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Jesus Our Ruler from Everlasting – Merry Christmas! The Scriptures have been very clear about who Jesus is and what His mission on earth is. It is Christmas! Year! I love it. Christmas is not the beginning of Jesus. It is very crucial and very important that we understand this point. Will we allow Jesus to “rule” and govern our lives now and forever? Jesus is God and has no beginning and end. If He is not God, He could not have come to be born as a baby during Christmas. If He is not God in human flesh, He would not have go to the cross to die for our sins. If Jesus is not God, our sins cannot be forgiven because He would have been with sin and not a perfect sacrifice for the sins of humans. If Jesus is not God, He would not have risen from the dead and God cannot be contained in the grave. If Jesus is not God and risen from the dead, everyone who believes and trusts in Him cannot rise from the dead and live forever. You say, where do you get all these from? From Scripture....

God’s Ways and His Grace Imagine you have a job that pays $500 for an 8 hour day. In this job, you started working at 9 AM till 5 PM. Now another co-worker came to work at 1 PM and worked till 5 PM. At pay time, the owner of the company pays your co-worker $500 and turns around and paid you $500. How would you feel about what you were paid, about the owner and about your co-worker’s pay? That is exactly what happened in Jesus’ story below. Does the owner of the company have a right to pay you what you agreed to, $500 and pay your co-worker $500 too? Put another way, is it fair for the owner to show grace to who he chooses to show mercy and grace? God is fair but he is also merciful and gracious. He chooses to give people more than they deserve. Can’t God do what he wants to do beyond being fair? Fairness is what we deserve. We have sinned and punishment for sin is death – that is fair. It is fair to give us our due punishment but God has chosen to give us mercy and grace – m...

Eternal Life – Impossible For the Rich and for All. Eternal Life – Impossible For the Rich. This means most in Americans and the rest of the West and the rich in most developing countries are in jeopardy of seeing God and being saved. By all standards, compared to the man who Jesus spoke to in Matthew 19, most of us in the West are very rich. Jesus makes the following comparison, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Vs. 23-24 Do you still want to get rich? There is nothing wrong with being rich, except if your wealth/money owns you. Jesus demanded the rich man to sell all he had to follow him. That also applies to all of us. For this man it may have been literal because his wealth possessed him instead of him possessing wealth because, “when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful,...

And be Thankful, Happy Thanksgiving "14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him". Colossians 3:14-17 What, How and Why be thankful? This is the flow. When the grace of God floods our heart, Christ enters our heart and we become one with Him and with the Father. Then we enter into God’s peace and experience peace and the Prince of Peace, Jesus. Then and only then can we be truly thankful when we richly dwell in Jesus and His Word. Any other means of being thankful is not complete if it lacks Christ in the heart. The question is n...

Marriage/Divorce/Celibacy Sounds like the three go in sequence. If you are married, you stay married and if divorced or single, you stay celibate. No casual sex outside of marriage as those who are not in Christ practice and unfortunately is being practiced in our churches without shame or remorse. What is Jesus saying on marriage, divorce and celibacy? The Pharisees were not asking, “How do I have a better marriage and stay married”? Rather they asked, “What is the loop hole for getting divorce”? It sounds like questions of our day. Why am I still in this marriage? How can I get out of this marriage legally and righteously? Why don’t we focus on “How can I stay married” for the glory of God; because what you think on the most, you become. As a man/woman thinks, so is he/she as Scripture says. There is no ambiguity on what Jesus stands for on marriage – stay married. Jesus said, “They are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”...

Forgive Now, Don’t Die in Church I report the very sad and tragic incident that is all over the news in America. An ex-military walks into the church, First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas; shot and killed 26 people and with many still in the hospital. This happened this past Sunday November 5, 2017 during a church service. The News people report that he is a very disturbed man with past history of domestic violence and had come looking for the mother in-law for an unsettled family issue. He had recently posted pictures of assault riffles on his Facebook page and in the same he often wrote and identified himself as atheist, though he has been to that church many times in the past. He has killed himself and killed 26 people including some children. The assistant pastor with seven members of his family were killed and the senior pastor’s daughter was one of them. Among the dead is also the mother in-law's mother, the church secretary. The church is in a small town wh...

Our Angels and Hearts for the Lost In popular culture the phrase “guardian angel” is used casually and as if it is a thing of luck. You will hear it used by those who don’t even believe in Jesus Christ. They just have a feeling that there is someone out there watching over them. For followers of Christ, it is not a fairytale. Angels are real and are all over the Scriptures and are created by God. They are servants of God to do His bidding. In our study today, Jesus makes reference to the unceasing work of angels on our behalf- that is the “little ones” those who are childlike in faith and humility. These are those who have put complete faith and trust in Jesus no matter what happens. Have you put total trust and faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior? If so these words of Jesus in Matthew 18:10-14 apply to you and are for you. 10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in ...

