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

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

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬, ‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

Proclaim the Victory of the Word

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

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭129‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬

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

Jesus Came for the Whole World

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

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

The Joy of Obedience to God

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

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭128‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

By Faith, Christ’s Power Works Through Us

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

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭36‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

Children Are A Blessing

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

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭127‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

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

Kingdom of God Mysteries

 “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Matthew wrote Jesus’s words, “He explained, “You’ve been given the intimate experience of insight into the hidden mysteries of the realm of heaven’s kingdom, but they have not.”  The mysteries of the Kingdom of God are spiritual insights into the nature and ways of God.  Jesus Christ can only be understood by the spirit and not by the intellect of man.  Jesus taught His disciples through parables to move them beyond intellectual abilities and engage the spirit.  If the listener had a hunger to learn with an open, teachable heart, then Jesus’s words brought life and understanding.  Let’s be those who push aside our opinions and traditions to glean the deepest meaning of all that Jesus did or taught.  Someone living on an entirely human level rejects the revelations of God’s Spirit, for they make no sense to him. He can’t understand the revelations of the Spirit because they are only discovered by the illumination of the Spirit.  God’s great mystery is Christ and only the Holy Spirit gives us access to all the riches of God as we experience the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Sowing to Reap a Harvest

 “Turn again our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the south. They that sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭126‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬

Traditionally this psalm is attributed to Ezra.  “Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again. Those who sow their tears as seeds will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee. They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing!”  As God had spoken through earlier prophets, the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity and Jerusalem was rebuilt as was the temple.  Sowing with tears their seed with what little they have is a picture of sacrificial giving for the joy of the harvest to come.  We are living in dark times but God has chosen us to sow the seed of the Word of God, for the harvest of souls that is happening even now around the world.  What can we give to the Giver of all good things, except for bringing souls to salvation.  The Lord has promised that He will return and He is not late!  But rather, His “delay” simply reveals His loving patience toward us, because He does not want any to perish but all to come to repentance.  So our responsibility is to win souls for Christ with a fervour and to arise, shine; for our light has come! The glory of the Lord is risen upon us.  Amen!

Mercy & Compassion through Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ

 “But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “But I say to you, there is One here Who is even greater than the temple. If only you could learn the meaning of the words ‘I want compassion more than a sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t be condemning My innocent disciples. For the Son of Man exercises His Lordship over the Sabbath.”  Jesus stunned His hearers when He said He’s greater than the temple; that God wants mercy not sacrifices; and that He the Messiah is the Lord of the Sabbath.  Many times the Church, which is the Body of Christ, makes their denomination, their property, their events and management of their affairs, etc. greater than the Lord Jesus Christ, quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit.  Let’s repent of this.  The prophet had said that Yahweh desires mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.  Compassion and mercy comes in our heart when we release the love of God, knowing the horrors of the wrath of God in judgment.  In Jesus’s own words, “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”  That’s why with mercy we preach the Gospel for it is the power of God to salvation.  Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and as Creator and Son of Man, has the authority to define, interpret, and govern the day of rest, prioritizing mercy and human need over rigid legalistic restrictions. Let’s believe in Who Jesus Christ is. Let’s rejoice that our names are in the Book of Life.  Amen!

The New Covenant Gift of Righteousness

 “For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; Lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. Do good, O LORD, Unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭125‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬. 

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.    “The wicked will not always rule over the godly, provoking them to do what is evil. God, let your goodness be given away to your good people, to all your righteous ones!”  In the new covenant, the righteous are those whose sins have been forgiven by the Blood sacrifice of Jesus.  For God made Jesus His Son, Who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Indeed, without the shedding of Christ’s Blood there is no forgiveness of sins and therefore no righteousness.  We need the protection from evil and it comes only through the Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  For if by the one man’s (Adam’s) offence death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Experiencing Personally the Passion of the Cross of Christ

 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded it, “From the moment John stepped onto the scene until now, the realm of heaven’s kingdom is bursting forth, and passionate people have taken hold of its power.”  John the Baptist knew the prophecies of the coming Messiah and he thought that it was particularly for the Jews.  As Micah, who was a contemporary of Isaiah, had prophesied, “I will regather the tribes of Jacob. Yes, I will regather the remnant of Israel. I will bring you together like sheep in a fold, like a flock within their pasture, a noisy, excited multitude. The Barrier-Breaker will lead them out into freedom. They will all break out, passing through the enemy’s gates. Their King will advance before their eyes with Yahweh Himself leading the way!”  But here as Jesus spoke with John the Baptist, He is referring to the Kingdom of God which included the non-Jews or gentiles.  Those who have a living encounter with the resurrected Christ, through the finished work of the Cross, and know first-hand the forgiveness of sins, will, with passionate forcefulness, enter the Kingdom of God.  May we know the power of the Cross as we enjoy the Presence of God in us and with us.  Amen!

