Sunday Message

This week’s message from the Lord

On The Lord’s Day

7/6/2025

Heresies

• Heresy is the rejection or distortion of essential Christian teachings. It represents a serious deviation from orthodox beliefs, often leading to division and spiritual harm within the Church. Heresies such as Arianism, Gnosticism, and Pelagianism have challenged the core doctrines of Christianity, but the Church has historically responded by affirming sound doctrine and preserving the faith. Heresy is seen as a threat to the truth of the Gospel and the unity of the Christian community.

• A few of the many heresies in Christianity:

• Arianism: denying the divinity of Christ and maintains that the Son of God was created by the Father and was therefore neither coeternal nor of the same substance. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Islam both teach this.

• Gnosticism: emphasizes on personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis) for salvation. They believe the material world is flawed and the goal is to liberate the divine spark within humans, trapped in material bodies, through attaining gnosis and escaping the flawed world. It also denies the incarnation of Jesus and claims that He never had a physical body. The denomination ‘Christian Science’ not to be mistaken for Scientology, teaches this. So they may not necessarily be Gnostic but includes this part about denying the incarnation of Jesus.

• Pelagianism: is a Christian theological position that holds that the fall did not taint human nature and that humans by divine grace have free will to achieve human perfection. Even today the message that we can save ourselves is littered throughout sermons. Joel Osteen doesn’t teach about sin but just teaches about living good lives.

• Marcionism: is also an early Christian belief system and believes the God of the Old Testament, was a wrathful, vengeful deity and different from the New Testament God who was loving and forgiving. So he excluded most of the Old Testament that he found incompatible with his theology. There are many forms of Marcionism in modern day churches.

• Docetism: (part of Gnosticism) is the doctrine that Jesus’s body was not human but an illusion like a hologram and therefore His sufferings were only apparent. He was basically only in spirit form. In modern day you may hear the phrase ‘Christ consciousness’ and part of that refers to Docetism, which has been expressed by Oprah.

• Modalism: denies the Trinity, claiming that God is a single person who manifests in different “modes” or forms, rather than existing externally as three distinct persons. So basically you have the Father of the Old Testament, then as the Son (Jesus) in the New Testament, and finally as the Holy Spirit after Jesus’ ascension.

• Donatism: derives from the Catholic Church and argues that Christian clergy must be faultless for their ministry to be effective and their prayers and sacraments to be valid, meaning your baptism or salvation may not count.

• Perfectionism: theological concept that one can achieve spiritual maturity or perfection. Todd White has been on stage saying he hasn’t sinned in years. Joyce Meyer believes she is not a sinner, that you can’t be righteous and a sinner at the same time and that the Bible says you are righteous.

• Antinomianism: if you have received salvation than you no longer have to follow the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments. They believe that faith alone guarantees humans’ eternal security in Heaven regardless of one’s actions. Anyone can just simply say they are a Christian but produce no good fruit and do not do what Christians do (read the Bible, pray to God, worship, have Communion, go to church, surrounded by fellow Christian community).

• Universalism: believes that human beings will ultimately all be saved and restored to a right relationship with God.

• A lot of messages sound spiritual but are leading us away from the truth. This may come from all the different churches out there, the internet, YouTube videos, social media clips, podcasts, TV, radio…it’s coming from all angles (the enemy’s flaming arrows).

• It's important that each member of the church, we as soldiers of Christ, are armed with the word of God to not only protect ourselves but to protect our families, community, church, the body of Christ from the heresies of the world that is like a virus and can easily spread and do harm to the truth.

• I am not perfect and I’m depending on more of you all to also be armed with the word to correct me; Staying open minded.

• Part of being a Christian is accepting that supernatural things can and have happened from the beginning of time and still occur today. It also means we have an understanding that God is completely sovereign. He can do whatever He wants at any moment. He can bend the laws of physics and can do the impossible.

• We may not fully understand supernaturalism or God’s sovereignty and that’s ok but it’s also important to have a basic understanding of this so the truth doesn’t start to bend in order for it to make sense for you. This may possibly end up being a heresy.

• In a world overflowing with competing voices-false prophesies, lies, counterfeit doctrines, and spiritual confusion, it’s more important than ever before to ground ourselves in the truth.

1.      Anchor yourself in God’s Word.

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” John 17:17

a.      The Bible is the primary and infallible source of truth.

b.     Every teaching, belief, or spiritual experience must be tested against Scripture.

c.      A Christian must be a diligent student of the Word.

d.     Read systematically-approaching the Bible in a planned, organized, consistent way rather than flipping through pages. Following a reading plan. (genres: law, history, wisdom, prophets, gospels, epistles, apocalyptic)

e.      Interpret in context-understand verses in their historical, grammatical, and literary context.

2.      Cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus

a.      Doctrine is important but it’s not just about knowing facts-it’s about knowing a person. Through prayer, obedience, and intimacy with Christ, a believer becomes more sensitive to what is of God and what is not.

b.     Pray for discernment and a deeper love for truth.

c.      Abide in Christ-stay connected to Him daily, not just intellectually but relationally.

d.     Follow His voice-through the Spirit’s prompting and conviction. The Holy Spirit helps you understand the Word and to apply it personally. As you read the Word you may feel a verse “stand out,” bring clarity, correction, or comfort-that’s often the Spirit speaking.

e.      Prompting means the Spirit may prompt you in various ways: a sudden urge to pray for someone, a nudge to speak, act or hold back in a situation.

f.        Conviction is when the Holy Spirit alerts your conscience that something is wrong or out of alignment with God’s holiness. When something needs to be addressed. It could also be leading to repentance or confession that leads to restoration and freedom.

g.      It’s also not just about hearing the voice but responding. Obedience is evidence of love for Christ. The more you respond to His voice, the clearer it becomes. The more you ignore it, the duller your sensitivity grows.

h.      Discernment is key. How do you know it’s the Spirit and not your own feelings? Does it align with Scripture, does it reflect Christ’s character? Does it produce good fruit?

3.      Examine the fruit and the foundation

a.      Test teachings, ministries, and people by their doctrinal foundation and spiritual fruit:

i.      Does it glorify Jesus as Lord and Savior?

ii.      Does it align with biblical truth?

iii.      Does it lead to holiness, humility, love, and repentance?

iv.      Does it edify the body of Christ?

4.      Stay rooted in the historic Christian faith

a.      Truth does not evolve with culture. Stay rooted in the orthodox doctrines passed down through Scripture and affirmed by the early church.

5.      Learn in community, but with discernment

a.      Surround yourself with mature believers, godly mentors, and a biblically faithful church.

b.     Seek accountability, ask questions, discuss and test doctrines together.

6.      Watch out for red flags

a.      Some signs that a belief system or teaching may be false:

i.      Twists Scripture out of context

ii.      Exalts man rather than God

iii.      Promotes secret knowledge

iv.      Downplays repentance, sin or the cross

v.      Focuses on worldly success, signs, or feelings over Scripture

vi.      Absence of Scripture

Anchor in the Word, cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus, be guided by the Holy Spirit, examine the fruit and foundation, stay rooted in the truth, be surrounded by good community, watch out for red flags.

6/29/2025

Calvinism vs Arminianism

• John Calvin was a French theologian in the 1500’s

• The whole point of Calvinism is to emphasize the absolute sovereignty of God

• Since then, Theologians who believe and follow his system of theology have come up with an acronym, which is T.U.L.I.P. that summarizes the teachings of John Calvin. This is also known as a 5-point Calvinist.

• Each of the five points represents a certain belief about our salvation as it relates to John Calvin

• The ‘T’ stands for Total Depravity and is the belief that man is totally depraved, which means morally corrupt, wicked and because of this, mankind is born into and shaped by sin, thus unwilling and unable to respond to God or spiritual truth on our own.

  • Unwilling – the heart doesn’t want God. Because of sin, people do not naturally desire God, holiness, or His truth. They seek spiritual experiences, morality, or religion but not the true God of the Bible, who demands repentance, lordship, and surrender (lordship refers to God’s authority, rule and ownership over your life).

  • Unable – the heart cannot choose God. We are spiritually incapable of choosing or responding to God without divine intervention. This doesn’t mean we don’t have free will in general, it means our will is enslaved to sin and unable to choose God without Him first changing our heart.

• The ‘U’ stands for Unconditional Election, which means God elected some people to be saved before the foundation of the world.

• The unconditional means God’s choosing of the elect was not based on a condition.

• The ‘L’ stands for Limited Atonement, which means the saving work of Jesus to atone for our sins was limited to the elect.

• The ‘I’ stands for Irresistible Grace. This is the idea that when God extends His grace of salvation to you and if you are part of the elect that you will not be able to resist it. At some point you will submit to His grace.

• The ‘P’ stands for Perseverance of the Saints and this is the idea that those who are truly elect, and thus saved, will persevere in following God for the rest of their lives. God preserves the elect from falling

• 4-point Calvinists disagree with the third principle, which is the ‘Limited Atonement,’ which is the idea that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross only atoned for those who were previously elected.

• Many scriptures pick apart ‘Limited Atonement’ including:

• John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

• 1 John 2:2 “He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins-and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”

• 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

• 3-point Calvinists reject the third principle as well as the fourth principle, which is ‘Irresistible Grace,’ which is the idea that when God extends His grace of salvation to you and if you are part of the elect that you will not be able to resist it.

• Salvation is activated after someone believes.

• What if someone that is part of the elect dies before they hear the Gospel/receive salvation?

• Irresistible grace sounds like the free will is being taken out of the equation.

• The counter to Calvinism is Arminianism, which derives from Jacobus Arminius, who was a Dutch theologian and also from the 1500’s and not to be mixed up with Armenians.

• Total Depravity (every aspect of humanity is corrupted by sin and therefore man is unable to come to God on their own accord) countered with partial depravity which is the belief that every aspect of humanity is tainted by sin but not to the extent that human beings are unable to place faith in God on their own accord.

• Humans are morally weakened, prone to sin, and in need of grace but still retain the freedom to choose or reject God’s offer of salvation.

• Calvinist: a tree that is rotten to the core and it cannot bear good fruit unless it is made new.

• Arminius: a tree that is diseased but still alive, it is weakened but it can still choose to reach for the light if helped.

• Spiritually dead vs spiritually wounded

• No ability to choose vs limited but real ability to choose God.

• Unconditional election (only certain people were elected by God to be saved based entirely on His will) but Arminiusts believe in conditional election meaning that God elects individuals to salvation based on His foreknowledge of who will believe.

• Unconditional means God, from his complete sovereignty chooses as He pleases while conditional means God knows the future and selects individuals based on the free decision they will make aka His foreknowledge of our faith.

• Limited atonement is the belief that Jesus only died for the elect while unlimited atonement is the belief that Jesus died for all, but that His death is not effectual until a person receives Him by faith.

• Irresistible grace is the belief that when God extends His grace of salvation to you and if you are part of the elect that you will not be able to resist it. Resistible grace on the other hand states that God calls all to salvation but that many people resist and reject this call.

• Evidence for resistible grace is God testing us all the time. Do we respond and listen and submit or do we resist and deny?

• Perseverance of the saints is the idea that those who are truly elect, and thus saved, will persevere in following God for the rest of their lives. God preserves the elect from falling and Arminiasts believe in conditional salvation which is the belief that believers can turn away from Christ and lose their salvation.

Final Thoughts

• Question: does a believer that doesn’t turn away from Christ, doesn’t deny Christ but just either stays luke warm or worse, is not in the church life lose their salvation? Or is it only those that turn away from Christ and deny Him that lose their salvation?

• Controversial theologies can easily stray us away from being united. The church, the body of Christ, is suppose to be united.

• There are those that are predestined and for the rest of humanity, you must choose wisely.

6/8/2025

Putting on The Full Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-18 “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. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Belt of truth:

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around waist…”

• A belt is typically tied around the waist and for the Roman soldier it anchored the breastplate and sheath for the sword-nothing else stayed put without it. To “loosen the belt” meant the soldier was off duty. If the belt was missing the rest of the armor rattled uselessly. In a Roman barracks a recruit began with the belt and this is why Paul deliberately lists it first.

• The objective truth of the reality of God, His word and the gospel is the belt that hold everything together. Without it everything else is useless. It all starts with the Word.

• A modern police officer’s duty belt holds every essential tool. Are you storing Scripture where you can reach it in a split-second?

• Fastening the belt of truth means letting God’s unchanging reality hold every loose end of our lives.

• Prayer: “Father, wrap me in Your truth…tight enough that nothing false can slip between You and me today.”

• Illustration for the next piece of armor: when the belt is buckled, the breastplate clips in place and the sword finds its sheath.

Breastplate of righteousness

“…and having put on the breastplate of righteousness…”

• For the Roman soldier the breastplate was typically made up of curved plates of bronze or iron covering front and back from neck to waist. This helped shield all your vital organs especially your heart and lungs. The breastplate also carries the legion’s crest, broadcasting your loyalty on the front lines. It was heavy but once buckled to the belt it spread weight to the hips.

• The breastplate acted as life insurance, an identity badge and courage booster all in one.

• Being a righteous person means you follow the rules, help others, tell the truth and choose to do good things but to add onto that, righteousness in the eyes of God means being and living the way God wants us to live-loving Him, loving people, and obeying what He says.

• The breastplate guards the heart so are you living a righteous life for God to guard your life from accusations, shame and guilt?

• The breastplate identifies the soldier so does your lifestyle plainly display whose army you serve?

• The breastplate was polished regularly to prevent it from rust. Our breastplate is maintained by obedience to God. Spend time to analyze your life and find out what habits are corroding your integrity and how will you ‘oil’ them with repentance today?

• “Put it on” includes reading the Word and praying with gratitude each day. It also means to repent. The longer sin lingers, the harder it is to get rid of. Confess quickly.

• We have submitted to God so ask Him to lead the way “Where do You want my righteousness to walk today?”

• Roman soldiers inspected one another’s armor. Invite honest friends to point out cracks.

• Memorize heart-guarding verses and recite them when bad things happen, when the devil attacks or even use it to remind God even though He doesn’t need reminding but there’s power in reciting Scripture.

• Putting on the breastplate of righteousness means trusting Christ’s finished work to cover your deepest vulnerability.

• Prayer: “Lord Jesus, clothe my heart with Your righteousness and keep it clean and bold for the battles ahead.”

• Illustration for the next piece of armor: once the heart is secured by righteousness, the soldier can move with confidence. That’s why Paul’s next focus is footwear - the shoes of the gospel of peace that let us take sure footing in any terrain.

Gospel shoes

“…and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”

• Roman soldiers wore boots made of thick leather, laced up the shin, studded with iron hobnails that acted like spikes that would grip to mud, grass, and rock so a soldier could stand firm or surge forward without slipping.

• These boots were light enough for 20 mile marches yet protective against debris, thorns and traps and good footwear meant the army could arrive ready to fight, not nursing blisters.

• Peace means we have reconciliation with God through Christ’s blood, hostility ended, sins forgiven. It also means unity between Jew and Gentile. The gospel tears down walls.

• Peace gives sure footing just like a rock climber trusting his crampons.

• The anxious ground keeps causing you to slip but the gospel anchors you down.

• Someone that is ready has their boots on and laced up. When opportunity knocks are you ready to go or are you scrambling to get ready or worse scrambling for excuses.

• There’s also the metaphor of the good news carried to others.

• Feet were the delivery systems back in those times.

• Through sanctification we are to become disciples of Christ and deliver the good news.

• Having a good pair of boots on gives you unshakeable stability regardless of the terrain you’re in, to endure the storm, to be ready with the good news.

• Are my daily routes (work, gym, school runs) treated as gospel pathways or just commutes? (even if you’re not ready to spread the gospel you can represent Christ through your actions and people will take notice)

• Do my conversations leave a footprint of peace of agitation?

• Prayer: “Lord, ground my heart in Your peace and guide my feet to someone who needs to hear it today.”

• Illustration for the next piece of armor: the firm-footed soldier can now raise the shield of faith because footing plus faith stops the enemy’s flaming arrows.

Shield of faith

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.”

• Roman soldiers would have these shields that were four foot tall, made of wood but overlaid with leather and edged in iron and soaked before battle.

• The shield would be big enough to hide the whole body when crouched, the wet leather would make it flame proof and when the edges of each shield were interlocked they would form a “tortoise” wall.

• The Romans didn’t win by out-swording the enemy first; they out-shielded them, advanced under cover, then struck.

• In a sense the shield of faith is issued at conversion and must be lifted every day.

• Faith isn’t a passive belief but instead we have an active confidence that God is who He says and will do what He promises.

• Faith intercepts the flaming lies just like the shield intercepts the flaming arrows in war. The whispers of lies will be in your ear: God is distant, God doesn’t care about this situation, this particular worry is too small for Him to notice, this hardship proves God is angry and punishing me, God won’t forgive me for this one, I’m on my own on this one, God is being unfair.

• Faith advances in formation just like the unit of soldiers side by side forming the tortoise wall. Sometimes its too hard to fight solo so through small groups, prayer partners or even corporate worship, the faith becomes that much stronger.

• Your faith will be tested. Some will be easy some will be hard. Will you hold your shield long enough through persistent prayer and Scripture meditation until the burning thought dies? Some arrows don’t just bounce off the shield, they pierce into the shield and are burning so you have to wait for it to burn out.

• Website “scriptural treasures” – promises of God, do not fear, healing and restoration, peace and rest, strength in trials, spiritual warfare, over 30 categories.

• Part of having a strong faith is arming yourself with Bible verses so you remember the promises of God.

• Jesus was tested in the wilderness by the devil himself. The devil waited for one of Jesus’ weakest moments after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights. Jesus answered verbally and so shall we.

• Soak the shield daily spending time in Scripture and worship so when the flaming arrows pierce into the shield it can put out the flames.