Offenses and who is the Greatest The world says if you want to be great exact and exalt yourself and tell how wonderful you are. Beef up your resume if you want that great job. Tell them how great you are and that you are the best in your field. Sell yourself. All of that may be “common sense” for the world’s kingdom but is it Godly sense in God’s kingdom? Jesus said if you and I want to be great we are to be like a little child and humble ourselves. A child is very trusting and dependent on the parents for all provision. The disciples asked Jesus who among them is the greatest in the kingdom. Unfortunately, we are still asking the same questions today because we think this world is our home. We must change our focus to God's kingdom. See Matthew 6:33, Seek first his kingdom and His righteousness. Note in our reading and study today, that the great that Jesus wants us to be is in the “kingdom of heaven” His kingdom. You can be great in this kingdom of the world and miss enter...

Our Unbelief “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief” Mark 9:24. That is the cry of the father whose son was tormented by the spirit of epilepsy. The disciples could not heal his son and now Jesus had to intervene and cast the spirit out and the son was made whole. The disciples asked why they could not heal the epileptic son. Jesus said, it is “because of your unbelief”. How often do we reach this point on daily basis? The disciples and all of us can learn from the father of the formerly epileptic boy. “Lord I believe, help my unbelief”. What are you facing today that you can cry out to the Lord, and say, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief”. I can tell you one of the most important things you and me are facing today; that is the salvation of a loved one or friend or co-worker. I am sure you have someone in that category. Heading to hell is worse than suffering epilepsy in this life. Only Jesus can heal both disease and sin. Let’s cry to him today for someone who is “spiritually epil...

Hear Him What do you want to hear? Most times, we only hear what we want to hear. We tune off from things we don’t want to hear or pretend we are listening. If we are followers of Christ, we do not have a choice in what we hear. We must hear Jesus, loud and clear. I love Peter, he is always our test case and we learn so much from his mistakes. Growth is not absence of mistakes but learning from your mistakes and those of others. Peter again tries to hold Jesus ransom by his preconceived ideas of who Jesus is and what He should be doing. We are still doing the same today. My opinion and yours does not change who God our Father, His Son Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit is. God will remain forever God and in control and in charge of the world He created. No liberal or conservative thinking or ideology can change that. Peter says, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us[a] make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” This he said du...

Take up Your Cross and Follow Me Oh we must count the cost before we can follow Jesus. There is always a cost. This past week, we mourn and celebrate the life of our brother in Christ Nabeel Qureshi who is now with Jesus. He died on September 16, 2017 at a young age of 34. God lifted our brother from the kingdom of darkness (from his Muslim background) to his kingdom of light in Christ Jesus. The same He did for each of us who have trusted Jesus as Lord and savior. Nabeel counted the high cost and followed Jesus. Read one of Nabeel's books, “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” which God has used to bring many to faith in Christ. Check out his life and works on the web and just google his name. You will be encouraged by his short life and will be quickened without further delay to do whatever God has put in your hands to do for Jesus. May the Lord comfort his wife Michelle and daughter Ayah and his parents and sister. Within a matter of minutes, how can you go from receiving the gre...

But Who Do You Say I am? The world has many impressions of Jesus. We have many ideas of who Jesus is. But Jesus will ask us today who we think and believe he is. It is the biggest deal- who you say Jesus is to you. The revelation of Jesus you have is a matter of life and death. The disciples conducted a quick sample of the people. Some said he is Elijah, John the Baptist, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Today people say Jesus was a good teacher and a good person; and that is all they can tolerate. Some like the Jehovah Witnesses (JW) say Jesus is Michael the archangel, thus He is not God and he is a created being. The JW do not believe in the trinity. The Mormons say Jesus is a created being who was filled with the power of God; meaning he is just like any of us humans but he is not God nor recognize Jesus as the “eternal” son of God. For them Jesus is at the same level and equal to Joseph Smith, the propaganda of their cult. That is why the babblings of Joseph Smith (the Boo...

