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!

The Church Releases the Victory of the Cross

 “As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; So is a wicked ruler over the poor people. The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: But he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “Ruthless rulers can only be compared to raging lions and roaming bears. Abusive leaders fail to employ wisdom, but leaders who despise corruption will enjoy a long and full life.”  David, before he killed Goliath, went after the lion and the bear and dealt soundly with them!  These beasts represented demonic forces of evil over the land   Daniel also mentions ruthless world leaders as lions and bears.  “Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. “And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.”  Abusive leaders devour like a hungry lion and unjust leaders will trample like a bear.  But thank God that He has given the Church to release the victory of the Cross, this exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.  Amen!

David’s Son & David’s Lord

 “And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭43‬-‭44‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke records, ““Haven’t you read in the Psalms where David himself wrote: The Lord Yahweh said to My Lord, ‘Sit near Me in the place of authority until I subdue all Your enemies under Your feet!’ ” Jesus explained, “If David calls this One ‘my Lord,’ how can He be his son?””  In Hebrew translation, David wrote “Yahweh said to my Adonai” which paraphrased reads “The LORD God said to my protecting Lord Messiah”.  Jesus is quoting from David’s psalm and He was yet to make all God’s enemies become a footstool under His Feet, by dying on the Cross and rising again the third day.  Jesus was challenging the people to know that the Christ is both God and Man, David’s Son and David’s Lord.  Jesus as the Son of Man, made a public spectacle of all the powers and principalities of darkness, stripping away from them every weapon and all their spiritual authority and power to accuse mankind.  And by the Power of the Cross, Jesus led them around as prisoners in a procession of triumph. He was not their prisoner; they were His!  This is the exceeding greatness of God’s power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be Head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all.  Jesus is the Son of Man and the Son of God, David’s Son and David’s Lord.  Hallelujah!

The Word of God our Only Opinion

 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬

Wisdom from above says, “You can trust a friend who wounds you with his honesty, but your enemy’s pretended flattery comes from insincerity. When your soul is full, you turn down even the sweetest honey. But when your soul is starving, every bitter thing becomes sweet.”  Wounds by a loved one are long lasting, effective and faithful.  Whereas flatterers are hollow, even when they kiss you - you never know where you stand with them and it’s dangerous to take their words and kisses to heart.  When we are full of many things and many opinions, the sweet Word of God, like revelation honey, is spurned.  Instead, we eat and fill our souls with things that can never satisfy.  For our spiritual growth and maturity, we all need to be corrected by the Word of God as it is God speaking to us. Remember, when our human parents disciplined us, we respected them. If that was true, shouldn't we respect and live under the correction of the Father of all spirits even more? Our earthly fathers trained us for a few brief years, doing the best for us that they knew how, but God's correction is always right and for our best good, that we may share His holiness.  Let’s make the Word of God our only opinion and speak it forth to others as well as to ourselves.  Amen!

Be the Temple of God and Reveal Christ in You

 “And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭45‬-‭46‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, “Jesus entered the temple area and forcibly threw out all the merchants from their stalls. He rebuked them, saying, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Father’s house is to be filled with prayer—a house of prayer, not a cave of bandits!’ ”  The Gospel of the Lord Jesus can never be traded for money.  Freely we have received and freely we give.  The only time when Jesus used force was when people mixed the goodness of God with money.  It was prophesied, Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the Lord.  “And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”  Our personal relationship with Almighty God can never be misused.  Through the defeat of sin and death, our Lord Jesus has sent His mighty Holy Spirit to make us the temple of God.  As the apostle told, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”  Let’s walk in the consciousness that the Holy Spirit dwells in us to show Jesus to the world around us, let’s reveal Jesus through us.  Amen!

Christ is our Wisdom

 “As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour is not seemly for a fool.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭26‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “It is totally out of place to promote and honor a fool, just like it’s out of place to have snow in the summer and rain at harvest time.”  Both snow and rain are good in their proper season but harmful in the wrong season.  So is it harmful for a fool if you affirm him and honour him prematurely.  The Scripture has defined fools as, ‘The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”’  Only the withering soul would say to himself, “There’s no God for me!” Anyone who thinks like that is corrupt and callous; depraved and detestable, they are devoid of what is good. In today’s world such people are honoured, but according to the Word the one who fooled first was the father of lies and since then has been fooling people that there is no God.  Such people have tried to fool others. These people have gone out into the world. They don't agree that Jesus Christ came in a human body. People like this try to trick others. These people are like the great enemy of Christ. Eventually, the devil who fooled all of them will be thrown into the lake of fire and burning sulfur. He will be there with the beast and the false prophet, and they will be in pain day and night forever and ever.  Let’s live in the faith that overcomes, which is our victory - the victory that Jesus won for us at the Cross.  Let’s live to honour God in Christ because Christ has become to us the wisdom of God.  Amen! 

