Worry About What Really Matters - Luke 12:13-34

Based on Luke 12:13-34 (New King James Version)

“Then one from the crowd said to Him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ But He said to him, ‘Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?’ And He said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.’ Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’ ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ ‘So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Then He said to His disciples, ‘Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? ‘And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. ‘Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Is it wrong to have wealth? Is it bad to worry about things that are necessary for the body? Are there limits we should keep in mind? Seeing the context of the Word, we should be able to understand that the Lord is not condemning having what is necessary, because if it were so, then the Father would not provide such a thing, because nothing bad comes from the hand of God. What is necessary is necessary, and God is the One that will provide it. So then, what is the issue that the Lord is dealing with here?

For starters, we see here that there is an argument with an inheritance, and an inheritance is not something necessary. In other words, it is not revenue that you count on, otherwise, a person would need to depend on the deaths of much family, and often. So then, it can be concluded that an inheritance is an unexpected wealth that is received, economically speaking (although there are people that are so evil that they wait anxiously for what they can get when a person dies, like vultures rounding their prey right before dying, and that is the problem). That is why the Lord first warns against covetousness, because He knows that good intentions are not behind this argument for the inheritance. Remember that He was (and is) God, and God knows everything, even the deepest things within man. There is nothing hidden from Him. And the Lord continues dealing with this issue of covetousness with the parable of a man that wanted to store even more for later, and that he was not considering that he could die at any moment, and that all of his effort would be lost in the future.

So then, is it wrong to worry about needs? The issue is that our focus should not be on the things of this world. Of course, we need to work, and be responsible. Furthermore, it is part of our testimony as Christians to be responsible people, and the Lord even taught that we should pay taxes, and that we need to give Caesar what is Caesar’s, but also, and even more importantly, give God what is God’s. And there is the issue. We need to work. We need to keep track of what is necessary. We need to be responsible with everything in our life, but never at the risk of giving more importance to the temporary than to what really matters, what belongs to God. Nothing in this temporary world or what is material should consume us nor monopolize our thoughts. As the Word says: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Corinthians 6:12. From the moment that something outside of God governs our thoughts, and takes priority over everything, it has become an idol, and idolatry is sin. And one of the things we must be most careful with is greed, and turning greed into idolatry, because both, especially when combined, are a path that leads directly to perdition. The Word says this for example: “Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven. Do not eat the bread of a miser, nor desire his delicacies; for as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ‘Eat and drink!’ he says to you, but his heart is not with you. The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, and waste your pleasant words.” Proverbs 23:4-8. When greed turns into idolatry, there are two very destructive things for the soul that happen: the fear of God is lost, and there is so much trust in the illusionary that people do whatever is necessary to gain what they desire. All limits are gone.

So, what should we do as believers? This is God’s counsel: “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing.” 1 Timothy 6:6-14. And this is what should matter to us, what is most important because our future depends on this: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10. We will all need to give an account, without exception. Do not let yourselves be deceived by doctrines that deny divine responsibility, by doctrines that put God’s grace as a license to sin. God cares a lot about what His people do. Therefore, this is what you should really be concerned with above all things: “Will I be truly pleasing to the Lord when He judges me? Lord bless! John

The Knowledge of His Will - Colossians 1:9-18

Based on Colossians 1:9-18 (New King James Version)

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

What does salvation in Christ consist of? Does it just consist of believing in Christ and nothing more? Should there be something more than just a simple prayer confessing a faith? Does salvation have more purpose than just escaping hell and getting into heaven? My hope in Christ is that there are many people asking themselves these questions, but it seems like very simple answers are looked for and accepted. We live in an era where egocentrism and selfishness rule. The great majority of people only look for what is temporarily convenient. And if they are given answers that align with that, then they are content. The majority are satisfied with things that in the end align with their goals.

The first thing we could say is that there is nothing wrong with asking God genuine questions. But the issue is that worthwhile questions are what should be made. And for this to happen, a person needs to take their focus away from themselves and open up to a much larger view. The reality of the universe does not consist of what we are going to eat today, or the shoes I’m going to buy in a few days, or whether I’m going to get married or not, or if interest rates will rise or fall, or who will be the next head of state, etc. To be able to make worthwhile questions to God, the focus should not be on the superficial, or on vanity, or on this passing world, because absolutely everything we see will one day go away. Money, power, fame, comfort, and even our personal relationships will end someday. All of this physical and visible world will cease to exist for you and me, as well as for all humanity. Our eyes may not see it, but all of this will end someday. And if that is true, should we then worry about it so much? It’s not that it doesn’t matter, because it affects us, but should our attention be so focused on all of this? And the answer should be, no. This is what the Word says, which should help us focus on what really matters: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” Matthew 16:25-27.

Let’s see for a moment the Apostle Paul’s focus. The Word says: …that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding…” So then, what can we see here? From the moment that he is talking about the spiritual, he is no longer dealing directly with the physical or carnal, but rather, with another kingdom, another dominion, and of course, something that affects the here and now also. In other words, to be able to deal with the here and now, and in such a way that it aligns with the future, he is focusing on the beyond, on the permanent. The invisible and spiritual world is immovable. The immovable should always be put first so that we can then know how to deal with the temporary, and never the other way around. If a person is always focused on what is carnal and temporary, they will never understand, or worse, or get right the eternal. They will always err, and remember that the meaning of “sin” is to “err”. This is the problem with sin, the issue of not understanding, or less, doing those things that are completely right with God. If there is error or sin, then quite simply, they have not hit the target, the center of everything. That is why the Holy Spirit through Paul guides us to make the spiritual the most important, so that we don’t sin, so that we get things precisely right. The things of God have an incredible exactitude. They are not as general as some make them out to be. For example, this issue that all beliefs take us to the same God is absurd. If that were true, then there would be a crazy and schizophrenic god. It can’t be the same god that tells one group to love their neighbor, and to love their enemies, and tell another group to kill the infidels. And also, that the same god tell you that there is one eternal life after all of this, and for the same god to tell someone else that lives are recycled, and that a person lives many lives, and the only thing that changes is the form between one life and another. There must be some common sense employed, although unfortunately, common sense is not very common today. Sadly, I see that that the more “intelligent” and “evolved” our civilization thinks it is, the more foolish and decadent it becomes, by destroying its own nature.

Now then, let’s see the questions made at the beginning. Salvation consists of many other things, but it has only one focus. We know through the Scriptures that there must be first complete repentance from all sin, and a conversion without any reservations to the Lord. That should come before a person asks the Lord to come into their heart. And there is something very practical in this. In order to legitimately start over in Christ, everything should be left behind, there should be a turning way from everything that caused spiritual death in a person, for the wages of sin is death. And also, the other practical side to this is that for Christ to come in and reign as Lord in a life, there must be a complete surrender, and that can only happen when there is true repentance and conversion from all sins. And second, there should be this faith that accepts Jesus, not just as Savior, but more importantly, as Lord, because a savior only gives you a service, per se, but the Lord guides you to what you must do, and where you need to go. All of this is very practical when it is understood. And this new birth is just the beginning. Salvation does not consist only of a beginning, but also, of a continuance, an eternal path without end. And there are many things that need to occur on a journey like that. There is a lot to be done, and for all eternity. That’s why we are taught in this passage that we must be filled with all knowledge of His will, so that we can walk as is worthy of the Lord, and not just here and now, but for all eternity. And what should be precise in all of this? That the beginning, the present, and the end is Christ. We need to think about Who we belong to and Who we should serve. A person will never get to anything eternal if they are only thinking about themselves, and about fulfilling their own will, instead of having their eyes put on Christ, and looking to comprehend, to understand, but above all, to do His will. So then, are you looking to fill yourself with His knowledge so that you can do things that are worthy of Him, for your own good, and for His glory? Lord bless! John

Stay Away from Bad Influences - Numbers 31:1-18

Based on Numbers 31:1-18 (New King James Version)

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Take vengeance on the Midianites for the children of Israel. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.’ So Moses spoke to the people, saying, ‘Arm some of yourselves for war, and let them go against the Midianites to take vengeance for the Lord on Midian. A thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.’ So there were recruited from the divisions of Israel one thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. Then Moses sent them to the war, one thousand from each tribe; he sent them to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, with the holy articles and the signal trumpets in his hand. And they warred against the Midianites, just as the Lord commanded Moses, and they killed all the males. They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of those who were killed—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. Balaam the son of Beor they also killed with the sword. And the children of Israel took the women of Midian captive, with their little ones, and took as spoil all their cattle, all their flocks, and all their goods. They also burned with fire all the cities where they dwelt, and all their forts. And they took all the spoil and all the booty—of man and beast. Then they brought the captives, the booty, and the spoil to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. And Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the congregation, went to meet them outside the camp. But Moses was angry with the officers of the army, with the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, who had come from the battle. And Moses said to them: ‘Have you kept all the women alive? Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord. Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man intimately. But keep alive for yourselves all the young girls who have not known a man intimately.’”