Hurricane Harvey a Sign? The people asked for a sign when they met Jesus even they knew in their hearts that He is the Messiah, the anointed Savior. Today people are still asking for signs even when everything around us declares the glory and majesty of God. Hurricane Harvey has brought so much flooding of historic proportion to the south of Texas. There are confirmed deaths of up to ten. We thank God it is not even more than that looking at the pictures. We continue to pray for all in Texas who have been displaced and are in shelters. It is hard to describe it or imagine it when it is not you or me experiencing it. May the Lord comfort and strengthen all. Listen to what Jesus said to those still looking for signs in Matthew 16: The Pharisees and Sadducees Seek a Sign 16 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is ...

A Woman of Great Faith We saw in previous chapter of Matthew 14 where Christ rebuked Peter for his “little faith”. Peter started walking on water and because he started looking at the wind, became afraid and doubted and then started sinking into the water. Peter removed his eyes on Jesus, the object and focus of his faith and our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”. Today in our study, we see a woman who defiled all odds to focus on Christ to receive wholeness for her demon-possessed daughter. First, this woman did not belong to this crowd. She was a foreigner. I can identify with her when you are in a foreign land. Whether you are the only white or black wher...

Walk on Water Jesus expects all who believe and have faith in Him and the Father to walk on water. You are probably saying, that is too much of a bold statement and outrageous pronouncement. Well look deeper into Scriptures and specifically the occasion when Jesus and Peter walked on water. Most times we don't want to even acknowledge and mention that Peter actually walked on water but only remember his sinking into the water. Let's read the account in Matthew 14:22-36 Jesus Walks on the Sea 22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea,[a] tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him wal...

Racism/Hatred Come From the Heart The Charlottesville, Virginia, protest and death of a protester is on everyone’s mind individually and nationally. It is not the first and will not be the last. In fact the first did not involve the crowd but just two people. At that time we know the earth’s population was just 4 people not even 40. So how come in the first protest, Cain kills his brother Abel? We were not even talking about black and white or any other color or races. It was just same family and from same womb. We need to put in perspective the ugliness we are seeing and make sure we understand the root of the issues. We are not dealing with things you can legislate and decree from the White House. We should and must denounce every form of hatred and racism but that still does not bring solution to the issue. Our current study in Matthew 15, Jesus puts His finger on it. Listen: “those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out ...

Give What You Have - Jesus had Compassion on the People Jesus was 100% God and 100% man while He was here on earth. As a result He could identify fully and feel all that humans feel. He had same emotions that we have and experience. From the previous account, we saw that king Herod had beheaded John the Baptist. John was Jesus’ cousin, so like us He was grieving his loss. It says, “13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself.” Matthew 14:13. Jesus was not afraid of Herod because Herod could not do anything to Jesus and Jesus’ time ordained by the Father had not come. I believe Jesus went away to spend time in prayer and to process His grieve. We can learn from Jesus to grieve properly and take time to sort it out with God. Your loss may be a relative passing or job or some big expectation, grief will set in and it should be processed. We must give it to the Father who understands why. Don’t be afraid to ask God all the why questions yo...

John the Baptist Beheaded for Christ the Truth John the Baptist came for one purpose to announce and point Israel and all people to Jesus. Read how his mission ended. Are we ready to go all the way for Jesus and His truth? Matthew 14: At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s h...

Son of God or Son of the Devil? We continue our look at the parables of Jesus. This time it is the parable of the great harvest at end of time. We learn the following from the parable: There are only two classes of people - the sons of God and the sons of the devil, the just and the wicked, the righteous and those who practice lawlessness, the sons of the kingdom and the sons of the wicked one. There are also the good seeds and the tares. There are also two sowers - the Son of Man, Christ Jesus, the sower of the good seeds and the sower of the tares, the enemy, the devil. Only the two classes as summarized above count and matter to God at the end. The world is divided only into two classes. It is not three -republicans, democrats and the independents; not the obvious two male and female, not the multiple races of black, white, brown and yellow and certainly not into the seven continents, nor into the West and the developed and the developing countries. All these others are irr...

Bear Fruit, Don't kill the seed of God 's word in you Most of us will say we believe God but is His seed, His Word bearing fruit in our lives? I have found that I am the number one enemy of seed bearing fruit in my life. Have you taken stock to see that in you ? I can blame the devil all I want but I have the great responsibility to believe in God and trust him. Believing the word of God is my part not God's part. God will not believe for you or me. That makes us humans and not robots. Jesus Christ brings this point home in this chapter of the parable of the sower where cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches choke the Seed of God's word in anyone. When we are worried and consumed by our own cares, we rarely notice people around us who need to be loved and ministered to by the Spirit of Jesus in us. There is no middle ground. We either believe God whom we have not seen or we don't. God is either true or he is not. God either exists or he doesn't. ...