• When you are weak that is a time to lock shields and this is why a strong, trustworthy community is important.

• Talking about past victories and/or journaling the track record helps remind us that the shield works.

• Having a small shield vs a full length shield is the same as having small, selective faith that leaves gaps open vs having whole hearted faith that covers every angle.

• Taking up the shield of faith means choosing, again and again, to plant total trust in God’s character and promises.

• Prayer: “Father, today I lift the shield of faith-remind me of Your promises, link me with Your people, and quench every fiery arrow before it finds a mark.”

• Illustration for the next piece of armor: with the arrows snuffed, the mind can think clearly so Paul turns next to the helmet of salvation, guarding our thoughts and hopes.

Helmet of salvation

“…and take the helmet of salvation…”

• Roman soldiers usually had either cast-bronze or iron head gear, cheek guards and a neck guard to stop sword blows and falling debris yet left the eyes and ears free for sigh and command. Crests and plumes signaled legion and rank.

• A soldier could lose an arm and keep fighting but a strike to the skull ends the battle instantly. The helmet guarded the control center.

• Salvation: saved from sin’s penalty, which is death, once and for all accomplished by Christ. Salvation also means being sanctified, the ongoing renewal of the mind from sin’s power and it also represents hope and glorification…of the resurrection glory.

• Salvation guards the mind from doubt, despair, and distractions. If you create a mantra of “I have been rescued, I am being renewed, I will be glorified” then these truths become the helmet shielding your mind.

• Doubt, despair and distractions can either come from yourself, the world or the evil one.

• Doubts: my standing is settled in Christ, not in yesterday’s performance.

• Despair: my worst outcome is temporary; my best outcome is eternal.

• Distractions: Be intentional, make sure the task or decision is going to advance the Kingdom. Create “hope checkpoints” with alarms set through out the day to refocus on God.

• Salvation also clarifies identity just like the crest and plumes on a helmet. When you’re going through it, ask yourself “Do I let failure name me or does this crest and plume of Christ remind me of who I am and whose I am?”

• Salvation gives us hope for the finish line. When fatigue sets in do I rehearse the finish line promise or stare at the asphalt?

• Putting on the helmet of salvation means guarding your thoughts with the finished work of Christ, renewing them with His ongoing grace, and lifting them toward the guaranteed glory ahead.

• Prayer: “Lord, fasten Your salvation, Your finished work around my mind today and shield me from lies, silence every doubt, lift every despair and filter every distraction until my thoughts echo Yours. Steady me with truth and fill me with hope until I see You face to face.”

• Illustration for the next piece of armor: with the mind secure, the soldier can think, aim and strike. Paul therefore reaches for the offensive weapon-the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Sword of the Spirit (Word): only offensive weapon

“…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

• Roman soldier’s sword was double edged, around 24 inches long, good for close quarters offense, small enough to block an incoming blade then counter stab and the training was very intensive and through the daily drills it made the muscle memory an automatic response.

• The importance of the sword is that the shield stops the arrow but the sword ends the threat.

• Every piece of the armor of God is for the most part defensive except for the sword of the Spirit, which is offensive.

• Defensive armor keeps you standing but the sword turns standing into advancing.

• The right Scripture for the right moment, applied by the Spirit. Don’t bring a sword to a gunfight.

• Answer each temptation with a verse, like Jesus in the wilderness. Will power alone will not cut it.

• Sword drills to become second nature: read and memorize and pray back certain verses.

• Context is everything for a verse to fit into the right situation so this is part of why we must spend time to study the Word. In today’s world there is no excuse when you have the internet and ChatGPT.

• Pray and ask for timing and revelation, asking the Spirit to surface the right verse at the right second.

• Speak it out: Jesus didn’t merely think Scripture, He said it. Vocalizing drives the enemy back and strengthens listeners.

• Is your Bible being used as decoration, quoted occasionally or sharpened and refined for daily combat.

• With every piece of the full armor geared u and with the sword drawn, Paul circles back to the power that keeps the whole armor energized, which is to always pray. Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Armor gear without prayer is gear without power.

• Taking up the sword of the Spirit means letting the Holy Spirit draw from stored Scripture and turning it into a living word that cuts through deception, defends holiness and sets captives free.

• We must first store scripture inside of us and at the right moment the Holy Spirit can draw the Scripture to attack through the deception. Repetition creates muscle memory just like a Roman soldier drawing his sword we drill verses until they surface without scrambling.

• “Cutting through the deception” means the lie exposed, truth is inserted and the lie is neutralized.

• “Defends holiness” means not only is the truth exposed but God’s character, His holiness is expressed.

• “Sets captives free” means the Word is a rescue tool.

• When anxiety is about to set in and you repeat a certain verse, it will set you free. No longer are you a captive to anxiety.

• Guilt and shame dissolves when there is a repentant heart.

• So the living Word kills the lies, defends the truth and God’s character and sets us free from guilt and shame.

• Prayer: “Holy Spirit, sharpen Your word in my mind today; put the right verse on my tongue the instant the battle breaks open.”

The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battlefield.

Praise God that He has not left us vulnerable or unprotected but has given us the full armor of God.

Along with the full armor of God we are reminded that prayer is the power that activates it all.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

6/1/2025

The Dangers of Being Anxious and What God Provides

• South Korea is one of the places with the highest rates of anxiety and depression in the world.

• It seems ironic that this is the same country that is filled with many great achievements and innovation (Hyundai, KIA, Samsung, LG, egames, k-pop, movie industry)

• Egames blew up in the 1990s in South Korea, particularly with the game called Starcraft mainly due to South Korea banning Japanese games so while Western kids were playing Nintendo and Playstation, the Korean kids were on the PC and the government also subsidized the internet so it gave rise to PC cafes.

• Starcraft became so huge that it filled up stadiums for the main competitions and they would be aired on TV.

• Hardworking, disciplined, and highly educated population

• Children are pushed from an early age to strive for perfection. Kids as young as 6 or 7 are already expected to get top grades, study for hours on end, and prepare for an ultra-competitive future.

• Life in South Korea is a marathon where only first place matters. This creates a mindset psychologists refer to as “all or nothing thinking,” where you are either the best or you’re nobody. Either you get a perfect score or you failed completely.

• That kind of mindset where every mistake feels catastrophic becomes the perfect breeding ground for anxiety and depression and is built into the very fabric of their society.

• The fear of failure is overwhelming and results in anxiety

• The feeling of never being enough is constant

• Massive burnout that ends up in chronic fatigue

• No matter how hard you try you will never live up to the expectations society has set for them

• When success is the only acceptable outcome, the weight of failure becomes unbearable and in a place like South Korea, this is why they have a high suicide rate amongst the young adults.

• No matter how hard you try you will never live up to the expectations set by society

• All of this turns into stress, which is foundation of all diseases

• Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

• Paul emphasizes the importance of rejoicing, praying, and maintaining a positive outlook.

• 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

  • Worry often springs from the illusion that everything rests on me. Handing those cares over in prayer is an act of dependence-a practical way to humble yourself to the Lord and let God be God or what we have said many times before, let go and let God.

  • This is also directly connected to ‘surrendering to God.’

• John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

  • Peace: wholeness, harmony, restored relationships, the end of hostility between God and humanity.

  • Happiness: A positive emotional state tied to circumstances, gifts, or outcomes

  • Scripture consistently treats peace as the foundation and happiness as a by-product

  • Peace is rooted in God’s character and happiness is rooted in circumstances

  • Peace is a fruit of the Spirit

• 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Peace flows from who God is and what Christ did.

  • Having peace in all circumstances is similar to being thankful in all circumstances.

  • Pursuit of happiness can mutate into chasing comfort or success; pursuit of peace roots the soul in God alone.

  • Seek peace with God first, happiness will follow in its proper, secondary place.

• 2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

• Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

  • This verse is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, specifically in the section on trusting God and not being anxious.

  • Jesus is addressing the human tendency to worry-especially about material needs and the uncertainties of the future.

  • It seems like every generation brings upon more to worry about added onto all the worries from the previous generations so what Jesus is saying is even more profound today.

  • “Do not worry about tomorrow” doesn’t mean we shouldn’t plan but that we shouldn’t be anxious or consumed with what hasn’t happened yet. Worry is unproductive and steals today’s peace.

  • Being present is important. Don’t allow the past or future to ruin the moment.

  • Tomorrow represents the unknown future, which is not in our hands but in God’s.

  • “Tomorrow will worry about itself” is a poetic way of saying don’t go borrowing trouble. When we try to solve problems that haven’t happened yet, we create unnecessary mental and emotional burdens.

  • “Each day has enough trouble of its own”

  • Jesus acknowledges that life has real problems and He’s teaching us to face them one day at a time.

  • Each day comes with its own set of challenges AND grace from God to meet them.

• Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

• Summary:

• Do not be anxious about anything

• Trust in God regardless of the external circumstances

• If there is a lack of faith there is room for anxiety, which suggests there is a lack of faith in God’s ability to handle the issues that concern us

• Anxiety can easily lead to depression, which is bad for your mental health. Anxiety can also lead to stress, which is bad for your physical health.

• There are endless things for you to worry about.

• It’s important to pay attention and learn about yourself. I realized at some point I worried a lot. I recognized this from seeing how some of my friends had different types of attitudes when presented with adversities.

• Then I learned that in many ways, we are who are parents are. We learn and copy from them. And my mom was a worrier so therefore I became that.

• Life is unpleasant when you worry about everything. Its bad for your mental health. Its much more pleasant and relaxing when someone else can take care of your worries. That person is God.

• Instead of falling into anxiety, Paul advises us to turn to prayer and petition. It’s important to do it with thanksgiving. It creates a positive mindset to be thankful, and it reflects our trust in God.

• This is a spiritual muscle that we need to practice and strengthen until it becomes second nature that every time there is some sort of uncertainty or challenge, we automatically trust in God, pray and make our request.

• Prayer is also useful because its not good to hold things inside. Have you ever felt better once you were able to share your worries with someone you trust? To get it off your chest.

• Life is filled with seasons. We will go through good and comfortable times and then we will go through seasons of challenges and adversities. You will hear that the world is so bad now that this is for sure the end of the world but then later things get a bit better and the cycle continues.

• REMEMBER THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL. IF OUR FAITH IS STRONG WE WON’T NEED TO WORRY.

• EXODUS 33:14 THE LORD REPLIED, “MY PRESENCE WILL GO WITH YOU, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.”

5/25/2025

Divine Order and Redeeming Grace in Faith and Marriage

• Scenario: two unbelievers get married and one day one of them becomes a believer in Christ. What should that person do? Do they divorce their significant other? What if they have children? What happens to them?

• 1 Corinthians 7:12-15

• If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.

• Divorce is not the default option to exercise. God honors the covenant of marriage between a man and woman and the children are considered part of God’s covenantal blessings.

• God has thought all of this through. Marriage is sacred and divorce can have so many detrimental results for the man and woman and especially the children.

• If we go back to the 1950’s the divorce rate in America was 2% or 2.5 divorces per 1,000 people. Even as late as the 80’s I remember divorce was barely a thing and now it’s as common as anything else.

• On the contrary, the devil also knows how important marriage is, so he is in the midst of marriages and families, always finding ways to destroy it from the inside out.

• He will use lust so people cheat. He will use your career to keep you busy and away from your lover. To keep you away from being a parent that should be there to raise their children. He will use anger to make the man and woman fight all the time.

• This breaks the family, destroys the marriage. Children end up with trauma. Children aren’t raised properly. They have no respect for authority figures such as teachers and police officers. They end up in jail. They are indoctrinated by the liberal school systems…brainwashed. Confusion sets in. This opens more windows for the devil to creep in. Teenagers and young adults start to explore into same sex, transgenderism, etc.

• This is just more proof that if we don’t listen to God and stay morally grounded in Him, society slowly crumbles away. The devil never stops and knows exactly how to destroy everything.

• God truly cares for us like a loving father. Instead of saying I don’t want anything to do with the unbelievers so you must divorce them, through His grace and mercy He instructs the new believer to NOT abandon his/her family and not only that, but the members of that immediate family will also be sanctified.

• Holy: set apart, sacred, distinct, refers to something or someone being set apart for God’s purposes-pure, morally upright, and spiritually distinct from the world.

• Sanctification: comes from the same root as ‘holy.’ It’s the process of becoming holy. It’s what happens when God purifies and separates someone for His purposes. This is God’s ongoing work in our lives.

• Sanctification aka spiritual transformation is a partnership between the believer and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers us and we actively obey, repent, love, forgive, serve, resist sin, etc.

• Holy is both who we are in Christ and who we are becoming.

• God is holy by nature. We are made holy by grace. We grow in holiness by walking with the Spirit.

• Acts 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

• This sure sounds like once one person is saved their entire household is saved by proxy but this is incorrect. The faith of one does not guarantee the salvation of others.

• Context: Paul and Silas end up in prison for stirring up trouble when Paul prayed away the spirit from the woman that could predict the future and while in prison Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns praising God and then there was an earthquake and the prison doors broke free. The jailer thought he was doomed as everyone was going to escape and he would be blamed for it so he decided he was going to kill himself but Paul shouted to him that “We are all here.”

• Because of this, the prison guard became curious of who these guys were. Who is this God they are praising that caused this earthquake. Why did these guys not escape? Why did they save his life? The guard simply asked “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

• Acts 16:30-34 “He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in the house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God-he and his whole household.”

• So now we see that in this story, Paul was speaking to the prison guard and his family at the same time and he’s telling the prison guard, you can be saved…you and your household so let me preach the Gospel to you. They were all converted and baptized.

• Salvation is personal. Your faith cannot be transferred. It cannot be bought. It is something that is directly personal and each person must individually respond to the Gospel.

• A pastor once gave a great speech about the importance of putting God first. He said imagine God, man and woman being labeled on a triangle. Point A represents God and points B and C represent man and woman, respectively. God is right in the middle between the man and woman and is also above them. As the man and woman become closer to God (points B and C moving upwards closer to point A), they will naturally become closer to each other. It’s truly a beautiful thing when a man and woman are grounded in their faith in Christ and always put God first. Their love for God will make their love for each other even stronger and vice versa if they start to fall farther away from God.

• God, Jesus, Man, Woman

• We are reminded of the divine order of authority, not inferiority from:

• 1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of every wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.”

• Colossians 1:18 “And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead.”

• Ephesians 5:23 “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church.”

• Submission: this word often times has a negative connotation as it may refer to thoughts of obedience or subordination (being under the authority of) but in theology this word more so refers to a voluntary attitude of humility, respect, and alignment under God-ordained authority. It is always rooted and is modeled after Christ’s own submission to the Father.

• If there is no Christ, this whole concept of submission can easily be misconstrued.

• This doesn’t mean it’s always the husband’s way or the highway. The husband and wife should be equally yoked, situations needs to be discussed and explored but there will come times when they are at a crossroad and a decision needs to be made. Someone needs to have the final say. In this situation the husband is the head of the household, so he needs to make the call.

• As the saying goes, “With great power comes great responsibility.” The man needs to be mature in God and in life to lead. If you have not matured enough to take on the challenges in life, you can end up making the wrong call and end up hurting your family. We will all make mistakes but Im referring to the track record. If you aren’t able to make a decision and always push it over to the wife to decide, that is not leading.

• When it comes to the children, both parents are equally important. The father carries the primary responsibility for spiritual leadership and the mother is equally essential in training, nurturing, and teaching.

• When there is a lot of dominating and disrespect going on that leaves absolutely no room for submission.

• Another way to put it is Jesus yields His will to God the Father, we yield our will to Jesus and within the human family structure, the wife yields her will to the husband.

5/18/2025

Giving Thanks in All Circumstances

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”

• Give thanks in all circumstances is different from give thanks for all circumstances.

• Give thanks for all circumstances would mean we are thankful even when there are experiences of suffering, loss, or injustice.

• But rather we give thanks in all circumstances means although it’s unfortunate that we are experiencing suffering, loss or injustice that in the midst of it, we choose to be thankful.

• And what are we thankful for? God.

• We acknowledge God’s presence and faithfulness despite the pain.

• His character doesn’t change

  • Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

• His love endures

  • Psalm 136:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”

• Regarding God being love

• Love requires a subject and an object. The subject is the one producing the act of love and the object is who the subject is loving.

• An unitarian god doesn’t hold much substance in a debate because at one point this god would’ve been alone and if this god is love than who is he loving?

• But in the concept of a Trinitarian God, His very nature is love before anything else ever existed because God the Father loved the Son through the Holy Spirit.

  • John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved before the foundation of the world.”

  • Romans 5:5 “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

  • John 14-16, in these chapters Jesus describes the interrelationships among the Father, Son, and Spirit. The Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son and glorifies the Son, showing perfect unity and love.

• In Christian theology the Holy Spirit is often described as the personal love between the Father and the Son-not just an impersonal force but a distinct person embodying the unity of their love.

• God the Father loved the Son through the Holy Spirit

• In non-Trinitarian theologies, If God is singular in person, He could not be love until He created something to love.

• In contrast, the Trinity provides a framework where love is eternally expressed within God Himself. He did not create humans out of need for relationship or affection – He created out of overflow, not defiency.

• This right here is a new lesson for me along with some correction. I imagined that God created humanity because He was lonely, bored, or in need of relationship especially when we’re talking about how God didn’t create a bunch of robots, He created human beings with free will to choose to love Him. To choose have a relationship with Him.

• But that would imply God lacked something – that He was incomplete until creation. On the contrary, the Bible teaches that God is perfect, self-sufficient and lacking nothing.

  • Acts 17:24-25 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”

• God does not need us. He is not dependent on creation to fulfill any emotion or relational need. This is key to understanding His sovereignty and perfection.

• There is no lack or emptiness in God’s relational being.

• But His love is so full, so complete, so abundant, that it overflows into creation- not to fix a deficiency in God, but to share His joy, love, and goodness with creatures who can reflect His glory.

