A HOUSE OF PRAYER : A LIFE OF PRAYER

 

Mark 11:15-19 "the cleansing of the temple" is a very remarkable story of Jesus. It was an event that happened prior to Passover - just a few days before He died on the cross to save mankind. 

Mark told us that when v15-16 Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices, knocked over the tables of manoey changers and chairs of those who are selling doves. He stopped  everyone from using the Temple as marketplace. 

The Temple must be the place of worship but it turned into a den of thieves, greedy busninessmen and a place for religious elite to get wealthier. 

Let us all keep in mind, that Jesus' action in this passage is calculated, he carefully examined and observed what was going on in the the Temple before He took action. His Actions were deliberate and well thought of - it wasn't a burst of anger or random act of violence .. His anger though real was perfectly holy.

He cleansed the Temple - with calculated action deliberately for He said the temple must be a HOUSE OF PRAYER. 

Let us reflect:

Jesus cleanses our temple - our body, ourselves because we are His temple. He owns our body- it is His temple so feel blessed if Jesus will deliberately cleansed us from all our sicknesses and sins, noises from the outside and worries of the world. 

Let us allow Him to overturn our addictions, break our pride, drive out our every demon of selfishness, anger and hatred and allow Him to knock over our worries and problems. 

He wants our temple to be a house of prayer -- He wants to transform us into A LIFE OF PRAYER, for He wants to be able to listen to us and us be able to listen to Him. 

When was the last time we heard His voice?

When was the last time we truly had fellowship with Jesus?

Let us always invite Jesus to clean our temple, everyday is a struggle of noises of the world but with Jesus, we can get rid of all these noises and have a quiet time with Him. 

Let us live a life of prayer.

Amen.

JESUS' INNER CIRCLE: ARE YOU IN OR OUT?

 

As we read Mark 9, verse 2 says, ‘’and after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,’’.

This verse states that only the three of them, Peter, James, and John were chosen to go with Jesus to the mountain and have witnessed His transfiguration.  

Why would Jesus only choose the three of them?

Peter, James, and John were called ‘’The Inner Circle’’ because they were accorded special privileges. 

Mark 5:37 says, ‘’And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.’’

We notice that even Jesus has chosen His companion in special occasions. This does not mean that there is favoritism. It means that among the 12 apostles, the three were the closest to him and whom He can be trusted. 

Matthew 26:37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch[d] with me.”

How can we be close with Jesus? 

How can we earn His trust just like the three of them? 

1.  Fellowshipping with Him- Go wherever He goes (follow where His heart is)

2.  Spiritual talk – (talk to Him in spirit as possible)

3.  Know Him deeper – read and meditate His words

When we earn His trust and become more closer to Him. He is welcoming us and opening the door to the ‘’INNER CIRCLE. ‘’

What’s in the ‘’INNER CIRCLE’’?

There, 

-  We experience God’s Glory (Mark 9:3-8)

-  Hear God’s inner heart (Matthew 26:37)

-  Deeper, inner talks

-  Strong bond with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

Let us reflect:

Imagine yourself as one of the Apostles in your church, 

-  Where is your position right now? Are you in the INNER CIRLCE or OUTER CIRCLE?

-  What will you do to be in the INNER CIRCLE?

-  Are you ready to sacrifice your time and spend it more with Jesus?

-  Are you excited to talk to Him spiritually and do not feel bored?

-  How do you respond when your brothers and sisters invite you to a fellowship with the Lord? Do you feel burden or excited?

-  Are you ready to be trusted by God with greater things or still working with the little things?

Amen.

MP

EPHPHATHA : BE OPENED

 

Mark 7:31-37 talked about a man who could not talk and hear. Jesus healed him and gave him the ability to hear and talk. This man represents us in so many ways. 

In v 32 - 32 A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to Him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him.

- brought to him - in our lives there are people who tirelessly kneel down and pray for us. Your parents, pastors, churchmates, friends and siblings. 

