Shun Any Bitterness

How can we overcome bitterness, resentment, repulsiveness toward our brothers in Jesus Christ the Lord? The first and foremost significant step is always to take heed to the words of Jesus Christ the Lord which are the supreme and ultimate authority on humanity. He is the begotten Son of Immortal God the Creator. In Him, evermore abundant, full, and overflowing are grace, mercy, life, and truth. Jesus Christ is the way. No one can come to the Father God except through the Son Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

What our Lord Jesus Christ tells is the mystery of life. For example, Jesus Christ says, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3 NASB) This is always the starting point by seriously taking the word of Jesus Christ. And then we would not fall into the sin of being self-righteous, judgmental, and hateful upon our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.

Whatever the reasons that may be, judging brothers is sin. Why? Simply because we are not God, but His creatures yet the beloved children. Trusting in Jesus Christ and His word and being strengthened by it, we can flee any bitterness and anger, even what we think it is right.

God is just and compassionate forever! All the vengeance is God’s. No one can judge justly and compassionately except God and the Son Jesus Christ. “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19 NASB)

Jesus Christ is the great example as Apostle Peter said. “… and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.” (1 Peter 2:23 NASB) Jesus Christ is the only Person, the Lamb of God, who is able to open the book and its seals.

“I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals." And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." (Revelation 5:1-10 NASB)

God Initiates All Our Prayers

Prayer is initiated by God, not by us. Many may think that we initiate prayer for God to work. No, it’s just exactly opposite. God draws us first to pray and we respond to His drawing and begin to pray. It is true from the beginning. It is shown in Genesis Chapter 3. God initiated the first conversation with the fallen Adam and Eve by making the visitation to them. This is called the prayer of Adam and Eve, just talking with God honestly. Adam and Even hid themselves from God. But God initiated the conversation and led them to pray. What our God wants us to pray is to say the same thing what He said with Him. That’s real prayer, talking to God honestly and openly.

Prophet Daniel started prayer for his people to return to the holy land based on what he learned from the prophecy of Jeremiah (Daniel 9:1-3). The prophecy was for the people of Israel that they would return to their own land after the seventy years of captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:1-14). God must have moved the heart of Daniel when he read the scriptures regarding the return of his people. Then Daniel began to pray to God that He would answer what He had promised through the Prophet Jeremiah. Daniel’s prayer is recorded in the Book of Daniel Chapter 9. More than that, when Daniel prayed God revealed the remarkable revelation of seventy weeks in which God would do beyond the return of his people till the coming the Messiah for the first time and the Day of the Lord, the second coming.

Patriarch Abraham was told that God would destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. God’s judgment plan caught Abraham’s attention to start praying for his nephew Lot. Abraham was so touched by the Lord’s revelation that he earnestly pleaded to save the cities if God found ten righteous people. Why did he stop at ten? Well, he was drawn by the Spirit of God to stop praying at ten. This is a remarkable account after the conversation between the Lord and Abraham. It says, “As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the Lord departed, and Abraham returned to his place.” (Genesis 18:33 NASB) Wasn’t it that Abraham spoke to God, pleading for mercy? No, the Scripture said that God was speaking to Abraham. That’s true prayer. We listen what God is saying to us, not telling Him what he needs to do.

Our Lord Jesus Christ lived such a prayerful life all the time. He said so, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19 NASB) Jesus Christ was always listening to the Father through prayer and obeyed what the Father wanted Him to do. When some Greeks wished to see Jesus at the feast in Jerusalem, Jesus Christ said the remarkable words, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (John 12:23 NASB) Our Lord Jesus Christ was always in prayer though which He communicated with the Father in spirit. By this, He knew exactly when He must have died.

Is it not encouraging by the fact that God draws us to pray in order to fulfill His promises? Some believers must pray for God to start His promised works to be done. One prayer which has yet unanswered we are drawn to pray is “Your kingdom come, your will be done as it is in heaven!” We are called and privileged to pray for that. Won’t you be thankful and join in that prayer which many saints and believers have been praying for centuries over centuries? God initiates all our prayers and will answer them all in due time. 

Will Be Given More Abundantly

Summer has gone and winter comes. Snow over snow! Temperature is below zero. Who has made all these? Why winter comes after summer consistently? Who commands snow to fall? Why do the leaves of trees fall? Who commands the water in tree to be gathered in the roots?  We know that there is a God who runs the universe according his pleasure and will (Genesis 1:1, John 1:3). Under the freezing temperatures, all the grass and plants and trees will be like as barren and dry as dead. But we know for sure that spring will come and overcome the powerful barrenness and dryness of winter. Grass will turn to green and plants and trees will be viable and alive again.