God is For Us Who Believe in Christ’s Resurrection

 “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, When their wrath was kindled against us: Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭124‬:‭2‬-‭3‬, ‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is one of David’s psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple. “What if God had not been there for us? Our enemies, in their violent anger, would have swallowed us up alive! For the same God Who made everything, our Creator and our mighty maker, He Himself is our Helper and Defender!”  The children of Israel cried out to God for His help every time they faced the enemy and God heard their cry and rescued them.  But now, after the victory of the Cross and Christ’s resurrection, the mighty God has promised He will never leave nor forsake us, and has come to dwell in us by His Holy Spirit.  He is our Helper.  If God is for us, who can be against us? He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God Who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also makes intercession for us. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  Let’s believe God’s promise to us.  Amen!

Trust God for Everything

“nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Matthew recorded what Jesus taught, “Travel light, and don’t even pack an extra change of clothes in your backpack. Trust God for everything, because the one who works for Him deserves to be provided for.”  The reason Jesus told His disciples to leave their things behind is that they already had what was most important.  Our “money” or wealth is in the Kingdom of God.  Our “clothing” is the garment of righteousness we wear in Christ.  Our “backpack” points to our past experiences, which we tend to carry as weights on our backs.  We leave our past behind since it no longer exists in Christ.  Our “shoes” become a picture of the good news we walk in as we experience His continual peace.  Our “staff” is a symbol of authority, and we take no other authority but Christ’s.  We can leave it all behind since we take it all with us in Christ.  Jesus said, “All authority of the universe has been given to Me.  Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I Am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”  Christ’s authority to all His disciples remains the same today.  Amen!

Jesus Christ is Our Sufficiency

 “Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, And with the contempt of the proud.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭123‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.       “For we’ve had more than our fill of this scoffing and scorn— this mistreatment by the wealthy elite. Lord, show us your mercy! Lord, show us your grace!”  How thankful we are that we have come to Jesus, Who arranged the new covenant, and to the sprinkled Blood that promises much better things than does the blood of Abel.  So we are well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when we are weak then we are strong, truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength.  Unfortunately the system of the world deems it essential that the focus is success through the love of money.  The Kingdom of God is the exact opposite, for when we’re weak, then we’re strong in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Because of the new covenant, in our weakness, the strength of our God is perfected.  This is a matter of scoffing and scorn to the worldly elite but those of us who have experienced the grace of God, we look to the resurrected Christ and Him alone for all that we need.  Christ is our sufficiency!  “He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”  Amen!

Enjoying the Newness of Life

 “Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬

Matthew records Jesus’s teaching, “And who would pour fresh, new wine into an old wineskin? Eventually the wine will ferment and make the wineskin burst, losing everything—the wine is spilled and the wineskin ruined. Instead, new wine is always poured into a new wineskin so that both are preserved.”  Here Jesus taught of the new wine and the new cloth, that we cannot patch the old religious system with the new; nor contain old worn-out traditions in new wine skins.  The new that Jesus taught is exhilarating and powerful and must be poured into a heart made new.  The new and the old are not meant to be together.  Jesus makes all things new to form a twice-born company of people, and not to reform the old ways.  “Jesus said, “..unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”  These were new things Jesus taught, and they can't be reconciled with old habits.  Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away and new things have come.  Let’s break away from doing things in the old ways and let’s be led by the Holy Spirit, for He helps us to live in newness of life, enjoying every moment to the fullest!  Amen!

Gladly Praying for Jerusalem’s Peace

 “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭122‬:‭1‬, ‭6‬, ‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this song for the people to sing for the feasts.  It was sung when the worshipers entered the gates of the city Jerusalem.  “I was overjoyed when they said, “Let’s go up to the house of the Lord.” Pray and seek for Jerusalem’s peace, for all who love her will prosper! I intercede for the sake of my family and friends who dwell there, that they may all live in peace. For the sake of Your house, Yahweh our God, I will seek the welfare and prosperity of Jerusalem.”  This is the city where God’s Presence was and man worshipped.  When God’s glory departed from Jerusalem, the city was destroyed and rebuilt when Jesus, the Son of God came to earth.  After Jesus, the modern city of Jerusalem came about in the twentieth century, in preparation of the second coming of Jesus to rule over the earth from here for a thousand years.  All believers whose sins have been forgiven through the finished work of the Cross, await Christ’s second coming and we continuously pray for the peace of Jerusalem and seek the good of the city.  Amen!