To be able to understand this passage better, we need to understand what happened, although we are given a glimpse of the problem. The issue that happened was that many of Israel developed relationships with these Midianites that they encountered on the way to the promised land, a people that were dedicated to paganism, to Baal worship, basically a personification of Satan himself. And when Israel intermixed and even married their women, God’s wrath came upon Israel, and many died because of His punishment. The worse problem with this relationship with the Midianites was that not only were they dedicated to Baal worship, but they tried to influence and even convert Israel against their God. They tried to conquer Israel in a very subtle and calculating manner to destroy them as a nation, by trying to make them abandon God, and convert them to becoming like them, in the end, converting them into becoming Midianites instead of retaining their identity as Israel and remain being the people of God on the earth. If they would have accomplished that, the world would not have had any kind of hope, and there would have been complete spiritual darkness over all human civilization. They were a terrible influence, of the worse kind. That was the problem that God had with them, and the reason for why He was so inflexible in His direction to destroying them.

Unfortunately, this issue of the devil trying to use people with bad intentions to take believers away from way of the Lord still remains today, and worse than ever. We know that the world is the world, and that it is directly opposed to God, as it has always been. But now the big problem is that much of that world is trying to conquer God’s people, so that they abandon the Lord, and like that, establish a completely evil reign over the planet. That has always been Satan’s plan, but now, it’s worse than ever. And to our disgrace, Satan is fully immersed in our churches and in ministries, because of that evil and subtle influence that he employs. God’s people are falling today precisely because of this evil, for developing relationships with the forbidden, by forming an intimacy with that which goes completely against God. That’s why you need to be careful with who you deal with.

The Word is very clear with this issue of forming relationships with people that have no attraction for the Lord. For it says like this: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” 2 Corinthians 6:14-15. Quite simply, we cannot unite with people that want nothing to do with the Lord. In other words, there are differences between people that are in the world, those that are neutrally foreign to God because they have never heard of the Lord, and those that know about God and refuse to believe in Him and in His Christ. This is the ugly truth, but also the difference within that ugly truth, that the whole world is under Satan’s dominion, but there is a difference between those that don’t know the truth at all and those that refuse to accept the Truth, having known it in some way, and I say in “some way” because the majority of the world does know Who God is and that Jesus Christ is His Only Begotten Son, but refuse to accept Him.

Now then, how should we conduct ourselves, those of us that truly know the Lord? We are still under the dispensation of God’s grace, so then, we shouldn’t kill anyone, just in case. This is what the Word says: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” Jude 1:20-23. We need to give people an opportunity, so that they know the Lord, but not by forming an intimate relationship with them, because the Word also says this: “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4. “Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘If you return, then I will bring you back; you shall stand before Me; if you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, but you must not return to them.” Jeremiah 15:19. That is why we see in the key passage that the Lord gave an order to leave alone the girls and boys in this occasion, because they were redeemable, because they could be taught in the ways of the Lord. And we also see this: “Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.” Matthew 19:13-15. Within all of the evil and rebellion against the Lord, there can always be a childlike person that can listen to and accept the Truth of Christ. But otherwise, it is good to depart from everyone that can be a bad influence. So then, are you a good influence for the world, or are you allowing yourself to be drawn away by its evil influence? Lord bless! John

The Faithful in the Lord - 2 Timothy 4:6-22

Based on 2 Timothy 4:6-22 (New King James Version)

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.”

We see in the passage that the Apostle Paul lived through loneliness both in the ministry and personally as he got closer to the end. And we see that he points out people that were with him before that are no longer with him, and that they have not abided faithfully. But we see that he highlights something, pointing out the reason for why they abandoned him. He relates the love for the world as the reason for why they abandoned him.

To start explaining, and especially as it relates to our times (because the Word is always applicable to the present), today more than ever we see a universal cooling that is happening within the church in general. There might be things that seem like care or concern for people, but unfortunately, we know that it is not so. Our churches have become more a place for social gatherings or circles where people meet each other because they have a personal or secular affinity, or even a business interest rather than a spiritual relationship as the Lord commands. Many times, visitors can come in, people looking for help, and they usually go completely unnoticed because people in church are more worried about their own things. Sadly, I have to say this because we sometimes need to go to different places, and when people don’t know us right away, there isn’t even a greeting. I think to myself: “If they do this to me, how much more indifference or even rejection will a stranger or even a visibly poor person will experience? But, unfortunately the following that we see written is being fulfilled in general in the church: “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:1-5. This is what is happening within many of our churches today, and even worse, within the ministry. Disgracefully, that is where all the evil comes from.

Why does this happen? We know that the Word must be fulfilled, but each person chooses on what side of the fulfillment they are on. The major problem that the apostle points out is precisely the love for the world. There is an environment where the focus of the church is more of wellbeing in and relationship with the world than doing the Father’s will. People preach more about the things of the world, and how to fit in the world than seeing what God’s will is. The prayer of the Lord Himself has been changed, where instead of saying: “…Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” this is today’s attitude, “Your kingdom not come, and You do our will here on earth and in heaven.” It sounds horrible, but that is what is clearly visible. And why does this happen? Because the so-called church wants to be friends with the world rather than friends with God. And this is what the Word says about this: “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4.

Now then, maybe a person might ask, “How should we live in the world?” What should stop is being lukewarm, or in other words, this issue of trying to get along with God and with the world (or the devil). One of the greatest violations that go against the Gospel is this doctrine that teaches that repentance is no longer required, and that a person just needs to believe in Christ, and that’s what saves them. When a person comes to Christ, there must be a complete repentance and conversion from all sins. If that doesn’t happen, there is no salvation. That was what John the Baptist’s ministry was all about, and what prepares the way of the Lord. But without that preparation, without that conversion, it is impossible for Christ to come in. But, since that is allowed and even taught (to attract the masses), then there are no converts. The world comes into the church, and of course, it starts to reign in the church. Quite simply, a religion is adopted rather than a reality in Christ. And this is what the Word says: “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?” 1 Corinthians 5:9-12. The problem is when the church admits, accepts, and even supports sin. The world is the world, and if they don’t know the Truth, then we need to give them the opportunity to know Christ. But the person that confesses being of the Lord must leave the world behind. And if they don’t leave it behind, then the church needs to help them make a decision, for them to either finish converting or to leave, but to make a decision. In the same manner, if so-called believers want to have intimate relationships with the world, then they should go to the world if that is the intimacy they prefer. But this lukewarmness and this intimacy with the world is what contaminates the church, and of course, that is where the unfaithfulness to God and to those who truly serve will be seen. That is why the Word itself says: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” 2 Corinthians 13:5. This is God’s will: “Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘If you return, then I will bring you back; you shall stand before Me; if you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, but you must not return to them.” Jeremiah 15:19. This is what determines salvation: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. So then, do you love the world, or do you love God? Lord bless! John

Worry About Yourself - Romans 9:6-29

Based on Romans 9:6-29 (New King James Version)

“But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’ That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: ‘At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.’ And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, ‘The older shall serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.’ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.’ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.’ Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?’ But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As He says also in Hosea: ‘I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved.’ ‘And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there they shall be called sons of the living God.’ Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: ‘Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.’ And as Isaiah said before: ‘Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah.’”

One of the most important principles that we should understand for our own good is God’s sovereignty. God is supremely sovereign. There is nothing or no one higher, nor more powerful than God. And therefore, nothing or no one can command Him, and far less, judge Him. It is impossible. Unlike our temporary and insignificant world, there is no such thing as democracy in the universe. God was not elected. God is not ruled neither by a people, nor by a senate, nor by a parliament, nor anything like that. God has always been, is, and will always be forever and ever, amen. He is the I AM. And this is the principal theme of this passage, as is practically all His Word in its fulness. It’s all about Him because He is the Supreme of all the universe. It’s simply an irrefutable and unavoidable fact. Everything starts with Him and ends with Him.

Now then, does this passage favor such a thing as predestination, and that everything is predetermined for every human being? If it is taken on its own, of course, but God did not compose His Word so that it can be defined by a few verses. God inspired through the Holy Spirit another 65 books, and much more information (per se) within this same book of Romans. Therefore, for something to be taken as truth, it needs to be compared to the rest of the Word, but not with the goal to find a contradiction, but rather, with having an open feeling through the Holy Spirit to be able to understand the entire issue. A few verses should never be taken to create a whole doctrine out of them because that is where precisely the error starts, and God is not the One that creates contradiction; but rather man. This goes hand in hand with God’s sovereignty. It is not God that needs to accommodate to man, but rather, man needs to accommodate to God, therefore, man needs to put forth the effort to see God’s Truth in its fulness through the Scriptures. We need to always, always, always, bear in mind “Who” things are about. And so, if a person wants to have an encounter with God and come to understand His Truth, it is necessary to have the correct disposition.  