• Through this overflow of His love He wants us to experience a relationship with Him and to participate in the joy shared eternally within the Trinity.

• We are also reminded that God created us from overflow rather than need. God’s love for us isn’t based on what we provide him. It’s an overflow. We are not earning a place, we are receiving an invitation into His grace.

• This gives us more insight into how God is sovereign, He doesn’t need us or our relationship, He’s not lonely. It also gives us more insight into why the Trinity makes sense. The love exists within the Trinity itself.

• Going back to the verse “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”

• This doesn't mean we are thankful for every circumstance — especially not for things like suffering, loss, or injustice — but rather that we choose to be thankful in the midst of them. It’s a call to maintain a spirit of gratitude regardless of our external situation.

• When life is good: give thanks. This one’s easier because it’s easier to remember to be grateful when good things happen.

• It’s important to practice this otherwise the good times can be taken away.

• When life is hard: give thanks that God is with you, that He has a purpose, and that this situation is not the end of your story.

• We find a way to always give thanks during the good times and the hard times.

• It’s inevitable for hard times no matter how much we want to avoid them.

• Sometimes it’s a lesson God wants us to go through

• Sometimes it’s quote and quote a bad season (when it rain it pours)

• In both good and bad times it’s good to embrace it all. You embrace the good times because you never know when the bad times are coming. You embrace the bad times and figure out what the lesson or takeaway is.

• Gratitude in every circumstance is an act of faith. It shifts focus from what’s wrong to what is still good, what God is still doing, and the unchanging character of God.

• In bad or challenging times, “what is still good” is a good mindset to have because it can be worse. It can be a lot worse.

• There’s a little prayer that goes “God, I may not understand this, and it hurts deeply but I still believe You are here with me and You are good.”

• This doesn’t minimize suffering but it declares trust in the middle of it.

• We often think gratitude as a response to something pleasant but biblical thankfulness is often a decision, being thankful regardless if it was pleasant or not.

• Job wasn’t thankful for his suffering but he trusted God in it and that’s where gratitude lived.

  • Job 13:15 “Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him”

• When we suffer it’s easy to become bitter toward God, drown in hopelessness, or isolate ourselves emotionally.

• But remember that gratitude anchors our soul in what’s still true…”Yes, this is awful but God is still good. He is still with me. He has not forsaken me.”

• This takes discipline and strength to create a posture of gratitude.

• And we always look towards Jesus our beautiful teacher. At the last supper Jesus gave thanks knowing He was about to be arrested, beaten and crucified. His gratitude was not for the suffering itself but for the Father’s will, the redemptive purpose and the joy set before Him.

• So we follow in that pattern when we give thanks in our suffering not because it feels good but because it is rooted in eternal hope.

• The second part of this verse says “for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

• Many people wonder what God’s will is for their life and this verse gives a clear part of that answer: living with a thankful heart is God’s will.

• Reminder of God’s will for man:

• In all circumstances, give thanks

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”

• That all people be saved and come to the knowledge of truth

  • 1 Timothy 2:3-4 “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

• That we believe in Jesus Christ

  • John 6:40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life.”

• That we be sanctified-set apart and made holy

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:3 “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.”

• That we do good

  • 1 Peter 2:15 “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”

• That we be filled with the Holy Spirit

  • Ephesians 5:17-18 “Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is…be filled with the Spirit.”

• That we suffer for doing right if needed

  • 1 Peter 3:17 “If it is God’s will, it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

  • Peter acknowledges that suffering may occur even when you’re doing everything right (living righteously, loving others, and obeying God) and it may seem unfair but in God’s larger plan, sometimes He allows His people to suffer not because they did wrong but because they’re doing right.

  • Jesus suffered for doing good, Paul was beaten and imprisoned while spreading the Gospel, many Christians face trials because of their faith in God

• That we live free from conformity to the world

  • Romans 12:2 “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”

  • Go through continual spiritual transformation and not conformed to the ways of the world

• The two great commandments: love God and love others

  • Matthew 22:37-39 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…love your neighbor as yourself.”

  • This is the heart of God’s moral will. All other commands hang on this.

• The great commission

  • Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”

• Summary: to “give thanks in all circumstances” means living with a constant posture of gratitude, not based on how good life is but on how good God is. It is God’s will because it honors Him, changes us, and shines a light of hope and trust in a broken world.

• Remember that thankfulness is a spiritual posture, not an emotional reaction. Gratitude in suffering doesn’t mean we feel happy about the pain or pretend everything’s fine. Instead it’s a spiritual discipline to make a choice to look beyond our current hardship and see God’s presence, promises and purposes at work.

• Start by practicing with the little disappointments in life to create this discipline.

5/11/2025

Communion

• Commune: share one’s intimate thoughts of feelings with someone, especially on a spiritual level.

• Communion is an integral part of Christian worship where we remember our Lord’s death and resurrection and to look forward to His glorious return in the future.

• To help connect the dots here, we want to remember that the Passover was the most sacred feast of the Jewish religious year and it commemorated the final plague on Egypt when the firstborn of the Egyptians died and the Israelites were spared because of the blood of a lamb that was sprinkled on the doorpost.

• It was God’s command that throughout the generations to come the feast would be celebrated.

• This all takes place in Exodus 12.

• If we go even further back to Genesis 14, the concept and meaning of communion was first mentioned in verse 18 “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.”

• This wasn’t literally communion for Jesus hadn’t come yet but the event here was considered a foreshadowing or prophetic type of communion, rather than communion itself.

• Now fast forward roughly 1,500 years and now we are at the Last Supper. The night before Jesus died He got together with the disciples and shared the Passover meal.

• During this meal was when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper aka Communion, washed the disciples’ feet and foretold Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial.

• (the Last Supper is not to be confused with the Lord’s Supper. The Last Supper is the final meal Jesus had with His disciples and the Lord’s Supper is the ongoing Christian practice of remembering Jesus’ sacrifice)

• Luke 22:19-20 “And he took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

• New covenant: the promise of a renewed relationship with God and humanity. The tearing of the veil. The Holy Spirit that now dwells inside of you so we have direct access to God and no more need of a high priest. The sacrificial system is no longer needed. Jesus’ blood is the once and for all sacrifice for sins.

• In Christian theology, Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist) is a sacred rite instituted by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. It involves partaking of bread and wine (or grape juice), which symbolizes (or in some traditions, becomes) the body and blood of Christ.

• A sacred rite is a holy ceremony or practice that holds deep religious meaning and is often commanded or instituted by God.

• In Christian theology, sacred rites are often referred to as sacraments, especially in Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and some Protestant denominations.

• The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church recognize 7 sacraments:

o    Baptism: entry into the Christian life; cleanses original sin

o    Eucharist (communion): receiving the body and blood of Christ

o    Confirmation: strengthening of faith through the Holy Spirit

o    Confession: confessing of sins

o    Anointing of the sick: healing and comfort in illness or near death

o    Holy Orders: ordination into church leadership

o    Matrimony: sacred covenant of marriage between a man and woman

• Most Protestant churches: recognize two main sacraments, based on Christ’s direct command:

o    Baptism: public declaration of faith and new life in Christ

o    Communion: remembrance of Christ’s death and celebration of grace

o    Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

o    Luke 22:19 “And He took bread and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”

o    1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (Paul quoting Jesus) “…the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you, do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way also, He took the cup saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’”

• Note: many protestants call these ordinances rather than sacraments to emphasize obedience rather than the idea of grace being conveyed through the ritual.

• Key theological meanings of Communion:

1. Remembrance – As Jesus said in Luke 22:19, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Communion helps believers remember Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

2. Participation – In 1 Corinthians 10:16, Paul describes Communion as a participation in the body and blood of Christ, emphasizing spiritual fellowship and unity with Christ.

3. Proclamation – It is a public declaration of the death and resurrection of Jesus until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:26).

4. Examination and Unity – Paul also urges self-examination before taking Communion (1 Corinthians 11:28), encouraging repentance and reconciliation within the body of believers.

• Differences Among Christian Traditions:

• Catholic: Believe in transubstantiation—the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Christ.

• Orthodox: Similar to Catholics but emphasize the mystery over explanation.

• Protestant (e.g., Lutheran): Believe in consubstantiation—Christ is truly present “in, with, and under” the bread and wine.

• Evangelical/Baptist: View communion as symbolic, focusing on remembrance rather than a physical presence.

Apostle Paul

• What Apostle Paul wrote concerning the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 “Therefore, whoever eats the bread of drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the blood and body of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup, for anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgement on himself.”

• The Gospels focus on what Jesus said and did during the Last Supper but in this passage, Paul adds a solemn warning: taking communion lightly or without examining oneself brings judgement.

• Context: during the time of the early Corinthian church, it was spiritually chaotic-like the Wild, Wild West. Churches were just being established and many believers lacked structure and maturity. As a result, the Corinthians struggled with division, immorality and misuses of worship. Their behavior was so concerning that Paul wrote multiple letters to address the issues – two of which became the New Testament books of 1 and 2 Corinthians.

• Corinth was also surrounded by pagan culture so in that sense there were outside forces trying to infiltrate the church culture that was being established at the time. You could imagine the devil trying hard to infiltrate the spiritual culture being built up in the church.

• In 1st Corinthians there’s mentioning of people treating communion like a drunken feast, others boasted in spiritual gifts, and there were divisions and lawsuits among believers and sexual immorality.

• So Paul is telling these people they need to examine themselves before taking Communion. And this is why this passage has stood the test of time because we too need to examine our own self.

• Paul is not saying we must be “worthy” people to take Communion for no one is without sin but rather we must not approach the Lord’s Supper in a disrespectful, careless, or selfish way.

• Approach Communion by reflecting on your heart and behavior

• Approach Communion by confessing our sins and reaffirming our trust in Jesus.

• Approach Communion by recognizing the deep meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice; what He went through for us on that day of His crucifixion.

• This helped set the tone for the seriousness and reverence Communion deserves when Paul wrote these letters.

• “…For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgement on himself.”

• Two interpretations:

o    “The body” as referring to Jesus’ physical body. To “eat and drink without recognizing the body” would mean taking communion casually without reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. It dishonors the sacred purpose of Communion.

o    It also means to recognize the body as the church. We the church, are often to referred to as the “body of Christ.” In this view, the warning is about division and selfishness in the church.

o    If you are eating selfishly, excluding others and/or creating division, as Paul mentioned, then you are only pretending to have Communion.

o    On a larger scale, a fellow Christian once told me that technically the way churches are set up today is incorrect. It’s suppose to be one church with many localities but instead we have many different types of churches operating each in their own way and that only causes further separation and division as Paul is pointing out.

• Don’t treat the Lord’s Supper like just a snack or just going through the motions because everyone else is doing it. Take that moment to remember that Jesus died for you.

• In Communion if you don’t honor Christ’s sacrifice and treat fellow believers with love and unity then you are basically mocking the sacred meal and that brings upon God’s discipline “judgement.”

• On the topic of communion, there is a popular verse that is often quoted during this holy ceremony from Isaiah 53:5 “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

o    Sin is a broad term. Missing the mark or failing short of God’s standard.

o    It can be anything and everything from lustful thoughts, pride, unbelief, ignorance of God’s commands

o    Transgression on the other hand is a willful violation or rebellion against a known law or command. Transgression is a specific type of sin-it involves knowingly crossing a line or breaking a rule.

o    Stealing, lying or committing adultery when you know it’s wrong.

o    Transgression is about conscious disobedience.

o    The difference between sin and transgression is that sin is broad and it may or may not be intentional. Transgression is specific-it involves knowledge and choice and it is intentional.

o    Iniquity: deeply rooted moral corruption or wickedness (depravity). It’s the inner condition of a person that drives sinful behavior.

o    Repeated, unrepentant sin; generational sin patterns; cruelty from a hardened heart.

o    Sin is failure, transgression is rebellion (you knew better and still did it) and iniquity is corruption (a heart that is hardened or morally bent or twisted).

o    Psalm 32:5 “I acknowledged my sin to you and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”

o    “I acknowledge my sin to you” David openly admits his wrongdoing to God-he no longer hides or makes excuses. Confession begins with honesty before God.

o    “I did not cover my iniquity” David refuses to hide the deep moral corruption (iniquity) within him. Remember iniquity is not just behavior, it’s also the inner condition of a person that drives sinful behavior.

o    “I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” David admits specific willful rebellions (transgressions)-things he knew were wrong and did anyway. True confession involves naming the ways we’ve consciously rebelled.

o    “And you forgave the iniquity of my sin” God responds with full forgiveness, even of the twisted root (iniquity) beneath David’s sin. Through God all things are possible. He can cleanse the deep inner corruption, not just the external acts.

o    This is why it’s a good practice to go through self-examination. There are many reasons for prayer time. One reason is to be in mediation and to reflect over your own actions. Acknowledge your sins, transgressions and iniquities. Work out a plan on how you’re going to overcome any transgressions that repetitive and how to overcome any iniquities…behaviors that are currently but not permanently a part of who you are.

o    If you know you are too weak or don’t have a solution on how to overcome, pray to God for Him to work it out for you.

o    Pray to God for Him to reveal your secret sins to you.

o    All of this is part of your spiritual journey and transformation.

• A story regarding Malachi 3:

• There was this group of women doing a study of the book of Malachi in the Old Testament. The women came upon chapter three, which talks about God's coming judgement and call to repentance. Verse three reads "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver." The women wondered what this statement meant and about the character and nature of God so one of the women offered to investigate the process of refining silver. So that week the woman called up a silversmith and asked if she could come watch him work and she didn't mention anything about why she wanted to do this other than her curiosity about the process of refining silver. He agreed and she went and as he was working he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver one needed to hold the piece in the middle of the fire where the flames were the hottest as to burn all the impurities away and the woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot. Then she thought about the verse "he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver" so she asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the entire time that the silver was being refined. He said yes and he went on to explain that not only did he have to sit there but he had to keep a very close eye on it because if it was left a moment too long that it would be damaged. The woman was silent for a moment and then she asked how do you know when the silver is fully refined and the silversmith smiled and said "that's easy...when I see my image in it."

• Sometimes when we go through intense trials or difficult seasons aka the hot spots, it's not because God has abandoned us but He is actively working to purify us.

• “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" reminds us that God is not distant or careless during our suffering. Instead, He is intimately present, watching over us with care and precision, ensuring we are not harmed beyond what we can bear."

• God allows the heat but He never leaves the fire. He knows exactly how much we can take and His goal is to refine us until He sees His image-His character-reflected in us.

5/4/2025

The Events Following The Death of Christ Up To The Resurrection

• What happened after Jesus died up until His resurrection on the third day

• Let’s take a look at what the Bible says along with Roman historical and cultural perspectives.

• Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea, and he had the authority to approve or deny requests regarding the custody of the dead.

• After Jesus' death, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate (Matthew 27:62-66) because they remembered that Jesus had said He would rise after three days. They were worried His disciples might steal the body to fake a resurrection.

• They asked Pilate to secure the tomb.

• Pilate told them: "You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how." (Matthew 27:65)

• There are two main historical thoughts on this:

• He gave them Roman soldiers (professional, disciplined soldiers)

• Or allowed the Jewish temple guard (less likely because Roman soldiers were considered far more reliable for such a politically sensitive task)

• Most scholars lean toward Pilate assigning a Roman guard unit.

• A Roman guard wasn’t just 2 or 3 soldiers – it was often a unit of 4-16 soldiers working in shifts so that some could rest while others kept watch.

• These were highly trained solders and under strict discipline. If a Roman guard failed in their duty they could be executed. That’s why in Matthew 28:11-15, the guards are terrified and are bribed to lie about what happened.

• Pilate would have ordered the tomb sealed with a Roman imperial seal

• Sealing both ends with clay or wax blobs and pressing an official Roman insignia into the wax or clay.

• Breaking the Roman seal was considered a serious crime against Rome-punishable by death.

• So all of this makes the resurrection even more powerful historically because:

o   No one could have stolen the body without dealing with highly trained soldiers, a whole unit of them.

o   No one could have broken the seal without committing an open crime against Rome

o   The Roman military would’ve created a perimeter around the tomb with the unit of soldiers.

o   Guarding a Roman-sealed site was a life or death duty.

• Jesus was buried in a new, unused tomb, carved out of solid rock – not just a dug grave. It would have had a large, heavy circular stone at the entrance.

• Rolling stones were set in a downward groove, meaning once closed, it took several men and serious leverage to move it back uphill to open the tomb.

• Sounds like there was no plan to open it.

• The stone was extremely heavy, likely needing several men to move it, causing noise and disturbance.

• The body would have been tightly wrapped in linen cloths with spices inside (John 19:39-40).

• Joseph was permitted to take the body of Jesus and Nicodemus met him up bringing 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes.

• The burial wrapping formed a tight, hardened cocoon around the body after the spices dried, making movement or carrying it away difficult and messy.

• (imagine trying to carry a human body with dead weight)

• Anyone trying to steal the body would have had to unwrap it – which would take time and create noise.

• In Jewish law, touching a dead body made you ceremonially unclean and stealing a body during Passover week would have been viewed as a deep defilement.

• The disciples would have been extremely hesitant to do this without major spiritual consequences if any of them had any ideas of a prank or trick.

• The death of Jesus was a huge public situation so there would have been lots of eyes, not necessarily looking for something but it would’ve been very difficult to get away with doing something without being seen by someone.

• Yet the tomb was found open and empty with the guards fleeing in fear.

• From a Roman military standpoint, the empty tomb was utterly unexplainable without something supernatural happening.

• On the morning of the third day, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary along with some other women went with spices to anoint Jesus’ body. They didn’t have enough time before the Sabbath after His crucifixion.

