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God’s Word Shall be Fulfilled - Acts 24:1-21

Based on Acts 24:1-21 (New King James Version)

“Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: ‘Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.’ And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so. Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: ‘Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. ‘Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ’ ”

There is one fact that is irrefutable, and that is: that the Word of God will be fulfilled, and there is nothing that can change that. Everything will come to pass just as the Most High said and left it written, as the Lord himself affirmed again: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:35. We have to understand that this is so because what God says are not just words, but there is something beyond, something almost indescribable. There is incredible, unimaginable power involved with what comes out of God. We know that everything that exists, the visible and invisible, exists because one day God said it was so, and it was, and it is until today, and it will be until He says otherwise. One day God said: “Let there be light,” and there was light. One day God told man to multiply, and today we are more than 7 billion people in the world. What God says happens.

Now, everything in the Word of God is conditional with regards to man and what ultimately ends up happening with each one of us. There is no such thing as everything in us individually being preordained or predestined in some way, in general. In other words, we are not pre-programmed robots. God made us with a will and with reason. But what is very predetermined is the progress and the end of the path that a man chooses to follow. A person chooses the path they want to follow, and according to what they want to follow, in this way the Word of God will be fulfilled in their own life. It must be understood, for our own good, that if everything is already determined, and that there will be an end, and that there will be a final judgment, and that we will all stand before Him, then we should ask ourselves this question: How will the Word of God be fulfilled in my life? If a rational person understands that everything God says will come to be, then they should ask that question.

In the passage we saw today, the Apostle Paul was going through things that the Lord Himself said that would happen to those that fit, if you will, in the scheme or in the way they chose to follow. This is what the Lord said: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12. “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.” Mark 13:9-10. So then, why did Paul go through what he did? Just like he said it, because of the resurrection of the dead, for his faith in God, and nothing else. That was the crux of the whole problem. Christ was ultimately the problem, per say. And the Lord also warned of the division that His person would bring, and not only among common people, but even within the most intimate relationships, as it is written: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:34-38.

But within all this, we should then consider: “What would I gain by following Christ, if I risk having problems even with my loved ones?” The vast majority make the decision either to believe in Christ in their own way, or not to follow Christ to try to avoid problems. But, the Word of God will be fulfilled for our good if we choose to follow the Lord faithfully, despite the problems we will have, and that eternal life is worth more than any problem one may have here. This also said the Lord: “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39. And it 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. 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. Paul considered that it was more worthwhile to win the crown of life than to have the favor of men and live a comfortable and peaceful life in this temporary world. This same thing the Apostle wrote, inspired by the Holy Spirit: “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. In summary, if we love God, we will lose certain things here and now, but we will obtain eternity and things that we cannot even imagine in that eternity. So then, are you looking for the Word of God to be fulfilled in your life for your eternal good? Lord bless! John

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Responsibility for the Truth - Jonah 1:1-16

Based on Jonah 1:1-16 (New King James Version)

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.’ But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain came to him, and said to him, ‘What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.’ And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.’ So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, ‘Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?’ So he said to them, ‘I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.’ Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, ‘Why have you done this?’ For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. Then they said to him, ‘What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?’—for the sea was growing more tempestuous. And he said to them, ‘Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.’ Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. Therefore they cried out to the Lord and said, ‘We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You.’ So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.”

One of the greatest harms that the devil has done in these last times, especially in how he has involved himself in harming sound doctrine is the issue of doing away with responsibility. We live in a time where neither much of so-called believers, and far less, the unbeliever wishes to deal with any kind of responsibility. Almost no one likes to be held responsible for their actions. But no matter what they do or want to believe, the opinion of a human being (whatever it may be) does not change the reality of the universe, that God is God, and that everyone will give an account (irrefutably and indisputably) before this good, loving, but also, righteous, powerful, and consuming fire God. God is all of that and more.

This first part of the book of Jonah is one that leaves very clear this issue of responsibility. Many will argue different things here, that all of this happened, even Jonah’s disobedience, because it was part of Lord’s plan, because there is such a thing as predestination. Others will argue that Jonah’s disobedience was a good thing because others came to know the One True God through these circumstances. There may be others that might think that neither Jonah nor these men would have perished because God knew up to what point He would take them. People will think many things. But like everything in the Word of God, everything should be seen through the lens of the fulness of the Word, and not just a single passage.

The issue is this, that Jonah disobeyed and fled from his responsibility. If the men on the ship had not searched for the answer to why the storm was happening, they would not have lived beyond that. If Jonah would have persisted in his rebellion, both Jonah and the men on the ship would have perished. Everything that happened was because God allowed it, and in response to each person's actions. And everything changed for the better at that moment because everyone was wise enough to realize a fact, that God is the only God, and that it is convenient to do as He wishes, and also, that everything happens as He chooses, as the True God that He is. God held each person responsible for their actions, and each obeyed for their own good. Now, just because God took advantage of Jonah's sin does not mean that Jonah was right in his disobedience. God would have reached those men in another way, but because God is God and takes advantage of everything, it does not mean that a person did a right wrong, so to speak. And here comes this issue of responsibility again.

This is what the Lord Himself taught about responsibility: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ ‘Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ ‘But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” Matthew 25:14-30. The talent is Christ and each person will give an account of what they did with Christ, if they discarded God’s gift or entrustment (however they want to see it), or if they did nothing with the opportunity of salvation that God gave them, as well as if they took this precious talent and did the will of the Father, and let the sacrifice of Christ bear fruit in their life, as God desires. The point is that if a person rejects Christ, or does nothing with Christ in their life, they will be irrefutably cast into hell. There is no such thing as justifying irresponsibility before God. Do you know who Christ is and what He has done for you? If it’s a yes, then you are responsible for that Truth, and you will give an account for what you do with that Truth. So, do you live your life responsibly before God? Lord bless! John

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Opposition to the Lord’s Work - Ezra 4

Based on Ezra 4 (New King James Version)

“Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the Lord God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers’ houses, and said to them, ‘Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.’ But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel said to them, ‘You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.’ Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. In the days of Artaxerxes also, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the letter was written in Aramaic script, and translated into the Aramaic language. Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes in this fashion: From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions—representatives of the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the people of Persia and Erech and Babylon and Shushan, the Dehavites, the Elamites, and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper took captive and settled in the cities of Samaria and the remainder beyond the River—and so forth. (This is a copy of the letter that they sent him.) To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, and so forth: Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations. Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay tax, tribute, or custom, and the king’s treasury will be diminished. Now because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king’s dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king, that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed. We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the result will be that you will have no dominion beyond the River. The king sent an answer: To Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me. And I gave the command, and a search has been made, and it was found that this city in former times has revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been fostered in it. There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the region beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them. Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me. Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings? Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.”

 As long as Satan and beings that allow to be seduced by him exist, there will always be opposition to the Lord’s work. This has been since the origin of sin, since the fall of many of the heavenly hosts that are now demons and evil spirits, to Adam and Eve, and until now, and will be until Almighty God casts the devil and everything that follows him to the lake of fire which is the second death. In today’s passage, we read one of the many times that the enemy has opposed what belongs to God. And we need to be very careful because evil opposition can come in many ways and forms, sometimes in very direct and daring ways, just like very subtle and nearly undetectable ways also.

We see these attempts to intervene in both ways in this passage, as an example. First, God’s enemies try to introduce themselves in a friendly manner, like if they had the same intention to rebuild God’s temple, and to such an extent that they offer themselves to rebuild together with the Jews. They even pretended to be of the same faith. Anyone would say, “If the Jews would have accepted the offer, they would not have had the problems they had after.” But that was not true. They did not have good intentions. If they had good intentions, they would not have opposed the work after. It was not an act out of spite, but rather, their true intentions were revealed. This is what the Word warns us about, and it applies today more than ever: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. The devil and his followers will not always present themselves directly, but rather many times, as something very innocent and that seems good. Who would flee from an angel of light? As the saying goes: “Not everything that shines is gold.” One of the enemy’s greatest weapons is deceit, and many times, he will introduce himself through nice appearances, through people that are pleasing, with pretty smiles and convincing words. When you are able to understand the nature of something, then you can understand what they are capable of. The enemy is all evil, the total opposite of God, and as such, he will do everything possible to try to destroy or stop God’s work. But this is what the Word says: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! ‘If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.” Matthew 18:6-9. Therefore, if there is something that is trying to take you out of the Lord’s things, no matter how nice and wholesome they might seem, abandon it. Get rid of it. Take it away from you. Otherwise, you may wind up in hell.