Nature says a tremendous truth in life. Have you ever seen that nature disobeys the invisible command of God? Have you ever seen that summer is sluggishly stretching throughout the winter time? Have you ever seen that winter is stubbornly refusing spring to come? Never and ever! Nature obeys just exactly as it is told. It is a great reminder for human beings to be warned again and again that there is the law of life, the law of universe, even the law of God which cannot be breakable and changeable.

However, human beings are so foolish and stubborn by and large that we do not respond to the law of life like nature does. We blindly and ignorantly and largely intentionally reject the marvelous revelations of truth and reality in which nature demonstrates every day. Apostle John is absolutely right on that. “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19 NKJV) Prophet Isaiah cried out regarding his peoples’ stubborn stupidity.

“Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!

For the Lord has spoken:

“I reared children and brought them up,

but they have rebelled against me.

The ox knows its master,

the donkey its owner’s manger,

but Israel does not know,

my people do not understand.”

Woe to the sinful nation,

a people whose guilt is great,

a brood of evildoers,

children given to corruption!

They have forsaken the Lord;

they have spurned the Holy One of Israel

and turned their backs on him. Isaiah 1:2-4 NIV

The Lord Jesus Christ rebuked the unfaithful peoples on the face of the earth. “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” (Matthew 17:17 NIV) Nevertheless, our God is stretching out His hands all day long to reach out the fallen race. “But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” (Romans 10:21 NIV)

But our God is merciful and compassionate. So, whosoever returns to Him, changing his mind and heart to accept the truth of God will never fail to receive His unfathomable grace that from within rivers of living water will flow abundantly (John 7:38). ““Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24 NIV)

That kind of God we have and believe. Jesus Christ the Lord revealed the marvelous truth regarding the eternal riches of God. “Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” (Matthew 13:12 NIV) Our God is forever giving, yes the giver of everything. Did you know who commands one of the essential organs in your body, heart, to beat every second nonstop throughout your lifetime? Our God is pouring out truth after truth both in nature and scriptures.

But only those who take heed to the Lord Jesus Christ and His words will be given more and more. Such a people will never be in want even though they might go through the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4). This is the law of life and the mystery of life. There is no other way to have life in Jesus Christ apart from God. As Hebrews tells us, let us not forget this great admonition. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)

Heavenly Greetings:

“They wrote this letter by them:

The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,

To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment—it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

Farewell. Acts 15:23-29 NKJV

This thoughtful and timely letter was huge and monumental in the history of Christianity. Apostle Paul and Barnabas made the special trip to Jerusalem to settle down the controversial and yet critical matter on the Judaic rituals especially whether the Gentile believers should be circumcised or not in order to be saved. I really wish that I could have been in that historic council meeting among the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.

Just imagine that the Twelve Apostles, James (brother of Jesus), Apostle Paul and Barnabas, and the elders gathered together to discuss the significant issues in the first century. How fascinating and remarkable it was! Most of all, there was the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ in their midst as the head of the church (Matthew 18:20). Jesus Christ the Lord was the leading the meeting.

Apostle Peter rose up and spoke in the Spirit that there was no distinction between the Jews and Gentiles in Jesus Christ and then all the multitude kept silent (Acts 15:6-12). They also listened to Barnabas and Paul how many miracles and wonders God manifested through them among the Gentiles (Acts 15:13). Finally, the chairman of the Jerusalem Council James, brother of Jesus, stood up and concluded that they should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who were turning to God, but that they wrote to them to abstain from things polluted from idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled, and from blood (Acts 15:6-21). Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church and sent the letter to the church in Antioch (Acts 15:22).

What a unity in the church! No one was left alone in disagreement or bitterness even though it dealt with so heavy and weighty topic of the days. Each rose up and spoke as the Spirit quietly led in spirit and all the multitude kept silent, totally agreeing to the inner voice of the Spirit. What a beautiful picture in the church gathering which all the churches in our day ought to be as well. They were on in mind, heart, spirit, and body.

What would be the response of the church in Antioch? Obviously, nothing but rejoicing, is it not? “So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.” (Acts 15:30-31 NKJV)

In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ is still in our midst, working for making harmony and unity and peace if we trust in Him. Amen. Apostle Paul admonishes all the churches, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:1-6 NKJV)

The Sheep and the Goats

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. Matthew 25:31-46 NIV

In the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25 a parable of the sheep and the goats is recorded. Surprisingly enough, the both groups of sheep and goats bewildered at the Lord’s final pronouncement in the King’s Court. To the righteous (the sheep), the King said, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." To the unrighteous (the goats), the King said, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."

What does it mean to do for one of the least of these? Well, it means whatever we do in our ordinary routine lives. It could be saying a kind word to a child who looks grumpy, yielding a way to a naughty driver on the streets, visiting someone who is in a nursing home, giving a hand to someone who is in need, talking to a friend who needs a buddy, writing a letter to friends and families, making a phone call to ask what is going on in their lives, praying patiently, or many others. One remarkably common thing among them is that they are all deeds.

