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!

Kingdom of God People are the Most Blessed

 “He loveth transgression that loveth strife: And he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: And the father of a fool hath no joy. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “If you love to argue, then you must be in love with sin. For the one who loves to boast is only asking for trouble. The one with a perverse heart never has anything good to say, and the chronic liar tumbles into constant trouble. Parents of a numbskull will have many sorrows, for there’s nothing about his lifestyle that will make them proud. A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed struggles with sickness and depression.”  Here, the gate becomes a picture of the mouth, a figure of speech for proud boasting.  People with a negative mindset, have nothing good to say about anything, having a perverse heart that falls into calamity.  Fools will bring sorrow wherever they go for they don’t think, speaking many unthought through things!  But a joyful, cheerful heart knows to rejoice even in the midst of confusion, bringing joy to those who hear such a person, for good words bring healing to the inner being.  Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, is for those Kingdom of God people, who know the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the goodness and blessings of God every day of their lives.  Amen!

All Authority is With Christ & He give Authority to the Church

 “Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke records, “Jesus summoned together His twelve apostles and imparted to them authority over every demon and the power to heal every disease. Then He commissioned them to proclaim God’s Kingdom and to heal the sick to demonstrate that the Kingdom had arrived”.  Jesus, through His earthly life, was the example of His great authority over the spirit world and disease, the consequence of mankind’s sin which was the result of eating the fruit of the tree of good and evil.  This authority was what Jesus gave to all who believe in Him through His resurrection, which God 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 said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  The authority of the Name of Jesus causes every knee to bow in reverence! Everything and everyone will one day submit to this Name—in the heavenly realm, in the earthly realm, and in the demonic realm.  Let the Church know the authority and fulfil the responsibility God gave us.  Amen!

The Wise are Motivated by God’s Love

 “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “Winsome words pour from a heart of wisdom, adding value to all you teach. Nothing is more appealing than speaking beautiful, life-giving words. For they release sweetness to our souls and inner healing to our spirits.”  The heart of the wise comes from a personal relationship and experience with the risen Christ, the God Who is love.  People who do not love do not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.  “Health to the bones” is the inner healing we need.  The Word of God is life to us, therefore when we speak the life-giving Word of God even to ourselves we speak inner healing.  Let every disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, speak the life giving Word of God spoken with a heart of love.  Amen!

Resurrection Life in Christ

 “And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭55‬-‭56‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke records, “Instantly her spirit returned to her body and she stood up. Jesus directed her stunned parents to give her something to eat and ordered them to tell no one what just happened.”  In this chapter, Luke records the four great miracles of Jesus Christ: over nature, for He stilled the wind and the waves; over demons, for He cast out a mob of evil spirits; over disease, for He healed the haemorrhaging woman; and over death, for He restored the life of this twelve year old girl.  At that time Jesus told them not to tell what He had done, for He still had to be sacrificed at the Cross to free all humanity from sin, for which He eventually died for.  The greatest miracle was when Jesus rose from the dead and then gave the resurrection power by His Holy Spirit, to His disciples at Pentecost.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Amen!

Sacrifice of Worship with Righteousness

 “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: But the prayer of the upright is his delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “It is despicable to the Lord when people use the worship of the Almighty as a cloak for their sin, but every prayer of the righteous is pleasing to His heart. The Lord detests the lifestyle of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue purity.”  The sacrifice of the wicked is worshipping God with a wicked heart, only to hide sin.  Our yielded hearts must be the sacrifice we offer to God.  Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world because 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.  Our hearts become yielded when we examine ourselves as we partake of the bread and drink of the cup of communion in the new covenant and sacrifice our heart to Him Who perfects us in purity to manifest Himself to the world through us.  To worship God casually and with distractions is the sacrifice of a wicked heart that the Lord detests.  Let’s be those who reverence Him even when we are chastened by the Lord, so that His mercy and grace enables us to practice righteousness in our daily lives.  Amen!

Worshipping Christ At His Feet

 “and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, “Broken and weeping, she covered His Feet with the tears that fell from her face. She kept crying and drying His Feet with her long hair. Over and over she kissed Jesus’ Feet. Then, as an act of worship, she opened her flask and anointed His Feet with her costly perfume. When Simeon saw what was happening, he thought, “This Man can’t be a true prophet. If He were really a prophet, He would know what kind of sinful woman is touching Him.”  Six times we find someone at Jesus’s Beautiful Feet: the sinful woman here who poured out her worship and tears at Jesus’s Feet; the demonised man who worshipped at Jesus’s Feet; Jairus who fell at Jesus’s Feet pleading for a miracle for his daughter; Mary who sat at Jesus’s Feet and received His Word; the healed leper who fell at Jesus’s Feet in deep gratitude; those who worshipped Jesus at His resurrection when He showed them His Hands and Feet.  Simon the host here thought Jesus should have known the sinfulness of the woman, but Simon should have known the love of the One next to him, Who was ready to forgive and restore.  Religion focuses on the sinfulness of a person, but faith sees the glory of the One Who forgives and heals.  Let’s just believe and receive our miracle from out Lord and Saviour Who heals and forgives.  Amen!