So then, and meanwhile, there will always be problems for the Lord’s things, but in the end, it is your decision if you allow yourself to be influenced, if you give up, if you let yourself deviate, or even, if you decide to join the opposite side (those that allow themselves to guided by the flesh and their sin). But the only ones that will enter God’s kingdom and live forever are those that do the Father’s will. So, are you a part of God’s work despite the circumstances? Lord bless! John          

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The Resurrection and Eternal Life - 1 Corinthians 15:1-22

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

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

I believe that it should be understood that the most important aspect of the Gospel, apart that it’s about the Person of God through Christ, is the resurrection. There is nothing more important in the Christian faith than this because it demonstrates that God is the Almighty, that Jesus is God also, and what should be of most interest to us personally is that through the Person of Christ, we all have the hope of the resurrection. What is most puzzling that the Apostle Paul is dealing with is that some in this church have lost the notion of the resurrection. That’s why Paul is talking about this subject because there was a falling away in their faith. What can we see through this?

If we read the epistles to the Corinthians from beginning to end, we would see that it was a very conflictive church, with many gifts, but with many problems, with problems of faith, moral disorder problems, such that were even seen as bad in the world, problems with pride and arrogance, lack of love, and so on. And what is most strange about the issue is that it happened with the church that had the most solid foundation laid, starting with the testimony and power that the Gospel was announced to them. In other words, the church was started resulting from many people that had converted to Christianity in that place, and that they received good and thorough teaching. So then, the problem didn’t happen because they had a lack of instruction or because there was a lack of God’s power tangibly. So then, what did happen? They were seduced by their sin.

The first thing we need to see is that the resurrection is really for everyone, or God will resurrect every human being that has ever existed, and He will resurrect them for something very specific, for judgment. Each person, both believer and unbeliever, will need to stand before God’s throne. This is what the Word says: “At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:1-3. So then, after that universal resurrection is that God will decide who will live forever, and who will not. This is what the Scriptures say also: “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. And so, it is very clear that not only is there a resurrection, but also that there is a great universal judgment, and that it will be determined then every person’s eternity, depending on what God finds written about each of us.

Now then, who are the ones that will find themselves written in the book of life? And here we need to pay a lot of attention because here is where many bad doctrines that are taught commonly will be discredited. Enduring this judgment or being written in the book of life is not that easy. There are many that believe that it’s just about faith. There are others that say that it has to do with the spiritual gifts because they have a supposed manifestation of the Holy Spirit. And also, there are many that believe that you do not need to repent from your sins, and that He will forgive everything. And there are many that preach that works are not necessary. And this is only to just mention a few of the many deviations. This is what the Scriptures say: “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. From the moment Paul writes including himself means that we will all give an account for what we did in this body, and that we need to seek to be well pleasing to this Almighty God. The Lord said this 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. Therefore, faith in Christ is not subject to a personal opinion, but rather, it is something serious and that this faith needs to be lived without any hypocrisy, not looking to do our will, but always subject to the Lord, doing the Father’s true will. Those who do the Father’s will starting with complete repentance and conversion from all sins, making Jesus the literal and effective Lord of their lives, and abiding in that faith and obedience until the end are the ones that will be resurrected and receive eternal life. So then, are you doing the will of the Father for eternal life? Lord bless! John

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Taking God Seriously - 2 Kings 22

Based on 2 Kings 22 (New King James Version)

“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the Lord, saying: ‘Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the Lord; let them give it to those who are in the house of the Lord doing the work, to repair the damages of the house—to carpenters and builders and masons—and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. However there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.’ Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.’ And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, ‘Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the Lord.’ Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’ And Shaphan read it before the king. Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, ‘Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.’ So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her. Then she said to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read—because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’ ’ ’ But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Concerning the words which you have heard—because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,’ says the Lord. ‘Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.’ ’ ’ So they brought back word to the king.

One of the first things we could see is that the people were in a bad state, and in such a bad state that they did not even have the word of God in their hands. If we see just slightly before Josiah’s history, we would see that his father did what was wrong before the eyes of the Lord, and that he walked in the ways of the nations that surrounded them. Evil had grown so much that God became weary of the people, and He was about to end everything. But what is amazing is that a young boy gained concern over the things of God, this Josiah had a sensitive heart to God and he took the things of God into consideration, and through that, he found God's Word and mercy. He took the Lord seriously.

We should see for a moment the determination of this young king. Let us think about his background and about how people like to think today. If we speak about this young man psychologically, he had all kinds of reasons to not look for God. His father did evil before the Lord, so he had a bad example. His father was murdered. And after the tragedy (or God's punishment), the people took this boy of eight years and make him king. In addition, the entire nation was in spiritual decadence and doing what was evil before God. So then, psychologically speaking, what reason would Josiah have had to do something completely different seeing the bad example of his father and the entire nation that was corrupted, and to find himself being a child in this situation? There was nothing. He could have been filled with a hunger to avenge his father’s death. He could have let himself be led by the people, because how could a child face an entire nation? If we talk about bullying, don't you think that the people would have tried to control this boy to make him do whatever they wanted? He was a boy! But despite everything being against Josiah from looking for God and looking to please him, he did not allow himself to be influenced. His influence was not his past nor his environment. So then, we see that if a person desires within themselves to do what is right, they can do it, despite whatever happened in their past and despite their environment. So, we see that this so-called psychology is false as we examine this 8-year-old boy. We can conclude that every person has the power to choose to do whatever they want, whether they want to look for God or reject God. This is what the Word says, and what Josiah must have read when he found the Word of God: “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. ‘See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.” Deuteronomy 30:14-18. The right to choose can be seen very clearly, and Josiah chose to look for God's favor.

And so, we can conclude that bad parents being a bad example, along with society and the environment can be an influence. They can be factors. And of course, what can we say about the devil and his dark forces that are always on the prowl, whispering their garbage into our ears, tempting us with what we see? That is undeniable. But they are only factors. None of that can force a person to do anything. Not even God forces anyone because He wants everything to be based on love, and love is all about choice. Furthermore, God tests our faith and love, and He allows for trials, temptation, and even tribulation to happen to see if our love for Him is true. No matter what, no matter what factors there may be, every human being finally chooses to do what they want to do. And this Josiah chose to look to do God's will, especially when he was confronted with the Word of God. He took God seriously. So then, are you choosing to take God seriously or not? Lord bless! John

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A Changed Life - Philemon 1:1-21

Based on Philemon 1:1-21 (New King James Version)

“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

What was the issue that Philemon had with Onesimus? To be able to understand the issue, we need to see the background of both people. According to tradition and some scholar’s understanding, Philemon was a Christian in Asia Minor, one of the many that had converted through the Apostle Paul, and cofounder of the first church in Colossae, and also the bishop of that church that was located in his home. He was a wealthy person. And Onesimus was believed to have been a slave of Philemon. Onesimus also converted to Christianity through the Apostle Paul on one of his imprisonments, when Onesimus had run away. In that time that Onesimus was away, not only did he convert, but it is also believed that he was one of the founders of the church in Ephesus together with Paul, and it is believed that he was a bishop in said church. The wrong that is believed that Onesimus did was to have stolen a large sum of money from Philemon and ran away from the property to go to Rome. That was the issue that is believed to have existed between them, both robbery and abandonment.

So then, why was Paul sending Onesimus back to Philemon? Paul’s purpose, guided by his own teaching and doctrine, was that he considered that it was time for Onesimus to go back to where he belonged, and to restore the damage he had done, and that he do it by serving the Lord next to his master Philemon. The Lord’s desire through Paul was for these two men to reconcile in the Lord and for their relationship to be restored, but through the faith they both had, and that they work together in the ministry. As more historical background of what happened with these two people, Philemon did accept Onesimus back, and they both served the Lord together. And their unity and faithfulness to the Lord was such that they both gave up their lives for the Gospel. There are writings that mention that Philemon, together with Apphia (Philemon’s wife), Archippus, and Onesimus were martyred in Colossae during the first general persecution during the reign of Caesar Nero. Both men gave their lives for their faith in Christ, and they did it together. And this takes us to the point.