The Lord Jesus is Head Over All Things to the Church

 “And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8‬:‭32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Matthew recorded this phenomenal miracle.  “Jesus commanded, “Then go!” And at once the demons came out of the men and went into the pigs. Then the entire herd of crazed pigs stampeded down the steep slope and fell into the water and drowned.”  If Jesus answered the demons’ prayer request, how much more will He answer the prayers of those who are heirs of salvation!  This astonishing miracle demonstrates Jesus’s authority and power.  The One Who can deliver two men from demonic power can also deliver a city.  Sadly, the people of the town didn’t ask Jesus to remain with them to know more of our awesome God.  May we know today what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.  Let’s walk in the authority Christ has given to us, the Church.  Amen!

God Chooses to Protect those Who Trust Him

 “The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in From this time forth, and even for evermore.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭121‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.    “He will keep you from every form of evil or calamity as He continuously watches over you. You will be guarded by God Himself. You will be safe when you leave your home, and safely you will return. He will protect you now, and He’ll protect you forevermore!”  David, in other psalms also said, You, God, are my shield, the protector of everyone whose heart is right.  The many blessings that are on those who are God’s people, who believe in the powerful work of the Cross, experience His protection from every form of judgment.  This is God’s unfailing love for us, that through the Blood of Jesus, He speaks forth His powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in my sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God.”  The wrath of God is on those who have chosen rebellion against God and the finished work of the Cross of the Son of God.  God chooses to protect those who put their trust in Him and sends angels who are spirit-messengers sent by God to serve the heirs of salvation.  Hallelujah!

The Word of God is Our Authority

 “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew wrote, “You’re being hypercritical and a hypocrite! First acknowledge and deal with your own ‘blind spots,’ and then you’ll be capable of dealing with the ‘blind spot’ of your friend. “Who would hang earrings on a dog’s ear or throw pearls in front of wild pigs? They’ll only trample them under their feet and then turn around and tear you to pieces!”  Jesus is clearly teaching that our blind spots  prevent us from accurately evaluating the needs of others.  The value of wisdom is not appreciated by those who have no ears to hear it, just like dogs being given consecrated meat.  Pearls of wisdom are not to be regarded lightly or shared with those whose hearts are closed, it’s like being thrown at wild pigs.  Spiritual truths are heard by the beautiful ears who value it like pearls.  The value of wisdom is for those who have ears to hear it.  Jesus spoke with such power and authority, like thunderbolts hitting their hearts that the people were dazed - no one had spoken like this before!  May we receive God’s Word daily as He speaks to us when we meditate on His Word.  The Word of God is powerful and quick as it was when Jesus spoke it and now when we meditate on it today. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever.  Amen!

God Hears Our Prayers Because of Jesus

 “In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me. Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, And from a deceitful tongue.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭120‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is the first of fifteen psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple. “I was desperate for you to help me in my struggles, and you did! So come and deliver me now from this treachery and false accusation.”  We may be assured that God hears every distress and desperate cry made to Him.  The only time He didn’t was when at about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  There were so many lying lips and deceitful tongues that accused Him and even betrayed Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.  Jesus took the place of all humanity so that each of us would be reconciled to God and be heard personally by Him and He would answer us.  God hears all those who believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus on our behalf.  For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself a ransom for all who believe.  Thank You, Jesus!

God’s Word Brings Light

 “But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭23‬-‭24 KJV

As Matthew recorded, “But if your eyes are focused on money, the light cannot penetrate and darkness takes its place. How profound will be the darkness within you if the light of truth cannot enter! “How could you worship two gods at the same time? You will have to hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t worship the true God while enslaved to the god of money!”  The entrance of God’s Word into our hearts brings revelation light.  So if our eye has been made healthy by the Word of God, the whole body will become full of light.  The love of money is darkness.  The Word is truth and the darkness is lies.  The world is full of darkness and if you do not fast from the world, you will never discover the Kingdom of God.  The Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of Light. May we be made strong with all the strength which comes from God’s glorious power, so that we may be able to endure everything with patience. May we with joy give thanks to the Father, Who has made us fit to have our share of what God has reserved for His people in the Kingdom of Light.  Amen!