In v 33 - 33 Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. 

- the man's healing was very personal. Jesus did not heal him in public it happened in private. 

Isaiah had prophesied regarding the time of Messiah: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing” (Isa. 35:5-6).

Even David praised God for opening his ears and giving him the ability to hear and obey the word (Psalm 40:6)

Everyone of us starts off spiriutally deaf and spiritually mute. We cannot hear the truth of God and we can't even talk to God. 

Thanks to people who loved us so much, who kept praying for us and brought us to Jesus and let Him know our spiritual condition.  

Just like the deaf man - we were disconnected, isolated and unaware of the power of the Lord and His truth. We had very little knowledge of God. 

And because Jesus cares, He took us aside and restored us personally. When the Lord works in us He does it intimately with us. 

Let us reflect:

Several times if not most of the time we feel disconnected with the Lord - we experience spiritual paralysis - we are unable to receive Go'd love and are cut off from spiritual connections with the Lord. 

Do we allow the Lord to whisper to us - EPHPHATA! BE OPENED!

- Many people are praying for us - that's why it is always important to have fellowship even in times of our spiritual paralysis.

- Jesus is always waiting and willing to set us aside and restore us in AN intimate manner. BUT do we set a special time to get intimate with Him? Remember only in intimacy with the Lord that we receive restoration. 

EPHPHATA! BE OPENED!

- He wants you to hear what He is saying.

- He wants your mouth to open with praise and thanksgiving, with prayers for others and with the love for the lost.

- He wants to open your life to Him alone - be opened on where He wants you to go and to do. Be opened to changes and His new direction to your life.

AMEN. 

TRUE FAMILY

 

In this chapter of Mark, Jesus Redefines the concept of "family". His Family - brothers and mother thought He was losing His sanity, so they came to bring Him back to Nazareth. (v 21) But He answered them that those who do the will of the Lord are His family not the people who are related by blood. 

In this scene, Jesus did not just established His kingdom and new nation but also a new family. His vision of the family is not the physical relationship but the spiritual kinship. Such relationship is inseparable from obeying God's will, that is, God's word.

When we become true followers of Christ, we are called to a whole new world, including a new set of relationship and true loyalty.

This doesn't mean we abandon our physical family to avoid our responsiblity of taking care of our parents (Matthew 7:11)  but they shouldn't be the reason for us not to obey the will of the Father and If they do hinder us, let's take Jesus example and keep our eyes on Him even if it means stepping back and leaving your family behind, He promised that if we do, He will replace what we have lost. (Mark 10:29-30)

Let us reflect:

Who is our TRUE FAMILY?

- Was there a time when we hinder our loved ones to do God's will by persecuting them? Then, you are not a family. 

- Was there a time when you supported your loved one to continue working for the Lord? (financially or spiritually) Then, you are a family.

- Was there a time when you were ridiculed, call you fake or hypocrite by your family for doing God's will? (because you have corrected and rebuked them) Then, they are not your family.

- Was there a time when your family was all support to your endeavor with the Lord? Then, they are your family.

**It does hurt so much when we are persecuted by our own family -- but....

Let us remember this: 

Jesus is clear that following Him will cause serious divisions within families. In Mark 13:12–13 He says, "And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake.

Amen.

THE FOUR FRIENDS : COLLECTIVE FAITH

 

WE CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT FRIENDS! 

This was the case in Mark 2:1-5. The story of paralytic man who was brought to Jesus by his 4 FRIENDS.  

Since Jesus became so popular many would come and hear him preach so there was no way the paralytic man and his friends can get through the crowd. 

BUT because they have so much faith and confidence that Jesus will be able to heal their friend, they found an extra-ordinary way to get through. THROUGH THE ROOF! 

It was so much effort to bring him up the roof how much more digging a hole - it also implied that they were willing to pay for the damages. 

What the world sees as crazy, JESUS SAW IT AS FAITH. 