The Onesimus that had fled Philemon’s side did not come back the same. Philemon did not receive the same person back, and this is what the Apostle Paul serves as witness. Paul gave testimony of his conversion, of his change in life, and of his faithfulness to the Gospel and to himself, that this Onesimus had become like a son to him. And as we mentioned before, this Onesimus even helped Paul found the church in Ephesus, and that he served as a bishop in that place. Let us see for a moment the requirements for a bishop, which will describe Onesimus’ character: “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:1-7. So then, if these were the requirements for a bishop, and Onesimus served as such, then he had become not only a believer, but even more, an exceptional man before God and men. Onesimus was truly a completely transformed and renewed person through the work of the Holy Spirit, and of course, under his own will, by letting God work in His life in such a way.

So then, what can we see very clearly through all of this? That if a person legitimately converts to the Lord, and they submit to Him, that God can do great things. God’s purpose is to make everything new in our lives, everything different, renewed, and transformed. God desires to bring about a complete change in each of us through the Holy Spirit’s work and through His Word. This is what the Scriptures establish for themselves: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross and God imparts His grace so that we can become people with new beginnings, leaving behind the things that only bring about death and destruction, leaving behind sin, and doing that which produces life and light. And the other thing that God desires to happen, through our repentance and conversion, is that we restore the wrong done to those people we harmed during our old evil ways. God’s purpose is for us to fix and repair what was damaged, and that we do good to those we wronged in another time. And it should be clear, if a person has had such a life change like Onesimus, how can Philemon not accept such a person to return? For Paul to have given such a testimony of this Onesimus, it’s because there was a real change, and because Onesimus was going to be of blessing and good to his master Philemon. God can restore everything if a person truly repents from all of their sins, and tries to restore the damage done, by working to make the wrong right. Everything would be very different if every believer looked to truly do God’s will! So then, are you living a true faith that shows God and people all around you that you are a new person, doing good to those you harmed before? Lord bless! John

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Lack of Repentance - 2 Chronicles 21

Based on 2 Chronicles 21 (New King James Version)

“And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place. He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. Their father gave them great gifts of silver and gold and precious things, with fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn. Now when Jehoram was established over the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also others of the princes of Israel. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for he had the daughter of Ahab as a wife; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. Yet the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever. In his days Edom revolted against Judah’s authority, and made a king over themselves. So Jehoram went out with his officers, and all his chariots with him. And he rose by night and attacked the Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of the chariots. Thus Edom has been in revolt against Judah’s authority to this day. At that time Libnah revolted against his rule, because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers. Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit harlotry, and led Judah astray. And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Thus says the Lord God of your father David: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot like the harlotry of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers, those of your father’s household, who were better than yourself, behold, the Lord will strike your people with a serious affliction—your children, your wives, and all your possessions; and you will become very sick with a disease of your intestines, until your intestines come out by reason of the sickness, day by day.” Moreover the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians who were near the Ethiopians. And they came up into Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions that were found in the king’s house, and also his sons and his wives, so that there was not a son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. After all this the Lord struck him in his intestines with an incurable disease. Then it happened in the course of time, after the end of two years, that his intestines came out because of his sickness; so he died in severe pain. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning for his fathers. He was thirty-two years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one’s sorrow, departed. However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.”

A person may read this passage that talks about King Jehoram and say, “He was truly a very bad person, and he got what he deserved.” And yes, it’s true, that he was a person that did evil to people that had not done nothing wrong to him. And yes, he did follow idolatry and paganism, and not only did he do it, but he also made the people of his kingdom follow this evil also. And the saddest thing about this was that he had a father that did not give him an example of doing the evil he did. In summary, he was an evil person.

Why did this happen? What we understand through the Word is that each person has the power and right given by God Himself to decide for themselves whether they want to look for and follow the Lord or not. Bad influences may have an effect, because we see that he joined himself with a daughter of King Ahab that also was coming from somewhere evil, but within his heart, and the reason for why he got together with another person with bad intentions was because evil was within him. For one reason or another, Jehoram felt attracted to do evil, and he allowed himself to be influenced by his wife’s evil. Influences are factors, but as we saw before, he had a father that did not give him a bad example, a father that may not have been perfect, but who feared the Lord. So then, in this manner, we do see this concept of free will because Jehoram chose to be influenced by his wife and not by his father. This is what the Word says in relation to free will: “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. ‘See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days…” Deuteronomy 30:11-20a. So then, it is very clear that God gives us all in general choice. This issue that we are robots or predestined to walk a certain path does not exist, at least in general (because there are exceptions). For if it were so, why would the Lord then give the counsel of His Word? And why would there be judgment and punishment for the person that does not look for God and does what is evil before His eyes? Is God unjust, and that He punishes a person for following His design? Impossible. God is not only just, but He is good also, giving every human being the opportunity to repent from their evil.

And this takes us to the worse evil Jehoram did, the issue that he never repented. All of us were born in sin, and are sinners, and because of our nature and evil deeds, whether a few or many, fall short of the glory of God. This is what the Word says: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” Psalm 51:5. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. So then, no one is better than the next person. We have all sinned, and we all deserve hell. But, if a person repents from all of their sins, and looks for God’s favor through Jesus Christ, then they can obtain His mercy and even change the course of their eternity, as it is written: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:17. Jehoram’s end could have been different if he would have repented, like others did before him, those that did enjoy God’s mercy despite their evil deeds. So then, if you have departed from God, look for His mercy and repent with all of your heart so that you can receive His forgiveness and not lose what He has for those that love Him, while there is still time. You are free to choose. Lord bless! John               

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The Consequence of Living a Foolish Life - Mark 12:1-12

Based on Mark 12:1-12 (New King James Version)

“Then He began to speak to them in parables: ‘A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. ‘Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?’ And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.”

There is a grave problem today, and I’m afraid to say that it is worse now than ever before, and it’s something that will worsen by the day. How long will this go on for? I know that God will allow for things to continue, but there will come a day when the Lord puts a limit. What is this problem? It’s the problem of foolishness. There is such foolishness in the world, and even in God’s so-called people that is quite hard to understand. The issue sounds general, but we will try through the Lord to define the problem more exactly, and of course, to see it through the eyes of the Most High. The foolishness that exists today is about each person doing as they please, and thinking that their will shall come to pass, and not God’s will, even in God’s judgment. In other words, their foolishness is such that they think their opinion will govern here and now, and even in the future. We live in a time where the majority of people have adopted Satan’s mentality, and surprisingly enough, even much of God’s people. What is this mentality? Many might say it and others not, but their behavior reveals something like this: “My will be done instead of yours Lord.” How can I say this? Very easily. The majority just do as they please, and they look to fulfill their desires, instead of looking to do God’s will. And that is nothing more or less than what Satan has looked to do since his fall, when the mystery of iniquity entered. It’s a mystery that is hard to understand, but because it’s a mystery to us does not mean that there is no logical explanation. But be it as it may, and however it came, this mystery of iniquity, this feeling that is within Satan’s heart, is the same that is within many people, of looking to do what they want to do, and think that that things will turn out as they say.

Now, how can this be seen within God’s people? The majority try to treat God as a servant, and here is where many supposed believers fall, and they interpret and use the Scriptures to support their ideas and wishes instead of trying to see what God is saying, and to do as He commands. This is seen in many distorted and demonic doctrines where man puts himself in God’s position, and they try to put the Almighty in a position of servitude. And of course, they don’t look for God’s will through the Scriptures, but rather, they look to support their ideas, and use the Scriptures to support their desires. Quite practically, many Christians live their lives in a way like Israel did many centuries ago, as it was left written: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25. But the issue is that there is a King, an Almighty God, and making like He doesn’t exist, or like if you can manipulate and command Him, does not change the reality that He is King and that His will shall be done no matter what man thinks or does. God does not stop being God even though a person tries to make like He doesn’t exist, or like He is not God. Our opinions do not govern reality.

Just like we saw in the parable, that’s how the end will be, and that God is God and that He will judge each person according to what they do and think, and this includes God’s so-called people. It is foolishness to think that we will not give an account for all our actions quite soon. It doesn’t matter what certain people say or preach, we will all give an account for our actions, especially those of us that have come to the knowledge of the Truth. The one that knows the Truth and does not look to do the Father’s will is the one that will suffer the worse in the coming judgment. This is what the Word says: “…For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:10b-12. Notice that the writer of the epistle (inspired by the Holy Spirit) is the Apostle Paul, and he includes himself in this issue of giving an account, for it says: “…each of us shall give account of himself to God.” And it is also written: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 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. And here he makes the same emphasis, that he includes himself. So then, is it not then a mistake to think that if these holy apostles included themselves in God’s judgment, and that they would be judged in the end, that the same would not happen to us? Are we more than the apostles? I don’t think so.

