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"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Category: Awaken (Page 2 of 7)

New, Not Renewed.

September 13, 2025 /

MaryEllen Montville

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” –Lamentations 3:22-23.

The global wake of destruction that has hit us, the likes of which would make a category five hurricane blush, has been savagely unleashed on our world, our emotions, and on countless poor souls’ lives. Leaving them in utter shambles. Gaza and Palestine. Africa and India. Russia and Ukraine. China, Taiwan, and the list goes on—wars and rumors of wars. Souls, lost, many eternally. Someone’s mom or dad. Husband, wife, and the children—children, dead now as they sat in prayer. An assassin’s bullet to the throat has seemingly silenced the voice of a young man in the prime of his life. But God!

A young wife and her children left now, without her devoted husband and adoring father. Then, there are the multiple school shootings that have resulted in the deaths of our most innocent, our children. All of this and so much more, every nameless faceless soul that has been killed, many with no one ever having so much as heard their names. Souls who, quite literally, have had the proverbial rug ripped right out from under their feet, believers and unbelievers alike. Leaving us all staggering and a bit numb in disbelief.

 Then, here I come, sharing a verse that reminds us all of God’s mercies. Mercies? Really?

Absolutely!

That’s the thing about God, He never changes. Never. Neither chaos nor death can cause God to change—to go against His very nature. James 1:17 says it like this: “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].”

This teaching isn’t intended to be insensitive or callous. Instead, a “just as shocking reminder of Truth.”

Because amid what certainly looks and feels like a world about to spin out of control, just when we think we’ve reached the point of not being able to hear of one more tragedy, one more death, God’s Holy Spirit steps in and redirects us. Recalibrates hearts and minds and families who have lost their sense of up and down, bringing peace and redirection where chaos and madness, where evil, are doing their level best to rob them of Truth and peace.

The early Church experienced such a moment when Stephen, the first martyr, was stoned to death. What the enemy thought would put an end to God’s Church—His Gospel message, His people—was instead used by God to galvanize His people and to spread His Word to the four winds!

Notice, beloved, that God’s mercies are plural, not singular. We serve a “Pressed down, shaken together, and running over” God whose mercies are fecund, original, unique, explicitly designed to more than meet today’s one-of-a-kind needs.

Mercies that are dewy, refreshing our weary, worn-out souls.

Mercies glistening with the love and care Jesus has for you and me.

A love and care that falls upon each of His beloved children, upon you, daily, regardless of what may be swirling around our feet or front door. Saturating your life and mine as specifically and purposefully as His tender mercies and care bathe each flower’s petals and every single blade of grass.

God knows we need refreshing. He knows we need what only He can give us, hope that His sure promises will stand, no matter what it looks like at the moment. Regardless of how much the enemy of our soul appears to be stealing from us—God is giving us so much more. “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving.” –Matthew 6:30-31.

Jesus is infusing your life with newness and the resilient strength needed to face each new day—never forget that Truth, beloved. No assassin’s bullet, no bomb, war, or rumor of war will have the final say—that’s Gods. So even if standing is all you can do today, know that you’re doing it in God’s strength. His loving kindness towards you and me is enabling us to take tentative, baby steps forward. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” –Isaiah 40:29

God’s mercies are not like the transient things of this world, here one moment, needing to be replaced the next.

They’re not like that prescription bottle on your night table, something that needs renewing because it’s about to run out. God Himself has promised us, “for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” –Hebrews 13:5.

Nor are His mercies like the milk, bread, or cream for your coffee that needs to be replenished every few days or so. In a world where the words “renew” and “renewal” have become commonplace, the concept of anything new being afforded us daily has become almost obsolete.

Our parents, perhaps, and surely our grandparents, had a far better grasp of receiving new things daily than you or I ever will. We, the so-called more modern generation, must intentionally pause to make room for such a concept, allowing God’s Holy Spirit to unpack it for us. “The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” –1 Corinthians 2:14

Even then, until we come to know such newness—God’s plethora of mercies for ourselves, intimately: having kissed them on the mouth, eaten with, slept and woke beside them, belly-laughed til we cried with them, until, as with Jesus’ nearness, His “new” mercies has quickened the beating of our hearts, til we, parched and dizzied souls that we are, have had their dewy refreshing dripped onto our parched tongues, until God’s fresh mercies, like His Life-giving Word, our daily bread, has filled our bellies, we will never have truly experienced the newness God has awaiting us every-single-morning. His “new mercies” will remain some imagined experience, like a dream vacation on the bucket list map of life.

I know it’s hard to reach for hope right now, to keep putting one faith-full foot in front of the other, no turning back. I know it might be difficult even to hear the word mercy standing next to a child’s grave, a husband’s casket, but please, beloved, allow God’s Truth to rip you open right now. Let it pour new mercies, fresh hope in buckets full over your nearly dried-out, bone-weary faith. Let God do what only God can do in you and me. “But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” —John 3:12.

Leave room for God to cause faith to arise as you and me and them and they get mad at hell for its thievery, galvanizing us, uniting us just as it did the early Church, as we remember that Satan’s relentless barrage of hate and hurt, murder and death are no match for God’s unending love, mercies that are new every single morning, come what may, and a 3rd day power that raised Jesus from the dead. Hang on, beloved, soon, all of this pain, this feeling of being caught in the headlights of this life, will end. In peace and celebration—no more tears. No more death, wars, or assassins’ bullets. Just unending love and an eternity with Jesus, all because of God’s mercies. Soon, beloved, soon. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” –Revelation 21:4.