Apostle John bluntly said, “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.” (1 John 13-19 NKJV)

There is a remarkable story recorded in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 16 which pertinently illustrates who is the least of these brothers and sisters in the Lord (Luke 16:19-31). The Lord Jesus Christ didn’t explain why the rich man was in torment in Hades and Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham. In that story, Lazarus was a beggar sitting at the rich man’s gate and wishing to be fed. Was he not the least of the brothers for the rich man? Is it not for our Lord Jesus Christ saying to the rich man, “I have given you the plenty of opportunity to feed the least of the brothers, but you have neglected all of them?”

What a sobering revelation for all of us! How many times do you and I pass the opportunities to do a little thing for the needy and poor? God delights those who cheerfully give to others (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). We have received freely, so we shall give freely (Matthew 10:8).

This parable was given by the Lord Jesus Christ to teach us how He will judge the nations. He will not judge the peoples of the nations based on what we performed religiously but on how we lived, especially how we responded to the God-given opportunities in our midst. Do we give our bodies as living sacrifices with gratitude and overflowing thankfulness? (Romans 12:1)

This we shall do diligently in season and out of season because as Prophet Isaiah cried out. “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.” (Isaiah 40:6-7 NIV) The Day of the Lord will come suddenly and stealthily (2 Peter 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Revelation 16:15).

Apostle Paul admonished the saints in Rome to be awake because the day was near. “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Romans 13:11-14 NIV) How much more nearer and closer to the Day of the Lord we are?

The Jehovah God of Covenant

“Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. The Lord provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before. But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria. 2 Kings 13:4-6 NKJV

Does God answer the prayers of non-believers? Yes, He does. There were no godly kings in the northern kingdom of Israel, not even a single one. All of them had committed the abominable evils in the eyes of the Lord and never turned away from the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat. Nevertheless, the Lord God was generous and gracious unto them, listened to their cries and petitions, and provided a deliverer from the hands of enemies.

Here is another account. “Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.” (2 Kings 13:22-23 NKJV) When the enemy oppressed Israel, an unbelieving state, God was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them.

Why was God so gracious and compassionate on them who rebelled against Him? Because God made the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, although they didn’t deserve at all of His concern and compassion. Likewise, our God is gracious and compassionate that He is willing to offer a fountain of living water springing up to eternal life to anyone who comes by the faith in Jesus Christ the Lord (John 4:13-14).

Therefore, remember the God of grace and compassion and return to Him and be thankful always that we have an eternal deliverer, Jesus Christ the Lord. Our God is the God of justice and compassion and of the second chance. “The Lord had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was suffering; there was no one to help them. And since the Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.” (2 Kings 14:26-27 NKJV)

No one under the sun is out of hope of receiving the mercy and grace and compassion of God. Jesus Christ the Lord invites all who are weary and burdened to have the perfect rest and peace of God (Matthew 11:28). Jesus Christ also invites all who thirsts to come and drink and promised that out of his heart will flow rivers of living water (John 7:37-39). Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life (John 6:35). The Scripture says that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4) That Word is Jesus Christ the Lord. We eat Him and drink His blood through the words of truth which strengthen and enlighten us (John 6:53-59). Now is the age of His grace. 

The Real Battle

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17 NKJV

Christianity is not a picnic but battle. All Christians are called to fight as the soldiers of Christ Jesus. A hymn starts like “Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war…” The fight is fierce and intense because the enemy is Satan the devil who is holding the world with the dark power and fearsomeness of deception and confusion. To fight the battle effectively, the first and foremost thing for the soldiers of Christ is to know who the enemy is. It is of no use if a boxer hits the air not the opponent, even if his punch is heavy like an iron hammer.

Who is our real enemy? Apostle Paul said, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Flesh and blood indicate people. Our fight is not against other people who could be co-workers at work, families, church members, or anyone in the world. We tend to think that all problems lie on others, so we quickly jump into conclusion and blame others all the time. Although it is so easy for us to blame everything on others, humans are not the real problems, let alone the cause.

The devil is described as morning star, son of the morning who determined to lift up himself like the Most High God (Isaiah 14:12-21, Ezekiel 28:1-11). In the Book of Job, God spelled out how secure in concealment and disguise and how self-sufficient and impenetrable the devil is (Job 40:15-41:34). The devil was made by God as the highest and strongest angelic being but he revolted and rebelled against the Most High. As a consequence, he has fallen down from heaven. Yet, still he is like a roaring lion looking for someone y to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Our Lord Jesus Christ confirmed that he is the prince of the world (John 14:30). Jesus Christ recognized the fact that He is sending out His disciples like lambs among wolves (Matthew 10:16, Luke 10:3).