How Much More the Blood of Christ

 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.are I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, The religious leader stood apart from the others and prayed, ‘How I thank You, O God, that I’m not wicked like everyone else. They’re cheaters, swindlers, and crooks—like that tax collector over there. God, You know that I never cheat or commit adultery; I fast from food twice a week and I give You a tenth of all I earn.’  The tax collector stood alone in a corner, away from the Holy Place, and covered his face in his hands, feeling that he was unworthy even to look up to God. Beating his breast, he sobbed with brokenness and tears saying, ‘God, please, in Your mercy and because of the blood sacrifice, forgive me, for I am nothing but the most miserable of all sinners!’  The LORD God Almighty hates self righteousness, the pride that makes you feel superior to others - it was the same pride that led to Lucifer’s fall to become satan.  The tax collector’s humility in prayer led to him scourging his breast in genuine repentance, as he said to God, “Look at me as you look at the blood-sprinkled mercy seat.”  Today, how much more shall the Blood of Christ, Who  through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  Let’s cast aside self-righteousness and come before God in genuine sorrow, looking at the Blood Sacrifice of the Lamb of God that takes away our sin, and receive grace at heaven’s Mercy Seat.  Amen!

Anointed by the Anointed One

 “Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift Is like clouds and wind without rain.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭25‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “Clouds that carry no water and a wind that brings no refreshing rain — that’s what you’re like when you boast of a gift that you don’t have.”  The symbols of clouds, wind and rain are significant.  Clouds are often a metaphor for the people of God filled with glory. The writer of Hebrews says, “As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds”.  Wind is an emblem of the Holy Spirit bringing new life, as John explains, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  Rain often points to teaching the revelation-truths that refresh and water the seeds of spiritual growth.  That’s how Isaiah tells, ““For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”  God’s anointed people are to be clouds carried by the wind of the Holy Spirit that bring refreshing truths to His people.  When we are empty and false, we are clouds without rain.  As Peter puts it, “These people are dried-up riverbeds, waterless clouds pushed along by stormy winds—the deepest darkness of gloom has been prepared for them.”  Let’s be God’s anointed people instead, those who have the Anointed One dwelling in us, like clouds carried by the wind of the Holy Spirit that bring revelation truths to refresh others.  Amen!

The Kingdom of gos is Within Us

 “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, Jesus was once asked by the Jewish religious leaders, “When will God’s Kingdom come?” Jesus responded, “God’s Kingdom does not come simply by obeying principles or waiting for signs. The Kingdom is not discovered in one place or another, for God’s Kingdom realm is already expanding within some of you.” The Pharisees thought that by every Jew perfectly observing the law and keeping people under their leadership, the Kingdom of God will come as Israel will overthrow the Roman conqueror and the Messiah will be in power.  Many Christians feel like that today that by keeping the Ten Commandments perfectly, we are entering into God’s Kingdom.  But what does Jesus say? That the Kingdom of God is within us.  In the New Covenant, the Kingdom of God is the Person of Jesus Christ, within us, by faith.  When people see Jesus in us, and the power of His love, they desire Him.  All self righteousness, our performance works, indeed our self-centredness and self-consciousness disappear, as we are only conscious of Christ within us. And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, Who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Let many people hear this Gospel and invite the Lord Jesus Christ to dwell within them and the Kingdom of God increase.  Hallelujah!