We need to be very careful, and instead of looking to do our will and fulfill our desires, we should, for our own good, look to do God’s will. It is necessary to treat God as Who He is: God, and that Jesus Christ is God and Lord also. He is the legitimate heir to everything that belongs to God the Father. They killed Him, but He was resurrected and is now sitting at the right hand of God’s throne, reigning as Who He is. The Lord Himself said this: “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. Even doing those things that seem like God’s will can be wrongfully done if they are not subject to the Father’s will. Everything, and especially within our very being, should be subject and under God’s will. This should be our feeling, our desire, because in the end, the Lord will come again and judge each person, and He will be the One to decide what will happen to each of us. It’s too much to risk to not look to do His will. He is not going to ask anyone for their opinion, and least of all, guide Himself by what we think. God is God, and His will shall be done, and He will decide our eternity through what He has established through the Scriptures. So then, are you living a foolish life, thinking that your will shall be done instead of God’s will in the end? Lord bless! John           

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The Power of the Gospel - Acts 5:17-42

Based on Acts 5:17-42 (New King James Version)

“Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ‘Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.’ And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, saying, ‘Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!’ Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. So one came and told them, saying, ‘Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!’ Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!’ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.’ When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. And he said to them: ‘Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.’ And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

Was it easier for the Gospel back then? Many might say erroneously that it was easier before to follow the Lord and share the Gospel than now. And I have to say that it would be an error because the beginning of the Gospel was very difficult, starting with the Lord Himself. We need to remember that the religious with the consent of the people and Rome (by virtue that Pilate made it possible), practically the entire world crucified the Lord. There were only a select few that were with the Lord. And after the Lord, there were many highs and lows, and the numbers grew, but then they were persecuted and dispersed. And as we read in this passage, the apostles were jailed and beaten. So then, today is still probably easier to follow the Lord than before in many places. So then, what is happening today?

According to the latest statistics of this kind, supposedly there are approximately 2.382 billion Christians in the world, which makes us still the religion with the most followers in the world. But does it have the same power it had before? Can we see the power in the church that was seen in the apostles? We are a very big number, but unfortunately, we do not see what we saw with the apostles, not even the shadow of what was written. Why? Is the problem that the Gospel lost Its power somehow? Has It grown weaker over time?

The first thing we must explain is that the Gospel has not lost Its power because It is something based on the Person of Jesus Christ, and just as the Word says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8. The Gospel is not a religion, but rather, it is about a relationship with God. It is the plan of salvation for mankind through the Lord. So, it is impossible for It to have lost Its power. How do I know God has not changed? Because all of the things that were created and established by God continue the same. The sun rises and sets just like before. The stars and celestial masses continue in the same order the Almighty left them. And blessed be the Lord that both the small (per se) and the even the largest and infinite things that we depend on remains the same as the Lord maintains them through His person, by virtue of His own existence.

So then, what has changed? Man. There is much mixture, sin, and lack of faith within God’s supposed people, and that is what has changed the effect of the Gospel in the world. There are no longer men and women with the faith from before, like what the apostles and disciples had when they purposed within themselves to spread the Gospel just as the Lord commanded them when He said: “…Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. They took this challenge very seriously. As a matter of fact, the Gospel had reached practically the entire known world at the end of the first century. How amazing that in less than 100 years, with something that began with just a few men and women had been spread throughout the whole Roman Empire, and far beyond, in other cultures and languages! Was this the result of the work of the Holy Spirit of God? Of course, but also, in conjunction with the faith and dedication of people that valued the Lord, those who found it more than reasonable to even lay down their lives for the Lord they loved, and the faith they confessed.

And this takes us to our final point. Can the Gospel gain back the manifestation it had in Its beginning? Of course, when God’s so-called people come back to a true faith in the Lord, when they leave aside sin, carnality, and the things of the world. Today, it appears that money, sin, and carnality reign more in the church than the Word of God. Someone asked me a long time ago: “Why don’t we see the miracles from before?” And I had to respond shamefully: “Because of the sin of God’s people.” We are the ones that make the greatest power in the universe seem inferior. Just as the Word says: “…the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you…” Romans 2:24. God desires to show His power, that many people may come to the knowledge of eternal life, but that will only happen with a repented and united people, one that truly loves and treats the Lord as such. So then, do you really want to see the power of the Gospel in your life and around you? Lord bless! John               

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Finding Mercy through Good Attitudes - Luke 15:11-24, 16:1-9

Based on Luke 15:11-24, 16:1-9 (New King James Version)

“Then He said: ‘A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. ‘But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’ ’ ‘And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ‘But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.’”

“He also said to His disciples: ‘There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ ‘Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’ ‘So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. ‘And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.’” 

Despite both parables being relatively different in its circumstances, there are identical things between them. The first thing we could see is possibly something so obvious that it is missed. Many times, there are such obvious things, and our focus is so limited, that we lose sight of learning essentials. This happens with almost everything that God does daily. People look for God’s personal manifestation and they lose sight of the obvious because of lacking faith and a sinful heart. God manifests Himself always, and He demonstrates His power and glory at every moment. Nothing in the universe moves without His will. There is an endless list of things, and all subject to the will of God. And they consist because of the Almighty’s presence. We see even what we call the most simple, and we take them for granted also, like the beating of our hearts, or the breathing of our lungs, or the functions of our brains, each thing happens within ourselves without making them consciously work, and each happen by the will of God, because those are sustained by God’s presence, as it is written: “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.” Colossians 1:16-17. The majority of times, because of our sin, we lose sight of the great and obvious, things that are too important, more important than the vanities and temporary things on which we are usually focusing on the most.

So then, what is obvious between both parables? In the one with the prodigal son, it’s simply that you should not waste or lose what God gives you. Don’t live in a lost manner doing things that have no gain, because if you lose them, they will never come back. The time that God gave you will never come back. The wealth that God gives never comes back. The health and youth that God allows for people to have never return. Whatever was spent or lost is gone forever. So then, why wait to be hungry? Why come to do and suffer things unnecessarily? And in the second parable, it’s the same thing. Be a good steward. Don’t waste the goods of the Lord. Don’t put yourself in a place where He will take your stewardship away, because that is what is going to happen if you don’t take care of what God gives you. Some may say, “What has God given me that I will need to give an account for?” Of everything you have, whether it be your health, your loved ones, your wealth, your talents and capacities, everything that you have was given to you by God. It’s not always about money and riches, although we will give an account for those also. Quite simply, it is not worth running unnecessary risks, and going through completely avoidable heartache. It is foolishness not to value what you have, and more so, because not only they can be lost, but because you will give an account someday. Each person will give an account for their life, especially those of us that have received the knowledge of God. For it is written: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’” Hebrews 10:26-30. So then, take care of what you have and use it to do the Father’s will.

Now then, what else do we see in these parables? That if we have done wrong, we can find grace before God if we do things that please Him. The prodigal son reasoned, and he went back to his father’s house, but with a humble and contrite heart, completely repented from all his wrong doings, and he looked for the one he harmed, his father. If we return repented from all of our sins with a contrite and humble heart to God the Father we have offended with our evil works, He is sufficiently good to forgive us through His Son Jesus Christ. In the same manner, if we do as the unjust steward did, of forgiving others their debt, of showing mercy to others, we will also be praised by the Lord, just as the Lord Himself prayed: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:12. We receive God’s forgiveness when we forgive others. Is it fair to forgive the wrong that was done to us? No. But also, was it fair for the Perfect and Holy Son of God to pay for sins He did not commit, for your sins and my sins? Absolutely not. God justified us through the most unfair thing in all of history, that the Innocent and Perfect paid for sinners. So then, do you value what God gives you? And if you have done wrong, do you look to do things that God commands so you can find His grace? Lord bless! John

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Giving the Lord His Proper Place - Ezekiel 45:1-3

Based on Ezekiel 45:1-3 (New King James Version)

“Moreover, when you divide the land by lot into inheritance, you shall set apart a district for the Lord, a holy section of the land; its length shall be twenty-five thousand cubits, and the width ten thousand. It shall be holy throughout its territory all around. Of this there shall be a square plot for the sanctuary, five hundred by five hundred rods, with fifty cubits around it for an open space. So this is the district you shall measure: twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand wide; in it shall be the sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.”