All humans are victims, yes the victims of the devil who is the murderer and the father of lie (John 8:44). The devil disguised himself as the serpent [shining one] and deceived the woman and then the man also ate it (Genesis 3:1-6). So, all men and women born of Adam inherit the fallen nature by birth. In other words, the evil resides within the humans. That is how God sees us as the victims. That is why God doesn’t destroy humans all at once, not even the extreme manifestation of evil like Hitler. God could wipe out everything, especially the fallen humans, and recreate a whole new universe physically.

But God didn’t do it and won’t. Instead, God condemned the devil through His begotten Son Jesus Christ (John 16:11). God made Him sin on the cross in Calvary (2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 8:3). Our God should have punished humans, but forsook His begotten Son Jesus Christ the Lord in the place of all humans on the face of the earth. That’s the way God restores you and me through the price of the Lamb of God. God condemned the devil and at the same time rescued us from the bondage of darkness and fear and death.

The death of our Lord Jesus Christ is the substitutionary death upon us. When He died we died with Him. When He was buried we were buried with Him. Likewise, when He was raised from the dead we were raised with Him and seated together in the heavenly places (Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:3-6, Ephesians 2:6). The center of Christianity is the cross of Jesus Christ the Lord, because it is the place where our old self died and we are put on the new life of God.

Therefore, the battle has already been won by the Lord Jesus Christ. We shall never forget the fact that the battle is not ours but the Lord’s (2 Chronicles 20:15). So, we fix our eyes on the supreme command in chief and take orders and obey Him. That’s the real battle. "Be strong in the Lord!"

The Test of Faith

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father. John 8:31-38 NKJV

How significant it is for Christians to believe the word of God! And how easy it is not to believe it! Believing is not knowledge but obedience to the truth. For example, do we truly live on the promise of Jesus Christ that we are set free by the truth? If we truly believe the promise, we shall live just like men who are set free. In effect, we get to experience true freedom in the midst of daily lives under the full court pressure. That’s what it means to believe in the words of God. That’s the test of our faith whether we are strengthened by the words of truth at the time of being pressured.

What Jesus Christ gives us is perfect and complete freedom without any compromise. The freedom Jesus Christ gives is freedom from fear, despair, and guilt, because He presented Himself as the Lamb of God on the cross in Calvary. Jesus Christ the Lord paid the full price to liberate us who believe in Him from the hands of the devil. We were crucified with Christ Jesus and baptized with Him in order to be raised again from the dead with Him (Galatians 2:20). God made His begotten Son sin in our place (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus Christ is stronger than the devil, so that He can set free His captives from the bondage of sin and death (Mark 3:27, Luke 4:18). Since we were raised up together with Christ Jesus the Lord, we were made sit together in the heavenly places in Him (Ephesians 2:6).

There is no more condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ the Lord because God made us righteous for the blood of the Son (Romans 8:1, John 8:11). There is no more despair in any situations, because we are given the infallible hope that there are many rooms in the Father’s house (John 14:1). There is no more fear in our lives because the Lord Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the creation, is with us now and even till the end of age (Matthew 28:20).  What a good news it is! Jesus Christ is the good news of great joy in our midst now and forevermore.

No matter what the world may say, that’s what we are. We are liberated and set free to live for God and Jesus Christ. True freedom is not what we can do whatever we wanted to do but what we can be whatever we wanted to be. Is it not what we desperately wanted to be? If we truly believe the word of God, cheerfully obeying Him, then we may have the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:7).

Do you truly believe that God said is true and real in the scriptures? There are many Christians who believe God in their heads but not in their hearts. The people like the Pharisees who were extremely religious and pious stubbornly rejected to believe in the words of God and Jesus Christ the Lord. Christianity is not to know and keep all the regulations and doctrines but to know and believe in God the Father who sent the Son Jesus Christ in order to liberate us from the spell of darkness. Most of all, we believe and live everyday on the fact that we were set free since we received Jesus Christ as Lord. That’s the good news!

Verily Verily

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. John 5:24-27 NKJV

Jesus Christ the Lord asked the question to the invalid for thirty eight years, “Do you want to get well?” Then Jesus Christ commanded him, “Rise, take your mat, and walk!” The Lord Jesus Christ found a man who was ill for almost four decades and set him free from his illness. For this, our Lord Jesus Christ came down to the earth from heaven above. He is the firstborn of all creation, meaning not that he was the first creature but that he is the owner of all creation (Colossians 1:15).

“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He 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.” (Colossians 1:16-18 NKJV)

The Lord Jesus Christ asked a question to the invalid, “Do you want to get well?” Why did He ask him? Is it not obvious for him to be get well? Not necessarily. He might have not really wanted to be healed at all. He might have wanted to remain as he had been without any change. He might have feared to be healed and thus to live without dependence. He might have thought that it would be better that way.