It’s Better to be Wise than to be Strong

 “Through wisdom is an house builded; And by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled With all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬

Wisdom from above says, “Wise people are builders — they build families, businesses, communities. And through intelligence and insight their enterprises are established and endure. Because of their skilled leadership, the hearts of people are filled with the treasures of wisdom and the pleasures of spiritual wealth. Wisdom can make anyone into a mighty warrior, and revelation-knowledge increases strength.” A house is built by wisdom and it is more than a structure with roof and a floor - it is a metaphor for families, churches, businesses and enterprises.  This wisdom from above in our inner chambers gives us righteous wealth.  This wisdom makes anyone a hero because it is better to be wise than to be strong.  For it is not from man that we draw our life but from God as we are being joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. And now He is our God-given wisdom, our virtue, our holiness, and our redemption.  If anyone boasts, let him only boast in all that the Lord has done!  Amen!

One Way, One Truth, One Life, One Judgment

 “And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭16‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, “What if they’re not listening?’ the rich man added. ‘If someone from the dead were to go and warn them, they would surely repent.’ “Abraham said to him, ‘If they wouldn’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither would they be convinced if someone were raised from the dead!’  The rich man had lived totally depending on money and worldly power, never thinking about death, judgment and the after life.  When he asked Abraham to tell his family members about the tormented place he was in, Abraham said that they never listened to Moses or the prophets and neither will they listen to someone who rose from the dead.  Jesus is that “someone” Who rose from the grave, yet many still will not listen and believe.  The world and money power is such a deception to the people.  Religions and philosophies that are tolerant of sin will also deceive.  Jesus said, “I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  Let’s proclaim this truth that there is only one life, after that is the judgment, and there is no other way to eternal life except through Jesus Christ.  Choose life in Christ.  Amen!

Trample over All the Power of the Enemy

 “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it giveth his colour in the cup, When it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “And don’t be drunk with wine but be known as one who enjoys the company of the lovers of God, for drunkenness brings the sting of a serpent, like the fangs of a viper spreading poison into your soul.”  Meditate on righteousness as one who is passionate about God rather than getting into an addiction.  The Hebrew for “horned serpent” or “dragon” is basilisk which root word means “little king”.  This is the poison of demonic power that can cause addictions and rule over the soul like a  “little king”.  But for those who have chosen to believe in Jesus Christ and to follow Him wholeheartedly, He says, “Now you understand that I have imparted to you My authority to trample over satan’s kingdom. You will trample upon every demon before you and overcome every power Satan possesses. Absolutely nothing will harm you as you walk in this authority.”  Great is the power Jesus has given the Church to be His authority on earth in the Kingdom of God.  Amen!

Our Great Shepherd

 “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, “There once was a shepherd with a hundred lambs, but one of his lambs wandered away and was lost. So the shepherd left the ninety-nine lambs out in the open field and searched in the wilderness for that one lost lamb. He didn’t stop until he finally found it. With exuberant joy, he raised it up, placed it on his shoulders, and carried it back with cheerful delight!”  There is this theory going around that shepherds take the errant lamb and break its leg to ensure that it doesn’t run away again.  This is so not what Jesus does as here in the parable Jesus tells that the shepherd finds the lamb and raises it up and places it on his shoulders and brings it back, rejoicing.  As Jesus said, “I Am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd  gives His Life for the sheep.”  Let’s thank our Father God. Now may the God of peace Who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the everlasting covenant, make us complete in every good work to do His will, working in us what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Our Relationship with the Resurrected Christ is Most Important

 “Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: He that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬

Wisdom from above says, “Twisted and perverse lives are surrounded by demonic influence. If you value your soul, stay far away from them. Dedicate your children to God and point them in the way that they should go, and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.”  Thorns and snares are a metaphor of demonic curses and troubles.  Thorns are associated with the fall of Adam.  Jesus wore a crown of thorns and took away our curse.  The snares picture the temptations of evil that satan places in our path.  It is important to train up our children on the values of the Word of God from the time they’re born, declaring the Word of God over them.  As soon as they can, let’s help them to memorise the Word of God.  Educational institutions of today can snare children into believing in and adopting ungodly values, which are in rebellion against our Living God.  The relationship that believers have with the resurrected Christ can never be substituted by artificial intelligence apps!  Let’s teach our children to believe in Jesus Christ and come into a relationship with Him at an early age.  That’s how we train up our children.  Amen!