Apart from God’s sovereignty, what is the other important issue that is being exposed? That there are certain people that God may have potentially predisposed for wrath? No. What the Word exposes here is God’s mercy, and how God dispenses His grace. And finally, that everything is personal. As we established, God owes no one anything. But, despite that, He under His own will chooses to have mercy, and here we see His great goodness. It is very probable that both the people that received this epistle to start, and all of the time after that up to us that are reading it today, are enjoying God’s mercy, because through this and through so many other things, He is giving us the opportunity to be exposed to His Truth and to be able to understand it. And that is what should matter to you and to me. Whether there may have been others predisposed or predestined for perdition or not, that is their affair. The only thing that should matter to you and me is that God is looking upon us with mercy at this very instant.

Your salvation depends on your personal decision. This same example we see in the Word: “Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, ‘Lord, who is the one who betrays You?’ Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, ‘But Lord, what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.’” John 21:20-22. “Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’ And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from.’” Luke 13:23-25. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. So, what matters is what you do with the opportunity He is giving you. Your way is not predetermined. He is giving you a choice, and He says for you to strive to enter, and to do the Father’s will. The Word says this: “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:7-8. Your decision and determination are what will dictate your eternal future. When each of us stand individually before God’s throne, other people will not matter to us. I can assure you of that. Therefore, be wise and worry about yourself, and make sure that you are justified before God, but not based on your own opinion, or by what you prefer to believe, but rather, by what God truly says in all of His Word. God is sovereign and He is not going to judge you based on your opinion. So then, are you truly doing the will of the Father? Lord bless! John

God’s Judgment is Coming - Jeremiah 15:1-9

Based on Jeremiah 15:1-9 (New King James Version)

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth. And it shall be, if they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you shall tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.’ ’ ‘And I will appoint over them four forms of destruction,’ says the Lord: ‘the sword to slay, the dogs to drag, the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. I will hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem. ‘For who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem? Or who will bemoan you? Or who will turn aside to ask how you are doing? You have forsaken Me,’ says the Lord, ‘You have gone backward. Therefore I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you; I am weary of relenting! And I will winnow them with a winnowing fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children; I will destroy My people, since they do not return from their ways. Their widows will be increased to Me more than the sand of the seas; I will bring against them, against the mother of the young men, a plunderer at noonday; I will cause anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly. ‘She languishes who has borne seven; she has breathed her last; her sun has gone down while it was yet day; she has been ashamed and confounded. And the remnant of them I will deliver to the sword before their enemies,’ says the Lord.”

Today’s message is not easy to accept, but at the same time, because the problem that the Lord has is not easy to accept either. Many that prophesy or preach and teach lies promise peace, and prosperity, and that everything will be fine, but that is not true. They are not speaking on God’s behalf, but rather, they are trying to please people. And for what? For their own gain. And some might say, “That is the problem that there is, that there are many charlatans and liars in the ministry, and that’s why we are where we are. And yes, it’s true, but they are not the only ones. If it were like that, then the masses wouldn’t follow them. And also, there are many that think that they are fine, and that they fear the God. But is that really the case? Are the people that follow lies and fables not as evil as those that preach lies and fables, just like those that think that are fine, but they are only looking to do their own will? Is there true faith on the earth, or are there things that seem like they are good? That is the problem, and there is nothing that can be hidden from the Lord’s eyes, and that’s why we are where we are. And even more, everything will get worse because things are quickly worsening. There isn’t a true turning to God, but quite the contrary, and that attitude is what makes God’s judgment come faster.

What is the problem that exists today? The majority despise God. But the grave problem is that they despise Him knowing Who He is and what He has done. There is no lack of knowledge of the Most High and of what He did through His Christ for all humanity. The majority know that God exists, and they know the meaning of the cross. So then, there is no desire to look to believe in Him or to fear Him. It’s either a conscious lack of respect or hatred. And that is what brings about His judgment. But there will be some supposed believers that will say, “God is good, and He will not allow such judgment, because He is love.” And unfortunately, that too is a lie. The Word of God says that He is slow to anger and great in mercy, but that doesn’t mean that His wrath will never come. And you can’t fool God, because those same people that speak of such love say this for their own convenience, because they want for God to justify their sin and to accept them with their abominations. The Word says this: “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.’ ‘Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit’; ‘the poison of asps is under their lips’; ‘whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.’ ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known.’ ‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’” Romans 3:10-18. The Lord also says this: “‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?’ says the Lord of hosts to you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ ‘You offer defiled food on My altar, but say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?’ says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 1:6-8.

The issue that exists today is that despite people knowing who God and His Christ are, instead of looking for Him and with legitimate reasons, the majority only want to do their will, whether it be despising God, or looking to use Him. He is not acknowledged for Who He is, and far less, they don’t look to do His will. The majority think that the purpose of their life is to just do whatever they want. Almost every human being, whether unbeliever o even the supposed believer, says in their heart: “My will be done, and not yours God.” That’s what they show with everything they do and think. And God did not make us with that purpose. Whether we want to accept it or not, God created us for Him, and not for ourselves. And until a person does not come to understand that they will never see life. This is what the Lord says: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23. So then, while a person does not look to do the Father’s will, and that this dictates the course of their life, they are still on a way to death. The Word also says this: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:7-9. This is an unbreakable spiritual law. So then, it is not just God’s punishment, but also, it is part of a natural consequence in the universe. There is no life outside of God and His will.

So then, what does produce life, and will help me avoid God’s judgement? “Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’” Mark 12:29-31. And in loving God, there is no looking for your own convenience, but rather, love is unselfish. So then, will you come to love God as you should so you can escape the coming judgment? Lord bless! John

Being Counted Worthy - 2 Thessalonians 1

Based on 2 Thessalonians 1 (New King James Version)

“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

We read in this passage that these converts in Thessalonica were people that really demonstrated a true and genuine faith, and that it was something quite visible. And we see this through the way the apostle speaks about them, that their faith continues to grow, in the love that is seen among them, and, because they endure with patience persecution and tribulation. And through this, we understand that truth faith in Christ is not a guarantee for tranquility, or prosperity, or personal well-being, but rather, it is designed, per se, to endure any circumstance. In this instance, we see that faith was totally applicable to whatever circumstance our predecessors experienced, whether in Judea, or in Thessalonica, or in any part of the world, and that in all reality, circumstances did not interfere with it. But, quite the contrary, that it was able to endure adversity, and that it even prospered that much more. This continues being applicable today.

But through this passage, we see two groups of people, per se, those that have a genuine faith in Christ that endure persecution and tribulation, and those that bring about tribulation to those that believe, those that do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we see that each group of people will receive something when all this world passes, that those of us that suffer for Christ will be comforted, and those that refuse to believe will suffer eternal perdition, and that they will be excluded from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power. So then, it is very clear that each person will either have a reward or punishment, depending on what they did during this life.

So then, can it be deduced that faith in Christ consists of certain suffering, persecution, and even tribulation, and that not following Christ, but rather refusing to believe in Him, means some form of tranquility and even comfort while a person is here? Everything in this life in the end has a consequence, and as such, everything has its reward. The Word of God says that following the Lord is not easy, that difficult decisions will need to be made that will affect our comfort and well-being, our security, and that we will even need to sacrifice our closest relationships because of our love for Him, depending on what the will of God is during this time. In other words, in one way or another, our life here will not be easy because we have decided to follow Christ. In the same manner, the life of those that do not want anything with the Lord will not be so difficult (humanly speaking), because they will follow the world’s current, in summary, sin, and sin is what prevails in this temporary world. And be very careful because many believers also follow the world without realizing it, because they look for their own well-being instead of doing the Father’s will. That is why the Lord Himself taught this: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.

This issue reminds me of a story (not a parable) that the Lord told, as it was left written: “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:19-31. Those that desire the world, and its delights will have them, but there will be none after all of this.

