measure that it will run over the top! The measurement of your generosity becomes the measurement of your return.”  Giving generously delivers us not only from the love of money but also from covetousness.  Jesus is so clear when He says, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”    Those who persist in covetousness, and the love of money and cowardliness will have a sad end.  But as for the cowards and the ignoble and the contemptible and the cravenly, lacking in courage and the cowardly submissive, and as for the unbelieving and faithless, and as for the depraved and defiled with abominations, and as for murderers and the lewd and adulterous and the practicers of magic arts and the idolaters (those who give supreme devotion to anyone or anything other than God) and all liars (those who knowingly convey untruth by word or deed)–all of these shall have their part in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone. This is the second death.  Let’s learn to do things in God’s way by being generous, not only with money, but with kindness, mercy and love.  Amen!

True Children of God in Christ by Faith

 “This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple says, “Jesus told the Pharisees this parable even though they didn’t understand a word of what He meant. So Jesus went over it again, “I speak to you eternal truth: I am the Gate for the flock. All those who broke in before Me are thieves who came to steal, but the sheep never listened to them.”  The hearers didn’t understand the allegory of the old covenant law that the sheepfold had become their religion, like a pen that confined the people.  Christ is the Gate that not only allowed everyone in, but He let them out into the new covenant, to enjoy all the riches of the pasture.  The Holy Spirit is the Gatekeeper.  The false prophets and the Pharisees are the thieves and robbers.  All this happened after Jesus healed the blind man who was cast out of the “sheep pen” but accepted in Christ.  Jesus is the Shepherd, the Gate and the pasture.  As the Gate, He brings us to the Father and His Kingdom; as a Shepherd He cares for us and shows us His loving heart.  Until the revelation of faith for salvation was released, the law was a jailer, holding us as prisoners under lock and key until the “faith,” which was destined to be revealed, would set us free. The law was our guardian until Christ came so that we would be saved by faith. But now that faith has come we are no longer under the guardianship of the law. So now we have become true children of God by faith in Jesus Christ!  Amen!

Money, the Currency of the World - Faith, the Currency of God’s Kingdom

 “A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s wisdom says, “A party gives laughter, wine gives happiness, and money gives everything!”  Money is the currency of this world we live in.  The Lord Jesus Christ clearly taught, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”  Even the apostles taught, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”  “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  For us who belong to the Kingdom of God, we are clear that we serve the Living God and the currency of God’s Kingdom is faith.  For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.  Today, people are lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, enjoying the feasting, wine and mirth in this life.  Unfortunately, none of this will stand them after this life.  Only the eternal life God has offered through Christ will endure forever.  Money is to be used wisely in this world to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness, so that in Christ all things are added to us.  Let’s bless others and use money to give the Good News of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation.  Amen!

Seeing the Apostle of our Faith - the Lord Jesus in All we Do

 “and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.”

‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple records, “And He said to the blind man, “Now go and wash the clay from your eyes in the ritual pool of Siloam.” So he went and washed his face and as he came back, he could see for the first time in his life!”  Siloam means “to be sent” or “to be commissioned” - and is the same meaning of “apostle”.  The Apostle of our faith is the Lord Jesus Christ Who was sent from the Father.  To wash in the Pool of Apostleship is to recognise the healing that flows from the One Who was sent from heaven.  Jesus had just taught that He is the Light of the world and had came to dispel the darkness of mankind, so this miracle of giving sight to the blind man is a powerful proof of Jesus’s words.  Christ, in His birth, became a man of clay.  When He applies this clay  over our eyes and we wash in the water of His Word, our spiritual sight is restored.  Then we are sent to testify of God’s goodness in our lives.  We who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are all apostles commissioned by Him.  Therefore, as partakers of the heavenly calling, let’s keep continuously considering the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.  Amen!

Marriage is Honourable

 “Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬

Solomon says, “Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil.”  Solomon spouted God’s truth but never practiced it.  However, it is the truth of God.  Marriage didn’t come by evolution, or by man’s doing, it came to be because God instituted it.  The marriage covenant was established as a foundational, "one-flesh" union, for a permanent joining of a man and a woman.  For the reason of marriage, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.  The Lord Jesus Christ affirmed this truth when questioned about marriage.  In the liberal culture that is happening where sexual immorality, gender transition etc are increasing, we are to honour the sanctity of marriage as God has instituted, and keep our vows of purity to one another, for God will judge sexual immorality in any form, whether single or married.  Let’s be happy in our marriage and those who are not married, be happy in being single and being devoted to God even more. Marriage is honourable and godliness with contentment is great wealth.  Amen!