The Royal Law - the Greatest Power

 “He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: But he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “Haven’t you noticed how evil schemers always wander astray? But kindness and truth come to those who make plans to be pure in all their ways.”  The followers of evil don’t understand mercy and faith, but evil speaking harms you and makes you sick.  Love is the royal law in Scripture, to love our neighbour as ourselves, and be kind and truthful to them.  Jesus Himself said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”  In this world where hate and cruelty is rampant, the Body of Christ, the Church, is called to obey Jesus and to walk in the power of love, mercy and kindness.  Without the Holy Spirit, to obey Jesus in this is impossible.  But Jesus has shown through the Cross to show love to others is life changing, transformative and the only power that makes us victorious.  With the Holy Spirit we can obey Jesus and so fulfil the royal law of love and bring many sons to glory.  Let’s show mercy and kindness in giving the glorious Gospel of Christ, it is the only power of God unto salvation.  Hallelujah!

Poor in Pride

 “And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dr. Luke writes, “Having concluded His healing of the multitudes, Jesus lifted up His eyes and spoke to His followers, To be reduced to the most extreme state of poverty, does not define you.  Disaster is not the fruit of fate or karma (performance based religion).  The blessing of knowing that the Kingdom of God belongs to you personally (it is oozing from you), is the essence of your well-being and identity.”  God requires us to be poor in pride and not imagine us to be more than we are, thinking highly of ourselves.  The concept of fate has been predominant in most religions as well as in Greek and Roman cultures and is the driving force of performance based philosophies and religions, relying on self and pride.  Lucifer was an angel closest to the Presence of God, beautiful and a worshipper.  But pride and imagining himself to be like God, led to his fall to become satan.  Since then he has deceived people against God.  Jesus came to set it right by proclaiming that being poor in pride is the way to God’s Kingdom.  The Almighty All-Powerful God humbled Himself to be born as a helpless Babe and then to become the Sacrifice as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world.  Let’s believe in the simplicity of this truth and be poor in pride.  Amen!

Raise Your Children with Godly Values

 “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. Much food is in the tillage of the poor: But there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. He that spareth his rod hateth his son: But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “The benevolent man leaves an inheritance that endures to his children’s children, but the wealth of the wicked is treasured up for the righteous. The lovers of God will live a long life and get to enjoy their wealth, but the ungodly will suddenly perish. If you withhold correction and punishment from your children, you demonstrate a lack of true love. So prove your love and be prompt to punish them.”  Many of us have taken for granted the legacy that came to us from our parents and grandparents with a sense of entitlement but it comes from God.  Those who don’t find the way of life destroy many years of wealth and some are utterly destroyed.  Corporal punishment was common when parents disciplined their children with love in their hearts wanting their best to learn godly values and clean living.  Unfortunately today the system looks for excuses like mental health issues to excuse parents from their responsibility so that children grow up to be irresponsible in society.  When it is a genuinely medical issue, the medical world is there to help, but in general children grow up to be indisciplined with a huge sense of entitlement which is a terrible combination.  If we love our children, discipline is necessary.  Amen!

Jesus Christ Alone Awakens the Mind

 “And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Luke recorded, “Jesus overheard their complaining and said, “Who goes to the doctor for a cure? Those who are well or those who are sick? I have not come to call the ‘righteous,’ but to call those who know they are sinners and bring them to repentance.”  Sickness is a form of evil in God’s eyes.  Jesus came to heal the “evil” or sicknesses of earth.  He didn’t come to re-define the self-righteous but those who realise they couldn’t get it right by themselves.  Jesus came to awaken ‘sinners’ to recognise their identity through Him with a complete change of mind.  Sin is to live out of context with God’s image and likeness in mankind, to behave out of tune with God.  It is only through the Lord Jesus Christ we can have an awakening of the mind and a realignment of one’s reasoning.  That’s why the preaching of the Gospel is so vital, that people realise it’s not self-righteousness (trading our deeds to please God) that transforms people but just allowing God’s Word to cleanse and transform us.  Amen!

The Life-Giving Word of Encouragement

 “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: But the slothful shall be under tribute. Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: But a good word maketh it glad.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “If you want to reign in life, don’t sit on your hands. Instead, work hard at doing what’s right, for the slacker will end up working to make someone else succeed. Anxious fear brings depression, but a life-giving word of encouragement can do wonders to restore joy to the heart.”  Proverbs not only means a wise saying but it means “to rule, to reign in power, to take dominion”.  The one who reigns must stop worrying and think instead of what brings gladness.  Our focus must never be on what we can’t change but on the everlasting joy we have in Christ.  Sometimes we have to find the  life-giving Word of encouragement rising up in our own hearts.  This is the secret of finding perpetual encouragement by the Word that lives in us.  The Word that our Lord Jesus Christ speaks to us is Spirit and Life.  Let’s abide in the Word and the Word dwell in us.  Amen!

