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

Category: Repentance (Page 3 of 6)

A Call To The Light.

March 23, 2024 /

Matthew Botelho

“For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” –1 Thessalonians 4:7.

Often, as children of God, we are placed under a microscope. The Truth is that a true believer in Christ Jesus does not look at the world through the same lens as those who do not believe in Him. Jesus said that we, His children, are to live in this world but not to be part of it—not to take part in the things of this world. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” –John 15:9. And, in Romans 12:2, Paul reminds us: “…not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

In John 17:16-19, On the night Jesus was betrayed, He prayed for Himself, His disciples, and for all believers. For you, if you are His, and those that have yet come to Him. “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by 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.”

As Jesus prayed for His disciples, He declared, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” Jesus claimed they were separated, new creations the world does not understand. We have also been declared sanctified, justified, and righteous by Jesus’ finished work on the cross. 1 Corinthians 1:18-19, the apostle Paul writes, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

If you belong to Jesus and are one of His children, you have been made new by His death and glorious resurrection. Romans 6:4-5 reminds us all, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.”

My dear friends, you have been set apart to do your Lord Jesus’s will.

To glorify God in everything you do.

He placed His Spirit within you the very moment you declared Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Just as the disciples before you were sanctified, so too are you. “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” –Ephesians 1:13-14.

Someone once shared this analogy: the believer in Jesus Christ looks at the world through “rose-colored glasses.”

Hearing this brought me back to when I was a young kid, say, about ten years old. I remember my grammie wearing these big, giant, bug-eyed sunglasses with rose-colored lenses. When she placed them over my eyes, the color of her surroundings changed to match the tint of her glasses.

This change in our perception of our surroundings happens also, as we read God’s Word and grow in our faith. The world around us starts to change color. Said differently, darkness is exposed when the Light of the Gospel shows up.

Things that once looked normal to us when we were in the world are now exposed for what they truly are now. And the Light of God’s Word also exposes unclean spirits and darkness in people’s hearts. “And have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak those things which are done by them in secret. But all things are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.” –Ephesians 5:12. 

Brothers and sisters, be the Light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Before knowing Jesus as Lord, there was a void within us all that we all tried to fill with earthly idols and addictions, but now you are filled with the Light and Love of Christ. Let His Words speak to your heart and into the inner depths of your soul, and trust that you are armed with the sword of His Spirit, His holy Word; it separates His Truth from the lies and deception of this world. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-sided sword, piercing the even to division of souls and spirit, of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart.” –Hebrews 4:12.

Put on the whole armor of God, weapons fashioned by Almighty God for the believer to wield against the enemy’s attacks. “Stand therefore having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” –Ephesians 6:14-18.

We know that the enemy does not fight fairly. He lives in ambush mode, waiting for you to stumble.

He knows how to get you, and if he can isolate you from the Body of Christ, the brethren, he will destroy you. Satan knows what hurts you; he knows when you are weakest or most tired, it is then he will strike without mercy. “Be sober, be vigilant; becaus your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” –1 Peter 5:8.

Knowing who you are in Christ Jesus and declaring your King’s authority over every circumstance will bring you victory over darkness. You have been separated from the world to do the good works in Christ Jesus; you are sealed with His Holy Spirit. Jesus says in John 14:12-14 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father and whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

As I close this teaching, I am praying for each of you. I pray that those who do not know Jesus but genuinely want a relationship with Him will take that next step by repenting their sins. I pray you will trust in the power of the sinless Blood of Christ that washes away every sin, past, present, and future. I am believing for supernatural transformations in the hearts of many in this Holiest season of New Life and Hope. “Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way? “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” –John 14:5-6.

I am praying for you and all those who will call out to Jesus as Lord—and are saved. Amen

Jesus, Our Deliverer.

March 2, 2024 /

Pastor Maria Braga

“And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” –Psalm 50:15.

We’ve all heard the word deliverance. Deliverance can be interpreted in so many ways nowadays. But Jesus is the only True Deliverer. One of God’s names, Jehovah Mephalti, means “The Lord, my deliverer.” We live in a time when many Christians should be more focused and learn to trust the Lord with all their hearts instead of chasing after signs and wonders. According to today’s Scripture and others, apart from Jesus, there is no deliverance. But thanks be to God, who delivers us through Jesus Christ our Lord! “Wretched and miserable man that I am! Who will [rescue me and] set me free from this body of death [this corrupt, mortal existence]? Thanks be to God [for my deliverance] through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind serve the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness, my sinful capacity—I serve] the law of sin.” –Romans 7:25.

Once Jesus Delivers a person, that person is free indeed.