There are so many church-goers week after week and year after year, but without a hint of change. They sing hymns, offer offerings, pray with heads bow down, and listen to sermons, but inside no change at all. They think and behave just like any worldly people do. They do not grow but always want to be fed by elementary teachings (Hebrews 5:12-6:3).

Therefore, we shall pay our careful attention to the Lord Jesus Christ when He asked, “Do you want to get well?” When we take heed to His words, our spirit is awakened and strengthened to obey His words by faith. When this man paid attention to the Lord Jesus Christ, he was stirred up and believed that he could rise and walk just as the Son of Man said.

In fact, when he paid heed to the living words of Jesus Christ, he actually took his mat and walked although it was the first time to hear the Son of Man. It demonstrates the act of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The faith in the words of Jesus Christ made him get well instantly. Faith is quality like a mustard seed. The power can be released only by the act of faith without any delay.

That’s what our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.” It is the time to hear His word and believe the Father God who sent the Son and have eternal life. What a good news it is!

The Son Jesus Christ has power to give eternal life right now. He is the author and owner of the resurrection life because He was the firstborn from the dead. Apostle John said, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12 NKJV) Jesus Christ is the key to life. Do you take heed to His word now? Do I?

No Two Masters

“No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money.” Matthew 6:24 NKJV

Amazingly and remarkably, we humans have just two choices lie ahead of us all the time, although it seems many out there. What does it mean? We have to choose either Jesus Christ or the world. We have to choose either to accept the Lord Jesus Christ or to refuse and deny Him. Many people are deceived that they can stand in the middle ground, choosing both God and the world.

Why is it not possible to choose both? It’s because there is only One Master. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. On Day 6, God created man and woman in His image and His likeness (Genesis 1:26). Man is the creature of God, not as the slave but as the friend of Him. Apostle Paul said that we are God’s temple in Jesus Christ. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV)

Since we are purchased and possessed by the blood of Christ Jesus, we are not our own and thus no longer live ours but Christ’s life (Galatians 2:20). Those who are in Jesus Christ the Lord can have what He has and are what He is. “Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” (1 Corinthians 3:21-23 NKJV)

Therefore, every person is either in Jesus Christ the Lord or not. Apostle John said, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12 NKJV) Whether people are religious or moral, if they do not have the Son Jesus Christ, then they are not in the family of God but of the devil. Jesus Christ is the key to life. Those religious Pharisees in our Lord’s earthly days refused and rejected the Son of God from the deep inside. Jesus Christ the Lord called them the children of the devil (John 8:44) They revealed themselves as the children of the devil by trying to kill Him with the stones. Here is the account of argument between Jesus Christ and the Jews.

“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8:37-59 NKJV)

The choice is significant, life or death. What is your choice? Where are you standing now, in Him or out? “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36 NKJV)

Destination Sickness

How can we be fully satisfied? People are suffering from destination sickness. What is destination sickness? It is discontent and dissatisfaction no matter how hard we try to live up to meet the challenges of lives. What is the cause? Why are humans so unrest and discontent despite of relentless tries generations after generations? Why do so many people commit suicide? It is out of deep-seated nature in human beings. We humans are threefold beings, having body, soul, and spirit. Since the fall of human race by Adam, humans lost access to the realm of spirit. The human spirit is where the Holy Spirit of God resides. We were dead in sins and transgressions (Ephesians 2:1). So, no matter how hard we try to be satisfied physically and mentally, there is no true satisfaction until we access to the spirit where we can meet the Lord God who is all.

The apt symbol for this was beautifully illustrated by the Tabernacle built in the wilderness by Moses. It has three parts, having outer courts, holy place and the holy of holies. The holy of holies remained inaccessible except the Day of Atonement by the high priest once a year and not without blood. The holy of holies is the apt symbol for human spirit. So, the worshipers who brought the offerings to God could only access the outer courts and only touched and cleansed outside only. That is why people are restless and agitated. It is so commonplace regard of class, race, rich or poor, blue or white, young or old, educated or illiterate. All humans cannot escape from the terrible and brutal fact of restlessness and uneasiness.

What a tragedy! Here comes the good news of Jesus Christ the Lord who entered into the holy of holies by means of death, shedding blood on the cross in Calvary. When the Lord Christ Jesus gave up His life unto the Father in our place, the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Mark 15:38). That curtain stood invincibly until Jesus Christ the High Priest entered into the holy of holies through death with blood. Now anyone who put complete trust in the work of Christ Jesus the Lord can enter into the holy of holies. Now the forbidden access to our human spirit has loosed by the death of the Son of Man. It is possible for us to enter into the holy of holies for the death of Christ Jesus was the substitutionary death in our place.