God’s Word brings Life and Preservation

 “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; And quicken thou me in thy way. Stablish thy word Unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Turn away my reproach which I fear: For thy judgments are good.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The acrostic poetic style of this psalm is unique to David.  “Help me turn my eyes away from illusions so that I pursue only that which is true; drench my soul with life as I walk in your paths. Reassure me of your promises, for I am your beloved, your servant who bows before you. Defend me from the criticism I face for keeping your beautiful words.”  The Lord not only gives life through His word but He preserves our life according to His word.  Jesus said that the words that He speaks to us are spirit and life. Because He loves us personally and deeply, His word is His promise to us to reassure us.  When we choose to keep His word, He protects us from every criticism and accusation.  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Let the word of God be foundational in our thought life, in our speech, in our deeds and in our intercession.  Amen!

The True Way to Enjoy Life

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV

As Matthew recorded the Beatitudes, ““What happiness comes to you when you feel your spiritual poverty! For yours is the realm of heaven’s kingdom. “What delight comes to you when you wait upon the Lord! For you will find what you long for. “What blessing comes to you when gentleness lives in you! For you will inherit the earth.”  Jesus gives the superior way to live than the law of the Ten Commandments, by giving the promises of power to fulfil all that He asks for.  Jesus gives us the capacity to enjoy union and communion with God as we do what He says in full surrender.  The poor in spirit have only one remedy and that is trusting and totally relying on God - this is the doorway to His Kingdom.  To be totally dependent upon God for everything means we possess nothing and our delight is complete surrender to Him.  When we mourn, we wait upon the Lord and receive comfort from Him.  Our meekness is the contentment that nothing is ours but everything we receive with gratitude is from Him.  This is how we are enriched with happiness and blessings.  This is the true way to live a blessed and enjoyable life.  Amen!

Thank God for Our Helper - the Holy Spirit

 “I called upon the LORD in distress: The LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me? It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭118‬:‭5‬-‭6‬, ‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David, tradition says, wrote this psalm, “Out of my deep anguish and pain I prayed, and God, You helped me as a Father. You came to my rescue and broke open the way into a beautiful and broad place. Now I know, Lord, that You are for me, and I will never fear what man can do to me. Lord, it is so much better to trust in You to save me than to put my confidence in someone else. Yes, it is so much better to trust in the Lord to save me than to put my confidence in celebrities.”  This was likely sung by Jesus after the Passover supper with His disciples, before making His way to Gethsemane and Calvary.  No human intelligence or even artificial intelligence can help mankind as the Holy Spirit, our Helper, given to us who believe in the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and whose sins are forgiven by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  The Lord is our Helper, we will not fear, what can man do to us.  Amen!

Jesus Christ - the Living Bread

 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Matthew records that when Jesus was tempted by the devil, He responded with the Word, He answered, “The Scriptures say: Bread alone will not satisfy, but true life is found in every word that constantly goes forth from God’s mouth.”  The Son of Man will not live by bread alone.  Jesus quoted from Moses’ law.  God had not given permission to turn stones to bread, and Jesus would not be pushed into prematurely demonstrating His power.  He was content with the timing of His Father.  He refused to turn stones into bread to feed Himself, but He multiplied bread for His hungry followers.  Today He is still turning hearts of stone into living bread that will feed the nations with truth.  Jesus said, “I alone am this living Bread that has come to you from heaven. Eat this Bread and you will live forever. The living Bread I give you is My body, which I will offer as a sacrifice so that all may live.”  Let’s not live to eat but partake of the  living Bread so that we may forever live with Him.  Amen!

Shout Out Praises to Our Lord Jesus

 “O praise the LORD, All ye nations: Praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: And the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭117‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This psalm was sung in the temple worship and is the shortest psalm and chapter in the whole Bible, in fact it is exactly in the middle of it! “Let everyone everywhere shine with praise to Yahweh! Let it all out! Go ahead and praise Him! For He has conquered us with His great love, and His kindness has melted our hearts. His faithfulness lasts forever, and He will never fail you. So go ahead, let it all out! Praise Yah! O Yah!”  The base word for praise here is “shine”.  The Name Yah is not an abbreviation of Yahweh but is the Name of God as He displays His power.  We are called, as people of God, to remember God’s loving kindness, mercy and faithfulness personally to us and with inspiration from the Holy Spirit praise Him.  The Cross is how Jesus has conquered us with His love and we are not satisfied with polite praise.  Indeed we want to shout it all out.  Hallelujah!

The Lamb of God Presented for Sacrifice

 “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “Jesus replied, “It is only right to do all that God requires.” Then John baptized Jesus.”  Jesus would have been about thirty years old which was the age when Leviticus priests were ordained to serve.  This was Jesus’s ordination as the High Priest over the household of faith.  John being the real high priest of that time now dedicates to God the Temple of Jesus’s Body and was ordaining his replacement. Jesus was not repenting, but offering Himself as God’s sinless Lamb.  This was the presentation of the Lamb of God as the sacrifice for sins.  It was important that John publicly wash the Lamb of God and fulfill the requirements of the law, proving to Israel that the Lamb that was soon to be offered was spotless and without blemish.  There are four baptisms in this chapter: 1) John baptising with water, 2) Father God baptising Jesus with the power of heaven, 3) Jesus will baptise believers with the same Holy Spirit, 4) the baptism of fire.  The Lord Jesus has fulfilled every righteousness for us to be face to face in His glory, as the Lamb of God.  Amen!