Seasoning Life With Salt

 “Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭KJV‬ 

Dr. Luke writes, “Salt is good for seasoning. But if salt were to lose its flavor, how could it ever be restored? It will never be useful again, not even fit for the soil or the manure pile! If you have ears opened by the Spirit, then hear the meaning of what I have said and apply it to yourselves.”  The salt that has lost its flavour is foolish and the salt that keeps its flavour is wise.  Rabbinical tradition equates salt with wisdom.  In the time of Jesus, it was common practice to put salt on the wick of the lamp to increase its brightness.  The “salt” of wisdom will make our light shine even brighter.  Jesus talks of us as the salt of the earth and also calls us the light of the world.  Let’s use the wisdom of God to be the bright lights in this dark world, getting darker by the day. But the truth of the brightness of the light shining in and through us who believe in Christ, will cancel every darkness.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never overcome it.  Let’s be wise in shining brighter with the light of Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Appointed All Believers As Kings & Priests

“The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, As the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV

Wisdom from above says, “It’s as easy for God to steer a king’s heart for His purposes as it is for Him to direct the course of a stream.”  God is the source of Wisdom.  In the old covenant this wisdom was applicable for kings and priests chosen by God.  However, in the new covenant all believers in Christ’s finished work of the Cross, are made kings and priest by the Blood of the Lamb.  The apostle Peter reminds us that we are God’s chosen treasure —priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called us out of darkness to experience His marvelous light, and now He claims we as His very own. He did this so that we would broadcast His glorious wonders throughout the world!  Even John the beloved disciple reveals to us “You have chosen us to serve our God and formed us into a Kingdom  of priests who reign on the earth.”  “From Jesus Christ the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn from among the dead and the ruling King, Who rules over the kings of the earth! Now to the One Who constantly loves us and has loosed us from our sins by His Own Blood, and to the One Who has appointed us as a Kingdom of priests to serve His God and Father—to Him be glory and dominion throughout the eternity of eternities! Amen!”

Christ’s Kingdom Come

 “It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭13‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, “God’s kingdom is like the smallest seed that one might plant in a garden. When it grows, it becomes a huge tree, with so many spreading branches that various birds make nests there.”  The LORD had spoken through the prophet Ezekiel “I will plant it on the highest mountain in Israel, where it will put out branches and bear fruit and grow into a stately cedar tree. Every kind of bird will find a home in it. Yes, in the shade of its branches the birds will make their nests.”  The obvious meaning of this parable is that the Kingdom of God will begin small but it will expand, grow and mature.  People from every nation will come and make a “neat” in God’s Kingdom realm.  This is what the Church is here for, to impact the earth in the way of the Lord Jesus Christ so that it keeps expanding and increasing.  It is our responsibility and every believer is called to turn many to righteousness and bring many people to the Kingdom of God and fulfil Jesus’ taught prayer, “For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen!

Nothing But the Blood of Jesus

 “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “Which one of us can truly say, “I am free from sin in my life, for my heart is clean and pure”?”  The Hebrew for “clean” also means “perfect” or “holy”; and “pure” means “clear, bright, shining, unmixed.” Through God’s grace, by the Blood of Jesus, believers have been purified, made holy, and set free from our sins. In the old covenant, they had to sacrifice every time they sinned, but thank God that in the new covenant, by His one perfect sacrifice He made us perfectly holy and complete for all time! Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of redemption by His Blood—the total cancellation of our sins—all because of the cascading riches of His grace. This superabundant grace is already powerfully working in us, releasing all forms of wisdom and practical understanding.  This grace of the redemption by Christ’s Blood sacrifice is only available in this lifetime, after that is the judgment for all who have rejected God’s love of their own free will.  Let’s believe in God’s love that was revealed to us in Christ.  Thank You Jesus!

Let’s Not Be Hypocrites

 “In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, “By now a crowd of many thousands had gathered around Jesus. So many people pushed to be near him, they began to trample one another. Jesus turned to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. It permeates everything they do and teach, like leaven. Everything hidden and covered up will soon be exposed. For the facade is falling down, and nothing will be kept secret for long. Whatever you have spoken in private will be public knowledge, and what you have whispered secretly behind closed doors will be broadcast far and wide for all to hear.”  Not only is He the God Who created all that is seen and unseen, and the precision design of the entire universe, but He also knows every thought, every attitude, every behaviour of every human being, past, present and future.  No one can fake it, or do a presentation of public relations with God.  The hypocrites know how to present fantastic appearances without the substance, as the Pharisees did.  The culture that we live in today seems to be all about a PR exercise!  We all are accountable to God with Whom we have to do.  Jesus bore the judgment of all humanity and took the punishment of the wrath of God, willingly, suffering an ignominious death.  If we don’t accept God’s forgiveness through Christ, and reject Him, or even if we say yes to Him along with anything or anybody else, it is unacceptable to God - it is Christ and Christ alone.  Let’s not be hypocrites.  Amen!