Rending Your Heart.

July 5, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.” –Joel 3:12-13

God was speaking to the nation of Israel through His prophet, Joel, telling them to return to Him because of His unending love. But God’s people were sin-full, and our Holy God did not, does not, cannot, abide sin. God is holy and just. “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.” –Habakkuk 1:13

To be separated from God is spiritual death; we’ll read about this Truth in just a moment. Separation from God means our spirit man is sleeping. Ephesians 5:14 tells us to awaken! “Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'”  Man was cut off from God the very moment he rebelled against God in the garden. Sounds kind of harsh. But was it harsh or just? Let’s read in Genesis 2:15-17: “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in that day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

When God gives us a command to follow, it is best to adhere to His commands. They’re meant to protect you from harm. But if we use our free will rebelliously, choosing not to obey God’s commands, that one choice can be the undoing of us.

Genesis 3:2-6 shows us just how easily this can happen. “And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the 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 3:2-5

Envision this: the serpent comes and tempts you. Whispering that if you sin this one time, it won’t harm you. Instead, it will be to your benefit—you can almost hear him saying,  “Do it! Enjoy it! Don’t worry about what God said; He’ll forgive you.”

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” –Genesis 3:6

Satan is a liar and a thief! He hates us, plain and simple. Both Adam and Eve, man and wife, were deceived by Satan. Before God had even created Eve, He commanded Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God had given Adam everything good to eat, that he might eat freely and tend the ground. “And the LORD God commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” –Genesis 2:17. Both the man and his wife knew they should not eat from the tree yet they went against what God told Adam not to do and decided to listen to the serpent.

Ever notice that when you are busy doing something with God, spending time with Him in worship and prayer, you have a lower chance of doing something foolish?

James writes in his letter, “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. When you are distracted by other things, such as scrolling through social media or playing hours of video games, you become spiritually weak and drained—spiritual embers may still be burning, sure, but there’s no longer a white-hot flame. Now, I won’t deny that I have issues with scrolling on Facebook. Ten minutes can turn into an hour and a half, or maybe longer if I let it. I’m spending the limited time God has afforded me, the time He wants to spend with me, on mindless scrolling instead. “For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” – Exodus 34:14

Do not let distractions become an idol.

What you feed on is what you will be full of: junk in, junk out.

If you spend your time watching pornography, you will be consumed with lust. If you spend it watching the news all the time, you will be consumed with sorrow, fear, and anxiety. The world is a dark place, and it is getting darker. Instead, carry the Light of Jesus into a dark and dying world desperate for hope. Jesus said,” Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” –Matthew 5:16

Do you not know how much Jesus loves you?

Do you not remember the unimaginable agony, suffering, and humiliation Jesus endured on His Cross for you and me? Being sinless, He chose to bear the weight of our sins on Himself. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21

We are no longer of this world because Jesus has separated us from the world. Listen to Jesus’ heart not only for His disciples but for you, child of God. “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth” –John 17:16-19

You have been and are being sanctified by the finished work of Jesus Christ and the Truth of the Gospel of His Word. “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” –1 Corinthians 6:11. We are all sinners, but through Christ Jesus, God has made a way for us to be set free.

Such freedom begins with you having a relationship with Jesus—accepting His invitation to be your Lord and Savior by allowing Him to do the work of transforming your life into what He created it and you to be. “Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” –Ephesians 4:22-24.

Freedom also entails God cleansing our hearts (our minds, will, and emotions) by bringing them into submission to Jesus Christ. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” –2 Corinthians 10:5.

In Matthew 16:24-26, Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul? Or what will a man exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26

Repentance means turning away from your sin. To rend your heart means to tear it in sorrow for your sins. Sin is a condition of the heart that only Jesus can heal, forgive, and wash away, leaving you spotless, regardless of your past sins and failures. Hear God’s promise to you in Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.”

We here at SonsOftheSea pray that you will rend your heart today and receive Jesus as Lord Savior and be washed clean of all your sins. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” –Mark 1:15

Amen.

God Remembered…

June 14, 2025 /

MaryEllen Montville

“But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock with him in the boat. He sent a wind to blow across the earth, and the floodwaters began to recede.” –Genesis 8:1

Are you still waiting to be remembered? You know you heard the Lord; you’re sure of it. You felt it the instant His promise dropped in your belly, impregnating you with hope. But then, time wore down your resolve, like water dripping on a rock. Delay has taken its toll on hope. Caring little for the weeks, months, and even years you’ve been waiting. Thus, time is giving birth to moments of questioning instead of your promise. Did you really hear God speak, or, speaking proverbially, had you just eaten too much pizza? Proverbs 13:12 sums up waiting and delay this way: “When hope’s dream seems to drag on and on, the delay can be depressing. But when at last your dream comes true, life’s sweetness will satisfy your soul.”

And then it happens. Confirmation and relief arrive, joyously welcomed as long-lost friends. God sends a powerful whiff of hope wafting through the air. Having smelled this before, you’d instantly recognize that scent anywhere. It’s the scent of God-sent hope as familiar to you as the long-ago smell of your favorite thing cooking in your mom’s kitchen, and, having caught its familiar aroma now, you’re instantly filled with new hope as the memory of God’s promise floods every fiber of your being as wholly and fresh as the day He first spoke it.