Humbly Worshipping our Gracious Lord Jesus Christ

 “Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yea, our God is merciful. The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; For the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭116‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This psalm is traditionally attributed to king David, “He was so kind, so gracious to me. Because of His passion toward me, He made everything right and He restored me. So I’ve learned from my experience that God protects the vulnerable. For I was broken and brought low, but He answered me and came to my rescue! Now I can say to myself and to all, “Relax and rest, be confident and serene, for the Lord rewards fully those who simply trust in Him.”  David’s experience was of a loving and merciful God Who was kind and gracious to him.  Because of God’s passion for him, David humbly worshipped God with psalms and songs.  Christ’s finished work on the Cross enables us to experience God’s love personally for us.  Paul advised us who are in Christ that our hearts overflow with a joyful song to the Lord; to keep speaking to each other with words of Scripture, singing the Psalms with praises and spontaneous songs given by the Spirit.   God wants to let the word of Christ live in us richly, flooding us with all wisdom. Let’s apply the Scriptures as we teach and instruct one another with the Psalms, and with festive praises, and with prophetic songs given to us spontaneously by the Spirit, and let’s sing to God with all our hearts. Let this be our experience of our gracious God.  Amen!

Jesus - the Victorious Branch of Nazareth

 “and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew testified of the Messiah, confirming the prophecies of old.  “So He settled His family in the village of Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy that He would be known as the “Branch.””  The prophecy of Jeremiah among others, ““Listen to me! I, the Lord, promise you that a time is coming when I will raise up a righteous Branch, who will sprout from David’s lineage. He will rule as their King, and his reign will prosper with wisdom and understanding. He will succeed in bringing justice and righteousness to all.”  The Branch of the Lord is symbolic of being from the Tree of Life, and the seven branches of the Lampstand, Jesus is the Scion, Heir of a powerful family, the Victorious One, a Branch that can be transplanted and grafted into a human life.  Jesus was raised in the village of the Branch (Nazareth).  Jesus is called the “Victorious Branch of Nazareth”.   Jesus is also the Vine, calling us His branches.  Those who are in Christ, connected to Him, are the fruitful branches of the Vine.  Amen!

We Praise & Bless our God

 “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: But the earth hath he given to the children of men. The dead praise not the LORD, Neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD From this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭115‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This psalm sung at Passover is attributed to Moses traditionally sung after the Passover meal.  “The heavens belong to our God; they are his alone, but He has given us the earth and put us in charge. Dead people cannot praise the Lord, but we can! Those who sink to the silence of the grave can no longer give glory to God, but we can! So let’s praise the Lord and let it go on forever. Hallelujah, and praise the Lord!”  As noted by Mark in his Gospel, that on the night that Jesus was betrayed, He and His disciples, “they sang a psalm and afterwards left for the Mount of Olives.”  All mankind is in bondage to sin, but Jesus left the heaven of heavens to release us from this slavery to sin, death and hell and restore to us the dominion of putting us in charge.  Salvation is only through Jesus Christ.  All those who believe in Jesus Christ receive eternal Life, and have passed from death to Life in Christ.  That’s why we praise Him.  The dead whose sins have not been removed, cannot praise Christ.  We who are redeemed, praise and bless the Lord.  Amen!

Yeshua - Our Salvation

 “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Matthew, a disciple of Jesus Christ, wrote this book, which begins the New Testament. “This is the scroll of the genealogy of Jesus, the Anointed One, the son of David and descendant of Abraham.”  The Son of God is  eternal and has no beginning Who chose to come in the flesh and limit Himself to the earthly lifespan.  This entire book of Matthew presents the beginning of the glorious story of Jesus, God’s Anointed One.  The genealogy here presents the legal claim of Jesus to be King through the lineage of David from Joseph all the way back to the promises given to Abraham.  The Hebrew name for Jesus is Yeshua and means “Yahweh is Salvation” - Jesus being the Greek translation of Yeshua.  As the prophet had said, “Salvation comes from the LORD”.  There is no one else who has the power to save us, for there is only One Name to Whom God has given authority by which we must experience salvation: the Name of Jesus.  Amen!