                And when Jesus saw their faith, 

                he said to the paralytic, 

                “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus healed the paralytic, not only because of His faith but the faith of his four friends - THEIR COLLECTIVE FAITH!

Let us reflect:

The dedicated friends can be US - THE WORKERS OF THE LORD - willing to dig a hole in order to bring sick and lost people to Christ.

- Are we true servant of the Lord who will sacrifice everything, life, money and materials things just to bring a soul to Jesus?

- Are we that kind of friend, who can't stand still to see a friend suffering and blinded?

- Are we faithful enough to dig a hole in every life of our relatives, friends and stangers we meet no matter what the damage it may cause us just to bring them to Christ? (they may hate or persecute us)

LET US ALL BE THAT FAITHFUL AND DEDICATED FOUR FRIENDS!

Amen.

ARE WE ALL IN?

 

The book of Mark is about Jesus as SERVANT and was presented Jesus as God's suffering servant and redeemer of the Lord.

Jesus' ministry started with His baptism. Though John's baptism is all about repentance and turning to God, Jesus as sinless, submitted himself to baptism to mark his ministry.  As He said in verse  15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him (Matthew 3:15)

His submission shows His humility as a servant of the Lord. He was identifying with us - sinners. 

As Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens splitting and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. He was identified by the Father as His own. 

His baptism is a perfect picture of commitment and surrender. When Jesus was baptized he was saying to us He was completely committed to this mission. He was all in. 

When a believer is baptized one of the things they are saying is I am all in with Jesus. When we are immersed in the water our whole body goes under and it is a demonstration that our whole life is now about Jesus. He saved us. He set us free. He forgave us. He is now the very air we breathe. He is our living water.

Let us Reflect: 

On our Baptism when we shouted " I am yours Jesus!"  we shouted, WE ARE ALL IN!

But, are we really ALL IN?

When we joined the church and was baptized are we true to our covenant with the Lord that we are all in?

-How many times we backslid because there are things that we don't agree with the church? 

- How many times we declined the leading of the Holy Spirit to read the bible and pray because we are busy?

-How many times we hurt Jesus by being selfish - we get offended of small things, we throw tantrums when we cant get our way? 

- How many times have we joined the ministry to evangelize and seek the lost?

- How many times we forget that we have to love each other unconditionally without self-love?

ARE WE REALLY ALL IN?

WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT

 

If God will meet you today - will you hear 'WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT OR YOU WICKED AND SLOTHFUL SERVANT (be thrown to the pit of darkness)?

Matthew 25:14-30 "The parable of the Talents" , impresses the weight of our responsibility and the serious consequences of neglecting God's instruction to us.

Matthew, in chapters 24-25, records the Lord’s heart of compassion and love mingled with unwavering holiness. This section of Scripture, including the Parable of the Talents, constitutes final warnings, prophecies, and encouragements to His people Israel prior to His departure.

This parable is the instruction of the Lord to everyone on how to live on the last days. in Matthew 24:13, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved," is a key statement. This is the believing remnant that will receive the promise of the kingdom.

Each of us have  God-given talents - our diverse skills and abilities. It is not acceptable merely to put those gifts in the closet or ignore them. He expects us to take risk and employ them in His service. 

The return God expects of us is commensurate with the gifts we have been given. The servant who received one talent was not condemned for failing to reach the five-talent goal; he was condemned because he did nothing with what he was given. The gifts we receive from God include skills, abilities, family connections, social positions, education, experiences, and more. 

This parable is a WARNING to those who slack and don't use their talents for the glory of the Lord. The servant was thrown to the darkness and was stripped off of all his talents. 

Let us relfect:

- We've given so much talents, are we taking risk to use it for the glory of God? or we are too shy to even share it to others?

- We received so much blessings, especially our loved ones, are we even taking care of them and our relationship to them - what if we have no more time to show them our love?

- if God will meet you today - will you hear 'WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT OR YOU WICKED AND SLOTHFUL SERVANT (be thrown to the pit of darkness)?