• In Jewish custom the dead were often placed in family tombs carved into rock. The body would be laid on a stone slab, wrapped in linen, and left there to decompose naturally.

• The process of decomposition could take a year or more and afterward, the bones were collected and placed in a small box called an ossuary, freeing up space in the tomb.

• Since the body wasn’t sealed in an airtight coffin, it could still emit odors. The spices and perfumes helped mask the smell during the mourning period and any future visits to the tomb.

• As the women were headed to the tomb there was a violent earthquake and an angel came down from heaven, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

• His appearance was like lightning  and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. It doesn’t say but the soldiers were either unconscious, paralyzed or had ran off.

• The guards’ report: the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that just happened. The priests bribed the soldiers with money and told them to tell Pilate that the disciples came during the night and stole him away while they were asleep.

• And supposedly this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

• What’s surprising is how Pilate didn’t execute these soldiers.

• What a poor excuse to say that they fell asleep.

• It’s also interesting how the soldiers reported to the priests first instead of going straight to Pilate.

• As the women arrived, the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

• God Himself removed all obstacles for the women to witness the empty tomb.

o   Getting past the soldiers

o   Rolling the heavy stone out of the way to enter the tomb

• Trembling and bewildered, the women ran to the disciples.

• Not believing the women, Peter and John race to the tomb, see the linen cloths and leave, still confused.

• Mary Magdalene returns back to the tomb and is weeping outside and this is when Jesus appears to her but she doesn’t recognize Him at first, thinking it’s the gardener.

• After recognizing it was Jesus, Mary was overjoyed to see Him alive and was clinging on to Him when He said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”

• Jesus’ holy mission was not complete yet at that moment. He still needed to ascend to the Father and present the finished work of redemption. It also meant that it wouldn’t be like before where Jesus was with them physically but that after the mission was complete He would become our intercessor and the other major thing is now the Spirit of God dwells inside each of us.

• John 14:15-18 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

• Regarding Jesus being our intercessor to the Father:

o   Romans 8:34 “Christ Jesus is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

o   Hebrews 7:25 “He always lives to make intercession for them.”

• Regarding the Holy Spirit dwelling inside every believer:

o   Jesus told His disciples in John 16:7 “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper (Holy Spirit) will not come to you.”

o   God’s plan of redemption had an order. Jesus had to first complete the full work of salvation (death, resurrection, and ascension) and now that sin has been paid for and atonement was made, the Holy Spirit could permanently dwell inside of us.

o   Sin had to be dealt with once and for all before God could permanently live inside His people.

o   Jesus, in His earthly ministry, could only be in one place at one time. The Holy Spirit would indwell millions simultaneously-every believer, everywhere. This is why Jesus said “It is to your advantage that I go away.”

• The Holy Spirit’s role:

o   Teach believers

o   Remind us of Jesus’ words

o   Empower us to witness

o   Form the church, the Body of Christ on earth

• Without Jesus finishing His redemptive work and sending the Spirit, the church could not exist.

• Just as the Old Testament high priest had to present the blood before God on the Day of Atonement, Jesus, having become the Lamb of God, needed to present Himself as the once-for-all offering before the Father in Heaven.

• Propitiation needed to be fulfilled. Propitiation refers to the appeasement of God’s righteous wrath against sin, particularly through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

• Meanwhile as the other women were still walking back into town Jesus appeared in a different form and they also reported it to the disciples but they also did not believe them either.

• Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee as instructed by the angel and it says that even after seeing him some of them doubted.

• This is the part that is called The Great Commission: Jesus tells the disciples “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

• After the Lord Jesus spoke He ascended into Heaven and He sat at the right hand of God.

4/27/2025

Significant Events During The Crucifixion of Christ

• The two criminals that were crucified next to Jesus. One mocked Jesus and said if you’re the Messiah then save yourself and us.

• The other criminal responded and said that the two of them were being punished justly but Jesus didn’t do anything wrong.

• He then asks Jesus to remember him when He enters into His kingdom and Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

• Significance #1: This event powerfully illustrates salvation by grace through faith, not by works or religious rituals. The criminal had no opportunity to turn his life around to do good deeds or make amends-yet Jesus assured him of eternal life simply because of his faith and recognition of who Jesus is.

• Significance #2: When Jesus says, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” He demonstrates His authority to forgive sins and offer salvation, even while dying on the cross. It affirms His divine role as Savior and King.

• Significance #3: This scene gives immense hope to people who feel it's “too late” for them. The criminal was at the end of his life, yet he received mercy. It reinforces the Christian belief that it’s never too late to turn to God.

• Significance #4: A non-believer can be saved if, with a sincere heart, they cry out to Jesus in faith-even in their final moments. That’s how much grace God has for man. Romans 10:13 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

  • 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” This shows how bad God is waiting, longing and willing to save each person-even in a person’s final moments its not too late. But once you take the last breath that’s it.

• Significance #5: The two criminals represent two possible responses to Jesus: one mocks, the other believes. This moment encapsulates the choice every person faces—to reject or receive Jesus.

• Another powerful and symbolically rich moment in the death of Jesus was the tearing of the veil.

• After Jesus took His last breath there was an earthquake and it caused the veil in the temple to be torn from top to bottom.

• Matthew 27:51 “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open.”

• In the Jewish temple, the veil (or curtain) separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies), which was considered the dwelling place of God’s presence. Only the high priest could enter that inner room—and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)—to offer blood for the atonement of sins.

• Hebrews 9:7 “But only the high priest entered the inner room and that only once a year and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.”

• The veil was a constant reminder that sin separates humanity from God.

• The tearing of the veil represented the end of separation. The veil represents the separation caused by sin and its tearing illustrates that Jesus’ death reconciles us with God, emphasizing the importance of seeking forgiveness.

• The tearing of the veil from top to bottom (not bottom to top) shows that it was God Himself who removed the barrier—not man. Through Jesus’ death, the way into God’s presence was now open to all people, not just the high priest or religious elite.

• This was a huge shift…not only was God’s presence now open to all people but the whole temple system with its sacrifices and mediation between sinner and high priest was no longer needed. Jesus, the final and perfect sacrifice, fulfilled the law and inaugurated a new covenant. Jesus is now both the High Priest and the Lamb of God.

• Significance of the title ‘Lamb of God’

  • Lamb of God meaning #1: in the Old Testament God commanded His people to offer lambs as sacrifices for sin. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. These sacrifices had to be repeated year after year because they only covered it temporarily. Jesus, as the Lamb of God, is the final and perfect sacrifice, whose blood doesn’t just cover sin-it removes it.

  • Lamb of God meaning #2: in Passover tradition God instructed every family to slaughter a spotless lamb and put its blood on the doorpost so the angel of death would pass over the house, sparing the firstborn. Jesus died during Passover, He is the lamb and His blood causes judgement to pass over us. Exodus 12 mentions this.

  • Lamb of God meaning #3: Isaiah 53:7 “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.” Jesus fulfilled the prophecy.

  • Lamb of God meaning #4: The lamb represents innocence. The innocent dies in place of the guilty. That’s what Jesus did. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

  • Jesus the Lamb of God represents the perfect, sinless sacrifice, His blood saves us from judgement, He is the once and for all atonement.

• Going back to the tearing of the veil, God’s presence was no longer located in a building (the Holy of Holies) or behind a veil-it now dwells within believers through the Holy Spirit. This marked the beginning of a more personal relationship with God, accessible to anyone who believes in Jesus.

• Hebrews 10:19-20 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body.

• It’s always so amazing to think that God loves us so much that not only did He save us through Jesus but also created us in a way that allows for His Spirit to dwell inside of us. No wonder the evil one hates us so much.

• In short, no more separation between man and God, no more animal sacrifices, no more exclusive priesthood and now we have direct access to God-through Jesus

• The tearing of the veil also saved some souls as many of the priests that were there or heard of it later were deeply moved and were finally convinced that Jesus is the Son of God and they became obedient to the faith, likely understanding the significance of the tearing of the veil.

4/20/2025

The Price Jesus Paid For Our Sins

• It is estimated that Jesus was awake for about 36 hours by the time he was crucified.

• While praying in the garden, Jesus was under such extreme emotional and physical stress-facing the weight of bearing the sins of the world-that his body reacted in extreme stress resulting in hematidrosis (sweating out blood).

• Hematidrosis – a very rare medical phenomenon that’s been reported only around 14 times in world medical literature and is only seen in people who are under tremendous stress and agony where they are sweating out blood. Basically each sweat gland has a small capillary and under extreme stress the small capillary ruptures.

• Luke 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

• This happened before the first soldier even touched Him.

• After being arrested and during the first Jewish trials, Jesus was mocked, blindfolded, spit on, beaten and accused falsely as He was being condemned for blasphemy because He openly said He was the Son of God.

• Jesus was then brought to Pilate (Roman governor) but Pilate found no fault in Him and yet the crowd continued to demand for crucifixion so Pilate sent Jesus to Herod (local ruler). Herod was way more ruthless in his interrogation and mocked and ridiculed Him, dressing Him up in a beautiful robe as a joke before sending Him back to Pilate because he too couldn’t find him guilty.

• This leads to Jesus being scourged, which typically only happened to slaves and traitors and it is one of the worst types of punishment the Romans inflicted on the human body.

• In scourging, a person would be tied to a post naked and whipped on his back, shoulders, buttocks, back of his legs and calves all the way down to the heels and this would involve two soldiers one on each side taking turns with the whips.

• The whip or also known as the Roman Flagrum would have multiple leather strips or tails branching from one handle. And each leather strip were small pieces of bone, sharp metal or lead balls tied into them.

• When the whip would strike the flesh, these sharp pieces would dig in, rip skin open and tear muscles underneath.

• After a few lashes, the skin would shred and blood loss would be severe. In medical terms one of these lashes would take 20 stitches to close.

• In Jewish law (Deuteronomy 25:3), it was commanded that punishments by whipping should not exceed 40 lashes and usually 39 were given to avoid miscounting. BUT Jesus wasn’t scourged by Jews, He was scourged by Roman soldiers, and Romans had no such limit.

• Roman scourging was brutal and could be as many lashes as they wanted-often until they thought the prisoner was close to death and the goal was to weaken the victim so much that death on the cross would come quicker. The Flagrum alone could cause so much intense shock, pain, dehydration and blood loss that many victims died from scourging alone.

• More than likely Jesus endured more than 39 lashes, leaving Him severely mutilated and half-dead before even reaching the cross.

• Even if there were only 39 lashes, one swing of the whip would result in 9 lacerations. The amount of lashes Jesus took would’ve resulted in thousands of stitches to put it in perspective.  

• Isaiah 52:14 Just as many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.

• Some scholars and medical experts believe Jesus’ body would have been so disfigured from the scouring that He would have been barely recognizable.

• A crown of thorns was forced onto his head. These thorns were about ¾ inch long and long enough to penetrate deep into the head and it was done to mock Him as King of the Jews.

• The accuracy of this crown is more like helmet, one that surrounds the whole head and not just a ring and it’s estimated to have had 30-50 puncture wounds on Jesus’ head.

• Despite declaring Jesus innocent, Pilate gave in to the crowds and orders for Jesus to be crucified.

• Jesus had to carry the heavy wooden crossbeam and couldn’t do it so Simon of Cyrene was forced to help Him.

• The cross itself, the wood, more than likely was very rough, easily causing splinters and more pain on the already lacerated body.

• The slow torturous death by crucifixion began by being nailed to the cross through the wrists and feet.

• The Romans practiced crucifixion for hundreds of years and they perfected the art of pain and suffering, making sure the spikes driven through the hands and feet would not make you bleed to death.

• The spikes were 5-7 inches and would’ve been driven through the wrist and not the hand, right through the middle of the wrist to avoid hitting any arteries or veins and to be able to hold the body up. The muscle in the palm wouldn’t be strong enough to support body weight.

• The area is where the crease in the wrist is to miss the radial artery, the artery people cut to kill themselves and also miss the ulnar artery over on the little finger side.

• There were already placed holes in the crossbeam for the spike to be hammered through and sometimes if the victims arms didn’t reach far enough the soldiers would stretch the arms by dislocating them.

• The same calculation was done while driving the spikes through the feet. The spike would’ve been placed between the first and second metatarsal bones, missing the dorals pedis artery and therefore no blood loss but it does hit the plantar nerves, thereby causing an extreme horrible shock sensation.

• From a medical standpoint, hanging on the cross wouldn’t have made it difficult to breathe in air but the difficult part was breathing out. In order to exhale on the cross you would have to pull up against the spikes with the hands and pull against the spikes with the feet.

• Being raised upright, this caused joints to dislocate and making breathing out agonizing.

• So each time Jesus breathed out, each time he uttered a word, He would have to pull up with His arms and push up with His legs.

• This reminds us how precious Jesus’ words from the cross were.

• Over time, the ability to lift oneself would fail, leading to slow suffocation combined with intense dehydration, shock and heart failure.

• Jesus was wearing a crown of thorns pierced into his head, tons of deep lacerations through out His body, rubbing against the rough wood as He took each breath, more than likely exposing bones and organs, spikes through his wrist and feet while hanging there. The spikes would have crushed nerves, causing excruciating, radiating pain, barely being able to breathe and making breathing difficult…all the while being conscious.

• Crucifixion was not meant to kill you, it was meant for you to suffer as much pain as humanely possible.

• There’s also no evidence showing that Jesus was unconscious in any of this so He really endured it all.

• (this didn’t happen to Jesus but it did happen during crucifixions and we know this because in the book of Psalm 34 it says “Not a bone of his body was broken.”

• Crucifracture is what they would do if they grew tired of watching and wanted to end the crucifixion. They would take a spear and swing it like a bat and hit the victim in the sins to break his shin bones, which often times would take them five to ten minutes until they could finally break the shin bones from brute force. The purpose of this is the victim could no longer push up to breathe out.

• Remember that every lash, every nail, every hair pull, every punch, every thorn, every agonizing breath, every drop of blood was because of you.

• John 10:17-18 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my father.

• Jesus is willingly laying down His life. He’s making it clear no one is forcing Him to die.

• Jesus is doing this in obedience to God the Father. The actions of Jesus-dying and rising-are not random but part of God’s plan and Jesus is perfectly following the mission the Father gave Him.

• He also has authority to take it back up-resurrection. He’s saying He has the power to rise again. That’s a massive claim to say He has control even over death itself.

• Jesus in short is showing complete power and obedience.

• All of this really showcases the full weight of physical, emotional and spiritual suffering Jesus went through for our salvation.

• The seven last sayings from Jesus on the cross

1.      “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

2.      “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”

3.      “Woman, behold your son!”…“Behold your mother!”

4.      “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

5.      “I thirst.”

6.      “It is finished.”

7.      “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”

• Even though Jesus was enduring the worst suffering imaginable, His final words were about: forgiveness, salvation, compassion, obedience, victory and trust. He never lost sight of His mission: love, redemption, and obedience to the Father’s will.

4/13/2025

Praise

• Like thanksgiving, praise is also an essential part of prayer, acknowledging God’s greatness and forming the second step in approaching God.

• Examples of acknowledgements in praises:

  • Lord your power is beyond measure

  • Lord your understanding is infinite

  • Lord we exalt Your holy name forever

  • Lord thank You for Your unending love and mercy toward us

  • Lord You are the source of all hope and joy

  • Praise to the Lord, our strength, our shield, our refuge

  • We exalt Your goodness, for Your kindness endures eternally

• Creating a habit of praising God through acknowledgements brings upon a level of peace and comfort knowing that our powerful God has it all and can do it all.

• We are reminded of the eternal and unchanging nature of God and reminds us that although the world may change, our circumstances may change, life may throw a bunch of curve balls your way, all these things may bring upon challenges and adversities but God remains unchanged.

• And by doing so, by cultivating a habit of praising God, it shifts our focus from our daily struggles to His eternal goodness.

• The more we praise Him, the more time and energy is focused on God and less on the worries, anxieties and stresses of the world.

• From the following passages that we are going to dissect, we will see that there is power in praising God. There are supernatural things taking place when praising God.

• Praise #1

• 2 Chronicles 20 provides a vivid illustration of how praise can be a powerful instrument in the midst of overwhelming challenges. King Jehoshaphat faces a vast coalition of enemies and instead of succumbing to fear or relying on military strength, he seeks guidance from God through prayer and fasting and God’s instruction is for him to appoint singers to lead them in worship as they go into battle. By singing and exalting God’s mighty acts, God intervenes supernaturally by confusing and ultimately defeating the enemies without the need for conventional warfare.

• This shows that the praises of declarations of a victory already won manifests the victory.

• When we offer praise, it prepares a way for God to manifest His salvation and intervene supernaturally in our situations.

• Praise #2

• Psalm 30:11-12 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

• This passage highlights the transformation from mourning to joy.

• God transforms our mourning into joy so that we can praise Him, fulfilling the purpose of our deliverance.

• Praise is not a petition for future miracles but a celebration of the victories already secured by God.

• Our praise proclaims that God has already overcome the forces of sin, death and the enemy. It is an acknowledgement that the battle is not ours to fight but that the battle has been won by Christ.

• It is very comforting to know that God already won. We don’t need to guess and worry how this story ends, unlike in a movie you don’t know if the protagonist will survive or die.

• Praise #3

• Psalm 8:2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

• Praise is a weapon that imposes silence on Satan and even the praises from children and infant carry incredible spiritual power.

• When we praise God, it silences the accusations of the devil.

• Praise #4

• Hebrews 13:15-16 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

• ‘Do not forget to do good and to share’ adds onto the definition of ‘praise’ and inspires and is intertwined with acts of kindness and generosity, which also further explains why praise is called a sacrifice.

• Praise #5

• Psalm 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabit the praises of Israel

• Discusses God inhabiting or being enthroned on the praises of Israel, indicating that praise creates a throne for God.