There is a detail in this passage that gives us great direction to what involves following the Lord, and that is that we need to give the Lord His proper place. This passage applies to when the people of Israel were coming back to their land after being punished by the Lord because they were unfaithful. And their unfaithfulness was so that God allowed after many years and generations of patience, for their enemies to come upon them, and for them to be destroyed, and the few that survived were either transported as slaves or remained as servants in Israel to cultivate the land that remained. The great sin that Israel committed was spiritual adultery or idolatry, by having a divided heart between God and paganism. Their idolatry was such that they had filled God’s temple, their cities, and their homes with different idols that belonged to the same people they conquered and those that surrounded them. And of course, they practiced everything that had to do with that idolatry, thereby profaning what is Holy and abolishing God’s law. So, what does God look for in the end?

We see first of all that the Lord told them to separate a portion of the land (not all of it) for the Lord, and that the sanctuary and the Most Holy Place would be in that place, and of course, that it should be located in the heart or the center of the land, in Jerusalem. So, does God want it all? Yes and no. We know that everything belongs to God, all of the universe, not just this world. But, interestingly enough, within what is practical, He did not ask for everything, but rather, for a portion. So then, it is on completely accurate what some people think, that the only way to glorify God is to give him everything. But also, it is not like how many also think that you can live a religious life, for example like those that go to church and think that because they give a little bit of time, some money, and maybe a little bit of help to someone, that everything necessary is done and that they could live in a destructive and sinful way with the rest. There are many that have their moments of holiness per se and then they live like if they don't know God. That is not what following the Lord is about either. So then, what does God look for in us?

There is a first place that the Lord looks for. There is a priority. The word of God says this: “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.” Mark 12:29b-30. Does God want lands and money and material things? Not necessarily. We can draw a line from today's passage to what we were talking about and that the Lord wants the portion within us that is most intimate, the heart. What God looks for the most is for the heart of man, and He desires for man to love him. This is the most important, the utmost, the all of God for man. And of course, He wants for the heart to reign over everything else, like the soul, mind and strength. In the same manner, He looks for our lives to be submitted to Him, and that we allow ourselves to be guided by Him so that we can know how to deal with everything that surrounds us, with our families and our loved ones, with our jobs, our businesses and studies, with our neighbor, and even with our enemies. In the end, everything should be under His direction. And this is quite practical and logical. If there is life only in God and He is the greatest Being, the most powerful and wise in all of the universe, at the very least, would it not be convenient for us to be guided by such a Being, and to take His advice for every aspect of our lives? Who knows more or is more powerful than God? And of course, who can love us more than God? This subject of following the Lord should be logical to a person that has any kind of reason. The problem is that most people think that they are more intelligent and capable than God, and they show that through their actions.

Now then, how can a person live practically this faith on a daily basis? This is the council of God's word: “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:22-24. We have to do all kinds of things in this life. We have to take care of our families and our loved ones. We have to work. We have to take care of the things we have. It is necessary to love our neighbor also, and that can involve doing good to them when they need it. In other words, there must be action. This is what the word says also: “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?’ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, ‘Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.’ So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ They said to Him, ‘Caesar’s.’ And He said to them, ‘Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’” Matthew 22:15-21. This will sound strange, but when honoring and respecting the authorities, even those we don’t like, we are honoring God. We have to pay taxes. We need to respect the authorities. We need to respect our bosses and supervisors. God is not in favor of revolutions or rebellions. Despite Rome being a harsh and cruel empire, with a desire to rule the world, the Lord did not promote any kind of rebellion against it. So then, we fulfill God’s will when we simply do everything like unto Him, allowing ourselves to be guided by Him.

And here we arrive at the last point: “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. We must simply do the will of the Father in everything in our life, and not allow ourselves to be guided by our opinion, but rather, looking for His opinion in everything, looking to do what He wants us to do. That is how we can serve the Lord, by allowing ourselves to be guided by Him, and giving Him the priority in everything. There is a place for everything in this life, as well as time, but we should always look to love the Lord and to put Him in first place in our lives, always consulting Him for His will, and doing as He commands. So then, are you giving the Lord His appropriate place in your life for your own good? Lord bless! John  

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The Sin of Disbelief - Hebrews 3:7 – 4:2

Based on Hebrews 3:7 – 4:2 (New King James Version)

“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ’ Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.’ For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”

There is only one thing that matters in this life, and that is, whether we really believe in the Lord or not. There is nothing more important because everything stems from what we believe in. It is the root for everything in our lives. This is what determines what we do here, and if we will enter the kingdom of God. There is much confusion over this because quite simply, in one way or another, most people do not live out a true faith. I’m afraid to say that within our churches, and in the ministry, and even within Bible schools and seminaries, there is hardly any of the faith that the Bible teaches, of the faith that makes a person come to obtain the eternal life and reward that God desires to give. There are things that sound like the truth, and that seem to guide towards the way to life, but they are not God’s pure and holy truth. There are many illusions, vanities, likenesses, but in most places, there is no acceptance of God’s truth. Most people, even those that believe that are educated and knowledgeable in the things of God suffer from unbelief, and therefore, will not have eternal life.

But many might say, “How can that be?” Many say they believe, and they confess to have faith, but there are always doubts, and those doubts can be seen in the way they live their lives. What was Israel’s problem in the desert? And we should take this into consideration, especially those of us that say that we are a part of God’s people because Israel was God’s people. We need to remember that faith in Christ adds the gentiles (those that are not of Israel) to the people of Israel, so we need to pay attention to this issue because it matters and affects us directly. Most of the people of Israel always doubted God depending on the circumstances, and if God was pleasing them or not. If things were going the way they wanted, then they glorified God. But if things changed a bit, God was no good for them anymore. And their hearts were always wondering between God and the idols they left behind in Egypt, like the golden calf they made for themselves when they thought that Moses had died. There was no stability in their lives. And this made God grow weary, and God made them wander in the desert for 40 years, a journey that should have supposedly taken only 11 days according to some scholars. Their hardness of heart was such that God made them go round and round until the generation that left Egypt perished, except for Joshua and Caleb.

This same evil continues today, and probably stronger than ever before. There is much doubt, much double mindedness, much unbelief, and God is sought after for convenience rather than because of faith. And even worse, the majority treat God like a servant and they treat themselves as god and lord. That is the grave problem that exists, that God is treated in the manner that they see how it suits them. And of course, the devil takes advantage of this to tempt people, so they don’t believe in God, to plant doubt, to make God seem like He is not worth anything, and that the only thing that matters is that their wishes come true and to live life however they want. This is the temptation that the devil will always try to employ, and this will happen until the day you take your last breath, to leave God, to doubt Him, and to finally not treat Him as Lord. But the Word says this: “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. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:12-17. The devil temps through our own lust and appeals to our evil desires. He doesn’t need to look for anything beyond that. The evil is within us and free will gives us the power to either choose to give into the evil that is within us, or to reason and adopt a true faith in the Lord based on everything that God is and does for us. Ultimately, faith is completely based on the reasoning of man. A person can spiritualize things all they want, but in the end, God made us with reason, and this reason is what interprets the Truth of God and the devil’s lie, and decides what to give in to. This is why there is a judgment. But the Word says: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:7-8. Everything that these verses say are completely based on decision. If a person has any kind of reasoning, and they believe that God is God, they would treat Him as such, and they would do as He says because reason would justify looking for their own good, to be on the side of the most powerful Being in the universe. It is illogical and foolishness to do something else.

And this takes us to our final point. What is faith finally about? It’s about loving God. If we see, understand, and accept God for Who He is and everything He has done and does day after day, but the most important, the eternal life that He gives freely through His Son Jesus Christ, this “should” take us to love God. Love is the only logical manner to correspond to God’s love. Love should produce love, not hatred, or doubt, or selfishness, or obstinance. This is the end that God looks for: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5. If a person really believes in God, they would learn how to love Him, and would ultimately do as He commands, no matter what, because they would understand who He is and what is truly of value: eternity. If God is not loved, and He is not sought after or followed, quite simply, there is no faith, but rather unbelief. So then, do you love the Lord so you can have eternal life, or are you still lost in unbelief, looking to fulfill your own will? Lord bless! John    

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Reactions to the Lord - John 9

Based on John 9 (New King James Version)

“Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, ‘Is not this he who sat and begged?’ Some said, ‘This is he.’ Others said, ‘He is like him.’ He said, ‘I am he.’ Therefore they said to him, ‘How were your eyes opened?’ He answered and said, ‘A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.’ Then they said to him, ‘Where is He?’ He said, ‘I do not know.’ They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, ‘He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.’ Therefore some of the Pharisees said, ‘This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.’ Others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?’ And there was a division among them. They said to the blind man again, ‘What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?’ He said, ‘He is a prophet.’ But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, ‘Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’ His parents answered them and said, ‘We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.’ His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’ So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, ‘Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.’ He answered and said, ‘Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.’ Then they said to him again, ‘What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?’ He answered them, ‘I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?’ Then they reviled him and said, ‘You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.’ The man answered and said to them, ‘Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.’ They answered and said to him, ‘You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?’ And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of God?’ He answered and said, ‘Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.’ Then he said, ‘Lord, I believe!’ And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.’ Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, ‘Are we blind also?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.’”