. As Christians, we have the most valuable resource of all – the Word of God. If we believe and understand Him, and apply His Word as good stewards, we are a blessing to others and the value of what we do multiplies. We are accountable to the Lord for the use of His resources.

Amen.

ALERT! HE IS COMING!

 

"The Glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ, is what our word from Matthew 24:36-51 is telling us. 

The Lord is coming... Are we ready? The tragedy is, however, not everyone is ready for His return. 

The first 35 verses of this chapter were all explanations of the Lord as to "when and what" details of His return, then, without wasting time He moved on exhorting us to be vigilant or be ready for His coming. This is really serious!

But He didn't say when, for He wants us to be always ready and understand the necessity of readiness.

His return will be like A SUDDEN FLOOD (Noah"s time) I personally likened this to SUDDEN DEATH - like the people in Noah's time when they were drowned in the flood, heart attacks, death while sleeping -- NO TIME TO PREPARE..

Noah preached righteousness for over 100 years but he was ignored, because the people were so WORLDLY -

When we say worldly it's not just being immoral or wicked, it is also about job or relationship or certain posssession that we can't let go, goals or habits even attitudes. They are not bad but they are not meant to run our lives. 

As John warned us : 1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

His return will also be like  THIEF IN THE NIGHT - they come when you don't expect them. When we want to protect our belongings thieves, we make sure our houses are well-locked.

 Planning ahead is very important. 
- it will be too late to start living holy when He is here already even to seek righteousness. 

Let us reflect: 

- How prepared are we for His coming? Because His coming brings with it severity.

        - If you fail to prepare, because you love the world...

        - If you fail to prepare because you are lazy..

        - if you fail to prepare because you are a phony...

- Failure to prepare is a monumental mistake.

So be prepared:

- by focusing more on His kingdom and His righteousness, and all things will be added unto you.

- by waking up and being alert for what He wants to see when He returns..

- by doing the job He left for us to finish.

START NOW! BE FAITHFUL! BE ALERT! and BE PREPARED!

Amen.

UNDER HIS WINGS

 

As we read the 23rd chapter of Matthew, it is a notorious chapter for the Lord Jesus have rebuked the Pharisees known as "The Seven Woes" - Jesus criticized openly the Pharisees in somewhat angry demeanor. This speech of Jesus stretches through matthew 25. 

Though Jesus was talking about the Pharisees He was actually talking to the crowds and the disciples, because He was giving them warning not to do what they do because they are hypocrites. Eventhough, He acknowledged their teaching as the law of Moses, they warned them that they are blind guides who don't do what they teach. 

In the last part, He lamented in verses 37-39. He was calling Jerusalem to repent for they are about to reject Him and crucify Him.  He asked them to submit be under His wings but they were unwilling. 

Let's reflect: 

Notice the mercy that always accompanies correction. He still offers a way of redemption though He is utterly upset with our sins.  His correction is to always draw us back and restore us - be under His wings. 

In Jesus we see true love - enduring and willing to suffer for us. 

- How many times we have sinned and find ourselves at His foot confessing and He woulld let us read from the scripture His corrections or would allow us to listen to sermons or read exhortation that would hurt us and shape us to what who He wants us to be. 

-If we are in a current situation where we are sinning -- allow the Lord to correct us and let us submit to Him NOW... and be UNDER HIS WINGS once again. Amen.

YOU ARE INVITED : RSVP

 

As we reflect on the scripture from Matthew 22:1-14 "The Parable of the Wedding Feast", it is clear that Jesus is telling us that heaven is like a banquet. 

WE ARE ALL INVITED!

If we are going to look at the Jewish culture - whenever there's a big event people are invited first without the set date and time - they only need to say if they can go or not. When the banquet is ready they will send an invitation again to attend with their proper garment. 

We are invited at his banquet - when? no one knows... but did we respond YES or NO to His invitation? We don't know when is He coming and invite us once again to His banquet... are we ready? 