Noah had caught the familiar scent of God’s promise on the air the day the dove he’d released flew back to him with the fresh sprig of an Olive twig in its beak. “After waiting another seven days, Noah released the dove again. This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwaters were almost gone. He waited another seven days and then released the dove again. This time it did not come back.” –Genesis 8:10-12.

Now, you might be saying, “Okay, not too bad. Noah only waited 2 weeks for his promise to come to pass.” But wait, there’s more.

“After 150 days, exactly five months from the time the flood began, the boat came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. Two and a half months later, as the waters continued to go down, other mountain peaks became visible. After another forty days, Noah opened the window he had made in the boat and released a raven. The bird flew back and forth until the floodwaters on the earth had dried up. He also released a dove to see if the water had receded and it could find dry ground. But the dove could find no place to land because the water still covered the ground. So it returned to the boat, and Noah held out his hand and drew the dove back inside. After waiting another seven days, Noah released the dove again. This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwaters were almost gone. He waited another seven days and then released the dove again. This time it did not come back.” –Genesis 8:3-12.

So, doing the math, it wasn’t 14 days, but some 279 days or roughly 9 months, but wait, again, there’s more to Noah’s story: “Noah was now 601 years old. On the first day of the new year, ten and a half months after the flood began, the floodwaters had almost dried up from the earth. Noah lifted back the covering of the boat and saw that the surface of the ground was drying.”

Another two months passed before, at last, the earth was dry.

So, that means nearly a year had passed before Noah would witness the fulfillment of the covenant promise God had planted in his belly. “Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives.” –Genesis 7:17-18.

So, what’s the point of my sharing all of this with you?

It’s simple, really.

Hope.

I’m here today to encourage you. Consider this a new line on which you can take a fresh grip with your tired hands. Then remind yourself God hasn’t forgotten you, beloved.

God is at work in your life, even amongst the flood waters.

If God has given you a promise, and He has, His Word is filled with His promises; you can rest assured that God will see that promise come to pass in your life. “People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” –Hebrews 6:16-20.

You know you heard the Lord; you’re sure of it. You felt it the instant His promise dropped in your belly, impregnating you with hope. Rejoice, beloved! You’re in good company. Noah heard the Lord’s promise as well. As did Father Abraham, Sarah, King David, Joseph, and the list goes on. Yet, despite their certainty of having heard God’s promise, it’s said that Abraham waited 25 years after hearing God’s promise before Isaac was born. Joseph had to wait some 13 years before he was released from prison and became the second in command over all of Egypt. And Moses waited for 80 years while God readied him for his calling.

Why the wait?

God was at work behind the scenes, working all things together for good—for His glory and the good of each of them, and He’s working things out for you as well.

In the end, each of those listed above beheld the fulfillment of God’s promise:

Sarah, once barren, bitter, and ashamed, held her newborn, Isaac—God’s promise to her and Abraham, in her arms. –Genesis 21:1-8 NLT.

King David, anointed by Samuel as a boy to be Israel’s next King, waited, some say, 22 years before he took the throne. –1 and 2 Samuel NLT.

Joseph played a crucial role in helping to save his people and many Egyptians from famine—to say nothing of the joyous reunion he experienced with his long-estranged family. –Genesis 45-47 NLT.

Yet each of them waited on God’s promise to be fulfilled in their lives—I know it’s been a long time, and you’re getting discouraged. That’s why I’ve been sent to you today—to say hang on! God Remembers you! “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” –Numbers 23:19.

And new friend, one of the most life-changing promises that will ever be made to you personally is found in the Word of God.

What is this promise?

That a simple prayer said from a heart that believes Jesus is real—that He is the Living Son of God—even though you may not fully understand why you believe, will, in an instant, take you from the kingdom of darkness, this world, and make you an eternal citizen of heaven—God’s own child, made clean, new, you are forgiven now, of your every sin. That’s God’s promise to you and to whosoever will believe. And God cannot lie. “If you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.” –Romans 10:9-10.

The Gate That Leads To Life.

May 24, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to Life, and there are few who find it.” –Matthew 7:13-14

In this opening scripture, Jesus teaches the people what it means to follow Him. I remember reading this passage when I first started walking with our Lord, and it puzzled me. “What gate am I supposed to walk through?” I thought to myself, looking around. I wonder if Jesus saw that same reaction from the people He taught and His disciples.

Now, after maturing some, I see and hear this scripture, and it brings me Life. Jesus is the Gate that leads to Life. He is the Narrow Way, and not many find it. Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” –John 10:9

There is a broad path that leads to destruction. I picture it as a bunch of people crammed together, leaping over one another, trying to get ahead of one another, doing whatever it takes to make it or to beat out another person, fueled by a destructive “me first mentality.” Allowing fleshly desires to overtake and consume them; that’s a dark place to be.