• The Hebrew word for ‘inhabit’ can also mean ‘sit on,’ suggesting that God sits on a throne made of our praises.

• This verse essentially means that God’s dwelling place is not confined to a physical temple but is found in the genuine, heartfelt praise of His people.

• This furthers the understanding of how praise is the gateway to God

• When we praise God, we create a spiritual place, a sanctuary, where His presence can reside. God delights in our expressions of adoration and gratitude.

• This intimate connection through praise reassures us that when we exalt God, we are not only honoring Him but also enabling His presence to work in and through us.

• Praise #6

• Psalm 50:23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.

• Our acts of praises and thanksgiving to God is considered a valuable, heartfelt offering aka sacrifice. One that goes beyond the material or ritualistic sacrifices of old. These are prayers that have emotions, thoughts and reflections to help us recognize and appreciate God’s blessings and that we are willing to set aside our self-centered concerns to focus on His goodness.

• Praise #7

• Psalm 106:47 Save us, Lord our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.

• In the context of this verse, the people of Israel, despite their repeated disobedience, were repeatedly reminded to remember God’s enduring mercy and deliverance and by offering thanksgiving and praises, they demonstrated an active, responsive relationship with God-a relationship marked not only by receiving His grace but also by reciprocating His goodness with praises and thanksgiving.

• Praise and thanksgiving are a form of an obedient relationship with God.

• There’s a good metaphor by the late Derek Prince and he said to be in the presence of God you must first pass through the gate called praise.

  • Meaning: the metaphor of praise as the ‘gate’ to God’s presence suggests that continuous praise is like actively keeping the gate open for His powerful presence.

  • Meaning: just as a relationship between two people grows and deepens through regular, intentional interaction, having a good time, praising each other for one another’s accomplishments, helping each other through challenges, our walk with God flourishes when we consistently offer praise and thanksgiving.

  • Meaning: praise serves as the gateway, inviting us to enter into a rich, ongoing communion with God.

  • Meaning: Praise is the ongoing response that deepens our relationship with God and activates the fullness of His presence in our lives. The more we praise Him, the more of His presence is there…the fullness.

• Major takeaways:

• Our praises to God invites the Lord into our presence and He can act supernaturally in certain situations as shown in 2 Chronicles 20.

• Praising God can create an opportunity for Him to transform our mourning to joy.

• Praise is a weapon that can silent the accusations of the devil.

• Praise is a sacrifice to God and it also means to share our acts of kindness and generosity, especially towards the less fortunate.

• When we praise God, we create a spiritual place, a sanctuary, where His presence can reside as God delights in our expressions of adoration and gratitude.

• When we constantly praise God, we set aside our self-centered concerns to a God-centered focus.

• Praising God is a form of an obedient relationship with God.

• Praise is like a gateway to God. The more you praise Him, it actively keeps the gate open for God to be present. Praise serves as the gateway, inviting us to enter into a rich, ongoing communion with God.

• Praise activates the fullness of His presence in our lives. The more we praise Him, the more of His presence is there.

• Our walk with God flourishes when we consistently offer praise and thanksgiving.

• Constant praise reminds us of who God is through our acknowledgements of Him-His power, holiness, mercy, and love. When we deliberately express gratitude and adoration regularly, we reinforce our awareness of His attributes. This keeps our focus on the eternal and unchanging nature of God rather than on our problems or circumstances.

• From God’s grace we acknowledge that every gift we have is not earned but freely given by Him. This form of worship with praises and thanksgiving reflects our trust in God’s providence and our dependence on His mercy. Our ‘thanks’ is not transactional but an act of worship that honors His grace and salvation.

• Spiritual Transformation:

  • Creating a habit of praising God becomes a form of spiritual transformation-we practice learning to be grateful (thanksgiving and praises) for the all the things He’s already done instead of being thankful when our requests are met.

  • This transforms our hearts by fostering gratitude, humility, and hope, reminding us that even in the face of challenges, God remains our ever present source of strength and salvation.

  • Another spiritual transformation is that this practice moves us from a state of entitlement, complaint, or indifference into one of humility and reverence.

  • Another spiritual transformation is that even when faced with challenges our first response becomes a worship of praise

• In essence, praising God not only glorifies Him but also empowers us to experience a deeper, more fulfilling spiritual journey.

4/6/2025

Thanksgiving

• When it comes to praying, it is very common for believers to ask God for things and to complain about things in life but if you want a fruitful and successful prayer life, you must first understand that the access to God and His presence is through thanksgiving and prayer.

• As Derek Prince said about praying, prayer is not just one instrument playing, it’s a whole orchestra. There are many different instruments in that orchestra and we’ll be discussing about three particular instruments.

• God has laid down certain conditions on which we can approach Him and we are reminded that there is no access to God and into His presence without thanksgiving and praying.

• If you want a fruitful and successful prayer life…include thanksgiving, praise, and worship. Each of these is a way of approaching God and relating to God but each of them relates us to God in a different aspect.

• Each of these are essential parts of prayer.

• Thanksgiving – We acknowledge God’s goodness. Thanksgiving relates us to the goodness of God. The first access to God is through thanksgiving and then through praise (note: the ‘access’ means to God’s salvation as shown in the parable of the ten lepers).

• Praise – We acknowledge God’s greatness. Praise relates us to the greatness of God.

• Worship – We acknowledge God’s holiness. Worship is the highest activity of the human soul, relates us to the holiness of God.

• But before we go in depth into these three actions, let us go to Hebrews 12:28

  • NKJV: Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

  • NIV: let us be thankful

• Both are correct translations because the modern Greek word efcharistó which means ‘thank you’ is directly related to charis, which means grace. In other words, the word grace is embedded in the word for thanksgiving.

• The root of this Greek word gives us the English word charisma and is also associated with the word Eucharist, which is another word for communion, and it also means “thanksgiving.”

• Grace in the Christian context, specifically God’s grace, means God’s generosity and kindness or benevolence.

• Grace is understood as a gift freely given by God-not something earned by good deeds or religious observance.

• We as Christians believe that sins can be forgiven and a new spiritual life can be received through God’s gracious intervention through Jesus Christ.

• Grace is also seen as an empowering presence as it is a force at work within believers, enabling them to grow spiritually, love others, and transform their lives in ways they could not manage on their own.

• To ‘be in the grace of God’ is like a child who knows they are loved and welcomed by their parent no matter what. Even if the child makes a mistake, they can still run back into the parent’s arms without fear of rejection. They didn’t do anything special to earn that love-it’s simply there because the parent cares for them deeply.

• As a Christian we say “I am loved, supported, and forgiven by God, even when I don’t deserve it” and because we didn’t earn it, we thank, praise, and worship God for His grace.

• The point of this is that there is a direct connection between grace and thankfulness so to go deeper into this, an unthankful person is a person out of the grace of God. In other words, you cannot be unthankful and be in the grace of God.

• There are three modern languages that brings this out:

  • In French, Grâce à Dieu means ‘thanks to God.’

  • In Italian, Grazie means ‘thank you.’

  • In Spanish, Gracias means ‘thank you.’

• So in these three romance languages that are based from Latin, all retain the direct connection between grace and thankfulness.

• Again, to emphasize the key point is that when we are unthankful, we are out of the grace of God. You cannot separate thankfulness from the grace of God.

• ‘Let us be thankful’ and ‘Let us have grace’ mean the same thing.

  Thanksgiving

• Luke 17: The Parable of The Ten Lepers

  • There were ten lepers begging Jesus for mercy to heal them, Jesus said ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests’ (during those times if someone was healed they had to go to the priests for a certificate to show that he was no longer infectious).

  • Takeaway 1: There is a lesson about faith here as Jesus was communicating that on the way to the priests you will be healed. Sometimes we need to stop questioning how a prayer will be answered but to follow God’s instructions and have faith that the prayer is already answered. Sometimes we are healed as we go. If we just stand still and say nothing has happened, nothing ever will happen.

  • Takeaway 2: All ten were healed but only, the Samaritan, returned to give Jesus thanks. Jesus tells him ‘Your faith has saved you.’ All ten were cleansed but only the one who returned to give thanks was saved. Each of them had a physical healing but only one received the eternal spiritual healing of salvation.

  • Takeaway 3: This reminds us of God’s sovereignty as He healed even those who were not saved.

• Thankfulness is directly connected to the grace of God. Having a true understanding of God’s grace naturally produces genuine thankfulness.

• Thanksgiving is crucial in prayer as it acknowledges God’s goodness and is the first step in approaching Him.

• Psalm 100:4 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise”

• This creates a posture of humility: by giving thanks, we acknowledge that all good things ultimately come from God and it will humble you.

• It’s almost like reverse psychology in a sense. We begin with a state of gratitude and by thanking God for all the things you have in your life, thanking Him for all the things you can think of and see, you start to recognize how He’s already been at work in your life.

• And when we do pray for things: our requests to God should always be accompanied by thanksgiving.

• When you make a request for something, thank Him for it has already been done.

• Thanksgiving sets the tone for sincere prayer and worship. It moves you from a “self-centered” mindset (with all of my wants and complaints) toward a “God-centered” mindset (all about God and what He has done and provided).

• This shift from focusing on self – your needs, worries, and shortcomings to God, faithfulness and love will naturally draw you closer to God.

• Thankfulness is a command, not an option. Being thankful is an act of obedience.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

• “Give thanks in all circumstances” underscores that gratitude is not conditional. It’s not a matter of whether life is going well, it’s about recognizing God’s faithfulness and presence, even during trials.

• So treating thankfulness as a command means it’s not based on whether you feel thankful but it’s something genuine that comes from the heart as we put all our trust and reliance on God, especially from negative experiences.

• Cultivate the habit of thanking and praising God to unlock His supernatural power.

  Acts 16:16-40

  • Paul and Silas are ministering in Philippi when they encounter a slave girl possessed by a spirit that allows her to predict the future. Her owners profit from her fortune-telling. As she follows Paul and Silas, repeatedly saying “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” Paul eventually commands the spirit to leave her. Deprived of their income source, her owners stir up the city’s authorities against Paul and Silas.

  • The two apostles are beaten and thrown into prison. Despite their suffering, Paul and Silas pray and sing hymns to God at midnight. Suddenly, an earthquake shakes the prison, opening the doors and unfastening everyone’s chains. The jailer, fearing all the prisoners have escaped, prepares to end his life rather than face punishment, but Paul reassures him that no one has fled. Struck by their behavior and seeking hope, the jailer asks how to be saved. He and his household listen to Paul’s message, believe, and are baptized.

  • In the morning, the city officials order Paul and Silas to be quietly released. However, Paul reveals that they are Roman citizens who have been beaten and imprisoned unjustly. Alarmed at their mistake, the officials come in person to apologize and escort Paul and Silas out of the prison. After visiting and encouraging the local believers, Paul and Silas depart from Philippi.

  • This is an example of when your attitude, emotions and thoughts are filled with thanksgiving and praise, God unlocks His supernatural power. He works powerfully in and through you.

• Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

• The phrase "able to do immeasurably more" highlights the limitless power of God. It indicates that God is not only capable of meeting requests but can surpass even what believers can ask for or conceive in their minds.

• Something more relatable: suppose you’re facing a family crisis. Your inclination might be to worry or be frustrated. If you make the intention to shift your mindset towards thanksgiving – remembering past instances when God answered your prayers, meditating on His promises, and thanking Him for your family, you may start to sense a deep inner peace, which can create clarity and openness to new solutions or even unexpected help.

• This makes a lot of sense because when you’re upset, frustrated, complaining…there is no mental space for solutions.

• Derek Prince also reminds us that if you feel distant from God, consider whether you are approaching Him with thanksgiving and praise.

• Being filled with the Holy Spirit results in continual thanksgiving.

• Once a year we celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family as we give thanks for each other’s company and relationships. We give thanks for all the food and drinks. Let us be reminded to celebrate thanksgiving to God each and every day.

• Being unthankful is being out of the grace of God.

• Unthankfulness is linked to unholiness and leads to a decline in spiritual life.

• Murmuring or complaining is the opposite of thankfulness.

• So remember…the more you become aware of God’s grace, the more your heart is stirred to give thanks.

• Ephesians 5:15-20 “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

3/16/2025

Slavery in The Bible

• Often times when you hear critics that try to discredit the Bible or God with the subject of slavery, they cherry pick a few verses and take it out of context and/or have no understanding of the historical setting.  

• When the topic of slavery is mentioned, our minds jump to the most recent iteration of slavery: slavery in the United States also known as chattel slavery or antebellum slavery. That’s what we were taught in school, it happened in our country, it is what we refer to.

• What is a slave: a person who is forced to work for and obey another and is considered to be their property; an enslaved person.

• Today, in most places around the world, slavery is not acceptable due to its cruel and oppressive actions but it does still exist.

• As of 2018, the countries with the most slaves: India (8 mi), China (3.86 mil), Pakistan (3.19 mil), N. Korea (2.64 mil), Nigera (1.39 mil), Indonesia (1.22 mil), Democratic Republic of the Congo (1 mil), Russia (794,000), and the Philippines (784,000).

• The bulk of this is consists of government-forced labor, prison labor, bonded labor (people give themselves into slavery as a security against a loan or when they inherit a debt from a relative), forced labor, and sex slavery.

• Human trafficking is what we hear about most often today and it is very much linked to modern day slavery.

• Children and women are kidnapped and sold into sex slavery or forced labor. Others are tricked into “good” factory jobs then forced onto fishing boats where they are trapped, bought and sold like livestock and held against their will for months or years at a time. Those who resist or try to run away are beaten, tortured, and often killed.

• Forced begging is where enslaved individuals are forced to beg for money on the streets.

  • Long before the Greeks, Romans, and Persians, there were even older civilizations such as the Mesopotamians with very few surviving records.

  • It’s through the Mesopotamian civilization that gives us the first known records of slavery and this dates back over 4,000 years ago.

  • This is the written proof we have today but the guess is that slavery probably existed even before then from fragments of historical texts that mentioned about slavery.

• Depending on the civilization and their customs, it was possible that slaves had certain rights and freedoms, such as getting married and being set free with certain conditions. Some owners allowed the slaves to get married but if they had children, both the woman and the children still belonged to the owner. When the slave was set free he could make an agreement to stay as a slave so that he could remain with his family.

• The era or civilization of slavery is important because it could’ve meant something very different from what you imagine. And we are reminded that slavery has existed from the beginning.

• It is believed, with no concrete evidence that Sweden might be the only country in the world that never enslaved people. This just really shows how accepted slavery was throughout history, no matter what type or how evil it was.

• Here we arrive to the question that people ask: does the Bible approve of slavery?

• What first comes to mind is no, because in the book of Exodus God frees the Israelites who were enslaved by the Egyptians and to point out historical facts does not mean it’s approved of. There are plenty of things that happened in the Bible that are not approved of but nevertheless they did happen.

• But let’s dig in and see where else slavery is mentioned in the Bible and more importantly the context of what’s going on.

• In the Bible, the first mention of slavery is in the context of a curse in Genesis 9:25-27 where the future slave status of Canaan is attributed to curse of Noah.

• In the Bible, it is not very clear what type of slavery the Israelites were under Egyptian rule but we do know they were subjected to forced, harsh labor under oppressive conditions, and under complete control by the Egyptian state.

• This next section is most likely what people are referring to when they ask if the Bible condoned slavery.

• In the book of Exodus, you have God delivering the Israelites from Pharaoh at the Red Sea, Israel arriving at Mount Sinai, God proclaims the Ten Commandments and followed by additional laws that are laid out, including regulations on Hebrew servitude or a more modern name is indentured servitude.

• Indentured servitude: the law allowed Hebrew men and women to sell themselves into slavery to another Hebrew. They could only serve for six years and in the seventh year they would be set free (Exodus 21:2).

• If the master provides the slave a wife and she bores him children, the wife and children belong to the master. When the slave is set free he can give himself to the master in order to stay with his family.

• There were also bondservants, people who sold themselves due to a debt or possibly a crime they had to pay off and didn’t have the money for it.

• What’s unique for this type of slavery in that place and era is that the slaves had certain rights.

  • A slave may sue their master for mistreatment

  • The master owned the slave’s time, not their body

  • Leviticus 25:39-40 “Do not make them work as slaves. They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you.”

  • Deuteronomy 15:13-14 “When you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you.”

  • Deuteronomy 23: runaway slaves could actually seek asylum in Israel

• Israel’s law not only allowed the freedom of the slave but commanded his or her protection.

• So you can see how the people questioning the acceptance of slavery in the Bible is cherry picking these verses, not understanding the context, and blending it in with the concept of chattel slavery, the owning and buying of slaves and the horrors of American slavery.

• Wes Huff is the central director for Apologetics Canada, has a master’s degree in theological studies and is currently pursuing a PhD in theological studies and sacred and canonical texts.

• Wes Huff, who I looked up for information on this topic, mentions this paper by DGA Klein called “Social responsibility in the Old Testament” where it says “It is not extraordinary, not to say amusing, that the only society in the ancient near East that had a law protecting runaway slaves was also the society that traced its origin to a group of runaway slaves from Egypt. The point is that Israel had experienced God as the one who is sympathetic to runaway slaves, so this law is not just an ethical or legal principle in defense of Human Rights but reflects on Israel’s own religious experience, a fundamental characteristic of biblical ethics.”

• In other words, Israel experienced slavery firsthand and once they were free, they created laws to protect runaway slaves.

• Wes Huff also makes a remark that unlike the other societies of the time (Mesopotamia, Africa, and Egypt), slavery in the Old Testament was not viewed as natural or divinely ordered and a part of creation itself.

• On the contrary, Genesis 9 shows us that the first mention of slavery is in the context of a curse and seen throughout Scripture as an unnatural fallen and accursed state.

• Biblical insights:

  • Job 31:15 The highest point of the Old Testament’s ethical critique of slavery is found on the lips of Job. Speaking of his own slaves, Job says “Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?”