"For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" (Galatians 2:19-21 NKJV) God poured His righteous wrath upon the begotten Son of Man in the Calvary. “He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV)

It is impossible for us to enter into the holy of holies without death with blood. So, the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord stands forever. Whosoever wants to enter into the holy of holies and drink the Spirit out of rivers of living water must first die by relating himself to the Lord Jesus Christ who died and rose again from the dead in our place. That is the very reason our Lord Jesus Christ told his disciples, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 34-35 NKJV)

The good news of Jesus Christ has now been delivered to all people on earth. It is not something for us in the future or in heaven after this life. That is one of the most distorted and twisted misunderstandings among the believers’ circle. The good news of our Lord Jesus Christ is available now for anyone who believes in Him. Jesus Christ is with us in our places where we are living or working just as He was with the disciples during the earthly ministry. He indwells within us by means of the Spirit. Hebrews assures that the Holy Spirit whom God sent will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). That is the most powerful assurance and promise for all the believers in Jesus Christ the Lord. Jesus Christ promised to His disciples with the words of truth, “Lo, I am with you, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

No matter where we are and what kind of circumstances we face, Jesus Christ is in us and with us for sure. So, we do not lose heart by any reason. Since He has risen and seated at the right hand of God, we are no longer hungry or thirsty for trying to access the throne of God. It is instantly available by faith as our Lord Jesus Christ invites us to come and drink the Spirit of power out of rivers of living water. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38 NKJV) The sanctuary we run for is within our human spirit, the holy of holies, where Jesus Christ lives forever by means of the Spirit. Therefore, we’re living His life, the most exciting and powerful life, much more powerful than the hydrogen bomb. It is eternal life.

“Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him. For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:3-11 NKJV)

True Freedom, Saying “NO” to Evil

“And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2:16-17 NIV

All human beings have power to choose either good or evil. It’s called human dignity. God never defiles or taints the freedom of choice. God never forces anyone to choose good or evil. But the power to choose good is available only to the believers in Christ Jesus. No power to choose good is offered to the pagans who are in complete darkness no matter how smart, intellectual, educated they are.

But that’s not the end of story. There is a way-out made by Christ Jesus through the death with blood that whosoever believes in Him whom God sent shall have life (John 3:16). The moment anyone received Christ Jesus the Lord, the power to choose good is available.

In order to choose good in Christ Jesus, we must first say “no” to evil and say “yes” to good. Many a young Christian struggle at this because they don’t understand why they have troubles and sufferings after the conversion experience in Jesus Christ. Many think that it would be an easy ride as long as they attend church services and some group gatherings for bible study or fellowship.

Sufferings and tribulations are essential experience for all Christians, not necessarily because they commit sins but because they are beloved by the Father in heaven. Apostle Paul said that we ought to glory sufferings (Romans 5:3). It sounds uneasy and uncomfortable. Is it not?

But we ought to glad sufferings because through which we may be trained and disciplined to be worthy of the Lord’s calling. Struggles in Christ Jesus are coming from the Father who cares His children dearly. God shed abroad His divine love in our hearts through the Holy Spirit in the sufferings and tribulations (Romans 5:5).

What is it that God wants us to learn? Our heavenly Father aims His beloved children to live in truth and reality. There are good virtues in humanity, pursuing for the well-being of all people on the earth. However, despite of relentless efforts and labors there is no progress at all in human morality. There are all kinds of corruption and rottenness widely spread around the human society in our days as well as in the days of the first century.

There is a much deeper problem in humanity. It is like a monkey wrench in the machinery. Something is gone wrong fatally from within that no human labors can cure. Through sufferings and struggles, God the Father wants us to see the truth and reality on broken and lost humanity. God wants us to see all things as He sees.

The most difficult problem in humanity is pride. The proud mind is deeply drenched in humanity by the invasion of the devil. This evil pride drives people to live in illusions and delusions that they have what it takes for life. It is the lie of the devil. We cannot live without God, not even a second. God is light, the source of energy and life. Without Him nothing was made that was made in the universe.

It is too dangerous for humans to go on living in fantasies and misunderstandings, being deceived by the malevolent and vicious evil one, the devil. That’s why our God the Father sends us difficulties down the road in order to awaken us from the dangerous thought of being self-sufficiency and self-complacency.

The way-out has already been made and offered to all people. It is Jesus Christ the Lord crucified and died with blood in the Calvary. It is the reason for all Christians ought to say “no” to evil and then say “yes” to good in Christ Jesus. We have to put off the old first and then we can put on the new. Putting off is the flesh and putting on, Jesus Christ the Lord who is the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11).

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV)

Christians are called not for picnic but for battle. This battle is the most fearsome and intense because we wrestle not against flesh and blood [people] but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). But we shall not forget that this battle is not ours but God’s and Christ’s. The Lord Jesus Christ has won the battle and seated on the right hand of God until He make the enemy a footstool (Colossians 3:1, Acts 2:35).