When we need deliverance, we are to call on Jesus, “Jehovah Maphalti,” our Deliverer, the only One who has the power to deliver each of us when we face oppression, disappointment, depression, anxiety, fear, and any other adjective that describes our situation.

Jesus delivers us from so many things:

• The Evil one (Matthew 6:13)

• Our enemies (Psalm 31:15)

• Death (Psalm 33:19)

• Personal Attacks (Psalm 18:43)

• Fears (Psalm 34:4)

• All our troubles (Psalm 34:17)

A deliverer is someone who rescues us from harm or danger. Our Savior, Jesus, came to save us from sin, bondage, and death.

Since the day we gave our hearts to Jesus (and if you have not, consider this your invitation to do so right now), we started journeying with Him on this intimate walk of faith. Being the only One who died for us, He is the only One who can provide the Dunamis power to deliver us.

According to her article in Bible Study Tools.com, Contributing Writer Annette Griffin helps us define God’s dunamis power: Dunamis is used 117 times in the New Testament. Dunamis represents the kind of power that is an inherent force. It flows from a person to give them the ability to do supernatural things, like miracles or morally excellent acts.

Jesus knows your pain, sadness, cries, and joys. He understands what it takes to be delivered. As you cry out to Him, Jesus feels your pain and agony because He is a person who has experienced everything we have experienced, yet He is without sin. He holds you up when you are too weak to walk. God holds your hand when you feel like fainting; Jesus picks us up when we hit bottom. Only He can deliver you. When you call out to “Jehovah Maphalti,” He responds and delivers us. No one else but Jesus can save you! “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” –Acts 16:31

The first deliverance we experience in our lives is the miracle of salvation.

When we accept Jesus into our hearts, Luke 15:10 tells us that angels in heaven rejoice. “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents [that is, changes his inner self—his old way of thinking, regrets past sins, lives his life in a way that proves repentance; and seeks God’s purpose for his life].”

They rejoice not because they are surprised but because of a great victory.

Salvation is where everything begins for those who put faith in Jesus.

After their initial deliverance from sin and death takes place through faith in Jesus, each day that passes holds a new deliverance.

But deliverance from what? Romans 12:2 teaches us to renew our minds and be transformed daily, discerning God’s will for us. “And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”

We grow daily by reading the Scripture, attending a local Bible-teaching church, having an active prayer life, and thinking the right thoughts. This is how we start to bear fruit.

Now we know that Satan is real, demons are real, and curses are real, but we also know we have deliverance by walking in sync with Jesus, who is far more Real than all these. We no longer “lean on our own understanding, but in all our ways, we acknowledge Him, and He directs our path.” –Psalm 3:5-6.

Jesus took every one of our sins, any curse spoken over us, to His Cross so we could live free. Jesus carried our sins, so we no longer have to.

Jesus is our strong tower, One who will not be taken down.

We fear not – because He covers and protects us under the shadow of His wings. “Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious and merciful to me, For my soul finds shelter and safety in You, And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge and be confidently secure Until destruction passes by.” –Psalm 57:1.

Once delivered, each person has the privilege of living free instead of living in mental or emotional oppression.

Jesus took upon Himself our sorrows, our sadness, our depression.

We no longer need to live confused or under a curse.

By growing in God’s Word, we grow in freedom, faith, wisdom, and the understanding of who God is.

We don’t need to run here and there looking for what is already inside us. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is alive and well and living within us. We must only step into our deliverance daily by receiving God’s forgiveness, forgiving others, and going on about the Father’s business.

Our pastor declared 2024 as the “year of growth.”

As we develop and grow in 2024, we increasingly understand that we “wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of the world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” –Ephesians 6:12.

Growing in the Truths found in God’s Word takes effort and commitment.

Taking the time to get to know our Deliverer is essential for our faith walk. The more we read God’s Word, the more revelation we receive from the Spirit of God. Still, it all begins with our decision to accept God’s free gift of salvation and our desire to get to know our Deliverer, Jesus, Jehovah Maphalti.

Psalm 34:17 says: “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.” How beautiful are these promises from His Word? God hears and answers according to His will for our lives. He doesn’t only deliver us from some things but from “all things.” The thing is, He doesn’t respond when we demand; He answers according to His timing and will. “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” –Psalm 50:15.

Many times, we want it now! When God says: wait, no, yes—just not yet. Why? Only God foresees what we can’t. We must grow to understand that He is Omnipotent—All-Knowing and trust that Jesus always knows better.

Will we believe what He says and wait on Him? Will we honor His answer? What if His answer is not what we want to hear?