  • Book of Exodus has God saving his people from Egypt.  

  • God allowed certain forms of slavery to exist in human history and has included provisions for fairness and compassion in the past…referring back to the mentioning of bondservants and also the runaway slaves.

  • The New Testament condemns the act of enslaving others as a sin: 1 Timothy 1:9-10 “…understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the sexual immoral, those who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine”

  • Faith in Christ brings equality for people of all kinds. Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

  • Jesus Himself came as a servant (Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

  • Imago Dei (Latin for “image of God”) is the concept of all humanity being created in the image of God. Humans are created with value, beauty, and dignity. Our value is not limited in the same way. We are all made unique and special by God, whose image is beautifully displayed in our many talents and abilities.

  • So all these facts coupled with Imago Dei along with Jesus himself being described as a servant that leads to our only example of slavery being overturned.

  • The whole concept of human universal equality is fundamentally Christian.

  • The historian Tom Holland said you cannot derive these ideas from anything other than Judeo-Christian worldview.

  • Let this sink in: every movement to abolish slavery through out history has been a Christian inspired movement. All of them. All these individuals, whatever era they were in, started the movement to abolish slavery by looking at the scripture as a whole and in its context and coming to the conclusion that slavery is neither natural nor moral and doing something about it.

  • So in summary: there are various forms of slavery: one that we recognize today with its darker implications, and another more akin to servitude. These definitions can be seen in terms of involuntary versus voluntary service. The Bible illustrates this contrast by describing how God liberated His people from bondage, ensuring that even bondservants were afforded rights, and ultimately condemning slavery. These insights have contributed to a Judeo-Christian tradition that has inspired successive generations to abolish slavery.

3/9/2025

Parable of The Ten Virgins

Historical setting in describing a first century Jewish wedding:

Jewish weddings weren’t a single-day event but rather a long process consisting of three distinct stages:

1.      Betrothal – the binding agreement aka engagement

a.      The couple was legally considered married after the betrothal but they would not live together yet.

b.     The groom would pay a bride price (mohar) to the bride’s family as a sign of commitment. Sounds similar to what many cultures call dowry.

c.      A formal contract was signed, outlining responsibilities and financial agreements.

d.     This period lasted about a year, during which the groom prepared a home for his bride.

e.      Breaking off a betrothal required a divorce, even though the marriage was not yet consummated.

f.        This reminds us of Mary and Joseph and how they were betrothed when Mary became pregnant with Jesus and Joseph considered quietly divorcing her.

2.      The Wedding Procession – The Groom’s Arrival

a.      After the waiting period, when all was ready, the groom would go to the bride’s house, usually at night with a celebratory procession (a number of people or vehicles moving forward in an orderly fashion).

b.     This was the moment of great anticipation-the bride and her bridesmaids would be waiting with oil lamps to welcome him.

i.      The bridesmaids or virgins referred to young unmarried women and virginity was assumed as part of their purity and status. The bridesmaids were typically the bride’s friends, sisters, or relatives.

c.      The bride and groom would then return together to the groom’s house for the wedding feast.

3.      The Wedding Feast and Celebration

a.      After the procession, a large feast took place at the groom’s house, lasting up to seven days.

b.     It was a joyous community event, with music, dancing and abundant food and wine.

c.      The couple would consummate the marriage, marking the completion of the union.

d.     Biblical example of this took place in John chapter 2 in the wedding at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine.

 Other key points to keep in mind regarding this Jewish tradition:

• Weddings were considered major events that involved the entire village or community.

• They were one of the most joyful celebrations in Jewish life.

• The significant symbolism behind marriage was seen as a picture of God’s covenant with Israel and later, Christ’s relationship with the church. Jesus is the groom and we, as the church, are the bride.

  • Betrothal is the binding agreement much like a covenant.

  • God portrays His relationship with Israel as a marriage covenant, initiated by Him as said in Hosea 2:19-20 “I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness and you will acknowledge the Lord.”

• Another symbolism is the bride waiting for the groom symbolizes Israel waiting for the Messiah and now the church waiting for the second coming of the Messiah.

• The bridegroom analogy: just as the groom goes and prepares a home for his bride, this mirrors Jesus’ words in John 14:2-4 where He is comforting the disciples “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Setting in Matthew 25:

• Who is speaking: Jesus

• Who is the audience: the 12 disciples

• What is the setting: Jesus giving a private briefing to the 12 disciples about the coming destruction of the temple, His second coming and the end of the world.

Key Symbolism & Meaning:

• The Bridegroom → Represents Jesus Christ.

• The Virgins → Symbolize those who profess to follow Christ. All ten were invited, but their preparedness differed. The virgins weren’t doubting if the bridegroom was coming or doubting the wedding. The wise virgin represents the true follower of Christ who picks up their cross every day and follows the Lord. The foolish virgin represents the lazy and lukewarm Christian.

• The Lamps → Represent faith or an outward profession of belief.

• The Oil → Symbolizes what sustains true faith—often interpreted as the Holy Spirit, personal relationship with God, or spiritual readiness. There was only one difference between these ten virgins: the amount of oil they had.

• The Delay of the Bridegroom → Reflects the unknown timing of Christ’s return (Second Coming).

• The Closed Door → Emphasizes that there will come a time when it is too late to prepare spiritually.

The Parable Summary:

• Ten virgins go out to meet the bridegroom (representing Christ) for a wedding feast.

• Five were wise and brought extra oil for their lamps, while five were foolish and did not.

• The bridegroom was delayed, and all ten virgins fell asleep.

• At midnight, the cry rang out that the bridegroom was coming.

• The wise virgins had enough oil to light their lamps and go with the bridegroom, while the foolish ones, lacking oil, had to go buy more.

• While they were away, the bridegroom arrived, and the door to the wedding feast was shut.

• The foolish virgins returned but were denied entry, hearing the words, "Truly, I say to you, I do not know you."

• Jesus ends the parable with, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:13)

Core Lessons:

• Be Spiritually Prepared: The parable stresses that mere profession of faith isn’t enough. One must actively maintain their spiritual life. We need to continually be refilled with the Holy Spirit otherwise you will be like the foolish virgin with no oil.

• Personal Responsibility: The wise virgins couldn't share their oil—salvation and spiritual readiness are personal and can't be borrowed.

• The Imminence of Christ’s Return: No one knows when Christ will return, so constant vigilance and preparedness are essential. Only those who are ready (wise virgins) will enter the kingdom.

• Avoid Complacency: Like the foolish virgins, many may assume they have time to prepare, but the parable warns against procrastination in spiritual matters. (MENTION ABOUT THE WINDSTORM)

• Salvation cannot be borrowed: just as the foolish virgins couldn’t borrow oil, one’s personal faith cannot be transferred. The wise said to the foolish, go and buy oil. This could possibly mean that there’s a price to be paid for the Holy Spirit. Initially, the Holy Spirit is a gift but if you want to remain filled with the Holy Spirit, there’s a price to pay meaning you have to sacrifice something.

• You buy your oil by praying, Bible reading, spending time with God and you’re paying with your time, your energy (effort), pain and suffering to go through spiritual transformation.

• There will come a time when the door is shut, meaning there is a point when it will be too late to respond to God’s invitation.

This parable calls believers to regularly examine their faith and ensure it’s not just an outward display but rooted in a genuine relationship with Christ. It’s a reminder that spiritual laziness can have eternal consequences and that readiness is a continual process, not a one-time decision.

3/2/2025

Saved by Grace, Not by Works

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

• God’s grace is the undeserved favor of God. A free undeserved gift. We don’t deserve it.

• The channel through which we receive this gift (God’s grace) is our faith aka our trust in Christ.

• And what we receive is salvation, being rescued from sin and made right with God. Another way to put it is that salvation is the outcome of grace received through faith.

• From salvation we are forgiven, restored to God, and made “His handiwork.”

• Salvation is not earned by being “good enough.”

  • Observance of the law

  • Praying x number of times in a day

  • Being charitable (well how chartable?)

  • Performing good deeds (how good of a deed does it have to be? How many of these do I have to do?)

  • Have the right speech, right actions, even the right mindfulness and concentration

  • This is really not a life worth living because you always have to be on your tippy toes. Imagine having a tiger mom or dad. Nothing is ever good enough. You’re always trying to please them and you can never get there.

  • This will get tiring and this is why people flee from religion. But we are reminded that Christianity is different. Praise God for this.

  • We are also reminded that God is so holy and righteous that the sins we may look at as innocent or trivial is severe in God’s eyes. So severe that there’s not enough good works we can do to satisfy the justice needed.

• Our God says there is nothing you can do to earn salvation. The only thing we’ve earned is death.

• So through faith we receive this gift called salvation, with an emphasis that this is a gift, not by works, so that no one can boast. This passage could’ve easily been shortened but God made sure that we really get it by saying that this is a gift from Him and we can’t earn it through works.

• Handiwork or workmanship implies a creative, intentional work – we are His masterpiece. But a very sophisticated masterpiece.

• You can build the fastest car, the strongest computer, the biggest home, the smartest rocket – all these things can be your masterpiece but these things don’t have the free will you do.

• God’s masterpiece is one of a kind, sophisticated, and He deliberately and purposefully shaped who we are-our talents, our personalities, our spiritual gifts

• We are intimately known and formed by the Creator who loves us and has a plan for our lives.

• God the Master Artist, didn’t create humans with a sense of worthlessness or lack of purpose but with inherent worth

• Understanding that we are God’s handiwork, His creation, His masterpiece, furthers the point that there is nothing for us to boast about. We didn’t do any of this. God did.

• “Created in Christ Jesus” means that through our faith, we share in Christ’s life, death and resurrection. We are made spiritually alive in Him. Praise God that through faith all this spiritually happens and we don’t have to physically go through what Jesus went through on the cross but spiritually our old self dies on the cross and we are reborn into this new spiritual creation.

• “Created in Christ Jesus” also means that we are in union with Christ. He is the source of our new life. It is comforting to know that we are not left on our own to figure out how to live this new life but Christ empowers and guides us through the Holy Spirit.

• A lot of Christians stop at the salvation part. They believe (have faith) so they receive the undeserved gift of salvation and that’s it. They don’t go through spiritual transformation. You go about your life and continue being the same person. Yes, you are a believer now, maybe even baptized, but you don’t pray, you don’t read the word, you don’t talk to God, you still have your old habits (drinking, smoking, partying, etc.) so there’s no transformation.

• It is through this re-creation where we are “created in Christ Jesus” where we become this new spiritual creation that will give us the desire and ability to “do good works” that align with God’s will.

• The Holy Spirit dwells (lives) inside of believers: advocates (defends, supports, intercedes), comforts and counsels.

• Through prayer and reading Scripture, the Spirit brings truth to mind, convicts us of sin, and shows us the steps to follow in daily life.

• The Holy Spirit renews our thoughts, attitudes, and desires and over time we become more Christlike. This internal change isn’t something we accomplish by sheer willpower; it’s God transforming us from the inside out.

• When you were in your early twenties, that person that you were was not created by sheer willpower. That person was molded through many years of experiences, figuring out what you like and dislike, to create your identity.

• Our whole life moving forward after receiving salvation is continual spiritual transformation and doing good works mixed with all the normal things in life, raising a family, building a career or business, having hobbies, etc.

• In your first life, you learned about your gifts: maybe you’re a good artist, have special athletic abilities, gifted at playing instruments, intellectually gifted to be good at math, you’re good with computers/technology, maybe you’re a good speaker, writer, actor, dancer, good at creating things, etc. There are so many types of gifts.

• Now from your rebirth, through the Holy Spirit, you start discover what are the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom (being able to make sound judgements), understanding (to grasp the deeper meaning of God’s word and teachings), counsel (to give good advice and make right decisions aligned with God’s will), knowledge (apply biblical knowledge to daily life), prophecy, healing, miracles, discerning of spirits, tongues.

• So the last part “which God prepared in advance for us to do” means God has prepared good works for us to carry out but the Holy Spirit needs to first equip us with the gifts.

• We have to let go of our old ways first, our old habits, otherwise there will be resistance.

• Through spiritual transformation God recreates us in Christ with new purpose, which is to do good works.

• We are not saved by good works but we are saved for good works.

• This new purpose isn’t checking off a moral checklist. Rather, it’s about living out the reality of our new identity, allowing God to work through us to bless others, spread the gospel, share our testimonies, and bring hope to others.

• And this starts off with the ones closest to us, our children, family members, friends, co-workers.

• In summary, grace is the cause, faith is the connector, salvation is the result, and good works are the fruit or outcome of a genuine life of faith so we may share it with others and the whole cycle repeats with the next believer.

• This is how we help God build his kingdom.

2/23/2025

The Gospel’s Impact in Ephesus

• Ephesus is where current day Turkey is located (near the western coast) and at the time it was a major city in the Roman Empire, known for its commerce, culture and especially the Temple of Artemis

• Artemis was the god they worshipped there. Artemis is a prominent goddess in Greek mythology, daughter of Zeus and twin sister of Apollo. She is the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, wild animals, childbirth, and virginity.

• In the context of Ephesus, this goddess became a more localized version, often referred to as Artemis of Ephesus. This god was worshipped as a fertility goddess and protector of the city. The Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was not only a religious center but also a hub of commerce and culture (it brought tourism and wealth into the city).

• In the beginning of Acts 19, Paul is on a missionary journey and enters into Ephesus.

• What ultimately happens is Paul causes a spiritual and social transformation but externally he’s basically causing a riot.

  • A few highlights to mention about this chapter before getting into what Paul is doing:

  • The people being baptized were still doing John’s baptism (a baptism of repentance) and hadn’t even heard of receiving the Holy Spirit

  • Paul introduced them to the new baptism and when they received the Holy Spirit they start speaking in tongues and start prophesying.

  • Then it goes on to mention that God starts performing extraordinary miracles through Paul.

  • Verse12: so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

  • Verse 13: Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?" 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

  • Verse 19: A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

• Main point of this chapter: Demetrius, a local silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, noticed that Paul’s preaching was hurting their trade.

• He gathered other craftsmen and voiced their concerns, saying that Paul was persuading people that “gods made by human hands are no gods at all.”

• Their profitable business of selling idols was at risk and their great temple of Artemis, a key symbol of Ephesian identity and a major source of tourism, might be discredited.

• Upon hearing these concerns it created an uproar with the people and they dragged Paul’s two disciples into the theatre. Paul tried to intervene but his followers advised him against it for his own safety.

• This was finally resolved when the city clerk assured the people that Artemis’ reputation was secure and that Paul and his companions didn’t blaspheme the goddess and didn’t rob from the temple.

• The important principle here is that if you stay in a locality long enough, you should have a prevailing ministry, a ministry that is able to stir up others.

• That speaks volumes in our society today because we have been brain washed to be on our tippy toes so we don’t get cancelled. We have to be careful of what we say, even when it’s the truth.

• Before Paul arrived the city was peaceful and in time, he caused a great disturbance.

• This is what you call a prevailing ministry (influential) and eventually this prevailing ministry will touch the heart of the power of darkness. In Ephesus, the heart of the power of darkness was the Temple of Artemis.

• The more the Ephesians became believers in the Lord, the less influence the temple had.

• Our ministry is to propagate (spread and promote) the resurrected Christ as God’s kingdom in this place where every city is the kingdom of the devil.

• We are fighting for God’s kingdom. This is war. There is a war raging against God and Satan and we need to be certain that whatever we do is absolutely on the side of the kingdom of God and that nothing is involved with the kingdom of darkness.

• If you are just kind and gentle in carrying out the work, seeking to please everyone, no opposition will be stirred up.

• Paul’s proclaiming the kingdom of God was the promoting of the resurrected Christ. In Acts 28:31, He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. So this indicates that the kingdom of God goes together with the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. To teach the people the things concerning Christ is to spread the kingdom of God. Therefore, the kingdom of God is actually the propagation of the resurrected Christ.

• The kingdom of man, the human kingdom, started off with Adam then Adam began to expand. The kingdom of man was a couple and then this couple brought forth children and expanded to a family. Now the entire human race is part of the kingdom of man. The kingdom of man is simply mankind as the expansion of the man, Adam.

• The kingdom of God, the spiritual kingdom, starts off with God and through Christ as the seed expands into the churches. Through the churches we have the propagation of this seed to further the kingdom. In a sense, the book of Acts is still being written.

• To enter into the kingdom of God is to enter into the full enjoyment of Christ as the kingdom. But we are also reminded that Satan is doing what he can to prevent you from entering into the full enjoyment so you have to go through tribulations to get there.

• Lord, we worship You as the resurrected One and the ascended One. We praise You for Your propagation. We thank You, Lord, that we are Your propagation today. We thank You that we are with You in the heavens and that the churches are the kingdom of God. Amen.

2/16/2025

God’s Calling For Each One of Us

• God’s calling for each individual is a bit more unique and challenging because it’s tailored to everyone differently.

• In order to discover what your calling is you have to truly submit to God. We are choosing His way and not our own.

• Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

• Control approach:

  Stop trying to make God’s will fit into your will. That is ‘leaning into your own understanding’

  We often have our own plans, dreams, and deadlines. We might pray “God, I got this plan, please make it work” or “God, this is my dream, please make it happen” expecting Him to bless whatever we’ve already decided or expecting that what we have planned is God’s calling. But this is like trying to redirect a river to flow in our chosen direction rather than allowing the river to guide our boat.

• Surrender approach:

  Instead of pushing our own agenda, we humbly ask “God what is Your plan and how can I align myself with it?” This is putting Him first, His desires first. His purposes are often bigger than our immediate wishes.

  Another illustration is if you’re sailing you can’t force the wind to blow your way, you have to adjust your sails to catch the wind. In the same way, instead of fighting to make God accommodate our plans, we learn to adjust our lives around His will – which is ultimately for our good and His glory.