Be Conscious of God’s Presence

 “And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple recorded, “And then He bent over again and wrote some more words in the dust.”  The prophet had prophesied hundreds of years ago, “Yahweh..all who forsake You will be covered with shame. Those who turn away from You will be written in the dirt. To forsake You, Yahweh, is to forsake the Fountain of Living Waters.”  Jesus wrote in the dust to fulfil this prophecy that those who forsake God are in spiritual adultery and will be written in the dust.  All of Jesus’s accusers were and are guilty of forsaking God, the Fountain of Living Waters.  At that time, the accusers were so anxious to stone this woman to death.  The same Finger that wrote the Ten Commandments in stone also wrote the names of each of the accusers in the dust in front of their eyes, pointing to their hypocrisy.  The ones to leave this place first were the priests!  The Presence of God will either make hypocrisy leave us or we will leave His Presence, the choice is ours!  So let’s put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander from our lives and fervently love one another.  Let’s not be those who spout God’s Word from our mouth but our lives don’t proclaim it.  Let’s drink from the Fountain of Living Waters and be satisfied with the Presence of God in our life.  Amen!

The Spirit of Sonship in Christ

 “Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭8‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s wisdom says, “the king can do whatever he wants; his command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it. Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right”.  The prophet said, “But the Lord is the only true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King! The whole earth trembles at His anger. The nations cannot stand up to His wrath.”  This God put His anger and wrath on His Son Jesus on the Cross when Jesus freed us from bondage to sin.  Through faith in Jesus’s death and resurrection, we have received the Spirit of Sonship.  As the King’s sons we are led by His Holy Spirit to obey Him and His power is in us.  So that we would know that we are His true children, God released the Spirit of Sonship into our hearts—moving us to cry out intimately, “My Father! My true Father!” Now we’re no longer living like slaves under the law, but we enjoy being God’s very own sons and daughters! And because we’re His, we can access everything our Father has—for we are heirs because of what God has done!  In the new covenant God has made with us, we are made heirs, kings and princes in God’s Kingdom.  The wise by faith move in this knowledge to win souls into God’s Kingdom and make disciples with the power and authority God has given us.  This is in preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus when He comes in glory as our Heavenly Father commands Him. For His is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen!

Mercy Has Dominion Over Judgment

 “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

‭‭John‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple recorded, “Stop judging based on the superficial. First you must embrace the standards of mercy and truth.”  Jesus clearly asks us to not cloud righteous judgment with our own biased opinions and traditions.  Let’s not judge because hypocrites wear masks!  Jesus had just healed the lame man on the Sabbath which the Pharisees took umbrage at.  They were really no one to judge Jesus because they themselves never practiced what they preached.  Here Jesus teaches that the law of mercy (healing the lame man), overrides the law of Moses (regulations of the Sabbath).  Seeing situations and people with the lens of mercy gives us true discernment.  It is good to remember that judgment is merciless for the one who judges others without mercy. So by showing mercy, you take dominion over judgment!  The Lord Jesus showed us mercy when He took the sins of mankind upon the Cross when He was judged by God Almighty and it was there that mercy triumphed over judgment.  Now through faith in the finished work of Jesus at the Cross, we receive mercy. And have dominion over judgment.  Thank You Jesus!

Christ the Wisdom and the Power of God to Us

 “I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7‬:‭25‬, ‭29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s wisdom says, “I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness. But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”  We thank God today that through Jesus Christ we have received the Holy Spirit Who brings us the wisdom of God.  Today, we live in times where man has discovered how to replicate natural human processes with the artificial intelligence of machines.  This is the idea of humans to create a super intelligent AI that does what humans are meant to do by using their bodies and minds.  In the end human beings are made obsolete.  What a rebellious folly and madness to believe that! Nevertheless, the wisdom of God will be proven true by the expressions of godliness in everyone who follows Christ Who is made to us the wisdom of God.  The Church has the manifold wisdom of God which to unbelievers is a mystery, but to us believers it is the power of God.  Our part is to walk in the wisdom of God as we live before the unbelievers, and make it our duty to make Christ known.  Let the glorious Gospel be preached by the Church for it is the power of God to salvation.  Amen!