Many are invited but they refused to respond for they are busy with all their work, daily routines and daily concerns. Everyday there's always an invitation to prepare for that big event/banquet. We ignore those invitations because we are too absorbed to make our lives comfortable in this world. 

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Ps 95:8). If today you are invited, attend and be prepared. 

Most of the time we reject the invitation to be closer and know Him more because of so many worldly things. BUT TIME IS NOT PROMISED TO ANY OF US. We have to come on GOD'S TIME. WE MUST ATTEND WHEN HE INVITES US. 

In verses 11-13 - is a warning for all of us -- when the king inspected His guests, there is one man who has no wedding garment and was thrown into outer darkness. 

When we receive His invitation - we MUST be prepared to attend including our garments - which I believe it is the garment of repentance and obedience to our Lord. We must be covered by the blood of the lamb  before we can be in the banquet. 

Let us reflect: 

Have you received God's invtitation to His kingdom? If NO, NOW is the time to accept His invitation (now that you are reading this, it's not an accident, you are now invited! Accept!)

If YES, have you rsvped? Have you accepted it? what preparations are you doing to be ready for His banquet? 
        - Have you repented? 
        - Have you attended His equipping to know Him more?
        - Are you obeying his commandments? 
        - Are you being fruitful? (bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit?)

You are invited! It is an honor! be prepared and attend! 

"Many are called but few are chosen" (V14) 
Amen.

UNFRUITFULNESS

 

As we reflect on the Scripture of Matthew 21:18-19, when Jesus cursed the fig tree. This verses are both a Parable and a prophecy. It shows Jesus as our final judge. It is also a pictorial version of the prophecy of Jeremiah 8:13. 

Christ was seeking fruit and can't find any from the fig tree. Jesus didn't call us or plant us to be barren. He comes to give but also requires fruit from us. He does not only demand but delights in it. THE FRUIT HE DESIRES IS US. 

The fig tree was standing tall with so much leaves but no fruit. We may be standing tall and having all the leaves (like profession, money, family all the the temporal things of the world) but unfruitful. His desire is for us to bear fruit (the fruits of the Holy Spirit), to blossom the goodness of the Lord.

UNFRUITFULNESS - is sin punished by continual sinfulness, and when Jesus cursed the fig tree who was standing tall it withered immediately. It is alarming that we have no more time to waste. We, as Christians must bear fruits or we will wither in hell. 

Jesus has performed so many immeasurable miracles of mercy and forgiveness, but this is  His one miracle of judgment to show us that He is our final judge if we don't bear fruit. 

Let us reflect: 
God has given us much mercy,  love and our chances to change are unaccountable. When we accept Christ He gave us so many provisions and opportunities to get to know Him more, He would send His workers to equip and even take care of us, so we can grow according to His plan. He does all these things for us to be fruitful and grow. 

Are we taking these chances to change and get to know Him more? 
As Christians do we even bother to look at ourselves if we are fruitful?

What if Jesus would come now and ask for our fruit? Do we have any fruit to offer to Him? If not, are we ready to wither?

Let us not forget - Jesus is our final judge. BE FRUITFUL! Amen.

JESUS FIRST

 

As we meditate the word of the Lord today in Matthew 19, verse 29 answered our questions on how to really follow Jesus Christ.

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29).

It maybe a bit confusing, for Jesus Christ taught us to love our family. Does this mean that we neglect our family for His namesake?

It means that we need to put Jesus first in everything we do. It doesn’t mean that we neglect them. However, if our family and work get in the way of following Jesus, we must be prepared to leave everything behind. Anything in our lives, that hinders us to do the will of the Father and following Jesus must be abandoned. Self-sacrifice, dying in our flesh and giving up ourselves (habits, comfort and wealth) is what Jesus is asking from us.

He is saying that the only way to achieve the kingdom is by focusing on the Christ—our true spiritual identity—over any and all human distractions.

But for doing all these He promised that in return we will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. It is the ULTIMATE PROMISE OF THE ULTIMATE ETERNAL REWARD.