As an end, there is something else that the apostle does in this passage, and that is that he mentions twice that they be found worthy of God’s kingdom and of His calling, even though they are exemplary. Why does he do that? Because this Way to Christ does not consist only of a single prayer that was made in some moment, nor even less, of a fruitless and barren faith, but rather, it consists of following the Lord faithfully, day-by-day, and of overcoming every obstacle and difficulty that we may encounter, so that at the end of the way, when all of this is done, that our works in Christ can be counted worthy before the eyes of the Most High when we stand before Him giving an account. Just as the Word says: “…For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48b. Whatever our condition may be, no matter what the cost, if we desire to get to that divine reward, it is necessary to do the Father’s will, without exceptions. So then, will God count you worthy to enter His kingdom, or will He discard you to eternal perdition because you did not do His will, and refused to pay the price that needs to be paid in this world? Lord bless! John    

We Need to Follow Abraham’s Faith - Hebrews 11:8-10, 17-18

Based on Hebrews 11:8-10, 17-18 (New King James Version)

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God… …By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’”

There are many that have the idea that there are people that are more special than others, and that these other people supposedly are more special because they have certain spiritual aptitudes that are superior to others. But, if we read very carefully God’s Word, things are not necessarily like that. It’s possible that we all start differently, and of course, with certain disadvantages in comparison to others, but that doesn’t mean that we need to stay like that. And when it involves salvation and following the Lord, even more so, we need to understand that despite the differences we may see in those as superior, that we need to leave the place where we started and press towards the goal, not towards our vision, but rather, towards the goal that God has for each of us. Today, a half-truth per se has been circulated within our Christian community, that God accepts us just as we are. And yes, it’s true that God accepts us just as we are, as sinners with many faults, but the other side that completes the truth is that God accepts us just as we are, but with the goal to be transformed into something very different, and that is the main focus, the one that the devil tries to deviate people from with half-truths.

If we see the life of the apostles, none of them remained where they started in their walk with the Lord. Thomas, for example, stopped doubting. Peter stopped dealing with things by being guided by his emotions and impulses. Paul stopped persecuting Christians. Mary Magdalene stopped being a demon-possessed prostitute, and so on. We all started as something unpleasant before the Lord’s eyes, but by His grace and love, despite our terrible state, He accepted us as we were, but with the condition that we repent and convert from all of our sins, to stop doing those things that are evil which were the works of our fallen state, and to start doing what brings Him honor and glory, in summary, those things that produce life and blessing. That is the point. That is the end God is looking for. It’s not like one of those false and sinful doctrines where sin is accommodated and shown as acceptable by God, allowing a person to justify doing whatever they want to do. Our lives were created by God, but to glorify and serve Him, and not to glorify sin and to serve the devil, because that is what happens when a person does not leave their sinful lifestyle.

In the Scriptures, God left us a key example showing what each of us should be like in the end. But of course, our model always was, is, and shall be Christ. But, nonetheless, we see the Lord through Abraham, and what should be manifested in each person that desires to be saved. And this can be understood quite clearly through the Word, that our faith should be like Abraham’s faith if we want to be saved. Salvation does not consist of a simple belief in God. The Word says this: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” James 2:19. So then, today, even within the people of God, there are many that believe less than how the demons believe, because they neither fear, nor even less, tremble before God. And if it’s like that, can they be saved? Definitively not. At a minimum, our faith should exceed that of demons.

This is what the Word of God says: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. So, if our faith needs to be like Abraham’s, how was his faith then? And this is what the Word says: “But do you want to know, o foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” James 2:20-24. So then, we can see quite clearly that Abraham’s faith consisted of not just believing, but of something far greater and deeper, of faith and works. This is another error, and one that Satan has promoted, that we are saved by grace alone and that we don’t need works. This is of the devil because this goes completely against what the Word and Christ Himself taught. We are saved by God’s grace through the Person of Jesus Christ, but for good works. We must produce fruits. We must do things that glorify God. You must do the Father’s will if you want to have the hope of being able to enter the Kingdom of God. There is no other way. This is what Abraham lived, and what every other person that is in God's presence now lived. This is also what the Word says: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27. What does doing consist of? Works, action, fruit! Abraham believed in God, and he also believed God and he did what God commanded him to do no matter what the cost. Abraham loved God so much that God asked him to sacrifice his son, all his hope, all of his desire, all of his descendancy, that when he raised his hand to do it, only God himself was able to stop him. What did Abraham illustrate with his life? He fulfilled the law by his faith: “…The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31.

We must become like this Abraham if we want to get to God. There is no other way. Does it sound impossible? But this is what the Word says: “…‘Who then can be saved?’ But He said, ‘The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.’” Luke 18:26b-27. Christ did it all, and we through Him have free access to everything that is divine. But we must do our part though which is repent and convert from all of our sins, and look to do His will, whatever it is, no matter what, until we see Him face-to-face one day, when we will be in His presence forever. So then, do you have Abraham’s faith and love, for your own good? Lord bless! John       

Consequences and Blessings - Judges 4

Based on Judges 4 (New King James Version)

“When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth Hagoyim. And the children of Israel cried out to the Lord; for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he had harshly oppressed the children of Israel. Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, ‘Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?’ And Barak said to her, ‘If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!’ So she said, ‘I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.’ Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; he went up with ten thousand men under his command, and Deborah went up with him. Now Heber the Kenite, of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, had separated himself from the Kenites and pitched his tent near the terebinth tree at Zaanaim, which is beside Kedesh. And they reported to Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. So Sisera gathered together all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth Hagoyim to the River Kishon. Then Deborah said to Barak, ‘Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?’ So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth Hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left. However, Sisera had fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, ‘Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; do not fear.’ And when he had turned aside with her into the tent, she covered him with a blanket. Then he said to her, ‘Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.’ So she opened a jug of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him. And he said to her, ‘Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’ ’ Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. And then, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, ‘Come, I will show you the man whom you seek.’ And when he went into her tent, there lay Sisera, dead with the peg in his temple. So on that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan in the presence of the children of Israel. And the hand of the children of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.”

Everything bad that happens in this world is because of sin, as a consequence of man’s fall. God had made everything good, but when man sinned, everything was affected, both man’s life and everything that surrounds them, without exception. The only thing that remains holy and unaffected is the kingdom of God, but everything else was corrupted by man’s sin. That’s why we have so many problems, complications, pain, and of course, even death. The consequences of sin are unfathomable, because everything affects another, and another, and another, forming an almost unending chain, a cycle of events that continues happening throughout time. This life is like an incredible collection of collisions where we affect ourselves and one another. It sounds chaotic, and it is, but up to a certain point. Because within that chaos, God limits repercussions precisely to preserve the inaccessible. That is the structure of the universe. Notwithstanding, sin corrupts and destroys everything we see and feel now in this life.

Following the explanation given, we many times cause our own problems thanks to our voluntary sin. Sometimes, we do suffer consequences from the sin of others. Of course, things happen that are not our direct responsibility, but many times, it is our responsibility, in one way or another. Not wanting to accept responsibility does not limit consequences. That is inevitable, and here is where we get into the passage we saw today.

We saw at the beginning that the children of Israel did again was what evil before the sight of the Lord. They had done evil before. God dealt with them, and a time of peace came. And as soon as things relaxed a bit, per se, they relapsed in their sin against God. And we see as a result the consequence of the Lord selling them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan, where they were going through much hardship. The Word says that the Lord sold them to their enemy, and well, that is what they got for their sin. Rebellion and disobedience against the Lord only bring more problems. This world is imperfect and difficult as it is on its own, but adding on sinning directly against the Lord, that makes things even harder, especially when a person is aware of and knows the truth. This is a rule of the structure of this world, and therefore, irrefutable and inalterable: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:7-8. Sooner or later, all sin against the Lord brings consequences. There are people that believe that they are fine because things seem to turn out well in general, but that is the greater danger. It is preferable to see the consequences to our evil actions now because it gives us the opportunity to change (like the people of Israel did) before thinking that everything is fine and suffering eternal consequences where there is no more time to change, nor the possibility for repentance.

Now, does God want our destruction? This is what the Word says: “Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, ‘If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?’ ’ Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’” Ezekiel 33:10-11. God does not want man to be lost, but there also exists a point where mercy and divine protection ends, and the other side starts, that of consequence and punishment, depending on when. This is the issue: “Do you want to continue sinning against God until you encounter eternal punishment? Or do you wish to end with sin and turn to the Lord while there is still time, to be able to receive His blessing?” Lord bless! John             

A Faith that Saves - Joshua 2

Based on Joshua 2 (New King James Version)

“Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho.’ So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, ‘Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.’ So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, ‘Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.’ Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, ‘Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.’ (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate. Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men: ‘I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.’ So the men answered her, ‘Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.’ Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. And she said to them, ‘Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.’ So the men said to her: ‘We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.’ Then she said, ‘According to your words, so be it.’ And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window. They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. And they said to Joshua, ‘Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.’”