The apostle Paul writes to the Church in Galatia about these works of the flesh. What was happening then is still happening today; there’s nothing new. Paul writes, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultry, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissension, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” –Galatians 5:19-21

When we come to know Jesus, He changes our mindset from darkness into Light, from death to Life. Jesus has made the way! Darkness flees when the Light is present. Jesus says, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” –John 12:44-46

A believer’s lifestyle needs to be one of worship and prayer, not trying to gain an advantage over another to get ahead. Jesus says, “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” –Matthew 6:33. We walk with Jesus down this narrow path, set apart from the “worldly” lifestyle. We are to be transformed into a new way of living.

Jesus even said this to the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees and Sadducees at the temple, “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.” –John 23:25-26.

I recall my pastor saying many times, “true salvation is not first seen from the outside. It starts from the inside, then it shows itself outwardly.” Thanks, pastor Lino! He always points us directly to the Word of God. “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,  he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” –Titus 3:4-5.

Your salvation is not based on what is on the outside, how good we look on the outside, but rather, salvation starts when you have been washed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which leads us to repentance. “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” –Romans 2:4

You can look all pristine and well put together on the outside, but be a total train wreck on the inside. This is why we must remember that works without faith in Jesus Christ will not save us.

Speaking to His Church, Jesus reminds us: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” –John 15:5-6

Later, Jesus says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples.” –John 15:7-8

Let us abide together, Church. With Jesus as its Head and we as His Body.

There is no Life in the Body without The Head controlling or telling His Body how to move.

According to the Oxford Language Dictionary, to abide means: to accept or act in accordance with (a rule, a decision, or recommendation).

This means that when we decide to follow Jesus, we choose to follow Him fully. We follow Him fully by loving Him and following the statutes He laid down for us, His commandments. “If you love me, obey my commandments.” John 14:15.

Ask yourself, “If I am living for Jesus, am I truly walking this narrow path? Or have some things gotten in the way of my walk?” Did I allow anything to come in, causing me to stumble? Reading Galatians 5:19-21 reminds me to examine my heart and ask our Lord Jesus if anything needs to be repented and thrown away. As David writes in his psalm, “Search me, O Go, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” –Psalm 139:23-24

David knew he was human and susceptible to sin. We are all human, and we all fall short. May I suggest you take a moment today to ask God to examine your heart?

If you were convicted after reading this teaching, I pray the Holy Spirit leads you to repent and ask for forgiveness. Repentance means to turn your mind and your heart away from that sin and worldly desires that lead to death, and ask Jesus to forgive you. “For godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow produces death.” –2 Corinthians 7:10.

Decide today to repent and walk no more in your sin. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” –Romans 10:9-10

We are praying for you all in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Cultivated Heart.

May 3, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

Praise God! We finally made it through the wintery months here in New England. Spring is here, and the renewal of life has begun. Trees are budding, and birds are chirping in the early morning. Spring is also when my oldest son starts preparing to plant his garden. I can’t get him to clean his room, but when it comes time to prepare his garden, he’s all for it. My son loves to grow plants and has a real knack for it. To this day, I am still not sure where his love for gardening comes from. Neither his mom nor I has any experience growing plants. Yet, every mid-spring, my son goes out into his garden and starts tilling the soil, breaking up the hard ground from winter passed.

As I watched him last year, I noticed the dirt he was breaking up looked nothing like the hard, dried-out topsoil. The soil he was turning over was much darker and richer. My son told me that if he didn’t turn the soil over, he would be unable to sow any seeds in the ground because plants wouldn’t grow in the hard topsoil. So, he cultivates the ground to prepare it. It takes work to prepare the ground for sowing.

Seeing this made me start thanking God for His Son, His saving work on the Cross, and how He changed my once hard heart.

You see, spiritually speaking, the heart is not that fleshy muscle that pumps blood throughout our bodies; the heart is our mind, will, and emotions. Jesus desires to bring each of these under obedience to His life-changing power, softening them. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” –Proverbs 23:7

Everything changes for the better when we submit our hearts to Jesus; this happens only because of God’s grace. There is no other way to receive salvation and redemption (being saved from sin, error, or evil) but through Jesus. He alone knows what’s in men’s hearts, and like the rich soil my son exposed, only Jesus can turn a man from a life of sin and death to one made clean, new, ready to receive Him, rich in abundance.

Jesus is the only answer for a man’s deceitful heart; He is the Sower, and our heart is the ground He desires to till. “Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up right away, since it didn’t have deep soil. When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn’t have root, it withered. Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce a crop. Still others fell on ground and produced a crop that increased 30, 60, and 100 times that was sown. Then He said, “Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!” –Mark 4:3-9

This scripture says the sower went out and sowed seed, which fell on the rocky ground. After a while, tender little sprouts began to grow, but the soil was not suitable for them to thrive in. The roots needed to grow and get nutrients from the ground beneath that rocky soil had no place to sink into. So, too, the Word of God cannot take root if it’s sown in a man’s hard heart (mind, will, emotion). Perhaps some rocky soil is caused by heartache or words spoken in anger. As a result, the heart closes itself off from allowing anyone in. But God! Jesus is the only one who can change that heart of stone, turning it into a heart of flesh, making it whole again, ready to receive once more.

After Jesus was taken down from His Cross, He was laid to rest in a garden tomb, and a large stone was used to seal the tomb. “Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.” –John 19:40-42

But that stone was supernaturally removed on the third day, and Jesus walked out alive!