Some of the ways we get our hundredfold:

· Joy in the Holy Spirit, peace of conscience, the sense of God’s love.

· Contentment. They shall have a contented frame of mind.

· God will stir up the hearts of others to supply their wants, and that supply shall be sweeter to them than their abundance was.

Let us reflect:

-       Is Jesus our priority in our lives?

-       Can we give up our comfort of life for Jesus?

-       Is our schedule and appointments revolve around our schedule for Jesus? (do we turn down other appointments that would conflict to our Sunday service and equipping)

-       Can we sacrifice our phone calls to our loved ones for the work of the Church?

-       Can we give up our sleeping time and rest time because you are needed in the Church or a brother/sister needs you?

-       Can we sacrifice our pride and submit to your elders or authorities for Jesus namesake?

-       Can we forget all our needs/self and prioritize Jesus?

 

 God will be a debtor to no man. It is impossible for us to give more to God than He gives back to us. Amen.

PEACE TO THOSE WHOM GOD IS PLEASED

 

As we read our daily scripture today in Luke 2. We were led to know the birth of Jesus, the encounter of the shepherds and the angels of the Lord, the presentation of Jesus in the temple and His return to Nazareth.

Let us reflect on the v14, 29-31.

The praises of angels and the prophecy of Simeon.

It was highlighted that the true servants or the people whom God is pleased is given heavenly PEACE.

Let us reflect - one of the signs that we are truly with God and the Lord is pleased to us when we show peace in everything we do. When nothing can bother us even everything in our lives is shaken.

Heavenly peace comes only from our Father.

- if we always still have issues, pride and still shaken from every little things in life, let us strive to please the Lord to receive His peace.

Amen.

CHURCH DISCIPLINE

 

As we meditate the Word of the Lord in Matthew 18, in verses 15-20 Jesus showed us the authority of the church to discipline – He encouraged the people of God to stand and be firm in a gentle way. But the purpose of discipline must always be to RESTORE the offender and repent.

The way the world deals with conflict is either to take revenge or to walk away.  But God's people are called to a higher ethic- we are to confront our offenders about their sin. Not in bitterness or in a vengeful spirit, but in a spirit of gentleness and love. We are to love one another and to restore one another from ongoing sin.

Oftentimes as believers we were caught up between the fear of – “I do not want to hurt them, what if they get offended, what if they find me unfair, what if they say I am judgmental, or losing people in the church if we confront them and get offended. BUT in this text before us today, God does not give us an option to cop out here. He says in Matthew 18 and verse 15, “If your brother …” that is someone in the faith, a brother in the church, “… he sins against you, go and tell him his fault.”

Jesus tells us, it's so important because, “If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” [Matthew 18:15] This is a rescue mission! This is a recovery process! When someone lives in sin and if you love him, you wouldn't want him to keep on sinning. So, it is good; it is right; it is loving to go and tell him his fault, so that you may rescue him; gain him; recover him and prevent him from going deeper into his sins.

Though before we confront, we must battle everything with our knee first, pray that they may find the correction with humility. If not, Jesus gave us the process in this verse – bring to the church leaders with witnesses. However, if still they don’t submit and repent let them be – as Jesus said let them be a gentile or tax collector to you-means they do not belong to the faith –BUT it doesn’t mean we cease to pray for them until they are restored.

Let us reflect:

Are we afraid or intimidated to confront or correct our brethren because they might find you judgmental, unfair or unkind? How many times we just close our eyes and ignore the stubbornness of our brethren just to save ourselves from being hated by them? Jesus, gave us the process to discipline for a reason, as a church we must not close our eyes to our sinning brethren. If we truly love them let us correct them and restore them in a Christian way.

And if we are the offenders, let us acknowledge humbly our sins and repent, break down all your pride and be restored. It’s easier to say “sorry” than to sacrifice your relationship with the brethren.
Let us remember, how we receive corrections show how mature we are in Christ.