• God knows your calling and you must put His desires above your own if you want Him to reveal it to you.

  • Illustration: You carefully map out a road trip with the destination in mind and the plan is to drive straight through with no detours and along the way you have picked out stops, scenic overlooks…you are controlling every detail with your desires. Partway through your trip, your GPS (representing God’s guidance) starts rerouting you. It warns of road closures and accidents ahead (problems you can’t see). So now you have a choice: ignore the new directions and continue on with your own desires or follow the GPS, even if you don’t fully understand the changes.

    If you ignore the GPS, you will run into blocked roads, traffic, accidents – delaying or completely derailing your journey. You stay stuck because you clung to your own desires. If you trust the reroute, you may drive a path you never planned, but you’ll avoid danger and ultimately reach a better destination in a safer, smoother way.

• When we submit to God’s redirection, we are saying “God, I trust Your greater wisdom. I believe You see what I cannot.”

• God’s calling for you might be many different things throughout your life and not necessarily just one particular calling and they may all vary from a day to a week, a month, a season all the way to a lifetime so keep your mind open and aware.

• You really must pay close attention and be open-minded. Maybe the desires you have are part of God’s calling and maybe it’s not. The important part is that those desires are not above God.

• James 1:5-7 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

  • If you ask God for wisdom then you must believe and have no doubt. This also applies to when you ask God for your calling. When He reveals it to you, you must believe and have no doubt and take action.

  • If you are not ready to accept the answer from God, you might as well don’t ask because that means you don’t fully trust in God and there is doubt and you will be like the wave of the sea. You might also have what you imagined to be God’s calling for you and you won’t like what His calling is for you when it is revealed or you may possibly doubt you can handle what He is calling you to do. Regardless of these possibilities, there is doubt and you will be like the wave of the sea. You must be willing to submit and put away doubts and put away your own desires.

• James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.

  • You must take action once God answers your prayers and reveals to you what you are looking for.

• If God reveals your calling to you and you don’t do it or you push it off for later and then forget about it then that may be the reason why you are not moving forward in life and why your other prayers are not being answered and why you don’t hear God’s voice because you asked, He answered and you did not take action so everything else is now on pause.

• This part is definitely a revelation to me personally and Im just like man I bet theres so many prayers that were answered and I just missed it and didn’t take action so that’s why my new prayers aren’t being answered. Im currently praying that God will answer my prayers in a way that I wont miss the answers and that I will really get it.

• James 4:2-3 You desire but you do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

  • It’s important to remember to ask with the right motives. This is key to how you receive from the Lord.

• Here are a few examples of the differences between desire and motive.

• #1

  Desire (want): he prayed to God for a higher paying job.

  Right motive (the why behind an action): he wanted to provide for his family and help support mission work at his church.

  His reason for asking is unselfish

  Wrong motive: he wanted to show off his wealth to outdo others.

  His reason is driven by pride and competition

• #2

  Desire: she asked God for a leadership position in her community.

  Right motive: she aimed to use her position to serve those in need.

  Her reason centers on serving others, making her motives pure.

  Wrong motive: she wanted the title to gain personal recognition

  Her reason is self-centered, seeking status over service.

• The desire is what the person wants to receive from God, but the motive determines whether the request aligns with a sincere, loving purpose or if it is self serving.

• The teaching “Ask God and you shall receive, but ask with the right motives” highlights that why we ask matters as much as what we ask for.

• 1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of Him.

• Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon (Mammon is whatever you get your security, happiness, fulfillment from: material wealth, possessions, job security).

• We need to fully trust in God. Having God reveal your calling while you attempt to create your own plan for sense of security (Mammon) does not work because this means your Mammon is more important than God. It also means you trust yourself more than you do God.

• Ecclesiastes 11:5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

  • Stop trying to figure out every little detail of your life. That’s you trying to control your future, constantly trying to figure out what God has for your life means you are trying to put control and trust in yourself rather than putting it in God.

• Quote: The key to joy in life is not being so caught up in the specific calling that God gives you at that certain time but to be even more concerned with the One who’s calling you.

• Meaning: Be so focused on God that you’re exhibiting Jesus’ behavior and His love for others and you’re leading others to Him by being the example…be so caught up in doing these things that you don’t even care about your own will. You live a life so glorifying to God that He will provide everything for you and in His time, He will make everything known to you.

• Ecclesiastes 8:15 So I commend the enjoyment of life because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.

  • This verse is a reminder to enjoy everything God has given you.

• Proverbs 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

  • A verse of encouragement that once we figure this out, we will have a spiritual legacy to pass onto our children – Godly values, wisdom, and habits that bless descendants far beyond material wealth.

2/9/2025

God’s Will For Man

• There are many types of prayers but one of the most popular is when we pray to God requesting for things.

• We are also reminded to have prayers of thanksgiving and also prayers where we ask God what He wants.

• The following are verses showing what is God’s will for man:

• Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

• (God’s will is for us to always put Him first in everything we do.)

• Matthew 22:37-40 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ … And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

• (God’s will is for us to love Him with everything we got and to treat others the way we want to be treated [the golden rule].)

• 1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality…

• (God’s will is for us to be sanctified meaning to be made holy. It is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to transform us to be more like Jesus and helping us live according to God’s will.)

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

• (God’s will is for us to always be rejoicing, giving thanks and praying)

• John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have life more abundantly.

• (God’s will is for us to have life more abundantly in Christ Jesus)

• Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

• (God’s will is for us to make more disciples through out the world.)

• Luke 4:43 I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.

• (God’s will is for us to spread the Gospel so everyone has a chance to hear the Word of God.)

• Matthew 20:26-28 Whoever wants to become great amongst you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

• (God’s will is for us to help others, more so the less fortunate.)

• Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

• (God’s will is for us to live a life characterized by justice, mercy and humble devotion. This is again talking about the ongoing transformation we go through. Treat people more fairly (stand against injustices), show kindness and compassion to others (mercy), always walking with God [humble devotion].)

• Romans 12:1-2 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.

• (God’s will is for us to be a living sacrifice. We sacrifice our own wants, desires, things of this world, making room for our minds to be transformed by the Spirit of God. )

• 1 Timothy 2:3-4 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

• (God’s will is not only for our personal growth but also for everyone to experience salvation and truth.)

• 1 Peter 2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

• (God’s will is for us to be a testimony with our God-honoring lifestyle)

• 2 Peter 3:9 He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

• (God’s will is for everyone to repent and receive salvation)

• Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

• (God’s will is for our lives to include purposeful action [good works].)

• SUMMARY: God’s will is for us to seek Him first and to repent and find salvation, to pursue holiness through transformation, to always put Him first and to treat others the way we want to be treated. Through our actions we rejoice, pray, give thanks, serve others, spread the Gospel, share our testimonies and make disciples and to have life more abundantly. Our life is to be characterized by justice, mercy and humble devotion. We continue to test and approve through our daily decisions, contexts, and personal callings through Spirit-led application.

• 1 John 2:15-17 If a man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that’s in the world, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life, it’s not of the Father. It’s of the world. The world and its desires pass away. But he who does God’s will is going to live forever.

• Pride of life: arrogant attitude rooted in worldly accomplishments, possessions, or status. Your reliance is on yourself not on God. Seeking constant validation or admiration from others. Elevating one’s ego to gain personal prestige or praise all of which turns into pride. But all of this is temporary.

• This section on God’s will is the easier part because it’s pretty crystal clear what God wants for humanity and if we keep living out these particular Bible verses, we will be on the right track. The harder part is figuring out God’s calling for because that’s tailored differently for each individual. And it’s going to take patience, attention and discerning on our part to figure out what God wants us to do with our lives.

• Next week we go into what is God’s calling for you? Read the following and marinate on it during the week until we meet again next Sunday.

• Imagine this: you invite Jesus into your home and He reveals to you what your calling is in life but if it’s not what you want for yourself and for your life, what would you do in that situation?

2/2/2025

Being Careful and Wise With Our Speech

Proverbs 10:19 “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”

• This verse is part of the book of Proverbs, which is filled with practical wisdom and guidance on how to live a life that is pleasing to God and effective in human society.

• This verse addresses the use of speech, emphasizing the importance of restraint when communicating.

• The proverb suggests that when someone speaks a lot, the likelihood of saying something sinful or harmful increases (carelessness, unthoughtful comments, gossip, or deceit).

Story

A boy struggles with anger issues and lashes out at others with hurtful words. His father gives him a bag of nails and tells him that every time he loses his temper, he must hammer a nail into their wooden fence. After a while, the boy notices the fence is full of nails and realizes how often he’s been losing his temper. Determined to change, he works on controlling his anger.

When he finally has a day when he doesn’t lose his temper, his father tells him to remove one nail for each day he manages to keep calm. Over time, the boy pulls out all the nails—feeling proud that he’s gotten his temper under control. However, his father then points to all the holes left behind in the fence. Even though the nails are gone, the fence is now full of holes and will never be the same again.

• Moral of the story: Hurtful words can have lasting consequences, much like the holes in the fence. Even if we apologize and try to make amends, the “scars” may remain, reminding us to speak and act with kindness and restraint.

• Many relationships fall apart because the damage through words has happened one too many times. The victim can no longer carry on with hurt. They need to leave in order to start healing.

Sometimes saying less is better:

• Saying too much can possibly get you into trouble:

  • If you are in a police encounter, lawyers will tell you the best thing you can do is to keep your mouth shut. The more you say, the more you incriminate yourself.

  • Patrick Maholme’s father recently got pulled over for DUI and he’s trying to get himself out of the situation but makes it worse by telling the officer “I know I had a few drinks” and  “I’ll probably fail the breathalyzer.”

  • Confession videos: often times detectives don’t have hard evidence on the suspect so they try to trick you by saying we already know what you did so just tell us.

• There’s wisdom in silence: On the other hand, the person who can control their speech ("holds his tongue") is deemed wise. This restraint is not about silence at all costs but about thoughtful, considered speech. It implies a mastery over one's impulses and the ability to discern when speaking adds value and when it might lead to negative consequences.

Application For Believers

• Self-Control: The verse highlights self-control as a virtue, particularly regarding speech. A virtue is something that must be learned. Think before you speak.

• Avoiding Gossip and Slander: Excessive speech can often lead to gossip and slander. This is poison. You can damage someone’s name or reputation.

• Effective Communication: By speaking less but with more thought, individuals can become more effective communicators. Words that are well-considered and meaningful tend to have greater impact and are received better. It builds trust.

Jesus (our greatest example)

• His words were always intentional, often profound, designed to teach, challenge or provide insight.

• He taught in parables that would create deep meaning and make people really think about the lesson

• He responded to Satan’s temptations by quoting Scripture. Each response was a precise and fitting application of Scripture to the temptation at hand.

• Addressing the Pharisees: Jesus would respond in a way not only to counter their arguments but to expose the deeper issues of their hearts. Those were probably some of the rare moments where Jesus was really upset or irritated or frustrated but he held his tongue for just the right words. His answers often silenced His critics.

• Even at His trial, despite the false accusations Jesus chose His words carefully and spoke very few words.

• Sermon on the mount: His words were not just moral teachings but invitations to a transformed life.

1/26/2025

Patterns of The World and Spiritual Transformation

• Romans 12:1-2 “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. 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.”

• Paul is persuading the Romans about living a life that is pleasing to God. He begins in the book of Romans by explaining the fundamental principles of Christianity (faith, justification, sin, grace, and salvation) and then when we get to here in Romans 12 he transitions to emphasizing the importance of not only understanding these truths but living them out in daily life. When we can do that, we reflect a transformed life through God’s power.

• This becomes evident that you have to learn to let go of the natural things of this world in order to make space for the Spirit to live, grow and transform you through God’s power.

• In other words, this is how we live out our faith. First you believe, then you live it out and transform, then you can share your testimony and help others to do the same. This is discipleship.

• Romans 2:13 “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.”

  • To just hear about the law and do nothing with it is pointless. You have to not only hear about the law but obey the law.

  • You read the Word of God and then you put it into action

  • If you learn everything there is to be an electrician and you never connect a single wire in your life are you really considered an electrician?

  • Ive heard the saying to simply believe in Christ does not make you a Christian. The demons believe in Christ as well. They know He’s real. The difference is you have to live your life as a Christian and in the context of Romans 12 the Spirit of God needs to be dwelling within you and for you to go through transformation.

• For some of the newer people here or people that are renewing their relationship with Christ, you are encouraged to continue to learn, pray and really take a stance on saying I am a Christian. Get right with God and get baptized. Create a solid foundation for your life moving forward. Learn to create a habit of letting go of your natural man and allow the Holy Spirit to make room for transformation.

• For the seasoned believers, you have plenty of knowledge when it comes to your faith. Now the challenge is to live it out and to be a living sacrifice for God. Do not stay stagnant. Christianity is a way of life and we are to continue growing in Christ each and every day.

• Change isn’t going to be easy. It’s going to be uncomfortable. It’s going to be frustrating. Do not give up. Do not lose that spark.

• And through this, it’s going to carve you into a new, improved version of yourself.

• This ultimately shows that we become a living sacrifice for God. A living sacrifice means dedicating one’s entire being – body, mind, and spirit to God. This is not a one time act but a continual life commitment. We not only sacrificed our old self but we have sacrificed our body, mind, and spirit to God.

• This doesn’t mean that you just give your life away and have no aspirations and no goals. It means you continue to go to school and get an education, figure out what your purpose is in this world, create a future for yourself, build a career and a family but through it all, you go through continual transformations as a living sacrifice for God. You include God in all the things you do in life. Your life decisions are aligned with God’s word.

• Paul goes on to warn against conforming to the patterns of the world, which are often contrary to God's ways. This involves not just avoiding sinful behaviors but also resisting worldly values such as selfish ambition, pride, and greed.

Patterns of The World

• Examples of ‘patterns of the world’ to show what modern day looks like:

• The pattern of this world is that it continues to get darker and more evil is time goes on

• High speed chases used to be very, very rare. Now it’s a common occurrence.

• Decades ago, gang members didn’t run from the police nor shoot at them. Now people committing crimes (not even necessarily gang members) run from the police and shoot at them.

• Years ago you would hear stories of children not being raised properly by their parents. Now there are stories of children being abandoned, horrific stories of child abuse and negligence.

• Materialism and consumerism is another example as it has become the god for many people. For these people their focus is always wanting more ‘things’ in their life. To have the newest cars, newest clothes, newest gadgets, bigger homes, etc.

• Not only does this create a vicious cycle but it leads to debt.

• Quote: “We spend money that we do not have, on things we do not need, to impress people who do not care.”

• Another example is the evolution of morality. In modern times, there is the belief that truth and morality are subjective and can vary from person to person. The biblical view is that the truth is absolute, grounded in the character and word of God.

• If morality can mean something different from person to person, it becomes very confusing, very fast and hard to keep up and brings upon a certain level of chaos. Today we don’t even have an absolute truth on how we define a man and woman.

• When a police officer shoots someone, the focus is not on what did the suspect do but instead we talk about how the officer shouldn’t have shot the person, should’ve shot them in the leg, used a taser instead, etc.

• We have abandoned the conversation and focus on raising our children properly so they can become good members of society and instead we are focusing on how the authority figure should be upholding the law.

• The TV/media has become the Bible for many, many people. People need something to look up to. Something to provide them with information and ideas and even to help formulate their opinions and the TV media is doing just that. Not only is that dangerous but they aren’t even providing accurate information anymore. The TV media has popularized the term ‘fake news’ because of that.

• So this power that has been given to the media has been abused and then certain types of behaviors and dangerous ideologies are being normalized.

• The result of this is that now many people just regurgitate what they hear on TV but can’t explain what they mean.

• For Christians, the TV is not our Bible. The Word of God is our Bible. Sound doctrine with solid morality.

• Social media adds another layer to this dangerous reality where our “personal truths” are equally valid, regardless of factual accuracy or widely accepted moral standards.

• Society starts sharing how they believe that gender is just a social construct. That means the definitions of “masculine” or “feminine” traits, how men and women behave, what’s considered appropriate clothing or hobbies can vary. This becomes dangerous because once you open this Pandora’s box then next thing you know now we can’t even define what a man or woman is anymore. Biology is no longer truth. Men can have periods and give birth.

• The conversation about abortion has gone from being right or wrong to having abortions in the later trimesters.

• From these examples we can see that the patterns of the world is extreme, creates confusion, knows no boundaries, and becomes more evil.

• We are reminded to stay grounded in Christ, grounded in the teachings of Christ and the Word of God. With this solid foundation, as the world continues to mold itself in this evil contorted way, believers will remain.

Transformation

• One of the key aspects to Christian living is the transformation of the individual, which begins in the mind. This transformation is a process of mental and spiritual renewal, where believers are encouraged to absorb and meditate on God's Word. This renewal changes how they think, which in turn changes how they live.

• You either choose God or the world. One or the other will transform your mind.

• With a renewed mind, believers can better understand and discern God’s will. Paul describes God's will as "good, pleasing, and perfect," emphasizing that following God's will leads to a fulfilling and morally complete life.

• For believers, there are many ways to apply the “renewing of the mind” throughout our daily living. On a spiritual level, praying, studying the Bible, and meditating on Scripture are habits to help realign our thoughts with God’s truth and principles.

• Believers should also evaluate cultural norms and practices critically to help determine which practices align with God’s Word and which do not, choosing to adopt behaviors that reflect biblical values.

• Engage with a community of believers who support one another in the process of transformation. Accountability can help individuals maintain their commitment to not conform to worldly patterns.

• This verse emphasizes the importance of living a life that is distinct from worldly influences. Remember: do you want to be influenced by the world or do you want to be influenced by God?

1/19/2025

The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting For God

• The Hebrew word for fasting literally translates to “abstain from food”

• Christian fasting typically involves abstaining from food for a period of time as a spiritual practice – it’s a time to focus on prayer, repentance, and/or devotion to God.