Jesus is the Seed sown into the hearts of all who declare Jesus as Savior by God the Father. These hearts will not only have new life, but will also help to reproduce new life. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” –John 12:24

The thorns, those wicked thoughts or anxieties that whisper, “You don’t need God.” Or “Nothing will ever change; you’re just a hopeless case.”

Such thoughts will choke the Word of God out of you if you allow them to. “Other seed fell among thorns, and thorns came up and choked them out.” –Matthew 13:7.

Jesus is the only Person who can remove these thorns from your life.

He alone bore a crown of thorns on His head for you. Those wicked thoughts, those lies people have told about you. Jesus’ Holy Blood covered His crown of thorns, freeing everyone who will receive Him as Lord and Savior from the curse of sin and death.

The fall of man took place in the Garden of Eden, where the human heart was forever changed the very second sin entered the world. Still, at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, in another garden, Jesus accepted a cup of suffering which contained the sins of the whole world.

Man’s salvation is made possible because Jesus died in our place, after drinking every drop of that bitter, sin-filled cup. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” –2 Corinthians 5:2.

But before Jesus was betrayed and taken away, He prayed to the Father, saying, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” –John 17:1-3

Jesus’ selfless sacrifice, my dear friend, proves His love for you.

Jesus was so determined to see you free that He came as a willing ransom, paying in full the price sin demands. He did this for anyone who would proclaim Him as Lord. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” –Romans 6:23.

I invite you to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior into your hearts. Let Him break up any hard ground He finds there—by repenting your sins. Invite Jesus to plant a new thing in the turned-over soil of your heart. Jesus loves you, and He is so willing to do this for you. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” –John 3:16 Amen.

Bread, Not Bunnies.

April 19, 2025 /

MaryEllen Montville

“I alone am this living Bread that has come to you from heaven. Eat this Bread and you will live forever. The living Bread I give you is my body, which I will offer as a sacrifice so that all may live.” –John 6:51

Men might be willing for Christ to save them, but not for Him to reign over them—Charles Spurgeon.

Tomorrow is Resurrection Sunday. A day when some will celebrate with their perhaps bi-yearly visit to church, wearing their new, or new-to-them, Easter outfits. Sadly, they’ll celebrate the day God defeated death and the grave as just a fun-filled day, complete with chocolatey treats instead of what it truly is: A Life-giving day that changed everything! The day Jesus, the sinless Son of God, took their sins and ours upon Himself, His once-for-all sacrifice, dying the criminal’s death we deserve so that all men might have New Life in Him and a restored relationship with the Father. For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” –1 Peter 1:18-19.

Still, knowing this, many will give Jesus His 45 minutes tomorrow, then consider their duty done; sadly, they will go on to celebrate the Easter bunny’s arrival with their children. Celebrating how he brought them baskets filled with jellybeans, toys, and chocolate bunnies, sometimes real ones—making him the hero of the day. Perishable trinkets will take the place of the Pearl of Great Price. Heaven’s kingdom realm is also like a jewel merchant in search of rare pearls. When he discovered one very precious and exquisite pearl, he immediately gave up all he had in exchange for it” Matthew 13:45-46.

They’ll give their children baskets full of candy but not share the unfathomable sacrifice Jesus made just for them. Instead of telling their children just how much Jesus loves them, or the immeasurable lengths He went to ensure they could be His, instead, they’ll take them on the hunt for that well-hidden golden egg—the prized egg, the reward for all their hunting efforts! The Apostle Paul had something to say about those who write Jesus out, replacing Him with idols, man’s thought-up imaginings, their “Easter best” efforts: “For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God.” –1 Corinthians 1:18.

How thankful we are, dear Christian, that our hunt is over!

Jesus has risen, hallelujah! And so, too, shall we!

Our Prize is One we did not have to go in search of. Instead, He made His presence plain to us using His heavenly host to announce Himself that none could deny the most excellent Gift ever given to mankind: King Jesus, Bread of Life. “Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. Don’t be afraid!” he said. I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger” –Luke 2:9-12.

How fitting, beloved, that our King should be born in Bethlehem, known in Hebrew as the “House of Bread.” Jesus, Living Lechem (bread), declared of Himself: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” –John 6:35.

We see the foreshadowing of Jesus as the Bread of Life in the Book of Exodus.” Make a table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.” –Exodus 25:23-24;30.

This bread was a sacred memorial offering, a reminder to God’s people of His Everlasting Covenant, Presence, and continual provision.

From the beginning, God’s heart towards His people has ensured that we are well-fed by His Word, sent first as life-sustaining manna in the wilderness. Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” –John 6:31.

Then, through Moses, God instructed His priests to place actual bread, a placeholder for Jesus, on a sulhan or table inside the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. Twelve loaves were to be baked and then arranged in piles of six each, made from the finest flour and covered with the finest incense laid out weekly before the Lord by His priests. His table and its Old Covenant bread foreshadowed a future table where the New Covenant Bread of Life would sit with His Apostles. And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.” –Luke 22:19-20.

Bread factored heavily in Israel’s history, including that of the early church.

Bread was a staple, even in the poorest homes. Something that all people, regardless of their wealth, poverty, Jewish or Gentile background, skin color, or background, could relate to. Is it any wonder that Jesus, our humble King, who came so all men might receive His free gift of salvation, likened Himself to such a Life-Giving staple? His Body and Blood, Bread and Wine, Jesus also said: “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink” –John 6:53-55.