I pray, that each one of us will have humility to accept any rebuking and corrections for us to be restored. Amen.

THE WARNING!

 

As we read our daily reading in Matthew 3 today, It is the time when John the Baptist WARNED the people to repent or else like the unfruitful tree we will be thrown to hell.

He repeatedly warned the people that the ax is already laid to the root of the unfruitful trees.

John the baptist’s role is to prepare the way of Jesus and make the paths straight for everyone.

Like any other prophets his role is to WARN the people of the wrath of God if we do not repent.

Let us reflect if these warnings of the Lord make us truly prepare our hearts and urge us to repent or to rebel against the bringer of the warning. Like the sadducees whom John called brood of vipers they saw John as ill wisher and foolish for they felt like he wants them to be in hell and they persecuted John. It is always the tendency of prideful people - to persecute and resist instead of reflecting.

God sends people to warn us because he loves us. Our reaction to these warnings show our maturity in faith and the purity of our hearts. Warnings are always scary so people would abide but still it’s our choice on how we take these warnings of the Lord.

If today you hear a warning harden not ur heart for the Lord is calling you.

Be the modern day John the Baptist - bring the warning to the people. Amen.

I NEVER KNEW YOU!

As we read our daily reading for today.. our Lord Gave us a WARNING... so we may assess our profession of faith to Him? Are we really true when we say we love Him. 

The prior statement, part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–2), boldly indicated that not everyone who refers to Jesus as "Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven. Rather, it is those who do the will of God the Father who will be saved (Matthew 7:21).

ONLY THOSE WHO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER —What's His will? HIS TWO GREATEST COMMANDMENTS.

1. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

2,“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

We can never say we love the Lord without the physical manifestation that we love OTHERS. We may pray fervently, worship day and night, serve and cast out demons but still He will deny us if we have no love for others- especially the lost.

Let us reflect... Why are we in the church if our reason is to only come for the Lord — we can stay at home to pray alone with the Lord.. We are in church to have fellowship with others and pray to the Lord together. Though when we praise and worship we must do it personally without thinking of others.. but it doesn't mean that we ignore and mistreat others  because you are ONLY there for the Lord. The two greatest commandments are inseparable - we cannot cut off our ties with other people and say you love the Lord. God's will is for us to love Him as our Lord and savior and to love others as we love ourselves.  

Is our love for the Lord manifests physically — do we submit to our authorities, elders, and even to other workers in the church or in the family or outside the church and family?

How we treat others is how we treat the Lord. 

Let us not wait for the Lord to tell us — I NEVER KNEW YOU.... Amen.

Be HUMBLE and Be HEALED!

 

As we reflect on our daily scripture today in Matthew 8, Jesus goes about healing. 

He first healed the Leper. 

During that time lepers can’t be with the crowd. They are outcasts. 

They were to be secluded, away from the general population. But this particular man found the faith to come and kneel before Jesus to ask for healing, to be made clean. The man with leprosy could face punishment for his appearance among the crowd, yet despite the fear, he appeared anyway.

The story continues to say, "Jesus touched him," which was against the cultural norm because people with leprosy were not to be touched. Yet, Jesus touched him and made him clean, immediately. He did not say come back tomorrow or in the future. He healed him immediately.

All of us are sick too. We have sicknesses that can make us outcast or sins that we are ashamed of but we must find that courage and HUMILITY to ask the Lord to heal us. And He will and always willing. 

God can do immediate work in and for us. Despite how scary our situation may be, all we need to do is to break that pride and humble ourselves to the Lord and allow Him to totally heal us. 

Be humble and be healed. Amen.

BE MOVED WITH COMPASSION!

 

As we meditate the Word of the Lord in Matthew 14 today, Let us focus on verses 13-15. 

When we read Matthew 14 we always highlight the passage of Jesus and Peter walking on water. But verses 13-15 is really important for us servants and true born again of Christ. 