I remember when I surrendered my life to Jesus, crying out to Him to deliver me from my thoughts, my old ways, and my habits. One day, I cried bitterly for hours, fearing He wouldn’t change me. I wanted to change, be more like Him and less like who I had always been. Over the years, I have changed and learned that His faithfulness never fails me. He is faithful to complete the work He begins in each of us. Each day that goes by, I want to live in this freedom I have in Him. I pray that He renews my mind daily and helps me live free. Accepting the deliverance and freedom in Jesus’ Last Words on the Cross: “It is finished.”

Jesus, please help me to experience this freedom today. Please allow me to trust You more, to lean entirely on You. Please teach me how to surrender to You all my days and help me grow and become more like You each day. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” –Ephesians 2:8-10.

But As For Us.

February 3, 2024 /

MaryEllen Montville

“But Peter and John replied to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey you rather than God, you must judge [for yourselves]; for we, on our part, cannot stop telling [people] about what we have seen and heard.” –Acts 4:19-20.

As I read chapter four, my spirit leapt when Holy Spirit shone His Light on today’s verses. I recognized that, like Peter and John, we, His Church, are standing on the precipice of this same type of insidious spiritual oppression. And, like them, we, too, must choose who we will obey. God or man? “How dare you speak that name!” “How dare you tell us that your Jesus is the only way to heaven? I’m a good person, and love is love!” Brothers, we are now being faced with, or soon will be, being silenced. “Deny Jesus!” “Cancel Him!” You’re one of those radical Jesus freaks! Go too far, and we’ll cancel you too!

The world will do its best to silence anyone who professes Jesus, His teachings, and the stabilizing Truth found only in His Inerrant Word. Jesus is the only way to the Father. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” –John 14:6.

Yes, we love all men, just as Jesus commands us to. But loving the yet saved ought to propel, not prevent, us from speaking the Truth in love, lest they not hear Truth and remain lost. “Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” –Matthew 15:10-14.

Beloved, we’re teetering on the crumbling edge of a world many have known and grown-up in.

A world that once felt seemingly firm beneath our feet is now giving way beneath us because, as it was then, so too today. Nothing will ever be the same. It can’t be. There is no going back. That’s not what Jesus intended—how He planned it, and He did plan it.

That’s hard for some to hear or accept; I get it.

Truth often is, but thankfully, our inability to reconcile Truth doesn’t stop it from being true.

Why? Because God’s Truth is fixed, not fluid. It will not be altered, weakened, or changed in any way by any man’s inability to make peace with it. “So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” –Isaiah 55:11. Remember what Jesus told His disciples when they, like many today, experienced a shifting of the ground beneath them, when relative predictability was replaced by a sure knowledge that at any moment, once reliable things, will quickly turn unreliable—unrecognizable. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” –Matthew 10:34-36.

Use a sword against their Roman oppressors, yes, absolutely!

The disciples were expecting a King David moment from Jesus—planning, in fact, for its imminent arrival. But a man’s enemy being a beloved family member? That was hard for these men whose family and community were a large and stabilizing part of their culture and identity, the unifying backbone of their everyday lives.

Our brothers had no New Testament pages to turn to for hope—no Holy Spirit yet living within them, providing them with a peace that truly does surpass all understanding. No, these followers of Jesus were pioneering the faith. Yes, they walked with Jesus, but in many ways, what He was teaching them, this new Kingdom He was ushering in, was as foreign to them as the idea of His loving the Gentiles!

These New Testament believers had said yes to Jesus without knowing what would come from their following this not-quite-King David, Messiah.

Still, God had chosen them purposefully. He had called them to partner with Him to help create the map we’d one day use to follow Jesus as they did, one faith-filled step at a time.

So what do we do with this Truth, the sure knowledge we possess that persecution will come?

I ask this because, I’d say, and Scripture points towards our being at this same place of no return as our brothers once were —or a hairsbreadth away, at best. We, too, are standing upon some same precarious edge of a world many of us have known and grown up in, one whose once firm precipice is about to give way beneath us because, as it was then, so too, today. Nothing will ever be the same. We know what’s coming and what’s expected of us when it does. We are blessed to have the Holy Spirit and our Bible as our guide. Thankfully for us, our Father has given us a step-by-step detailed guide to follow. Jesus, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, placed it on the hearts of those who have gone before us, pioneers of the faith, stalwarts, each.

As for me, by God’s grace and in His strength, I have decided to follow Jesus. “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 3:13.

As the old hymn says, “No turning backing, no turning back.”

When asked by Jesus if he would turn away like so many others, Peter has the best answer I’ve heard concerning the decision we each must make. Do we follow Jesus, no matter what happens, or do we fall away?

” Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope]. We have believed and confidently trusted, and [even more] we have come to know [by personal observation and experience] that You are the Holy One of God [the Christ, the Son of the living God].” –John 6:68-69.

Jesus assures those who follow Him that trials and persecution will come.