The Living Bread gives Abundant Life

 “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple recorded, “Jesus then took the barley loaves and the fish and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to the disciples to distribute to the people. Miraculously, the food multiplied, with everyone eating as much as they wanted!”  Barley is the first crop to harvest in Israel as God told Moses, ““Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. When you enter the land I am giving you and you harvest its first crops, bring the priest a bundle of grain from the first cutting of your grain harvest.”  It is a picture of the resurrected Christ.  A barley loaf becomes a picture of Christ given to us in resurrection life.  He is the firstfruit of resurrection life.  When tempted by the devil, Jesus refused to turn stones into bread to satisfy His own hunger.  Yet here Jesus multiplied bread to satisfy the hunger of others.  Philip was hoping to give each one a little to eat, but Jesus’s supply is always abundant to satisfy the hunger of all.  Jesus is the Living Bread that came down from heaven and when we eat Him, we live forever.  Amen!

The Exceeding Great Riches of Our Lord Jesus Christ

 “a man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV

Solomon’s wisdom says, “God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then He doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things. They die, and someone else, even a stranger, ends up enjoying their wealth! This is meaningless—a sickening tragedy.”  This was Solomon’s tragedy, and all those who put their trust in the riches and systems of this world.  The prophets of the old covenant kept reminding the children of Israel to be separate from the idols of this world particularly the love of money and coveting it.  They prophesied of the Messiah Who would come to save.  “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.”  In the new covenant, we have experienced the extravagant grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although He was infinitely rich, He impoverished Himself for our sake, so that by His poverty, we become rich beyond measure.  Let’s put our trust in the exceedingly great riches of our Lord Jesus Christ rather than the riches of this world.  Amen!

Belief in Christ’s Resurrection Gave Us Our New Identity

 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple writes what Jesus spoke, ““Don’t be amazed when I tell you these things, for there is a day coming when everyone who has ever died will hear My voice calling them back to life, and they will come out of their graves! Those who have done what is good will experience a resurrection to eternal life. And those who have practiced evil will taste the resurrection of judgment!”  When we know our identity in Christ, we are used to hearing God’s voice for we are His sheep.  The day is coming when all shall hear His voice and will turn to the LORD and worship Him.  All those who didn’t follow Him will be judged whereas all those who heard His voice and followed Him were judged when judgment fell on Jesus at the Cross and will reign with Him forever.  This is so because our old identity has been co-crucified with Christ and no longer lives. And now the essence of this new life is no longer ours, for the Anointed One lives His life through us - we live in union as one! Our new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves us so much that He gave Himself for us, dispensing His life into ours!  Hallelujah!

The Word of God Written in Our Heart

 “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s wisdom says, “Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few. Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.”  Jesus spoke about certain people who spoke many words and cautioned them from talking with many words.  People who talk a lot don’t achieve much.  Many think that making long prayers is pleasing to God.  But Jesus taught that when you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. In fact Jesus called such people hypocrites.  Within earshot of all the people, Jesus warned His disciples, “Don’t follow the example of these pretentious experts of the law! They love to parade around in their religious garments so that people honor them wherever they go. They like to sit right up front in every meeting and push their way to the head table at every banquet. And for an offering they will pray long religious prayers at the homes of widows, cheating them out of their very livelihood. Beware of them all, because one day the Judge will strip them of honor, and judge them severely.”  In the ‘guru’ culture that we live in, it is better to heed the words of Jesus.  Let’s not just listen to the Word of Truth and not respond to it, for that is the essence of self-deception. So always let His Word become like poetry written and fulfilled by our life!  Amen!