Paul admonished the saints in Rome as well as us in this age. “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:13-14 NIV)

Here is one more. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

Two Forces

There are two forces at work in our humanity -- good and evil or light and darkness. Outwardly the power of evil seems formidable and intimidating to demolish humanity. But it cannot overcome the power of light because the prince of this world can work only within the periphery of God.  God is in total and complete control in the universe. The power of darkness cannot prevail but submit to the power of light.

Apostle Paul said a remarkable statement about the confidence of Christian. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 NKJV) The power of God was exerted in the resurrection of the Son Jesus Christ. The most powerful weapon on earth is hydrogen bomb. But it is incomparable with the resurrection power because it can only destroy.

The power of God has worked in the tomb where there was no life, nothing but deadness and nothingness.  On that early morning, Jesus Christ the Lord rose again from the dead without any hindrance. Apostle Peter delivered his very first public sermon in the Jerusalem Temple on the Day of Pentecost. He marvelously yet plainly expounded what had happened to the Lord Jesus Christ on the resurrection morning. He witnessed that Christ Jesus rose again because it was impossible for death to hold him.

““Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.” (Acts 2:22-24 NKJV)

That power is given to us at the moment of receiving the Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts. That’s why Apostle Paul exclaimed that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).  So, every Christian is carrying within the most powerful force in heaven and on earth, not for destruction and ruin but for healing and restoration. As Paul said, we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because there is no rivalry against the power of resurrection. Nothing can set free humans except the gospel of Christ.

We do not yet see that all things are subject to the Lord Jesus Christ. The prince of darkness seems still in control when we read morning papers and listen to radios. But that is not reality at all. The devil has already been condemned through the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:11). God is truth. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Even after Satan rebelled against the Holy God, he is totally and completely under His feet and in subjection to God Almighty.

The power of the devil should not be underrated. It is so powerful that it even brought down fire from heaven and consumed the sheep and the servants and a great wind to destroy all the children of Job (Job 1:13-19). The devil not only destroys humanity and things physically but also wrecks emotionally and psychologically, and even spiritually. He is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

However, we never forget the fact that the devil cannot pass the hedge of God even an inch. Satan is in full subjection to the Lord God Almighty who will judge and expel the devil eternally into the burning sulfur. It is impossible for the devil to win the game of destroying humanity because God condemned him to fall into humiliation and deprivation. Whatsoever the devil tries to achieve something shall turn into complete shame and degradation.

The devil can do nothing against the saints who are in the Lord Jesus Christ. If the devil tries to destroy us with the fiery darts of evil, then there is the double-edged sword of our Lord Jesus Christ to defeat. If Satan tries to condemn us with guilt and despair a thousand times, then there is the blood of Christ Jesus the Lord which purifies us forever.

Apostle Paul prayed for the saints in Ephesus that they might grasp the mighty truth on the power of the gospel which was beautifully and gloriously manifested in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That power is not something we will get in the future or after death but ours right now. We can render that mighty power by loving others today. We can render that power of Christ Jesus by being patient and faithful unto the Lord Jesus Christ today.

“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and 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.” (Ephesians 1:15-23 NKJV)

The power of God is far above all principality and power and might and dominion!

Spiritual Bankruptcy

What does it means the poor in spirit? Jesus Christ the Lord started the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3 NKJV)

The Amplified Bible translated like this. “Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! (Matthew 5:3, Amplified)

Why are the poor in spirit blessed? Why are not the rich in spirit happy? Anyways, who are the poor in spirit? He is the one who admits that he doesn’t have what it takes to cope with his life. He is the one who accepts that he is nothing and has nothing to please God. He realizes the fact that he is completely bankrupt in spirit, so that he can’t do anything for God.

Apostle Paul illustrated well what the poor in spirit means out of his Christian experience. In Romans Chapter 7, Paul expressed the agony of despair as a servant of God. He found himself desperately faulty in doing good. He wanted to do good but he didn’t. Likewise, he didn’t want to do evil but he did. In the end, he cried out with the most distressed voice of human, saying “O wretched man I am! Who can save me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24 NKJV)

He reached the state of bankruptcy in spirit that he couldn't do anything to save [fulfill] himself. That is what exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ is saying in the Sermon on the Mount. God searches the people who are lowly and meek in His sight. God delights the people who humbly come unto Him for everything from morning till evening. God loves the people who ask everything in the name of Jesus Christ.

When we yield everything to God, He can begin working for His glory according to His promise. First of all, God heals the poor in spirit with the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit who indwells within us strengthens and enlightens us to see the reality and truth what is really going on. Jesus gave us the reason why the poor are the blessed. It is because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The kingdom of heaven is not somewhere in space but everywhere God reigns. Is there any place where God is not reigning? The kingdom of heaven is the invisible realm. What we can see is the manifestation of God’s reign in what is unseen. Those who are poor in spirit are allowed to see true reality in life by the merciful Father in heaven.