Blaise Pascal, a respected mathematician and scientist said this: “In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.” The issue of believing or not believing in Christ has really nothing to do with the manifestations of God. Through time, we have seen in history that the Lord manifested Himself in many ways, such as in divine power, in miracles and wonders, in raising and ruining kingdoms, in a still small voice just like consuming fire, in many different divine and undeniable ways. And in more recent history, the Lord also came in human form, in love, with incredible patience and goodness, and with such humility that He even let Himself be sacrificed as a Holy Offering so He could give access to all men to God’s salvation. Despite all of His manifestations, the great majority of people have a severe problem in having a genuine faith in God, and this does not consist in just believing (because many say that they believe), but even worse, in following Him faithfully. So, what is the problem then?

If we see things very objectively, it is not really God’s problem, but rather, it is quite simply man’s problem that they choose to not believe and follow the Lord. Just as we have established, God has manifested Himself in so many different ways that there is no excuse to not be able to believe in Him. It is not a problem of proof, but rather of wills, of wanting to believe. If a person truly wants to follow the Lord, they are able to, and they would have overwhelming reasons in being able to obtain a true faith, just as those great people from before did, like many kings and princes did, just like many priests and prophets from antiquity, just like many other more common people did, uncountable people through time. And of course, we read of everything Christ did while here on earth, and how He conquered death and left an empty tomb and was seen ascend to the heavens to take His rightful place at the right hand of the throne of God. So then, there is conclusive evidence to show that there is only one explanation for everything: God. But man is free to choose what they want to believe, and the great majority do not react to the Lord and His works in faith.

In today’s passage, we see a great audience involved in this miracle, we see this blind man that was healed, his parents, the religious, and of course, the neighbors, the spectators. Each person chose how to react to the Lord. The work was undoubtable, and the miracle irrefutable, but, nonetheless, each one chose either to believe or not believe. The man that was blind chose to believe in the Lord, but after the Lord clarified things for him. The parents of the blind man saw what happened, but there was no acknowledgement, but rather, they feared the religious and chose to honor the desires of men rather than God. And of course, no matter what the Lord would do, the great majority of the religious were determined in killing the Lord. They simply envied the Lord, just as the Word says, and the envy that was eating at them was only going to produce death and destruction. The great majority of people envy God just like the religious do and like Satan does, because they desire to carry out their will, and that everyone support and approve what they do, even God Himself. So then, having said all of this, how do you finally choose to react to the Lord? In envy, or in loving and following Him faithfully as Lord? Lord bless! John

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God Can Bring Blessing through Trial - 1 Samuel 30:1-24

Based on 1 Samuel 30:1-24 (New King James Version)

“Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, ‘Please bring the ephod here to me.’ And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. So David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?’ And He answered him, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.’ So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor. Then they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David; and they gave him bread and he ate, and they let him drink water. And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. So when he had eaten, his strength came back to him; for he had eaten no bread nor drunk water for three days and three nights. Then David said to him, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you from?’ And he said, ‘I am a young man from Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind, because three days ago I fell sick. We made an invasion of the southern area of the Cherethites, in the territory which belongs to Judah, and of the southern area of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.’ And David said to him, ‘Can you take me down to this troop?’ So he said, “’Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this troop.’ And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, ‘This is David’s spoil.’ Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them. Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, ‘Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart.’ But David said, ‘My brethren, you shall not do so with what the Lord has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us. For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.’”

There are few times in this life that certain apparently bad things will happen that will not be our fault directly. I have to clarify because everything adverse and evil and painful that happens is because of the sin of man, whether it be through our actions directly or through other’s actions. And the greatest evil that sins bring cannot be seen in this world as many suppose, but rather, when a person dies in their sins. The greatest consequence for our sins is eternal death, when we have not done what is right before God, by repenting and converting from all sins, and making Jesus our Lord. That has the worse consequence. If a person dies without Jesus as their Lord, not even God can change that result. If a person dies without doing the will of the Father, there is no remedy before God’s eternal judgement.

Nonetheless, there are moments that we have not done something wrong against God, and very difficult and exhausting things might happen, and the Word of God defines this as trial or tribulation. And God teaches that, “…We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22b. No one likes going through trials and tribulations, but these happen like it happened to David and the people that were with him. We don’t see that anyone sinned directly, and so, we can catalogue this evil that happened as a trial (because God sometimes allows for our enemies to come upon us as punishment, because of abandoning Him and committing serious wrongs against God). In the end, nothing happens without God’s will being involved. God does not bring evil directly, but He does allow for them to happen, but everything with a purpose, and in this case (as in every case), to see what people will do.

What do we see in David and in the people? There was a moment of great sadness and pain. And of course, it was very justified for them to think the worst, because all they knew was that their loved ones were no longer there, and that quite possibly, they could have been killed after, or made into slaves, or their women raped, ultimately, any kind of horror that could go through a person’s head when they don’t know what is happening. And David was seeing even worse evils that could happen to him because of this problem. But David did not leave the Lord, but actually quite the contrary, he looked for Him. There were no reproaches made against God. David did not say, “Why did this happen to me?” But rather, David consulted the Lord, and the Word says that he strengthened in the Lord his God. God allows for these things to happen to see what we will do. It sounds cruel, but everything in God has a purpose, as it is written: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. David chose to love God despite the circumstances. And so, God used this apparent great and undeserved evil for good, and God brought about blessing from something bad not only for David, but also for the people. Trial and tribulation are very difficult, but they have their reward if a person chooses to love God, and consults God, and abides faithful to God. We may not see a supposed good here and now, but the greatest good is in eternity, as it is written: “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.” James 1:12. The trial that will always be in effect in the follower of the Lord is to see if they will abandon their faith because of the circumstances. But only those that resist until the end will receive the crown of life, those that love God. We must love God in the good and the bad so we can receive the greatest blessing: eternal life. So then, will you choose to love God despite the circumstances, and look to do His will? Lord bless! John            

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The Sin of Fear - Judges 6:1-10

Based on Judges 6:1-10 (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.’ ”

Disobeying God is the worse evil a person could ever do. There is nothing worse that can have such dire consequences than this. It’s one of the easiest things to do, but for different reasons, most people do not obey God. And then many ask, “Why are the things in this world in such bad shape?” Does God allow for so much evil because He likes death, pain, anguish, or confusion? No. It is not God’s will for all of this to be happening. These are all consequences of sin. Lack of obeying God is truly what is most destructive to man.

The people of Israel suffered many times because of disobedience, for not attending or taking into consideration God’s voice and commandment. After this episode, per se, of the disobedience we just read of, there was an event even far worse where God allowed for the nation to be destroyed, and most survivors to be taken captive. God sent prophet after prophet to warn the people of the evil that would come, but they never listened. And they disobeyed so much that they finally surpassed God’s patience. And this is what the Scriptures say that happened consequently: “We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem.” Daniel 9:10-12. And what is written in the Law? “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” Exodus 20:2-6.