In this passage, we see a faith that made great things happen where God’s purposes were accomplished, but because there were many people that agreed in the same faith. We see that Joshua sends the spies in obedience to God, because God had promised them that they would conquer the land. We see the faith of the spies because they risked their lives to follow Joshua’s orders, because they did something that was God’s will. And we also see the faith of Rahab the harlot because she had heard what the Lord had done with other countries, and that God was with Israel, and she wanted to be on the Lord’s side. And Rahab, because of her faith, risked her life and the life of her family to help the spies. All of these people had acted and even risked their lives because of their faith in the Lord, because they believed.

But it is necessary to understand something clearly here, and that is what faith is not, because many misunderstand today what faith is. Faith in God is not about looking to fulfill your own carnal desires, and least of all, looking for worldly triumphs. Faith has nothing to do with the flesh. And I know that this will be unpleasant to many, because the main reason for why faith is misunderstood is because the majority of people desire to fulfill their will rather than God’s will, and they see God as a vehicle, as a tool to get what they want, and that goes completely against all Biblical principle. This will sound bad, but everything that is based on the flesh is sin, and that will lead to death.

Now, some may say, “But God listens to me and He has me doing quite well.” And yes, it may seem that way, but a person must be very careful what they ask for, because they may just get it. Because it’s either one or the other; either they get what they want because God allows it, even if it is not His will, or because something or someone else that doesn’t come from God gives it to them. Just because you get what you want doesn’t mean that God gave it to you, or because it is something He agrees with. If a person really desires God’s will, then it needs to agree with God. And the only way that something can agree with God is if God is the One guiding. This is an irrefutable Biblical principle: “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:8. So then, if your desires and prayers are founded on the flesh, and you try to use God, employing a supposed faith, you will sow corruption no matter what, and corruption leads to death. And the opposite is also just as certain, that if your prayers and desires are founded on the Spirit (on God), then your prayers and your desires will yield everlasting life.

So then, how can we see this in application? Was it Joshua’s idea to conquer the promised land or God’s idea? Did the spies do their will, or were they following a divine design? Rahab the harlot did what she did because she had planned it, or because she saw that Almighty God was involved in what was happening and she chose to be on God’s side? The reason for why they all did what they did was because they wanted to follow and/or be involved with God. God was their focus, and not their carnal desires or worldly ideas. And this is the error that most people commit, that they think that God is there to serve them rather than the opposite. This is what the very Son of God taught: “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10. If a person continues looking to do their will, no matter what it is, then they are still on a way to perdition. For it is written: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. So then, are you living a faith that saves? Lord bless! John

Names written in a Book - 1 Chronicles 1:1-27

Based on 1 Chronicles 1:1-27 (New King James Version)

“Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah. The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshishah, Kittim, and Rodanim. The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabtecha. The sons of Raama were Sheba and Dedan. Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and the Caphtorim). Canaan begot Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth; the Jebusite, the Amorite, and the Girgashite; the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite; the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. Arphaxad begot Shelah, and Shelah begot Eber. To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, and Abram, who is Abraham.”

There are books in the Bible that contain long lists of names, like the one we read today. I remember when I was a boy in Bible class, that we sometimes had to read these long lists of names. It was hard for most of us to read them because speaking sincerely, many names were difficult to pronounce. And also, since they were names of people in a completely different language than ours, we didn’t understand much either. It seemed more like a difficult reading exercise that many were not interested in. And there are people that many times jump these passages to avoid complicating themselves, because they probably think: “What kind of teaching can be learned by seeing all of these names written in the Bible?” And the reality is that much can be learned because this has a great meaning that does involve us quite deeply, as we will see following.

For God, every person is important. It’s a soul. It’s a living being. And even more than that, it’s a being that did something during their existence in this life. Our names are not just tongue twisters, per se, to God. Someday, possibly not far from today, God will open books or a book with many names written in them and our names, yours and mine, will be written in one of them depending on what we did during this life. Now the issue is gaining more value, right? The reality is that absolutely no one goes through this world unnoticed, especially before the eyes of God. Each being, since the beginning of man (which is what matters to you and me), has been seen by many witnesses, by God, and by everything that surrounds them, by the visible world, and more importantly, by the invisible realm. This is what the Word says: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1. There is an endless number of witnesses all around us, but principally God, who sees and knows everything, even what we think, and finally knows the depths about our being at every instant. God knows who you and I really are, and He knows us by name. And at this very moment, all of our actions are being written somewhere.

The Bible teaches us that there will be a judgment, and that books and a book of life will be opened, where the names of everyone that has existed will be seen along with all their actions, and their eternal future will be determined depending on what they have done. This is what the word says: “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15. Who are those that will be written in the book of life? Those of us that have not only repented and converted from all of our sins and believed and accepted Jesus as the Lord of our lives, but also those of us that have remained faithful to Him, doing the fathers will until our last breath. Now, I cannot give only part of His divine counsel, but rather, as complete as possible. The Word does imply that a person's name can be erased from the book of life, as it is written: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Revelation 3:5-6. Therefore, it is urgent to encourage to abide, to overcome, to pursue the goal that Paul spoke about until the end. When we are born again in Christ, that is just the beginning. We must live for Christ day-by-day, and when the time comes, also die for Christ. He must be our beginning, our interim, and our end.

Now, someone may ask, “What can I do to run the risk of having my name erased?”, and this is what the word says: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21. That is why the Apostle Paul wrote, as inspired by the Spirit this: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12. And also, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” 2 Corinthians 13:5. So finally, these are the ones that will not only be written in the book of life, but also remain written for all eternity: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. What is the will of the father? “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40.

So then, when you stand before God's judgment, where will your name be written and what will your story be? Lord bless! John               

Willing to Serve the Lord - 1 Corinthians 16

Based on 1 Corinthians 16 (New King James Version)

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me. Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren. Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time. Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints—that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us. I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men. The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you. The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s. If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

What can we see here explicitly in this passage? Paul, through the Spirit, exhorts to serve the Lord some in one way, and others in a different way, but the principal subject is about serving the Lord. He is talking about his own service, and about what he is planning on doing. He speaks about the services others are rendering to the Lord. And he is also instructing the readers to also do their part, and to help however they can. He is talking about secular work also, and how it should be used to help because they all needed to make a living. And even he himself needed to work most of the time. There was a lot of activity going on, and he was encouraging to do more. And wasn’t easy work either because he spoke about a great and effective door that has opened for him, but there are many adversaries. It is no surprise that much of the known world had already heard of the gospel in one way or another in a matter of decades after the death and resurrection of the Lord by seeing such activity in just a few verses. It is estimated that Paul on his own traveled more than 10,000 miles (16,000 km) on foot during his missionary journeys, and of course, not for vacation or for own personal delight. In summary, why all this activity and service?

There are some things that can come into the conversation as reasons for why all of these people did what they did, and these could be either because it’s a requirement as part of salvation, or because the Holy Spirit urged them to do it, or because there was great gratitude. Many may either agree with some of these points or may not. And of course, there may be some people that over-spiritualize some of the reasons. We will say that the Word gives these motives and also others as reasons for why there should be such service and care in the Lord and for the Lord. I can say that at the very least, those that were mentioned can be clearly affirmed through the Scriptures.

One of the principal reasons that I would say, guided by the Spirit, is that there should be at least a great gratitude for what the Lord has done, if there is some capacity for reasoning. We see this as an example with regards to Lazarus’ sisters, as it is written: “Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’ This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.’” John 12:1-7. We see both Martha and Mary serving the Lord out of gratitude, and Mary serving to the point that she even prepared the Lord for what was coming.

Some might say, “How can they not serve the Lord and be grateful if He raised their brother from the dead?” And yes, it is clear this was a great physical miracle. But then, what about what the Lord did for us on the cross? Is access to eternal life less important than raising someone from the dead physically? It’s true that Lazarus was resurrected physically, but he died again (because he is not with us today), so what is that to you? It is a unique work, but I submit to you that the eternal life that God gives through Jesus Christ is superior to Lazarus’ resurrection, even from a very selfish point of view (per se), because I will live eternally and forever thanks to what Christ did for me, and not because of a physical miracle that happened so long ago. And also, the Lord did what He did without any kind of obligation. According to the Word, we are not born children of God, but actually, quite the contrary. Without Christ, we were God’s enemies, dead in our sins, and far away from God’s kingdom. This is what the Word says: “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:8-10.