Paul thanked God through the Lord Jesus Christ immediately after the desperate cry (Romans 7:25). Jesus Christ the Lord is the key for life. He is the secret to unravel the hidden things of life. Jesus Christ lived exactly that way. Although He was the Son of God, He was completely selfless. Throughout His earthly ministry, He was in the Father and the Father in Him. Our Lord Jesus Christ said that the Son could do nothing of Himself (John 5:19).

Jesus Christ the Lord humbled Himself and obeyed the Father up to the pointed of death. Then, God exalted the Son Jesus Christ in the highest place in heaven, so that there is no other name given in heaven and on earth and under the earth not to bow down under His feet. That’s we are called for. Every Christian is called to live on that basis. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Trustworthy Prophetic Word

"For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And 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; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:16-21 NKJV

This short admonition of Apostle Peter is a marvelously condensed truth on the prophetic word. All Scriptures were written under the supervision and accordance of the Holy Spirit. So, the understanding of the Scripture is possible through the revelation and teachings of the Spirit only. Apostle John said so. “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing [the Holy Spirit] teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” (1 John 2:27 NKJV)

The word of prophecy is not for any private use or interpretation. It is not for the promotion of our benefits. The prophetic words are given to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts. No prophecy came by the will of man but holy men of God as they were inspired and moved by the Holy Spirit. Apostle Peter heard the voice of God with John and James in the holy mountain when the Lord Jesus Christ was transfigured into His eternal glorious figure.

The voice of God was “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The Father’s approval for the Son was repeatedly made throughout the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. When He was baptized by John the Baptizer, the heaven was open and the voice of God uttered the same thing. “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:17 NKJV)

In John’s Gospel, there is the miniature account of our Lord’s Gethsemane prayer. The voice of God responded to the Son’s prayer. “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” (John 12:27-28 NKJV)

But the Father kept the black silence when the Son died on the cross in Calvary. Instead, the Father opened a pagan’s mouth to confirm the approval of His Son’s ministry. “So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54 NKJV)

Is it not enough for us to believe that Jesus Christ was sent from the Father in heaven? In addition, the Father impressed the apostles and prophets to testify that Jesus Christ was the Son of God who came to rescue [release] the sinners from the power of darkness and bring back to the kingdom of light. Do you love the trustworthy prophetic words as you feed your body with daily bread? Do you heed the words of truth until the day dawns and the morning start rises in your heart? Do I?

It Is Finished! (Tetelestai!)

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7 NKJV

What a fellowship it is among the children of God! It is a cheerful, exciting, sincere, and honest life sharing in Jesus Christ the Lord. Of course, there shall be tears, agonies, pains, toils, sufferings, heartaches, and joys and victories in the Christian fellowship. This is the body life in the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, there is little recognition of the fact that we have already been cleansed and washed by the blood of Christ Jesus, upon which we stand as the holy [whole] and blameless children of God in His sight. It means there is nothing to contribute in our part to access the throne of grace [the holy of holies]. Why so? It is because Jesus Christ the Lord has finished on the cross in our place.

All we need to do now is come to Jesus Christ the Lord and accept that we have been made whole and blameless by His blood. Christ Jesus the Lord was sinless, so He didn’t have to die. But He died not for Him but for all of us. The cross of Jesus Christ the Lord is a timeless and eternal event. When Christ died we died with Him. When He was buried we were buried with Him. Likewise, when He was raised from the dead we also were raised from the dead (Galatians 2:20).

This is the good news. No human can break the bondage of sin and death by his own merits. We were dead in sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). Jesus Christ the Lord is stronger than the devil, so that He set us free through His blood (Mark 3:27). God rescued us from the strong Satan through the ransom price of His begotten Son Jesus Christ the Lord. God also implanted His Son’s life into us by pouring out the Holy Spirit.

Those who believed in the Son Jesus Christ as Lord and the Father God who sent Him received the gift of the Spirit (Acts 2:38). That’s the infallible mark of Christian. The remarkable deliverance enabled to enter into the perfect state of peace with God, so that we can stand before the Immortal God with confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ. By the mystery of Christ, we were made sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).

The throne of grace is not somewhere in remote space, nor something we can get after death. The throne of grace is accessible right now because it is within us. We were made as living beings (Genesis 2:7). We have not only body and soul, but spirit as God made man in his image and in his likeness. The human spirit was dead in Adam but made alive for the first time in Christ Jesus the Lord.

The human spirit has now been infiltrated by the Holy God, so that we are filled with His Spirit. We became living beings in Jesus Christ the Lord. The state we have been restored in Jesus Christ is exactly what God intended us to before the foundation of the world. We can function and operate as God intended man to do in the Son Jesus Christ through His blood. Do you take it by faith? Do I?