Now, we need to ask: “What causes disobedience?” One of the main reasons that provokes disobedience against God is fear, something as simple as that. As we read at the beginning, the people of Israel did what was wrong before the eyes of the Lord because they feared the gods of the Amorites. What is the wrong they did? The people quite simply, to appease the Amorites, they worshipped their gods and committed like that the sin of idolatry, and all because of fear. How many times do people disobey God and all because they fear something or someone more than God? But the Word of God teaches us that we need to fear and love only One above all things: God. If a person fears or loves more someone else, they are committing the sin of idolatry. This is what the Word says: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:37-38. Fear (as in being afraid) does not come from God, but rather, it is instilled by the devil. The devil is the one that tries for people to be afraid, and with the main reason being to precisely cause disobedience against God. He is the one that tells you: “If you please God, you will lose your family and loved ones,” or, “your children are not going to love you anymore,” or, “you are going to lose your job or ruin your career,” or “you are going to make a certain person your enemy,” or “people are not going to like you,” etc., etc. These are all examples of what the devil tells you to tempt you to disobey God. What did the devil probably tell Israel when they lived in the land of the Amorites? “If you don’t worship the idols of the Amorites, the Amorites will destroy you.” Does any of this sound familiar? The devil is always talking, and he tries to incite (because he cannot force anyone, because we all have free will) disobedience.

And well, this is what the Word says regarding fear: “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:17-18. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7. In the Lord, there is simply no place for fear or cowardness. But unfortunately, we live in a world full of cowards, and this is the reward for the cowardly: “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 21:8. The only ones that will please God are those that obey God, and God is the only One worthwhile obeying. There is no eternal life in anyone else. We owe everything to Him. We owe Him our existence, our breathing, and the beating of our hearts, and of course, the way of salvation He has created through His great love, through the death and resurrection of His only begotten Son, Jesus. We don’t owe nothing or no one as much as we owe God. Therefore, disobedience is an injustice and an insult to the God we owe everything to. There is no one greater or better than God. If you choose to fear more something or someone else, then you will only attain the reward that person or thing can give you. Can the devil give you eternal life? But, if you fear and love God, you will attain what only He can give. It is written: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:21. So then, what will you choose to do with your fear? Lord bless! John               

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There is no Room for Selfishness - Philippians 1:21 – 2:11

Based on Philippians 1:21 – 2:11 (New King James Version)

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me. Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

One of the most promoted messages by the world today is selfishness. Practically everything in the world now tries to inculcate this mindset that a person should just look to make themselves happy, and that they should put their goals, their desires, and why not, even their pleasures before everyone else. We live during an era that selfishness is taught and glorified. And this is what the devil is trying to establish quickly today, so that the world can unanimously tell God in the near future that, “Our will be done and not yours.”

And how can I say that this wave of selfishness is diabolical? Very simple, because the entire Bible, the Word of God, is against selfishness. Every precept in the Scriptures, and of course, God’s intensions are against selfishness. If we see clearly today’s passage, we will see that the main theme is about thinking and even sacrificing oneself for others. Everything is about God and about the neighbor’s welfare. And this should not be surprising because all of the law and the prophets, the perfect will of God, is that we love Him, and that we love our neighbor, as it is written: “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. There is no kind of selfishness message here, about fulfilling our carnal will. And this same order is what the devil is trying to destroy by any means necessary, to try to undo what God commands so that his plan can come to fruition; that if it were possible, to be like God. The devil envies God, and he desires to have what God has, and to do as he wishes. This was and will always be the devil’s goal: “For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’” Isaiah 14:13-14. The devil is in direct competition against God. He is God’s opposite, and so, whatever God establishes, he wants to undo. Whatever God creates, he looks to destroy. If God says something, he wants to instill doubt, just as he did with Adam and Eve in paradise: “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’’ Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” Genesis 3:1-5. Welcome to today’s world! The devil is working in such a way today that even human beings are doubting their very own nature, and the world applauds and even says that you should be proud of being something different to how you were created. And he promotes all of this on the basis of selfishness, by looking for your own happiness. But the Word teaches this: “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 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.” Romans 14:7-8.

Now then, anyone might ask, “Why is it wrong to look for my happiness? Why can’t I just do whatever I want?” And the problem is that just like everything the devil promotes, that a person instinctively looks for their own harm. By looking to fulfill your own will primarily, and not look to do God’s will, you are determining your own path to death. This is a fact: God is life, and the devil and sin are the way to death, for it is written: “For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23a. So then, everything that supports sin leads straight to death. The Word says this also: “For I have come to ‘seta man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:35-39. Is the will of God truly to cause division? No. Division is caused when people are focused in looking for sin. And for our own good, to be able to find life, we must follow life, we must follow God, no matter what happens here and now. Looking for sin, in pleasure, in vanity, and in self-pleasing, even though it feels good for a moment, will only take you to emptiness and perdition. This whole world and everything in it will pass, and we will all need to give an account before a Holy God, the One who is an example of not being selfish, but rather, the One who considered more a fallen humanity that has sinned against Him willfully. Blessed be God the Father that He did not even hold back giving His Only Begotten Son so that we could have eternal life! So then, will you choose to do your will for your own perdition, or will you look to do the Father’s will Who desires to give you eternal life? Lord bless! John

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The Intentions of the Heart - Matthew 6:1-21

Based on Matthew 6:1-21 (New King James Version)

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 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. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

There is a line, per se, that connects this entire passage, and that is: motivation, that which generates action. But where does motivation come from? Science tells us that motivation comes from a place in the brain that is called the amygdala. This area is crucial for motivation. And when it is stimulated, it sends a signal to the prefrontal cortex where this information is stored, that which keeps our memories, or also helps us to process information so that we can either respond or ignore. But to be able to see God’s point of view, we need to go deeper. Yes, it is true that the brain has much to do with this, but there is a more exact site that we need to deal with. God talks about the heart of man, and that there is where the motivation we will be talking about comes from, from the intent of the heart.

We will not go into the issue of where is this heart that the Bible speaks of at this point. The Bible uses the term “heart” to be able to describe the main center of a man, what is most intimate in a human being, and there is where motivation or intention comes from. Wherever it is, this is where all of our being rests, where a man’s soul resides. And here is where we will need to differ with science, because human science can only deal with the visible world, with the physical. Science can simply not deal with the heart. Psychiatry tries in a way, and they even use chemicals to alter or correct issues that have to do with the heart, but the great majority of times, it is not possible to deal with invisible things through physical things, or in that case, with chemicals or medications. That’s where science’s limit come into play.

Now then, many times people make the comment that a person should follow their heart to make decisions that go beyond logic. Many say that you need to “feel” things so you can determine certain things in life. But should that really be the compass (per se) we should use to give our life direction? Biblically speaking, it is not a good idea to let ourselves be guided by our heart because our heart is not good (I’m sorry to say because I know that this will offend many, but the truth is the truth). This is what the Word of God says about man’s heart: “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Matthew 15:18-19. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.

Why is our heart like that? What is it that determines it to be evil? And here is where the word “sin” comes in. Many try to put sin in a place where it only means to kill someone, or for things that society deems as evil, but sin involves many things. But if a person says that they believe in the God of the Bible, they should give more credence to what God says is sin, and not what human beings desire to define as good or bad. This is what the Bible says about our sinful nature: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” Psalm 51:5. After Adam and Eve’s fall, every human being after that inherited sin, and this is at the center of our being, of our heart. So then, if you follow your heart as it is, you are allowing yourself to be led by something that will guide you straight to hell, because only sin will guide you, and the wages of sin is death.

So then, what should we do about it? How can we change the intent of the heart? We must understand that this is crucial because on this basis is that God will judge us, as it is written: “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10. It all starts with acknowledging God’s existence, and looking for this God, for it is also written: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20. God appeals to our senses and to our reason, to very basic things. And He tries to break our pride through circumstances that can help us see the obvious, that we are empty, limited, fallible beings, and that we quite simply need Him for everything. Look at the universe, both the small and great, and what we are in comparison, and you will realize that we have no control over anything, and that by logic, we should look for this Creator and Almighty Being, because it is the only sensible thing to do. And finally, God changes the heart through repentance and conversion, when a person realizes their sin and their limitations, and make Jesus their Lord. Our heart can never change without complete acknowledgment and repentance from all sin. The Lordship of Jesus Christ is our only solution. So then, do you truly desire for your heart to have divine intentions for eternal life? Lord bless! John             

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Following the Doctrine of Christ - 2 John 1

Based on 2 John 1 (New King James Version)

“The Elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.”

In this passage, we read that the Apostle John writes to an elect lady and that she has some children that walk in the truth. It doesn’t say who this lady is, but some think that it may be Mary, the mother of Jesus, and others think that it could be another woman, because John is much older when he writes the letter (it is believed that this epistle was written during his long stay in Ephesus, between 70-100AD). Nonetheless, whether it is Mary or not, it was a woman that not only knew how to walk and abide in the Lord herself, in this doctrine of Christ, but also, she knew how to raise children in this same doctrine. And it should be clear that effective teaching is only possible when there is teaching by example. The “do as I say, not as I do” thing does not work very much, least of all now in the time we are living in. But what is this doctrine of Christ John talking about, and that we need to abide and work on to be able to receive reward?