The Living Well Gives His Living Water

 “Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)”

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple writes, “Wearied by His long journey, He sat on the edge of Jacob’s well, and sent His disciples into the village to buy food, for it was already afternoon. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”  The well was a “spring-fed well”.  This becomes a picture of the “spring” of the Jacob-life inside of every one of us.  Fed by Adam’s fall, this spring has flowed through all of humanity.  But Jesus sat as a “lid” to Jacob’s well, sealing its polluted stream.  In Christ, Jacob’s clever striving has ended.  The Living Well became a lid to Jacob’s well as Jesus sat there ready to give His Living Water to all who would come and drink.  A Well sitting upon a well.  The “water” Jesus wanted was the refreshing, satisfying pleasure of her devotion.  He says to each of us, “Nothing satisfies Me except you.”  The sinner drank of the Saviour and the Saviour drank of the sinner and both were satisfied.  Neither ate or drank, but both were satisfied.  Therefore with joy we will draw water from the wells of salvation. And in that day we will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.  Amen!

The Church, the Gospel and the Kingdom of God

 “So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s wisdom says, “Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless.”  When we see nations where poverty is continuing for generations and led by oppressive governments and politicians, our hearts are cut with compassion.  This is why the Church was born two thousand years ago, when our God rose victorious from the dead and sent His Holy Spirit to empower the Church.  The Church is here to bring the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.  The Church has the Gospel for the Spirit of the Lord God has taken control of all those who believe the Word.  The Lord has chosen and sent us to tell the oppressed the Gospel, to heal the brokenhearted, and to announce freedom for prisoners who are captive to wrong beliefs; to console those who mourn, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.  May the true Church recognise the responsibility God has placed on us to bring the Gospel to all, for God loves all mankind.  Amen!

Seated with Christ in Heavenly Places

 “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.even”

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As John the beloved disciple recorded Jesus’s words, “No one has risen into the heavenly realm except the Son of Man Who also exists in heaven.”  Jesus shares a mystery with Nicodemus.  While He was on earth ministering, Jesus was also in heaven in the spirit realm.  Being in the two places at the same time is also the privilege given to every believer.  We are seated with Christ in the heavenly realm and living our earthly life to please Him.  This is what it means to be “in Christ”.  He raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory”, Paul writes.  In the realm of the Spirit, heaven and earth is one.  Jesus is telling Nicodemus that only those who are seated in the heavenly realm will understand spiritual truths.  May we understand the depth of what Jesus tells us personally through His Word.  Amen!

God’s Seaon, God’s Time, God’s Purpose

 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s wisdom says, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”  Paul said when he preached at Athens that “God had made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;” God’s plans and seasons are appointed, for He had appointed for His Son to come in the flesh at the right time.  At God’s right season, the Word was sowed into this planet and the Gospel preached.  At the appointed time God judged Jesus on the Cross and Jesus conquered death through His resurrection and opened the way for mankind to have the opportunity to be born again by the Spirit into a new life in Christ.  Now at His appointed season He has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to all His disciples by the command of God our Saviour this wonderful Gospel.  This is the purpose of God, to restore humanity to His image and likeness which was lost by Adam and bring His family back to Himself through the power of His love.  Thank You Father!

Faith in Christ’s Resurrection Makes Our Body His Temple

 “But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.”

‭‭John‬ ‭2‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John, the beloved disciple wrote, “But they failed to understand that Jesus was speaking of the “temple” of His body. The disciples remembered His prophecy after Jesus rose from the dead, and believed both the Scripture and what Jesus had said.”  Resurrection power would be the sign of Jesus’s supreme authority.  Jesus’s death and resurrection effectively dismantled the need for the temple, for now His powerful Gospel of the Kingdom of God builds us into a holy temple not made with hands.  As Paul said, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”  This symbolic form of speaking was so different from the teachings of the Pharisees, as it is to the understanding of many Christians today.  The God Who was once worshipped by animal sacrifices is now to be worshipped in spirit and truth with every believer as a priest. Have you forgotten that your body is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, Who lives in you? You don’t belong to yourself any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside your sanctuary. You were God’s expensive purchase, paid for with tears of blood, so by all means, then, use your body to bring glory to God!  God had chosen us to serve our God and formed us into a kingdom of priests who reign on the earth.  Amen!