So then, this takes us to a point that does not require neither much discernment, nor spiritual growth, and not even a lot of Biblical knowledge. At the very least what should cause a desire to follow the Lord and look to love and serve Him is the fact that He gave His life for us. He gave us a completely unmerited salvation, by grace, rescuing us from our sins, and giving us eternal life. And if a person does not know how to love the Lord because of these things, then what the apostle said is very well applied: If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. If a person does not know how to appreciate, nor see His love as a reason to learn to love and serve Him, then how can God excuse such rejection? It is not fair to return evil for good to God, especially after knowing what He did. And through Christ, we need to start practicing justice, by starting to value God’s love. So then, are you willing to serve the Lord because of everything He has done for you? Lord bless! John

Eternity is What Matters Most - Ecclesiastes 8:10-9:3

Based on Ecclesiastes 8:10-9:3 (New King James Version)

“Then I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of holiness, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity. Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God. There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun. When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night, then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it. For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them. All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; to the good, the clean, and the unclean; to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.”

Today, most people only think about the here and now, and unfortunately, much of God’s people are also on the same path. Moreover, much of God’s people fall into bad doctrines, the ones that are subtly taught to please the masses for gain, because they are more focused in what they want here on earth than in eternity. There are a lot of lies that sound like the truth, because those that follow demonic doctrines use the Bible to justify the works of the flesh, vanities, in summary, different things that take to eternal death. And is it any wonder that it happens like that if Satan himself tried to tempt the very Son of God, the Word, with the Word of God (manipulated for evil, of course) to get Him to do things that don’t glorify God? That is why that the subtle distortion and ability to manipulate the Word of God is nothing more than the work of Satan through his slaves. And that is why we must always keep the end in mind, and a unique zeal for God’s Truth that can only be found in the fulness of the Scriptures, and not just in certain parts. There is something that is certain and inevitable, that each one of us will die, and everyone, without exception, will need to give an account for what we have done in this life, both the unbeliever as well as those of us that have come to Christ. This is one of the most irrefutable truths of the Word, and also one of the things that Satan has mostly disturbed the Truth within the Church, that we do not need to give an account. Each person will die someday, and each person will give an account for what they did in this body.

God made us with a purpose in mind since the beginning. Nothing has changed since the creation of man, and that is, that man (His creation) was made to serve Him. Like all things in this life and in eternity, that if something does not serve its purpose, if it does not fulfill its function, then it is discarded. God did not send His only begotten Son to the cross so that we could just belong to Him, but rather, to give us an opportunity to come back to the reason for our existence. If the Son and the Holy Spirit exist to do the will of the Father, then what is left for us? If we doubt this, let’s see what the Word says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10. So then, anyone that teaches something else, that we don’t have to worry about anything more because we our saved by grace, is not listening to something that comes from God, but rather, from somewhere else. Through faith and His gift in Christ Jesus, He gives us the opportunity to do the good works that we were created for, the will of the Father.

The Word is very clear: we will give an account for everything. Everything that we do while being in the knowledge of Christ will either count in our favor or against us, depending on whether it is good or evil. This is what the Word says: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. If you doubt this because this is a passage in the Old Testament (like certain apostates propose), let’s see the following: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10. This was inspired by the Holy Spirit and written to the Church. What we do after receiving Christ’s salvation counts, and it is an essential part of our way to salvation. This is also written: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:7-8.

And this is also written, and it applies to all who profess to have faith in Christ: “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Revelation 3:1-6. So then, does it matter much then whether things go well or not for a person in this life? Not really, especially in comparison to what really matters: eternity and what God will say of us in the judgement. The question is: “Will our name continue to be written in the book of life after the judgement? Lord bless! John     

Words that Matter Most - 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

Based on 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 (New King James Version)

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. In the law it is written: ‘With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; and yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,’ says the Lord. Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

Through the years, there has been much controversy within our Christian community of whether the gift of tongues exists or not. Many affirm that it does, and to the point that they even see this as a sign that the Holy Spirit is within a person. And others deny it saying either that it was something of the past or for those past times only, or that it does not exist, or they even make fun of it, and they take it as something crazy or theatrical. I can say well-founded on the Word that both extreme views do not agree with the fulness of the Scriptures. If it is written in the Word, can something be denied existing, or worse, made fun of that is part of the gifts of the Holy Spirit? If something is not understood, but it is written in the Word, at the very least, it should be respected because then, will God see as good someone that mocks something that belongs to Him? There are things that should just be left for the Lord to decide whether they are real or not. Now, can they be used as an indication that a person has or does not have the Holy Spirit? That is also not right because the Word teaches that the Holy Spirit distributes the gifts however He sees fit, and the fruit of the Spirit is not speaking in tongues, just as the Word says: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23. This is what truly reveals if a person has the Holy Spirit or not. For it is also written: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1. And unfortunately, there is much sounding brass and clanging cymbals today which takes us to the real point I am guided to deal with today. Beyond giving a dissertation about tongues, God desires for something to be understood more deeply that is more urgent, and that is, “Are we more focused on speaking clearly to people that surround us about God’s salvation?” Are those words more important in our conversation with our fellow man?

Here is something where we need to start: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45. What are we sharing with others? According to what the Word teaches, we should prophecy or preach as clearly as possible the gospel of Christ to people so that they can come to the Lord also and glorify God. That is what Paul is talking about here. Prophesying, especially in this passage, has nothing to do with talking about future things, as many people take prophecy as meaning. Prophesying or preaching means talking on God's behalf. That is the true work and function of the prophet. This is what the holy prophets did before like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and so many others; they spoke on God's behalf. And what we should talk about the most is about what Christ came to do. What was the most important reason for why Christ came to die on the cross? So that we could have gifts? For physical or financial well-being? For vanities or temporary things? Christ died and was resurrected for you and me so we could have eternal life. And this is not what is communicated today. We are so focused on the here and now that people do not talk about the eternal anymore, like if eternity did not matter anymore.

And this takes us to an even more profound thing. If we are not talking about Christ’s salvation with others, then what is filling our hearts (“…For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks”)? If we are talking more about the things of the world, about vanities, or even talking about God but only as a means to resolve temporary problems, then we should ask ourselves, “what do we truly believe”? That is the big problem that exists today. Many talk more about temporary things or solutions to problems then what really matters, then about salvation, and how eternal life is obtained. Are our daily problems important? Yes, but they cannot become the all of our lives. We cannot preach about a Christ that only comes to fulfill desires and fix problems. That was not the purpose of the cross. The most important words should be the ones that we believe with our heart, and I hope for your own good that they are the words of life that the Lord spoke about. Otherwise, a person continues in the world with a sure destination to perdition. This is what is written: “…that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:3b. So then, what are the most important words to you? Lord bless! John           

God’s Majesty vs. Man - Job 25-26

Based on Job 25-26 (New King James Version)

“Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: ‘Dominion and fear belong to Him; He makes peace in His high places. Is there any number to His armies? Upon whom does His light not rise? How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight, how much less man, who is a maggot, and a son of man, who is a worm?’ But Job answered and said: ‘How have you helped him who is without power? How have you saved the arm that has no strength? How have you counseled one who has no wisdom? And how have you declared sound advice to many? To whom have you uttered words? And whose spirit came from you? ‘The dead tremble, those under the waters and those inhabiting them. Sheol is naked before Him, and Destruction has no covering. He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing. He binds up the water in His thick clouds, yet the clouds are not broken under it. He covers the face of His throne, and spreads His cloud over it. He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, at the boundary of light and darkness. The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at His rebuke. He stirs up the sea with His power, and by His understanding He breaks up the storm. By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?”

What do Alexander the Great, Ashoka the Great, Hannibal Barca, Julius Caesar, Qin Shi Huang, Attila, Napoleon, Genghis Khan, and Mehmed have all in common? All of these people were associated with great kingdoms and empires, people that had been in part or directly responsible for the greatness they achieved. These were people with great power, great wealth, and with an almost absolute reign during the time of their reign. It can be said that they were almost invincible, at least in our terms. It can be understood that they were people that were exemplary in their tactics, in their intelligence, and in their leadership, speaking in military or human power terms, so much that they are even remembered today.

But what other thing do they have in common apart from their greatness and achievements? There is something else that unites them and us, something that is so certain and obvious at the same time. They were people. And as the people they were, despite their great achievements and power, their end came one day. At one moment, they were great and glorious, feared and respected, rich and powerful, but, at another moment, they stopped breathing, and their hearts stopped beating, and whatever is left of their bodies lay in the ground somewhere, consumed by the elements and things present in the earth, just as God told man one day that it would happen to all of us ever since sin entered the world: “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19. Science and technology advance, and some reigns grow and increase, but the same continues to happen, that each person’s time comes to them, no matter what they do, each of us grow and age, and we will also return to the dust from where God made us, just as it happened with our ancestors, and as it will also happen with every person that comes after us, and there is nothing we can do about that.