Jesus is not a man that He can lie, beloved.

Tomorrow is Resurrection Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the grave, defeating sin and death. Let us never forget that the shedding of our Bridegroom’s Blood is what makes us a spotless bride—you were bought at a very high price.

Each of John’s passages assures us that Jesus, the Bread of Life, can and promises to give New Life to all those who come to Him hungry for God’s real Food, sent to us that we might have New Life in Him today and eternal life in the world to come. “This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” –John 6:58

New friends don’t make tomorrow about chocolate bunnies, easter baskets, and a new outfit. Make it about the Bread that came down from heaven. Make it all about Jesus, the Bread of Life. “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. / And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” –John 11:25-26.

Faith That Makes You Whole.

March 22, 2025 /

Pastor Samuel Cordeiro

“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?  Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” [KJV says, “thy faith hath made thee whole.”] –Luke 17:11-19.

In Luke 17:11-19, we encounter a powerful story of ten lepers who cried out to Jesus for mercy. These men, outcasts of society, were desperate for healing. Yet, out of the ten who were miraculously healed, only one returned to give thanks—and Jesus declared that his faith had made him whole. This passage is more than a historical account; it is a call to deeper faith, obedience, gratitude, and worship.

1. The Power of Crying Out

“Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” –Luke 17:13.

The lepers knew they had no hope apart from Jesus. They cried out in desperation, recognizing Jesus’ power to heal. How often do we hesitate to cry out to Jesus in our struggles? Whether it’s physical illness, emotional pain, or spiritual bondage, our wholeness begins with acknowledging our need for Him. Jeremiah 32:27 reminds us, “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

No matter what we face, no situation is beyond God’s reach. He desires for us to call upon Him in faith, trusting in His power and love.

Romans 10:13 says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Have you cried out to Him today?

2. Obedience Precedes Breakthrough

“When He saw them, He said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed.” –Luke 17:14.

Jesus told the lepers to act in faith before they saw their healing. They obeyed, and as they went, they were made clean. Many times, God calls us to step out in faith before we see the evidence of His work. Imagine their situation. They could have doubted, “What if we walk and nothing happens? What if this is just another disappointment?” instead, they chose faith over doubt. In the same way, our obedience often unlocks our miracle.

Is there something God is calling you to obey today?

Is He asking you to trust Him in a new way? Your obedience may be the key to unlocking your miracle.

3. The Heart of Gratitude

Only one of the ten lepers returned to thank Jesus. This act of gratitude set him apart. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” –Luke 17:17-18.

How often do we receive blessings and forget to return thanks?

A heart of gratitude acknowledges God as the source of all blessings. It shifts our focus from what we lack to the abundance of His grace. Gratitude keeps our hearts aligned with God and guards us against complacency.

Many times, we become so focused on the next thing we want that we forget to appreciate what God has already done. But gratitude is more than a feeling—it’s a lifestyle. It shapes how we pray, how we worship, and how we live daily. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

4. Worship Leads to Wholeness

The one leper who returned didn’t just thank Jesus—he fell at His feet in worship. Jesus told

him, “Thy faith hath made thee whole” –Luke 17:19, KJV. Wholeness is more than physical healing; it is the restoration of the soul. Many seek miracles, but few seek the Miracle Worker.

 Are we pursuing Jesus only for what He can do, or are we seeking a relationship with Him?

True wholeness means more than just getting our prayers answered. It means being transformed from the inside out, having peace beyond understanding, and living a life surrendered to Christ. John 10:10 says, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

 True wholeness is found in surrendering to Christ completely. Worship is not just singing songs on Sunday. Worship is a posture of the heart—one that acknowledges God’s goodness, submits to His will, and delights in His presence. When we worship, we shift our focus from our problems to the One who holds all things in His hands.

Do You Want to Be Made Whole?

This passage challenges us to evaluate our own faith. Are we crying out to Jesus? Are we stepping out in obedience? Do we live with a heart of gratitude? Are we seeking Jesus for who He is, not just for what He can give?

Wholeness begins with a cry for mercy, moves through obedience, overflows in gratitude, and is sustained through worship. Will you be like the one who returned to Jesus? Will you seek not just the blessing but the Blesser? Today, Jesus offers more than a temporary fix—He offers complete restoration. The question is: will you receive it?

Let this be the day that you fully surrender. Let this be the day you choose wholeness over temporary relief. Let this be the day you stop chasing quick fixes and start pursuing the One who makes all things new. Perhaps you’ve been searching for healing, peace, or fulfillment, but nothing seems to satisfy you. The truth is true wholeness begins with Jesus. He didn’t just come to heal your body; He came to save your soul.

If you’ve never given your life to Jesus or drifted away, He is waiting for you with open arms. Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But the good news is, Romans 6:23 assures us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus died on the Cross for your sins and rose again so that you could have eternal life.

All you need to do is believe in Him, confess your sins, and invite Him into your life. Your journey to wholeness begins with a heart of surrender to Jesus Christ with a simple prayer like this: “Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner in need of Your grace. I believe You died for my sins and rose again to give me new life. I surrender my heart to You today. Forgive me, change me, and make me whole. I choose to follow You from this day forward. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of God! I encourage you to get connected with a local church, read God’s Word daily, and seek Him in prayer. Your journey to wholeness has just begun!