The first indication that he gives us is that he is talking about a commandment that has to do with love, and that it is necessary to walk in this love. And well, if he mentions it as the “doctrine of Christ”, it must mean that either this is based on the Lord, or that it must follow the way the Lord lived, or also that it could be both points. To define this doctrine, it is necessary to see what the Lord said, and this is what we read in the Scriptures: “Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’ 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 12:28-31. So then, it is clear that this is the doctrine of Christ. And as it was established before, the Lord taught this with His own example, because He loved (and still loves) God above all things, and with all of His Holy Being. And also, He loved His neighbor as Himself. The Lord is the perfection of the example that is necessary to follow. We read this: “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” John 15:9-10. There are many that believe this: “Well, that was the Lord, and no one can be perfect like He is.” And yes, that’s true, but, nonetheless, He is the example, and it is necessary to follow the example in order to please God. There is no other way if a person truly desires to attain God’s salvation. Faith is not about words, but rather, about actions, about demonstrating to both God and man of being capable of following this doctrine of Christ. True faith has works, fruits that demonstrate a true and real faith.

For example, this is what the Word teaches: “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:17-19. When a person truly loves God, they don’t fear anything, because they know they are doing His will, and whatever happens, they know that they are safe in His hands. They don’t even fear death, because they know that the fruit of their life in Christ will render for them eternal life in the future. And how can a person know this? It is written: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:21. The person that loves the Lord and that follows His lead will be able to know God exists because God will manifest Himself to them.

Now then, how can we live out the doctrine of Christ? We read this: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.” Colossians 3:18-25. There are people that think that they need to abandon everything, and not have anything, but that is not necessarily God’s will. Each person has their own path with the Lord, and that’s why it is necessary to follow the Lord as the Lord, and for Him to say what needs to be done. But the foundation that must exist for everything to count towards eternity, is that the Lord needs to be the reason for our existence, because we love Him. That must be the root for everything in our life. If I love my loved ones, it’s because I want to please Him. If I do my job well, or embark in anything in my life, it’s because I do it for Him. If God is not the reason for why we do everything in our life, even though it may be something “good” per se, it will not count for God. What matters most is the reason or the why of the work, as it is written: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10. Our love for God should be the foundation of everything and for everything in our life, without exceptions. So then, are you following the doctrine of Christ so that you can have eternal life? Lord bless! John          

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The Reason for Why We Struggle - 2 Timothy 1:1-12

Based on 2 Timothy 1:1-12 (New King James Version)

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

I think we can all agree that this life is not easy. And this life has never been easy. Ever since man fell into sin, the world has been harsh. There are difficulties and complex situations in all things. And now, with all the more reason, thanks to COVID, everything is even more difficult. This COVID issue has made an already hard life even more difficult and complicated. And of course, the most difficult thing, that if there were diseases to worry about, now one more has been added that has taken the lives of many people. So far, it is estimated that more than 6.58 million people have died worldwide thanks to this new pandemic. In the US alone, more than 1 million people have died. To put it in perspective, the total estimated loss of life from the Vietnam War during the years 1954-1975 was 3,595,000, and this includes the loss of soldiers from all the countries involved, civilians, and where the war took place, in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. A war of almost 20 years had fewer deaths than an epidemic that has not yet been in existence for 3 years. I hope this is really ending.

This life has become even more difficult than it was, and for many reasons, not just because of COVID. It's a fight. As much as we think that we now have many breakthroughs and new technology, it seems that things are getting even more difficult. Within all the difficult, today we face economic struggles, health struggles, personal and intimate life struggles where you can no longer trust almost anyone, because at the moment you least expect, everything can change in a relationship. There are parents who mistreat and even torture and kill their own children, and also children who do unthinkable things with their parents. There are people who take the lives of others in violent attacks, assaults in schools, in stores, in churches, and in other less unexpected places. And what about marriages? The only reason I think the divorce rate has remained constant at about 50% is because there is a larger group that has embraced the norm of living together, and those statistics are harder to quantify. But I am very sure that if the statistics of marriages with those who live as couples are put together, the numbers of failures would be even higher. And of course, there are wars and conflicts, violence and crime, shortages, plagues. In short, the list is endless, and the Bible warns us that things will get even worse, until the end of humanity. There is no good news for this world.

And after that? If we have any kind of reasoning, we should understand that this world will pass one day (thank God). Everything we see, the physical, the material, nothing will be left, even you and me. From the dust we came from and to dust we will return, just as God said. All of this that we mention of course has a reason, and it has everything to do with the passage that we read today. Every human being fights for different things, for good things, and for not good things. But, everything requires effort, and everything that a person undertakes involves sacrifice. Every action has consequences, depending on what it is. And of course, if you fight for the temporary, the reward will also be temporary. But Paul mentions something very important, that he suffers, but for something, and he is not ashamed of what he suffers for, because he is convinced of something, he is sure of receiving something further, a deposit for that day. What day is he talking about? He is talking about the day that every human being must always take into account, the day of judgment. And 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. This day is believed to either be very far away, or that there will be no such judgment. And incredibly enough, as part of new teachings and doctrines, it is believed that Christians will not be held accountable for our actions, but that is not what the Bible teaches. This is what the Scriptures say: “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. And so, the only thing that saves man is doing the will of God, beginning with true repentance and conversion from all sin, and making Jesus the literal Lord of our lives. And in this way, precisely to live this life as the Lord commands, doing the will of the Father. Otherwise, everything one does is wrong, even those things that are seen as good. How can that be? The root of everything, the reason for which we must fight, what God ultimately protects and keeps for us is obtained only by fulfilling this through the Lord Jesus Christ: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.” Deuteronomy 6:4-6. This is the culmination of the issue, and the reason for why Paul legitimately struggled: “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 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 14:7-9. If we fight for anything in this life, the reason why absolutely everything must be done must be because we love the Lord and because we are convinced that we are doing His will. Otherwise, if anything is done seeking to fulfill our own will, we will only have hell as our reward in the end. Because this also the Word says: “The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s. If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!” 1 Corinthians 16:21-22. So then, what is the true reason for your struggle? Lord bless! John

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Intimacy with the Wrong People - Nehemiah 13:1-14, 23-31

Based on Nehemiah 13:1-14, 23-31 (New King James Version)

“On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God, because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel. Now before this, Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah. And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests. But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king, and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room. Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense. I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. So I contended with the rulers, and said, ‘Why is the house of God forsaken?’ And I gathered them together and set them in their place. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its services!...” “…In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people. So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, ‘You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin. Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?’ And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me. Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times. Remember me, O my God, for good!”

One of the greatest problems in our Christian communities today, what has brought the greatest decadence (apart from the falling away and the love of money of the so-called servants of God) within the people of God is the union with the forbidden. This was a problem for Israel which caused their destruction in times past, and it is also now for the universal church that has been corrupted. And this evil is causing such a problem that not even the world can tell the difference between what is or is not God’s in God’s people. There is practically no difference with the world and that’s why not many people come to Christ. There may be churches that are growing and increasing, but either because people are being entertained, or because they preach to them things that are convenient, but not necessarily because they are truly converting to the Lord.

Many think that this issue of being “unequally yoked” as the Apostle Paul refers to it only has to do with marriage. And yes, a disciple of the Lord principally should not join themselves with an unbeliever, but this issue involves any kind of intimacy, with any kind of union, like friendships, business partnerships, all relationships that have some form of personal intimacy. The Word “yoke” implies a connection, a dependence, something beyond. This is what the Lord says: “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? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God…’” 2 Corinthians 6:14-16a.

Nehemiah mentions the evil that Solomon did, as it was left written: “But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites—from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.’ Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, ‘Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.’” 1 Kings 11:1-11. And so, if Solomon fell with all of his wisdom, what will happen with us?

This is what the Word finally says: “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. So then, what kind of intimate relationships should we form? Use this as a basis, including for yourself: “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. The only people that will enter the Kingdom of God are those that truly love and fear God, those that look to live according to His will. This should be our personal goal, and the basis for our intimate relationships. So then, do you love and fear God, and do you create intimacy with people with the same mind? Lord bless! John

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