Integrity of Faith

 “Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. The foolishness of man perverteth his way: And his heart fretteth against the LORD.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “It’s better to be honest, even if it leads to poverty, than to live as a dishonest fool. The best way to live is with revelation-knowledge, for without it, you’ll grow impatient and run right into error. There are some people who ruin their own lives and then blame it all on God.”  In this love of money-conscious world that we live in, dishonesty is the name of the game.  Impatience to get rich quick leads to stupid mistakes and gets you into trouble whereas patience leads to abundant understanding.  Such people refuse to believe the Gospel and the true riches that come by it.  Jesus said this about integrity, “If you have not handled the riches of this world with integrity, why should you be trusted with the eternal treasures of the spiritual world?”  There was one Simon the magician who wanted to buy salvation and the power of God, but Peter responded, “May your money be condemned to hell along with you because you believed you could buy God’s gift with money!”   No one can trade Jesus’s Blood Sacrifice with money for it is faith in Christ that keeps us from eternal damnation.  There is such never-ending agony and torment in the fires of hell and Jesus alone has the keys of death and hell.  Believe in Christ Jesus so that you and your family are saved.  Amen!

God’s Word is Light & Life to Us

 “The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, “The eyes of your spirit allow revelation-light to enter into your being. When your heart is open the light floods in. But when your heart is hard and closed, the light cannot penetrate and darkness takes its place. Open your heart and consider my words. Watch out that you do not mistake your opinions for revelation-light!”  The teachings of Jesus are the “revelation light” referred to here.  It is your eye that is the lamp of your body.  If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is sick, your body is full of darkness.  The eye becomes a metaphor for spiritual perception.  The body is our spirit, the lamp is Jesus’s teachings.  The darkness is formed by the lies and opinions that blind us.  As the psalmist said, “Your commandments are my counselors; your Word is my light and delight!”  So we have the prophetic Word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.  Let’s know the power of the Word of God that brings God’s Light and Life into us.  Amen!

The Name of Jesus - Our Strong Tower

 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “The character of God is a tower of strength, for the lovers of God delight to run into his heart and be exalted on high.”  As the prophets of old have continuously encouraged God’s people to trust in the Eternal One forever, for He is like a great Rock-strong, stable, trustworthy, and lasting.  YAHWEH will always guide you where to go and what to do. He will fill you with refreshment even when you are in a dry, difficult place. He will continually restore strength to you, so you will flourish like a well-watered garden and like an ever-flowing, trustworthy spring of blessing.  The epitome of trust is our Lord Jesus Who is faithful and absolutely trustworthy and He is calling you to Himself for your salvation, and He will do it He will fulfill His call by making you holy, guarding you, watching over you, and protecting you as His own, because He washed you with His own Blood and made you righteous.  There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, only the Name of Jesus Who Alone makes you righteous.  That’s why the righteous run into Him and are safe.  Amen!

God Given Authority

 “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, “Jesus replied, “While you were ministering, I watched Satan topple until he fell suddenly from heaven like lightning to the ground. Now you understand that I have imparted to you My authority to trample over his kingdom. You will trample upon every demon before you and overcome every power satan possesses. Absolutely nothing will harm you as you walk in this authority. However, your real source of joy isn’t merely that these spirits submit to your authority, but that your names are written in the journals of heaven and that you belong to God’s Kingdom. This is the true source of your authority.”  When God created mankind, He said, “Let Us make a man and a woman in Our image to be like Us.  Let them reign over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the livestock, over the creatures that creep along the ground, and over the wild animals.”  When Adam lost it to satan through deception, Jesus took it back as the Son of Man representing mankind.  The Cross of Calvary is where satan received his final defeat and Jesus gives this authority to all His disciples, not only as God but as the Son of Man, the Firstfruit of all born again disciples. God rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the Kingdom of the Son of His love.  Let’s know the authority God has given us and obey Him.  Amen!