Link Up.

March 15, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” –Ephesians 4:4-6.

The older I get, the more I understand that it is not all about me; I’m only one member of Christ’s Body, the Church. Maybe I had an “all about me” mindset when I was younger, but that is no longer true. As I’ve grown older and wiser, I’ve gotten better at seeing the big picture. One I was incapable of understanding when I was young, for instance, like recognizing things God has planned for me and the family He has given me. I know for sure the Church He has rooted me and my family in, and his plans for all these are far greater than I could ever have imagined. Isn’t that just like God, though? To give and show us “exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ask or hope for.”

It’s mind-blowing to think that God has so much more to reveal to us. Having faith in Jesus makes life more enjoyable and bearable; by faith, the trials of this world fall by the wayside.

While in prison, God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” –Jeremiah 33:3.

God also tells Jeremiah, “For I know the thoughts that I think of you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope” –Jeremiah 29:11.

Knowing God’s perfect plan for my life is secure in Him brings me great comfort.

God tells Jeremiah these things so he will encourage the nation of Israel by sharing with them God’s great plans—plans for good, not harm.

As followers of Jesus, we should be encouraged because we have been grafted into these promises. In his writing to the Church in Galatia, the Apostle Paul reminds us of this: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” –Galatians 3:29.

Brothers and sisters, God has not forgotten His promises to His children, to you.“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God, and if children then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” –Romans 8:16-17.

This single Truth is for each of us; it is greater than any of us.

As the Church, we need to come alongside one another to edify, pray, and submit ourselves to God—not just as individuals but as one Body, united. Men, women, and youth united as one voice praising our Lord Jesus. An army of believers, ready, waiting for Jesus’ return.

Jesus told His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another as I have loved you. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” –John 15:34-35.

We are to walk in unity and love one another.

Did you catch that?

Your brother and sister in the Church are not your enemies.

We only have one common enemy, and he is Satan. He is a thief and a liar. He wants nothing more than to take you and your whole family out. Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” –John 10:10.

We are called to love one another with brotherly love.

Granted, not every personality is our cup of tea; some personalities may be more abrasive, while some are more sensitive. As a result, they may clash with each other, yet we are all needed in the Body of Christ. The apostle Paul writes: “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” –Romans 12:10-13.

 The Apostle Paul reminds us: “For as the body is one and has many members, but all members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.” –1 Corinthians 12:12-14. Jesus is the One who connects us all, uniting us as One in Him, as each one of us contributes whatever gifts God has given us.

You are valued, brothers and sisters, deeply loved by Jesus.

You’re a treasure in the kingdom of God, carrying the Holy Spirit everywhere you go, bearing fruit in season for the glory of our Father.

As I started out saying, when I was younger, I may have thought everything was about me.

Today, as one belonging to Jesus—because of His work in my life, I know for certain it is not about me in the least; it’s all about Jesus.

My prayer is that we put away the divisive squabbling and get out of our flesh, our earthly mindsets. The flesh will never agree with the things of the Spirit because it does not comprehend the workings of God. After all, God is Spirit. Jesus told Nicodemus, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” –John 3:6-8.

Let us link up together, brothers. Time is growing short, and our pettiness must stop. We are called to be the Church, to be faithful with all God has given us. If He came today, would Jesus find us being His Church? not according to world standards of what the Church is or should be, but according to the standards God has decreed through His Son Jesus.

I pray that this teaching has edified and has spoken unity into your lives and that all who proclaim Jesus as Lord will be saved. I invite you to come to our Lord Jesus, repent your sins, and ask Him into your heart. Today is the day of salvation. Jesus says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” –Mark 1:15. Amen.

Wake Up Call.

February 15, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

Every morning at 5:30, my very annoying alarm clock goes off, letting me know it’s time to get up! Now, if you’re anything like me, you hit that snooze button and go back to sleep for another 10 minutes. Yet it feels like no sooner I close my eyes, the alarm is going off again. “Seriously, I say to myself as I stumble over to turn off the alarm. 10 minutes, already!?”

Now I have no choice but to get up because my wife will see to it; there’s trouble ahead if I wake her up again! And to all the men reading this, remember this proverb: “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.” –Proverbs 18:22.

Still, it’s good that my alarm clock goes off every morning because if it didn’t, I might miss out on what the day would bring. I could always go back to bed and ignore it, but that would mean my kids and I getting a late start—them to school, me to work—not to mention my wife being unhappy with me. My day would quickly unravel before it fully began, leaving us all a bit frayed—and all because I chose to ignore the alarm!

I don’t think anyone wants to start their day that way, yet it happens daily.

Like with life, for instance. It’s easy to hit the snooze button on life. To become complacent and drift off, thinking all is well and that we have time, even when it comes to our salvation and relationship with God. (And for those who are not followers of Jesus, there’s eternal danger involved in their being complacent, drifting back off).

Yet we are not called to serve God or each other half asleep but fully awake and engaged.  

Like that blessed alarm I was talking about, it’s time for us to wake up, friends, to stop hitting the proverbial snooze button on life and allow the Light of Christ to shine on us, waking us from our slumber! Jesus did not call His disciples or us so we might lay around; He called us all laborers; to rise up and take action. “Then Jesus went about the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” –Matthew 9:35-38.