• Even though fasting typically refers to giving up food and sometimes including water, Scripture does not prohibit the principle of voluntarily giving up things that gratify the flesh.

• Significance of food:

  • There are many reasons why we draw near to food. The obvious is for survival.

  • But we also eat as a form of entertainment or during meetings (for meetings it’s effective because if you’re my client and I feed you delicious food or treat you to an expensive meal, I am hoping that it will make you feel some type of way when you make your decision AND its even more effective if I get you to drink alcohol)

  • Asian cultures: people go out together to go eat, grab a drink to hang out. When you go over to someone’s house the auntie or uncle will ask you if you have eaten yet

  • Certain foods are tied to memories, childhood or happy experiences so when you eat certain dishes it evokes feelings of warmth and comfort.

  • Food also plays a central role during celebrations – birthdays, holidays, weddings, or religious ceremonies always include food

  • Food is also used as a treat or a tool for motivation for rewarding yourself.

  • We also draw near to food as a way to feel good, as a way to counter our stress and anxiety (stress eating is a thing)

  • Not to get side tracked but this is part of the reason why gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins. Gluttony is the over-indulgence of food to the point of waste.

• Spiritual Aspects of Fasting

  • There are many aspects of fasting and I’m going to share as many as I can here to help understand what fasting is all about:

  • Fasting is an outward expression of an inward commitment to pursue God and is often combined with prayer.

    • Talk is cheap. We can easily just say I want something and mean the opposite.

    • This outward expression is a way to show God you mean it.

    • This outward expression holds significance because we rely on food to survive. By giving up something so essential, we make a real sacrifice, and that sacrifice demonstrates our genuine seriousness.

  • These are all very common reasons to why we draw near to food and by giving up food through fasting, we are then drawing near to God, deepening our relationship with Him and to seek Him in times of special need.

  • When you go without food, your senses are heightened. This connects the dots when it is said that while you fast, you are more connected with God so as your spiritual sense is heightened, and this is how you draw closer to God. Something spiritual and physical happens while you fast and it helps you focus and hear from God more clearly.

  • Fasting is a way to glorify God in heaven, to express our sorrow and shame for our transgressions, to wait for an increase of purifying grace, to add seriousness and earnestness to our prayers, to avert the wrath of God, and to obtain all the promises He made to us in Jesus Christ.

  • Fasting is a way to offer God a sacrifice. This is a way to praise Him. We are sacrificing the thing we need for survival. We are sacrificing our enjoyment. We are sacrificing this thing that makes us feel good. We are telling God you are more important and you come first, even before food.

  • Fasting is a spiritual discipline – it helps us grow in our faith.

  • Fasting is a tangible way to deny ourselves – to declare before God that we know it’s all about Him. Your prayers will be that much more powerful declaring to the Lord while fasting vs declaring to the Lord while NOT fasting.

  • Fasting is God’s appointed way for us to cry out to Him in situations of special need.

    • This one gets a bit tricky because on one hand the intention of fasting is suppose to be drawing closer to God but fasting can also be a way we’re showing how serious we are about something we’re praying about or how bad we really want something so it’s a very thin line. We must be constantly reminded on the main intention of our fast.

  • Fasting shows God that we are desperate for His help and seeking His attention by the extraordinary measure of forsaking what we are fasting with.

  • Fasting creates power to resist demonic temptation and attack. In Matthew chapter 4 Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights the devil came and tried to tempt Jesus three times but He prevailed. So this shows that even Jesus had to fast in order to gain this spiritual discipline, heightened senses and spiritual power as mentioned earlier to resist the devil. So how much more important is it for us to fast.

  • Fasting is for the Holy Spirit’s vision, guidance and empowerment in ministry

    • Acts 13:1-4  Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

  • Fasting is for the protection of the nation in times of great difficulty or danger. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4 “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.”

  • Fasting is for national repentance and mercy when God’s judgement of sin is at hand. In Jonah chapter 3, after Jonah proclaims God’s warning to the city of Nineveh, the people respond by proclaiming a fast and wearing sackcloth.

  • Fasting is hungering for God; to seek after Him, to be closer to Him, to hear Him clearly and the byproduct of this is that we may be easier for us to be guided by God for the answering of our prayers but at the same time we are reminded that He is not obligated to answer our prayers. We may ask Him to be merciful.

  • Another intention of fasting is when you are seeking God’s guidance. Judges 20:26-28 the Israeli army fasted when they were seeking for God’s guidance if they should fight against the Benjamites, which were their fellow brothers.

  • Use fasting as a time for repentance as we should always be repenting but what a great time to do so while fasting (1 Samuel 7:6)

  • Fasting is a tool to weaken the flesh in order to strengthen the spirit. Remember in our previous studies the mentioning of getting rid of the natural man and in order to make room for the spirit man.

  • There’s also a disciplinary growth that comes from fasting where one learns more about self-control, making it harder for Satan to tempt you.

• Isaiah 58 is a chapter in the Old Testament of the Bible that focuses on what true devotion and fasting should look like in the eyes of God.

  • Empty Ritual vs. True Worship:

    • The chapter starts by condemning those who practice outward religious rituals (like fasting) without any genuine inward change. Simply abstaining from food or participating in religious acts is not enough if one’s heart and actions toward others remain unjust or self-centered.

  • Justice and Compassion:

    • Isaiah 58 emphasizes that the kind of “fast” God desires involves doing good, showing kindness, and practicing justice. This includes freeing the oppressed, sharing food with the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless, and clothing the naked.

  • Blessings of Genuine Obedience:

    • The prophet outlines the blessings and benefits that come from true acts of compassion and sincere devotion to God. These blessings include personal renewal, healing, guidance, and a strengthened relationship with God.

  • Honoring the Sabbath:

    • Toward the end of the chapter, there’s a focus on observing the Sabbath in a way that honors God, rather than merely going through the motions. Keeping the Sabbath with a joyful heart is portrayed as an extension of genuine devotion.

• Other Aspects of Fasting

  • We are reminded that the essence of fasting is abstaining from food. But fasting can take various forms and last different lengths of time, from partial fasts where one abstains from certain foods or meals to complete fasts where one abstains from all food for a day or longer.

  • According to Jesus, fasting should be done discreetly, without making a show of it to others, as seen in Matthew 6:16-18.

    • Jesus said: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

    • The emphasis is on sincerity before God, not on impressing others. If you’re trying to impress others than that’s the reward you get as others will be impressed.

  • Jesus clearly assumed that His followers would fast, though He gave no details about how long or how frequently. This means that it is up to the individual to discern the type, timing and length of their fast.

  • Before you plan out your fast, pray to God and ask for guidance to figure out what type of fast, how long and when to start and remember to make God the focus of your fast. Set aside time to worship and seek God in prayer. Repent of any sins the Holy Spirit brings to mind and ask God for forgiveness. Plan time to make your requests to God and to seek His will.

  • During the fast you seek Him through prayer, Scripture reading, and meditation.

  • It may taken 18-24 hours from your last meal before your bodily functions slow down to the point where you notice greater mental sharpness and spiritual sensitivity.

  • For someone that has never fasted or hasn’t fasted in awhile, it may be a good idea to do a few short fasts first as a means to get your body ready and awakened.

  • Like most challenges, be prepared for errors and failures. The key is to not give up. Spend time and re-evaluate what were the difficulties leading to the failure. Recollect, pray and try again. God will honor you for your faithfulness. He won’t hold you for failing. He sees where your heart is. Quitting and not trying again is a different story.

  • In modern day, besides fasting food, it can be anything that your flesh desires, including and not limited to nicotine, alcohol, drugs, soda, candy, junk food, TV, social media, video games, sex. Anything that gives you pleasure and that will create some level of suffering.

    • Galatians 5:16-18 says “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."

• Different ways of fasting:

  • One day from sunup to sundown

  • Twenty four hours

  • Daniel fast – vegetables, fruits, water. Just enough to get by. No pleasure.

  • Lent

  • Intermittent fasting

  • Going x number of days without y

  • Absolute fast: no water, no food (should only be done if it’s lead by the Lord)

• Health benefits:

  • Autophagy comes from the Greek word meaning “self-eating”and it’s a cellular process where cells break down and recycle their own components. Look at it as a form of cellular housekeeping and by clearing debris, autophagy supports healthier cell function and may help slow aging process. There’s also disease prevention with conditions like alzheimer's and may help prevent or delay some forms of cancer.

  • Weight management

  • Improved insulin sensitivity: periodic fasting may help stabilize blood sugar levels and enhance insulin sensitivity, potentially lowering the risk of type-2 diabetes.

  • Reduced inflammation: reduces the risk of chronic diseases.

  • Cardiovascular health: leads to improvements in cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

  • Cognitive benefits: increased mental clarity, focus, and alertness.

  • Longevity: ongoing research shows that certain fasting protocols might slow aging process and extend lifespan.

  • Water has also been included in Christian fasting but this can be considered dangerous and some will say you should not abstain from water unless it’s a direct command from God. You can only go three days without water and without it you can do some serious damage to your body and organs. On the contrary you can go much longer without food.

We humble ourselves before God through fasting and we devote ourselves to God through praise and worship and we repent for our sins. Anything past that, including the answering of our prayers, is an added bonus through the mercy of God.

1/12/2025

God is NOT to Be Mocked

• There are a couple current situations that have unfolded showing the wrath of God

• Billy Carson who is popular on the internet for his work in the fields of ancient civilizations and extraterrestrial life decided to take a stance on mocking God and expressing inaccurate information about Christianity and basically destroys his own career. You can look him up on YouTube.

• Golden Globes award aired on January 5th with a segment where God was mocked on TV with the celebrities laughing along and two days later Los Angeles is on fire. Is that a coincidence or is that God responding? You decide.

The Unpardonable Sin aka Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

• To be clear: this topic falls under the grey area. There are a lot of different meanings and the idea is to try to share as many different explanations about this topic to help better understand what this means.

• Because of human sin, a sacrificial offering needs to happen in order to satisfy the wrath of God. This act of appeasing or satisfying the wrath of God is called propitiation. This concept is deeply rooted in the understanding that because of God’s holy nature, justice is to be served.

• And this word propitiation is significant in Christian doctrine because it is directly related to the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus’ death is seen as a propitiatory sacrifice that turns away the wrath of God from sinners and restores their relationship with Him. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world.

• But even with Jesus as the atonement for our sins, propitiation satisfies the wrath of God, there is one unforgiveable sin….blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

• Matthew 12:31-32 “And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

• Mark 3:28-29 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is subject to eternal condemnation.”

• Luke 12:10 “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”

• We don’t know exactly what is said to the Holy Spirit that constitutes as blasphemy but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from God’s word.

• Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not a casual or unintentional act. It is a willful, ongoing rejection of the Spirit’s work in revealing Christ and leading a person to repentance.

• Slander: Oral communication of false and malicious statements that damage the reputation of another. A false and malicious statement or report about someone.

• Blasphemy: to speak evil of, to speak scornfully or in contempt.

• Speak evil of the Holy Spirit:

  • Claiming that miraculous works or acts of grace performed by the Holy Spirit are the result of demonic powers.

  • Resisting or rejecting the Spirit’s conviction, guidance, or work in one’s heart.

  • Ridiculing or making light of how the Holy Spirit operates in the lives of believers.

  • Teaching or spreading lies about the Holy Spirit’s nature, role, or purpose.

  • Using the name of the Holy Spirit in a disrespectful or irreverent way.

  • Sinning willfully and persistently after receiving the knowledge of the truth through the Spirit.

  • Turning away from faith after experiencing the work of the Holy Spirit in one’s life.

• Speaking scornfully against the Holy Spirit.

  • Mocking the work of the Holy Spirit

  • Ridiculing the nature of the Holy Spirit

  • Scorning the Spirit’s role in the Bible or questioning the Scripture’s divine authority saying “the Bible is just a bunch of human-made fairy tales; there’s no Holy Spirit involved in it.”

  • Criticizing faithful acts empowered by the Spirit

  • Openly denouncing the Spirit’s work or presence in the church or a believer’s life.

    Claiming that one doesn’t need the Spirit for guidance, wisdom, or holiness.

• Speaking against the Holy Spirit in contempt

  • Contempt: is a feeling or expression of deep disrespect, disdain, or scorn for someone or something perceived as worthless or beneath consideration. In context of the Holy Spirit: Speaking against the Holy Spirit in contempt involves treating the Spirit with irreverence, disrespect, or a sense of superiority, rejecting His divine authority and work.

  • Saying, “That’s just my conscience bothering me; I don’t need some ‘Holy Spirit’ to tell me what’s right.”

  • “Those so-called healings by the Holy Spirit are nothing but staged tricks.”

  • “We don’t need the Holy Spirit anymore; we have science and reason now.”

  • “You really think some ‘Spirit’ lives in you? That’s just childish fantasy.”

  • “The Holy Spirit is just a ghost story for religious people.”

  • “Stop pretending this ‘Spirit’ stuff is real—it’s all fake.”

• Thoughts:

• The Holy Spirit wants to convict people of sin, and point people to Jesus

  • John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of me.”

  • John 16:7-8 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement.”

  • This is painting a picture of the role of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who will convict the world.

  • To find or prove someone guilty of an offense or crime

  • To show or declare to be blameworthy; condemn

  • To make aware of one’s sinfulness or guilt

  • So the Holy Spirit’s job is to convict people of their sin, point them to the Savior, Jesus Christ so that they can have fellowship with the all-righteous God and be saved from the coming judgement.

• The Holy Spirit starts to dwell within every believer and enabling the Church to carry out God’s mission on earth.

• What ISN’T blasphemy against the Holy Spirit:

  • A sinner making fun of the preachers on TV talking in tongues or someone that doesn’t have any real knowledge about the Holy Spirit makes fun of deliverance ministries.

  • Sinner beating up Christians

  • A Christian backsliding

  • When a non-Pentecostal makes fun of Pentecostals. These are the guys that don’t believe in speaking of tongues or even the gifts of the Spirit. You are only held responsible to your level of understanding. The rest is called ignorance.

• An unique viewpoint - Some Christians interpret this subject more literally. They hold that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit occurs only in two specific time periods: when Jesus was physically present on earth the first time and during His second coming, when He will reign for 1,000 years. During these times, an individual could directly accuse Jesus of being possessed by a demon, such as in the incident that took place in Mark chapter 30, where the Pharisees made such an accusation against Him.

• If a believer has the desire to ask for forgiveness, to have a relationship with God, their heart is not hardened and they are not on the path to blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.

• It is someone who is dead inside, does not have the Spirit of God in them, has no desire to seek after God that more than likely has a hardened heart.

• There is a connection between God hardening pharaoh’s heart and the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit in the similarities with a willful rejection of God’s truth and the state of a hardened heart.

• Pharaoh initially hardens his own heart, repeatedly rejecting God's commands despite witnessing miraculous signs. His pride and resistance demonstrate a deliberate refusal to acknowledge God's authority and that is similar to someone who refuses to acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s work and even worse denounces it.

• Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit involves knowingly, persistently, and willfully rejecting the Spirit’s testimony about Christ, despite clear evidence of God’s truth and work. This sin is not committed in ignorance but reflects a hardened, unrepentant heart.

• Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit isn’t about isolated acts or words spoken in ignorance. It reflects a hardened heart, persistent unbelief, and intentional opposition to God’s truth. Christians often worry about accidentally committing this sin, but such concern itself indicates a heart sensitive to God, which is incompatible with true blasphemy against the Spirit.

• The unforgiveable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which involves a persistent, willful rejection of the Holy Spirit’s testimony about Jesus Christ. It is NOT about isolated acts of sin, but about a hardened heart that continually refuses God’s offer of salvation. While it is a serious warning, believers can be assured that anyone who is concerned about committing this sin is likely not in danger of it. The Bible teaches that God is always ready to forgive those who genuinely repent and turn to Him.

1/5/2025

The Impact of Jesus Christ’s Time on Earth and The Coming Tribulation

• Spiritual transformation through repentance and divine intervention

• Jesus Christ’s mission: Jesus came to save sinners, not to condemn them, emphasizing reconciliation and redemption.

• Impact of Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ has changed more lives than any other source.

• Disciples’ realization: the disciples continued the church’s growth by witnessing miracles and the change in people, not just belief in Jesus.

• Human blindness: humans often fail to recognize the truth and need divine intervention to open their eyes and ears.

• Role of repentance: Repentance and acknowledging one's sins lead to change and increased interest from God.

• Declaration of sin: Declaring one's sin is important as it shows the need for guidance and willingness to accept help.

• Prayer for enlightenment: Praying for God to open one's eyes and ears is essential for spiritual growth and understanding.

• Four steps of change: Change is categorized into four steps: see it, think it, say it, and do it, starting with what you see.

• Signs of turmoil, economic depression and Tribulation:

  • Tradesmen are becoming more valuable as fewer people can perform practical tasks, despite academic intelligence.

  • The speaker criticizes the consumer culture and overvaluation of goods like cars, driven by marketing

  • Vanity and debt are seen as tools of society that lead people astray, emphasizing the importance of staying out of debt.

  • A.I. is seen as a threat to employment, similar to how Gandhi removed machines to boost manual labor.

  • Over-regulation and false claims are causing insurance companies to withdraw from certain markets.

  • Famines and pestilences, with food becoming a critical resource.

  • Pollution and antibiotic-resistant bacteria are leading to health issues and environmental degradation.

  • The economy is against young people, with job security diminishing and education not guaranteeing employment.

  • Corporate downsizing is compared to piracy, with high-paid jobs being replaced by lower-paid positions.

  • The number of Christians is declining, with fewer baptisms and blessings from God.

  • Emphasis on the importance of Christianity and conservatism in facing future challenges.