This Life is Brief in the Light of Eternity

 “I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s wisdom says, “I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.”  Solomon concluded that pleasure and the good things of life, our comfort zones, comedy and cheering oneself with wine and liquor are all vanity and meaningless.  The God Who has created everything has not made it for vanity or meaninglessness.  He has given Life with a purpose.  When mankind lost that purpose through sin, God sent His Son to redeem mankind so we would get the purpose back.  That is why Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.”  What is our purpose then?  As Jesus said, “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Let’s do our purpose which is to be part of God’s Kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven; and doing His on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen!

Crossing Into New Life

 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John the beloved disciple recorded, “The very next day, John saw Jesus coming to him to be baptized, and John cried out, “Look! There He is—God’s Lamb! He takes away the sin of the entire world!” This was the place chosen by God for John to baptise Jesus as thousands of years ago the children of Israel crossed into the promised land when the Jordan River parted and they passed through on dry land.  This is a powerful reminder of crossing into the new life.  As the Lamb of God, Jesus was publicly washed and proven to be without flaw or blemish, ready to become the sacrifice for all the world.  Although He would rise as the Lion of Judah in resurrection power, here He is the meek Lamb, a willing sacrifice for us as He broke sin’s grip from humanity, taking away its guilt and power from those who believe.  We join with those singing with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.  Amen!

The Spirit of Wisdom

 “And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon, the king of Israel wrote, “I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.”  This king was given wisdom and understanding to manage his affairs of this world, it was the natural wisdom and understanding he got.  He was much admired and felicitated by rulers of other nations.  Solomon came to the conclusion that it was all meaningless.  Depending on worldly wisdom was a tragic existence for mankind because it takes one away from God.  That was Solomon’s life for in his old age, his many wives turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, and broke the covenant with God.  But thanks be to God that through the Blood sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, the new covenant came into being and the Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers, the Spirit of Wisdom.  This supernatural wisdom now enables all believers to know that friendship with the world is enmity with God.  Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  Worldly wisdom is friendship with the world. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  Let’s surrender to the Holy Spirit and walk in wisdom from above.  Amen!

To Know Jesus is to Know the Word Personally

 “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke records, “And beginning with Moses and all the prophets He carefully unveiled to them the revelation of Himself throughout the Scriptures.”  Jesus, risen from the dead, was walking alongside two disciples and they weren’t aware of Who was walking next to them.  The disciples were astounded at what Jesus taught them.  A similar story was of Jesus as a young boy talking with Jewish scholars at the temple and they were astounded as to how a young boy could have such wisdom.  This is because in the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him.  The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s One and Only Son.  To know Jesus is to know the Word personally.  Let the Word be our inspiration, motivation and action.  Let’s be doers of the Word.  Amen!

Preparing as Christ’s Bride

 “She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; And delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; And she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And in her tongue is the law of kindness.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “Even her works of righteousness she does for the benefit of her enemies. Bold power and glorious majesty are wrapped around her as she laughs with joy over the latter days. Her teachings are filled with wisdom and kindness as loving instruction pours from her lips.”  Linen is a symbol of righteousness.  Linen was worn by the priests in the tabernacle and temple and the curtains of the tabernacle were linen, signifying God’s righteousness.  This virtuous woman knew to deal with merchants righteously as she clothed herself with strength and honour, speaking wisdom and kindness, the fruits of righteousness.  In the new covenant the gift of righteousness has been given through the Cross when Jesus was judged on our behalf.  Today, the Bride of Christ is making herself ready with fine linen, shining bright and clear, which has been given to her to wear, and the fine linen represents the righteous deeds of His holy believers.  As we prepare ourselves as Christ’s Bride, let our prayer be that our love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that we may approve the things that are excellent, that we may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.  Amen!

Forgiveness

 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke records, “While they were nailing Jesus to the Cross, He prayed over and over, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” The soldiers, after they crucified Him, gambled over His clothing.”  Even in extreme distress, Jesus prayed intensely, “forgive them”.  He didn’t pray “forgive me” but continuously prayed “forgive them”.  As the centurion crushed Him to the ground and tied His arms to the crossbeam, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them”.  When the spikes tore through each quivering palm, He prayed again, “Father, forgive them”.  When the soldiers parted His garments and gambled for the seamless robe, again Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them”.  Only heaven knows how many times that prayer was spoken.  This is our God Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek”.  Jesus continues to pray for us as we learn to trust Him every day.  Amen!