So then, why is all of this being said? And what can we glean from this? That reality is reality. But what can we do about it? Is it wise to live life as many do by trying to supposedly enjoy things as much as possible before bad days come, and then cease to exist? This is what the Word says: “But instead, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine: ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’” Isaiah 22:13. This is what most people try to do. But we must always remember that God is God and that man is man. That’s the point. And what is man compared to God? This is what the Word says: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” Psalm 8:3-4. We must remember that whatever we do, that we are nothing, and that this is not just a philosophy or lyrics from a melancholic song, but rather reality, and especially when we compare ourselves to God’s greatness. If we acknowledge our position in the universe, we do not have the luxury of thinking that we are something and that we have some sort of power over the inevitable. But this is the problem today: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.” Psalm 14:1-3. There is a lot of foolishness because many think erroneously that they are something, and worse, that there is no God, or that God is something without any importance. I lack the words to express the level of foolishness that exists today. I don’t know what we are becoming, but something is certain, that there are a lot of weak minds, vanity, and confusion than ever before, and there is even more hopelessness. This is the reason for why the world is worsening so quickly.

There was a man in history that reigned practically over the whole world because there was no kingdom nor will there ever be such a perfect kingdom as the one given to him. All of the power in the world was in his hands because there was no other kingdom that could face him. And that’s why God qualified his kingdom as gold. But, one day, he forgot Who was responsible for everything he had. And this is what the Word tells us: “‘…King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.’ That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws. And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’ At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” Daniel 4:31b-37. What should a man do for their own good? Remember what they are and what God is, and that contending with the Almighty is extreme foolishness where there will be only one resulting loser: man. So then, are you considering God’s majesty and salvation, and what you are for your own good? Lord bless! John

Fearing the Right God - Judges 6:1-23

Based on Judges 6:1-23 (New King James Version)

“Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains. So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. Then they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey. For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number; and they would enter the land to destroy it. So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord because of the Midianites, that the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage; and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. Also I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.’ But you have not obeyed My voice.’ ’ Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!’ Gideon said to Him, ‘O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.’ Then the Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?’ So he said to Him, ‘O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.’ Then he said to Him, ‘If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me. Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You.’ And He said, ‘I will wait until you come back.’ So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot; and he brought them out to Him under the terebinth tree and presented them. The Angel of God said to him, ‘Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.’ And he did so. Then the Angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the Lord departed out of his sight. Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, ‘Alas, O Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.’”

Is fear bad? No, especially if it is taken and used as the Bible teaches. Fear within itself is not about being afraid, or about terror, at least they type that the Bible speaks about. It’s not the type of terror or fright that prohibits you from getting close to what you should get close to or look to be together with what you need. Fear is something healthy and even good, but everything that makes it either good or bad is the direction and what it really is. Biblical fear is about reverence, a deep respect, and also, a loyalty, by not wanting to betray that which you fear. So then, this is what we are talking about that we relate to this holy fear that we should have towards God.

What did Israel do wrong for God to give them over to the Midianites? Israel feared the wrong thing. The Lord told them: ‘I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.’ But what did they do? They did precisely the contrary to what God told them to do, and they feared and worshipped the gods of the Amorites, among other gods. Israel was unfaithful to God because they feared the wrong thing. They feared people and the idols rather than the God that had done everything for them. Israel forgot the holy covenant they had made with Him. And that’s why this evil came upon them.

Fear is good, but the correct feeling must be felt, and not towards other gods and men, but rather, towards the true and real God, to the Lord God Almighty. We need to fear Him. That’s what Gideon did. Gideon feared God, and thanks to that fear was that God revealed Himself even more to him, and saw the Lord face to face, and did not die, because his heart was right before God. And God used Gideon to free Israel miraculously from the hand of the Midianites. And this is the same thing we should do: fear the Lord.

There are many that err thinking that we don’t need to fear the Lord. This is what the Word teaches: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7. Why does wisdom start this way? Because when a person legitimately fears the Lord, they start to take God’s opinion into consideration, they start to care about what God thinks, and that is the beginning of divine wisdom. Because, if we are rational (even seeing it from a very human point of view), is it not worth more to us to be on the side of Him that is higher than everything else in the universe, the One that is superior to the idols and to men? This is what the Lord Himself said: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28. Of whom was the Lord talking about? He was not talking about the enemy (because Satan has no power in the coming judgment), but rather, of God the Father. This is what the Lord said also: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23. That’s why we need to fear the Lord, because if we do not look for what really pleases Him, the error cannot be made right in the judgement. It will be too late then. There will be many surprises on that day because people did not fear the Lord, and did not look to do His will, but rather, they let themselves be guided by their own opinion, they feared the wrong thing. This is the Biblical counsel the Word gives: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10. It is necessary to fear and love the Lord so that we not only enter the kingdom of God, but also, so we can attain through Christ the eternal rewards God has for those that love and fear Him. So then, are you fearing God? Lord bless! John

The Opportunity for Salvation - Acts 1:15-22

Based on Acts 1:15-22 (New King James Version)

“And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, ‘Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.’ (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) ‘For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ ‘Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

What did happen with Judas Iscariot? Was he the chosen one to do what he did, or did he have a choice to do something different? There are many that believe that everything is predestined, and that no one has any kind of control, or option, or power over their own person, and that everything that will be shall be, that we are simply the product or realization of a master plan. This is one argument. But, if we see the Word in its entirety, and not just a few places in the Word, we should realize that things are not like that. Ever since God made man, since Adam and Eve, God gave man the power to choose to obey, to be able to determine their own way, under their own reasoning. Because if everything was predetermined as many think, then all of the effort God has invested to give us His counsel, His Word, and everything that He teaches us would be just because. Therefore, we will not insult a perfectly intelligent and righteous God with the thought that everything that He does and says is to waste His time, because He has nothing else better to do. Even more over, we should not put God’s feelings to being so cruel that He would send His only Son to die for nothing, because if everything were predestined in our lives, then why would He just not let everything take its course and protect from evil what He loves the most? A doctrine can be taken as sound when it agrees with the Word of God as a whole.

If we see the Word as the Lord Himself left written, we should see that everything is choice. One of the key places in the Word is the parable of the sower of seed. This is what the Word says: “And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: ‘A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.’ When He had said these things He cried, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear!…’ ‘…Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.’” Luke 8:4-8, 11-15. So then, the person is the one that determines what they do with God’s Word when they listen. The Sower (God through men) gives the opportunity for all to listen to His Word. Everything that is created even talks about Who God is, and the Word says that they have no excuse. Why? Because God is a God of opportunities, of giving every person a chance to know Who He is through His works, and to be exposed to His Word and give them the opportunity to be saved. That is the goodness of God.

So, what was it then that happened with Judas Iscariot? The Lord gave him the greatest opportunity any human could ever have. Judas lived with the Lord (God) for three years. He saw all of the miracles and heard all of the messages and teachings from the Lord personally. He witnessed everything. But what did Judas decide to do with his opportunity? He despised God, despite everything he witnessed, for the things of this world, for the pleasures that this world offers. He not only sold the only begotten Son of God, but also his own soul for 30 pieces of silver. There were eleven other disciples that could have done it also, but he decided to do it, under his own free will. The Lord decided to die for us, but those that formed part in making it possible did it under their own will, because they let themselves be guided more by their sin than by God, the One they had right in front of them.

This is another dilemma that many have, that whether or not a person can lose their salvation, and this comes into the conversation because if we argue that Judas Iscariot had the freedom to choose, then every person also has that same power. Because, if Judas would have decided not to sell the Lord, and he would have remained in his faith just like the others, would he have been saved? Of course! But this is what the Lord taught, and why we can affirm what happened with Judas: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23. Judas participated in everything the disciples did, but what really saves a person is doing the will of the Father. Can Christ be lost? Of course not! But can a person choose to let go of the faith that can save them, by not doing the Father’s will anymore? In that regard, and unfortunately, free will never ceases to be because God subjected everything to love, and in love, there is always a choice. This is what we also see: “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.” 2 Peter 2:20-21. This is the problem. And unfortunately, there is not just one Judas Iscariot, but there could be many, when despising the knowledge of the Lord for the world and its pleasures. For it is also written: “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4. This was the problem with Judas, and this is the problem that many have today, that they love the world and doing what they want more than God. The salvation that God gives us is an opportunity, and not an obligation or a right. It’s a gift. The Lord does not owe us anything. So then, what are you choosing to do with the opportunity that God has given you through the Lord Jesus? Lord bless! John

God Will Deal with Disobedience and Ungratefulness - Deuteronomy 28:15-47

Based on Deuteronomy 28:15-47 (New King James Version)

“But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: ‘Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. The Lord will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. The Lord will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish. And your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you shall be iron. The Lord will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed. The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth. Your carcasses shall be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and no one shall frighten them away. The Lord will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart. And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you. You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall lie with her; you shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but shall not gather its grapes. Your ox shall be slaughtered before your eyes, but you shall not eat of it; your donkey shall be violently taken away from before you, and shall not be restored to you; your sheep shall be given to your enemies, and you shall have no one to rescue them. Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, and your eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all day long; and there shall be no strength in your hand. A nation whom you have not known shall eat the fruit of your land and the produce of your labor, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually. So you shall be driven mad because of the sight which your eyes see. The Lord will strike you in the knees and on the legs with severe boils which cannot be healed, and from the sole of your foot to the top of your head. The Lord will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods—wood and stone. And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations where the Lord will drive you. You shall carry much seed out to the field but gather little in, for the locust shall consume it. You shall plant vineyards and tend them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them. You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil; for your olives shall drop off. You shall beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours; for they shall go into captivity. Locusts shall consume all your trees and the produce of your land. The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever. Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything.”

