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Showing posts from April, 2021

Jezebel In The Church

Dear Saints How did a church with excellent record of good works, love for people, service for Jesus, faith and patience in trial, end up with an influential Jezebel? Who is Jezebel? Even those who don’t read the Bible know about Jezebel. No one wants to be called Jezebel because it is equivalent to calling the person the devil-wicked woman. She is a cut throat, idolatrous, immoral and seductive person. She is a manipulator and will inflict fear to cause you to take to your heels. Ask prophet Elijah. Jezebel was married to a very wicked king Ahab. Read all about it in 1 King 16-21. Let’s hear from Jesus speak to the Thyatira Church and us, about a Jezebel in the book of Revelation (please read entire chapters 2-3): “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:  19  “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and  as  for your works, the last  are  more than the firs

The Altars of Self, Convenience and Compromise

Dear Saints: Imagine living where it is known that Satan lives. Most of us will take to our heals from such a city of Satan’s throne.  I don’t know which city can be likened to such a description in the USA; may be Las Vegas, New Orleans or Washington DC? I don’t know. In fact, it can be any city in this day and age. The church at Pergamos lived at the throne of Satan; probably because the city had the great altar of Roman god Zeus and many other gods; and it was the seat of the Roman idol worshiping government.  And guess what, Jesus said to them, I know that you live where Satan lives. We must not run from the dark world around us but be the light in the dark. In the midst of their difficult location, Jesus commends them for “holding fast to My name, and did not deny My faith”.  Please note that it is not your faith but “My [Jesus] faith]; so do not brag about it but give it out as you have freely received through His Word (faith comes by hearing the word of God). Let’s read about th

Persecuted, Poor But Rich

Dear Saints: We are continuing our study of the book of Revelation (please read the entire chapters 2-3). Today, Jesus speaks to the church in Smyrna and to all of us. The church of Smyrna were poor in this world’s standard even though the city was prosperous and a place for major commerce at that time. However, Jesus reminds them that they are rich in Him and that His grace and mercy is sufficient for them. Jesus is sufficient at all levels of life - poor or rich in material goods. If you notice, among the seven churches Smyrna is one of two that there was nothing said against them by Jesus. Is it possible that their poverty in world's goods kept them focused on Jesus and the provision of His grace? In addition to poverty, the Smyrna church had trials and persecution. The government persecuted them because they refused to worship Caesar. In fact, their level of poverty may be due to the discrimination they suffered because their first allegiance was to Jesus Christ and not Caesar.

Are You An Overcomer?

  Dear Saints: “To him who Overcomes….” We continue to look at the same words spoken seven times by Jesus to the seven churches in Revelation (please read the entire chapters 2-3). We have looked at “I know your works “ and “He who has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Today, we look at “He who overcomes…” . Overcome or conquer. Disclaimer:  The word overcome/overcomer has been misused to describe some type of super Christians who pray all night and wrestle with God to give them what He did not intend to give them except for their strong prayers. We do not twist God’s hands and force Him to act apart from His established/ordained will. There are no super Christians but rather Spirit filled Christians who listen and obey God’s voice daily. "Overcome" doesn’t also mean good works or working hard to make it into God’s kingdom. You can’t be saved by good works. Note that in all the seven instances, Jesus follows “overcomes” with a promise of an aspect/desc

"Whom Are You Seeking?" - Happy Good Friday!

Dear Saints: "Him [Jesus] Stricken, Smitten by God" It was not an accident. It was God’s ordained plan, prophesied and fulfilled by Jesus Christ for the payment and forgiveness of our sins. We are now reconciled and restored to God Almighty and Creator of heaven and earth if we believe and trust in Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!  As we enter this weekend of great remembrance of our LORD JESUS, please take time to read and meditate on the prophecy (Isaiah 53) and the fulfilment (John 18-20).  May we answer the same question Jesus asked Mary upon His resurrection; "Whom Are You Seeking?" May we seek and find Jesus.  Here are excerpts of the reading: ISAIAH 53: “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were,  our  faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.  4  Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5  But He  was  wounded fo