Though Jesus’ disciples were few in number, they were called to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the ends of the earth. And so are we. People were waiting for Truth and in need of hope and a purpose. If we lie around, assuming we have all the time in the world, then the work we’ve been assigned will not get accomplished.

Our work lives starts with us getting out of bed to answer the alarm clock.

Our Kingdom work starts with our first step of faith and obedience.

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”  –Romans 10:14-15.

If Jesu has called you, you are His chosen. Called to carry the Light of Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit, into this dark world. “You are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” –Matthew 5:14-16.

Sticking with the alarm clock metaphor, when the Light of Christ, His Holy Spirit, fills you up, it’s time for you to get up and go! “But all things are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” –Ephesians 5:13-14.

If we are abiding in Jesus, we ought to be fully awake, not living in some half-asleep darkness. ”I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” –John 12:46.

We are getting closer and closer to the time of Jesus’ soon return, my brothers and sisters.

As He promised, Jesus is coming back.

No one knows when except the Father in Heaven. And so I pray all of us are awake, alert, and paying attention to what is happening in the world around us. In Peter’s Second Epistle, he writes, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” –2 Peter 3:9.

Let’s shake off our slumbering, roll up our sleeves, and run headlong into the harvest.

The alarm is sounding! It’s time to wake up, plant your feet on the floor, and know the salvation of God, which is found only in Jesus Christ. Come, repent, and ask for Jesus to be Lord over your life, then watch how the Lord of the harvest changes your heart so that you can be used to help change others. The alarm is sounding. Will you get up and start after Christ, or will you be the one who hits the snooze button? The choice is yours. Amen. “For He says, “At the acceptable time (the time of grace) I listened to you, And I helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation” –2 Corinthians 6:2.

 “What does it matter, Follow Me!”

January 11, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” – John 21:22.

Blessings and happy 2025 to our Sonsofthesea family! I pray the lessons we learned in 2024 were used to help us grow and will be put to use in the new season God has blessed us with. I pray you encounter new opportunities to share the Gospel, dive deeper into God’s Word, learning more of God’s will for your lives. In case you’ve forgotten, You are all very special to God. Let me remind you of Jesus’ finished work on that cross. How He paid your sin debt with His life. How He shed His precious Blood for you, for each of us; your salvation, our salvation, is a gift, and what an amazing gift it is to be set free from sins icy, cold grip. “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” –1 Corinthians 15:55.

“The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” –1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Last year I posted a teaching here entitled “Follow Me.” Today, I felt a need to revisit it.

I love this small bit of scripture in John 21:21-23. There is so much going on in it. “When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

To give you context for the heart of today’s teaching, let’s briefly revisit John 21:15-19:

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Jesus restores Peter during this beautiful conversation. It is a reminder that even if you fall short, Jesus is there to restore you. Jesus knew Peter’s heart. That Peter was sorrowful and repentant after having denied Him. In verse 19, Jesus looks at Peter and says, “Follow Me.” After forgiving and restoring Peter,  Jesus and Peter continue talking when John suddenly walks up behind them.

Soon after seeing John, Peter asks Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” I love Jesus’ answer to Peter, and I pray that this hits home with you as well because it sure hit home with me, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” –John 21:23.

Jesus told Peter not to worry about what He had planned for John. All Peter needed to do was follow Jesus and do all Jesus had for him to do. In other words, don’t focus on who is around you and their actions. Stay in your own lane. Do the work Jesus has given you to do.

I pray YOU will follow Jesus the way He has called YOU to go this year.

I believe we are all looking for significance in our walk with Jesus. We are made for more than just sitting and waiting for Jesus to return. In John 6, the people asked Jesus, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” –John 6:28-29

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:33 of what is most important in our daily walk with Him: To Seek first the kingdom of God. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

I pray fulfilling Jesus’ command to seek God’s Kingdom first will become your heart’s anthem throughout 2025. God wants you to follow Him as He has instructed you. Forget about what others are doing. Focus instead on what Jesus calls you to do. We can get so lost in our wants and desires, thinking, “I would love to teach like that one…” or “I would love to pray like they do…” yet that may not be the path God has chosen for you; God never called anyone ever, to walk in someone else’s anointing.

Yet you have no idea what it costs that brother or sister to walk in their anointing.

Jesus said, “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it. Lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.” – Luke 14:27-30.

Remember Jesus’ Words, my friends; carry your cross and count the cost of what it means to follow Him. Yes, there will be moments where you feel alone, but you are not alone. Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” –Matthew 28:20.

You may feel like what the Lord has asked of you is too much for you, and it is. Remember, it is Jesus who is doing the work through you. “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” –Philippians 2:13.

The work is finished.

In John 19:30, Jesus assured us of this Truth before He gave up His Spirit to the Father, “It is finished!” Jesus is faithful in bringing you through hard times. Remember, “He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” –Philippines 1:6.  

The above Scriptures are only a few of the promises Jesus has given us to cling to in times of trials or weakness; there are so many more.

Friends, don’t let 2025 be filled with comparison. If we are Blood-bought believers in Jesus Christ, then we’re not competing with each other; we are One Body—His Body. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.” –Ephesians 4:4-6.

Let 2025 be the year we walk in unity as we follow God’s path for our lives.

With all that said, the bottom line is this, will you follow Jesus into 2025?

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