Today’s message is easy to explain but difficult to accept, especially considering the times. We live in a time where the great majority of people that say that believe in and know the Lord are simply doing as they please. Unfortunately, sin within God’s so-called people abounds. Many would say that they believe. Many would say that they obey. And many would say that they even serve God in some way, but that is not what the world sees, and far less, what God is witnessing. And I really don’t know what Bible they are reading that they believe that in some way everything will be fine, especially in eternity. I don’t know how people can believe that their opinion will somehow control reality, and that what they decide to believe or accept is what shall be, especially when giving an account before the throne of God (because every person will give an account).

We read today how God tells His people Israel what will happen if they disobey and not keep His commandments. This applies to us because we were added to the people of Israel through the Lord, and in Christ we were reconciled with God so that we can do as He commands. God did not send His only begotten Son to die on the cross so that we could do as we please, sinning against the God that saved us. And we know that we owe everything to the Lord, from our existence, all of our abilities, all that we have, and of course, to what is most precious: the salvation that was given to us only through His grace, through the death and resurrection of the Lord. We read very clearly that disobedience will not go unpunished. God’s judgment will come upon those that disobey the Lord, if there is not a complete and genuine repentance and conversion. The Lord will only forgive when there is a genuine conversion, and when He is treated as the Lord He is.

Some might say: “You are referring to something written in the Old Testament that no longer applies because we are in grace, and God forgives whatever we do.” And I have to say that they are very mistaken if they think that what is written no longer applies because Christ came to fulfill the law and the prophets, especially to fulfill it within us, when precisely treating the Lord as He needs to be treated so that there can be salvation. If you doubt this, let’s see the following: “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’” 2 Peter 2:20-22. And it is also written: “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” Revelation 22:14-15. Nothing in grace justifies the practice of sin before God, by not loving God with everything we are and by not loving our neighbor as ourselves. Therefore, my counsel would be to repent with a whole heart and fear and love the Lord as He deserves. So then, are you disobeying the Lord or are you following Him as the Word commands? Lord bless! John

Honoring the Lord Through Our Relationships - 1 Corinthians 7:1-24

Based on 1 Corinthians 7:1-24 (New King James Version)

“Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.”

In this passage, we received the Lord’s counsel for what to do with respect to our relationships. We should always remember that the Lord was the One that created marriage. It is clear that much evil has been done against marriage because of the sins of many. The institution of marriage has been abused, distorted, and turned into something that is very far from what God designed. Nonetheless, even though man tries to destroy it, that doesn’t mean that it is something that is no good. God through Christ comes to give meaning to things again, but in the manner they were designed. So then, if a person wishes to do God’s will, then they always need to see what He commands and not do as they think.

Now then, the Word teaches us that getting married or staying single is not sin. But each situation bears its own responsibility. If a person gets married, then they need to treat marriage the way God says they should. And yes, that implies that for obvious reasons, they will need to use more energy to precisely take care of their marriage. That’s why it says that a man needs to render affection to the woman, and the women needs to render affection to the man. There is nothing here related to manipulation or abuse on any side. If either person does such things, they have already started to destroy what they have. The Bible teaches us that there must be love, respect, and order in marriage.

With regards to marriage and when it speaks about the union with an unbeliever, it is referring to when a couple have been exposed to the Gospel and one of the parties receives the Lord and the other one has not yet. There is no implication here about justifying being unequally yoked because the Bible does not contradict itself. A single person that belongs to the Lord should not get married to an unbeliever. The advice that the apostle gives here is that if both spouses are in agreement, and there is no forbidding one to follow the Lord or if the unbeliever wants to stay in the relationship, then they should stay together. So then, under those conditions, a marriage between a believer and unbeliever can continue, especially with the hope that the unbeliever converts to the Lord.

In the same manner, a single person or a widow also have an order, that there can be no fornication, and fornication consists of having sexual relations outside of a marriage relationship. It is clear in the Word of God that He will judge fornication, and the consequences will become evident both now and even worse, in the coming judgement, if there is no repentance and change in lifestyle. If a person practices fornication, they will not inherit the kingdom of God. What the apostle teaches us even further is that if a person does not have any issue with fornication, that it is even a good idea to remain single because they obviously will not have carnal ties (per se). They are freer to do things for the Lord.

Throughout all of this, what we can see implicitly here is that everything that we do, we should always take the Lord into consideration. The Lord should be our main goal along with fulfilling His commandments. As it is written: “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” Romans 14:8-9. We should always think about the reality that we all will give an account for our actions, including those of us that have come to Christ. Do not let yourselves be deceived by the lie and use grace as a shield to justify sin. This is what the Word teaches: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10. In all things, the Lord should be our first consideration, our priority. He should be above everything in our life, for this is the first commandment: “…‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” Mark 12:29b-30. So then, are you honoring God and treating Him as Lord in whatever state you are, knowing that one day you will give an account for everything you do, whether good or evil? Lord bless! John               

Serving the Lord Patiently - James 5:7-11

Based on James 5:7-11 (New King James Version)

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”

Together with love, patience is the most difficult to cultivate in a person’s life. Moreover, the patience of which the Lord speaks of in His Word is not seen moment to moment, but rather, it will only be seen as an end product. That’s why the same passage we read today encourages us to be patient until the coming of the Lord, until our end, because the Lord can come globally and that be our end, or it can happen to us individually. That’s what the coming of the Lord is about. The Lord is the One who determines the end of each person, when He comes for us.

Unfortunately (at least carnally speaking), patience can mean a lot of pain and tribulation. When a person walks with the Lord, looking to God’s will, a lot of things can happen. Incredible, marvelous, and even miraculous things can happen, but also sad and painful things can happen, humanly speaking. This is what we read about faith, and what happened with different people: “And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” Hebrews 11:32-40. I know that this does not sound very encouraging, but the Bible warns that many things can happen, and even when doing God’s will.

Why speak of things like these, and especially now that things are so difficult? And the reason is that it is necessary to live a reality, and that the Lord never promised that this world would be paradise. Hope in Christ does not necessarily involve the here and now. The Apostle Paul said this about the matter: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” 1 Corinthians 15:19. The reason for why people most of the time desist in their faith in the Lord is because they have been given a false gospel, that if they do God’s will, that everything will be good here and now. But also, let us not blame completely those that preach things to take advantage of others. They will give an account before God for their lies and cheap manipulations. But also, there are people that like to cling on to the momentary, and that’s why they fall in such traps, because they choose to replace the truth for something that they think is more convenient for them. We can draw a parallel here to explain the point even further. People that use drugs are just as responsible as the people that sell drugs. There are many people that get into selling drugs because they know that there are many people that like them also. It is a simple economic law of supply and demand. So, the same thing happens with those that despise God’s truth for things that sound attractive and superficial.

Now then, the Lord taught us that tough times would come, and especially in our times, but He said that we would need to endure until the end to be saved, as it is written: “And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 24:4-13.

So then, the reality is that, whatever happens, it is necessary to persevere. It is necessary to learn patience. We need to overcome the temptation of turning back from our faith in the Lord. This is the great temptation with which the devil is always trying to attack us with. And this is what the Word tells us: “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James 1:12-15. That is why the Lord encourages us in the following manner: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9. This is the true patience we need to develop so we can receive what only God can give through Jesus Christ. And God allows for such struggle, and for us to be tempted in such a manner because it is too valuable what He has to give. It cannot be simply given to people that are not ready to receive it. The reward is too great, and it can only be obtained by loving and following the Lord faithfully. That is what God needs to see in us through our struggle, through our patience. So then, do you love the Lord and value what He has for us to the point of even being ready to live and die for Him? Lord bless! John