Only Christ Ascended Up to Heaven

 “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, If thou canst tell?”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭30‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “Who is it that travels back and forth from the heavenly realm to the earth? Who controls the wind as it blows and holds it in His fists? Who tucks the rain into the cloak of His clouds? Who stretches out the skyline from one vista to the other? What is His name? And what is the name of His Son? Who can tell me?”  Jesus solved this riddle when He said, “No one has risen into the heavenly realm except the Son of Man Who also exists in heaven.”  Only Jesus Christ is the Master of heavenly knowledge and wisdom.    Paul was revealed this mystery, “And He has generously given each one of us supernatural grace, according to the size of the gift of Christ. This is why He says: “He ascends into the heavenly heights taking His many captured ones with Him, and gifts were given to men.” He “ascended” means that He returned to heaven, after He had first descended from the heights of heaven, even to the lower regions, namely, the earth. The same One Who descended is also the One Who ascended above the heights of heaven, in order to begin the restoration and fulfillment of all things.”  The ‘wind’ means ‘ruach’ Who is the Holy Spirit.  May we know the revelation of the Word as the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us.  Amen!

Honour Jesus by Serving Others in His Name

 “But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke records, “But this is not your calling. You will lead by a different model. The greatest one among you will live as one called to serve others without honor. The greatest honor and authority is reserved for the one who has a servant heart.  In Hebrew culture in the days of Jesus, the firstborn of the household had honour, while the youngest accepted the role of menial service to all the others of the house.  In the Kingdom of God, as Paul tells us, Jesus is the Head of the Body, the Church, Who is the Beginning, the Firstborn  from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.  Jesus has the place of honour in our hearts where we enthrone Him.  He came to serve and having done that through the Cross, He is the only One Who gets the honour.  Jesus was responding, at that time, to the disciples argument of who of them is the greatest.  His response was unexpected for the disciples and for those Christians today who expect honour to their status!  Jesus’s response is the same today as it was then.  Serve others if you expect to be honoured.  Jesus Christ, the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own Blood.  Let’s honour the Lord Jesus, by serving others.  Amen!

Be Quick to Forgive

 “An angry man stirreth up strife, And a furious man aboundeth in transgression. A man's pride shall bring him low: But honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “The source of strife is found in an angry heart, for sin surrounds the life of a furious man. Lift yourself up with pride and you will soon be brought low, but a meek and humble spirit will add to your honor.”  Strife is the work of the flesh when we don’t give importance to our relationships and take offence and harbour grudges.  Pride and ego keep us from either seeking forgiveness or forgiving others.  If we want to live honourably, meekness and humility is key to our behaviour pattern.  When we remember that God made Jesus Who knew no sin, to become sin for us so that we in Christ would become the righteousness of God, we are in awe of the humility of Jesus our Lord.  Grace is the power of God to enable us to release the faith of Jesus Christ to overcome our challenges, instead of taking offence or harbouring grudges.  We who believe in the Lord Jesus know that we are crucified with Christ, nevertheless we live; yet not we but Christ lives in us and the life we live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God Who loves us and gave Himself for us.  Let’s be quick to forgive, quick not to take offence, and to not harbour grudges in our heart.  Thank You Jesus!

Persevering in Our Passion for Christ

 “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭21‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke records, Jesus saying - “And at last, when you see how the Son of Man comes—surrounded with a cloud, with great power and miracles, in the radiance of His splendour, and with great glory and praises—it will make you jump for joy! For the time of your full transformation has arrived.”  Jesus is the Son of God Who became a Man.  It is our privilege to believe even when we can’t see, that the Lord Jesus is always surrounded with the radiance of His splendour, in great glory and praises.  It is our faith as those belonging to Christ, who are redeemed and liberated by the Blood of Jesus, from the shackles of deception, sin and the enemy of our souls to believe in the majesty of our risen Lord.  As we persevere in our passion for the Lord Jesus Christ, we are coming into the total transformation of our body, soul and spirit, when we see Him as He is.  May the God of peace and harmony set us apart, making us completely holy. And may our entire being—spirit, soul, and body—be kept completely flawless in the appearing of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.  Amen!