The In-Christ Anointing

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Luke recorded, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, and He has anointed Me to be hope for the poor, healing for the brokenhearted, and new eyes for the blind, and to preach to prisoners, ‘You are set free!’ I have come to share the message of Jubilee, for the time of God’s great acceptance has begun.”  This is what Isaiah had prophesied of the Messiah hundreds of years ago.  The Anointed Christ is the Good News or the Gospel.  For those who have identified with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection and are in Christ, this same anointing is the true measure of our lives.  It is not our mental or muscle efforts that produces results, it is only the anointing.  This in-Christ anointing is the glad tidings of the Year of Jubilee of opening the blind eyes to change the perspective and look upwards and see Christ; to bring freedom to those in trauma and hurts through deliverance, shutting that door with forgiveness and remission of sins; and knowing that we are accepted in the Beloved.  This in-Christ Anointing breaks every yoke of bondage and we release it to a needy world.  Amen!

Wisdom for the Humble to Succeed

 “A false balance is abomination to the LORD: But a just weight is his delight. When pride cometh, then cometh shame: But with the lowly is wisdom.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “Dishonest business practice is something that Yahweh truly hates. But it pleases Him when we apply the right standards of measurement. When you act with presumption, convinced that you’re right, don’t be surprised if you fall flat on your face! But humility leads to wisdom.”  A false balance is deception when we try to measure up to God with our own works and performance.  But the Perfect Stone is Jesus Christ Who is the legitimate weight of balance.  He has been promised to “the one whose heart is open, let him listen carefully to what the Spirit is presently saying to all the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will let him feast on the hidden manna and give him a shining White Stone. And written upon the White Stone is inscribed his new name, known only to the one who receives it.”  Jesus is the shining White and Perfect Stone given to the humble who are willing to receive from the Spirit of God the wisdom that comes from the Mind of Christ which is in direct opposition to the mindset of self-effort.  But the proud who are presumptuous, and think they know everything, can’t get the Mind of Christ and the wisdom that comes with it, and they come a cropper.   Amen!

Get Rid of Sin Forever through Christ

 “And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Dr. Luke recorded, “John went preaching and baptizing throughout the Jordan Valley. He persuaded people to turn away from their sins and turn to God for the freedom of forgiveness,”  the definition of repentance has two concepts.  One is turning away from sin, the other is turning to God for freedom.  They are linked together as one word translated “repentance” and the concept is  returning to God to unite with Unity.  This message was revolutionary in that day for the religion instituted that forgiveness was temporary found by offering sacrifices in the temple.  Here, John was declaring that repentance was a heart issue, not gained by an animal sacrifice offered in the corrupt religious system.  Repentance, breaking open the heart, is more important than gaining forgiveness by religious acts.  Jesus started His preaching with, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  Unless we recognise that sin separates us from God and that Jesus’s Blood sacrifice is our only hope and the judgment He took on our behalf, we will be under God’s judgment, forever separated from Him and eternal Life of God will not be our portion.  Amen!

The Blessing of the LORD is Christ in Us

 “The lips of the righteous feed many: But fools die for want of wisdom. The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, And he addeth no sorrow with it.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭10‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above says, “The lovers of God feed many with their teachings, but the foolish ones starve themselves for lack of an understanding heart. True enrichment comes from the blessing of the Lord, with rest and contentment in knowing that it all comes from Him.”  We are righteous by the Blood of Jesus and it is the Word of Life and Living Bread to the hungry.  Only the foolish reject it!  The blessing of salvation is only in Jesus and in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.  This true blessing of the LORD, is our true enrichment and there is no labour or sorrow attached to it.  All that is required is our free-will choice to have faith in the judgment that Jesus received on the Cross on each of our behalf, Who became sin for us so that we might be the righteousness of God in Him.  All the money in the world cannot buy our salvation, it is only the Blood of Jesus that redeemed us. It is the finished work of the Cross that is our true and eternal riches without any sorrow - just have the faith to believe this.  Amen!

Jesus - Mankind’s Peace

 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Luke wrote, “Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven! For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.”  God’s greatest delight is mankind.  He loved us first even when we were at our worst.  Jesus exhibits God’s happy delight to be human.  For God is satisfied to have all His fullness dwelling in Christ.  Luke’s Gospel is the Gospel of peace.  The four prominent sacrifices in the old covenant are emphasised in the four Gospels.  In Matthew we see the death of Christ in the figure of the trespass offering; in Mark the sin offering; in Luke the peace offering; and in John the burnt offering.  The peace God gives us is emphasised in Luke’s Gospel, which is why the angel’s announced peace and hope.  On the day of His resurrection Jesus said, “Peace to you.”  Jesus exhibits God’s happy delight to be human as He gives peace to us.  This peace is only for those who believe that Jesus died to forgive humanity’s sins, bless by taking all their curses and heal every sickness reconciling us to our holy Father as His children.  Amen!