In this verses, Jesus had a plan to withdraw from the crowd and be in solitude for He was hurting inside. He wanted to mourn the death of John the Baptist His cousin whom he truly loved. 

But when He saw the great crowd who followed Him He was moved with compassion and decided to sacrifice - He knew the crowd needed him to teach and feed them both physically and spiritually and so HE DID. 

Jesus was hurting but decided to forget about Himself and serve the multitude-A TRUE MODEL LEADER INDEED! - He never promoted self-love but self-sacrifice.

Reflection: 

Let us reflect — was there a time we sacrificed our needs and wants for the sake of others?

There are times that we need to be alone because we are not in the mood but a friend called - 

- times when we are too busy but your family, your friend or your church need you ... what do you do?

- times when we don't feel well but we need to serve in the church and people are waiting for you and expecting you to serve them and feed them - what did you do?

-times when you are hurting because a friend, a family, a churchmate hurt you - will you abandon your relationship over pride or hurts or will you sacrifice your hurts and be with them instead? 

Self-sacrifice is when we are moved with compassion for others — and when we forget OURSELVES... 

SELF - LOVE IS NEVER PROMOTED IN THE BIBLE...it is always self-sacrifice. Amen.

DEFILEMENT COMES FROM WITHIN

 

As we meditate our scripture today from the book of Matthew 15, Jesus led us to understand what defiles us in verses 10-20. He explained that what makes us impure are the words and actions that stemmed from our hearts. As Luke explained in chapter 6:45 that out of the abundance of the heart our mouth speaks – Jesus exhorted us that our hearts are not naturally good and out of our heart evil flows. 

Our hearts seeps into every conversation. It dictates every relationship. Our very lives emanate from the heart it impacts the intensity of our communication with others. Every arena of our lives intersects with what’s going on in our hearts. 

Our heart is such a mystery, as Prophet Jeremiah said: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it. 

The world promotes to FOLLOW OUR HEARTS – but it will lead us straight to hell. There’s a big difference between setting our hearts on good things vs Godly things. 

Only God knows what is in our hearts. So, what can we do? 

We need the courage to ask the heavenly Father for help to watch over, understand, and purify our hearts. He is eager to respond and to show us (through equipping) how to replace old bad habits of the heart with new and better ones that will in time make us more like his Son.

Let us reflect: We can’t monitor our hearts but we can monitor our actions and words. These two are the reflection of our hearts. Lately, what are the words we uttered and actions we did? – were they pleasing to the Lord or hurtful for others? 

Lets us remember Luke 6:45- “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Amen.

YOU OF LITTLE FAITH!

As we reflect on our scripture Matthew 17 today,  V16: “I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” A dad was talking to Jesus, a desperate dad who brought his son to His disciple but could not heal him. V17: Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me."

 Jesus was disappointed to his disciples for having little faith and called them “faithless and perverse”. 

Why is Jesus disappointed? If we go back to Matthew 10, Jesus sends them out to heal sickness and disease, to drive out demons, and to preach and proclaim the Kingdom of God. The disciples were deputized and called to do the ministry of Jesus; they were caught up in the reality of “doubts”. 

Let us reflect: As Christians we were deputized and called to do the ministry of the Lord in our own ways, in our work place, family and friends. Are we doing our job as disciples of Jesus? We may have an intimate relationship with Jesus but we disappoint Him from time to time for having little faith that we can do what He can do. HOW CAN WE BE SO CLOSE TO JESUS AND NOT BE ABLE TO AFFECT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WE COME IN CONTACT WITH?

When was the last time you were supposed to help someone’s life and you did not do what you were supposed to do? 

Jesus was complaining not because they didn’t have power because they didn’t have faith.  You may not have a lot of things at this point, but you have faith to believe that there is nothing that our God cannot do.

We all may have some areas where we may need development in our faith.  Somewhere along the journey faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. Let’s read, let’s be equipped. We needed to find out that there was something in the book that will help us have more faith today and accomplish more tomorrow. And ask God to help us with our unbelief. Amen.