But to those who persevere, who’ll not deny Him, who’ll stand and fight, lifting His Banner of Righteousness, Love and Truth high above whatever tides of opinion or rejection may ebb and flow around us, to them, to us, He says: “But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved.” –Matthew 24:13.

Friends, listen to what Joshua shared with those who, like us, were facing the same spiritual battles we are. “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” –Joshua 24:14-15.

Who will you fear? And by fear, I mean respect, reverence, serve, honor, and obey friends.

Who will you serve? You not choosing is your choice. So, if you’re still wavering between serving the world or the Lord, may I encourage you to cease delaying now and choose Jesus!

The Ultimate Treasure.

January 27, 2024 /

Kendra Santilli

Reward.

A mechanism so deeply embedded into the fabric of human functioning, reward is what fires off dopamine in our brains to make us move forward. Did you make a good meal? That is the reward for the labor of love that is meal preparation. Did you get a paycheck? That is the reward for the work which you so diligently put your hand to the plow. The relaxation of a clean house is the reward for the effort it took to clean up. A garden’s harvest is the reward for spring sowing. The list can go on, but you get my point. Perhaps this was a psychological system carefully placed within us with great intention by our Creator, God. It is the vehicle that drives us deeper into our pursuit of Him, and this deep dive is only discoverable to those who seek Him.

“… the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them… Blessed are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.” – Matthew 13:11, 16.

You see, the more you know in Christ, the more you want to know.

The reward is the privilege of going deeper in Him. In fact, according to this verse, understanding the “secrets of the kingdom” is a gift. God has given them for us to know. In verse 13, Jesus says, “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” – Matthew 13:13. On our own, we can neither see nor hear the things of the spirit. We can certainly try, but without God opening the ears and eyes of our hearts, we cannot understand the things of The Spirit. We cannot see the reward of knowing Him without His blessing of understanding.

I believe that God wanted our relationship to be so rich from creation, knowing that He was our delight and reward. The reward is not merely in what He gives. Rather, it is simply in who He is. The Psalmist, David, is described as “a man after God’s own heart.” – 1 Samuel 13:14. If we look to him as an example of what it means to be after God’s heart, then we know that The Lord was David’s delight. He was David’s reward. “Lord, you are my portion and my cup of blessing” – Psalm 16:5. David knew that the things of this world are easy distractions from the Kingdom of God. He knew that seeking the Lord took diligence and was worth it.

The key to knowing the blessing of seeking the Lord is repentance.

To live in His blessing is to bear a broken and contrite heart before Him (Psalm 51:17). Consider this beautiful promise found in the book of Job: “If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; you will remove iniquity far from your tents. Then you will lay your gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. Yes, the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver; for then you will have your delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God.” – Job 22:23-26

If you return to the Almighty…

It is easy to leave all the other parts of this Scripture out and skip to the part where you will be built up. It is clear in Scripture that God works in covenant- contracts of sorts with mankind. Returning to the Almighty requires humility. The condition of the human heart makes it difficult to confess sin. Our pride builds walls between us and God that only humility and the Blood of Jesus can take down. This Scripture makes it clear that redirecting the object of our affection from material wealth to Almighty God moves us into favor with Him.

When we take that step towards returning to the Lord, we begin the journey into discovering more of Him.

The more we seek Him, the more we want to know Him. He simply becomes The Reward. Maturity teaches us that nothing is more satisfying than the joy of knowing Jesus. “My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” – Psalms 73:26. Our hearts and minds consistently lead us in the wrong direction without the wisdom of God to guide us, but, with pursuing Jesus comes the wisdom to make our every decision.

While we often search for fulfillment in our families, friends, or occupations (although all good things), we fail to realize He is it. Jesus is the Treasure. The treasure lies in the steadfastness of His character. Jesus is constant- He always provides, always protects, always restores, and always fills every need. Jesus is the treasure not necessarily measurable by what we can see with our physical eyes.

If you don’t know Jesus, I have good news for you. He is alive, and He loves you more than you can fathom. Receive Him as your Lord and Savior and begin to discover the treasure that is knowing Him. “But those who embraced him and took hold of his name he gave authority to become the children of God! He was not born by the joining of human parents or from natural means, or by a man’s desire, but he was born of God.” –John 1:12-13.

Saturation Point.

December 9, 2023 /

MaryEllen Montville

“They will fall by the sword, or be carried off into slavery among all the Gentiles. And Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, till the appointed times of the Gentiles have expired.” –Luke 21:24

Saturation Point. Dictionary.com defines it this way: A point at which some capacity is at its fullest; limit:

As I read today’s Scripture, its last nine words came alive. God’s Logos, His written Word, became Rhema, a Living Word. I couldn’t help but think of everything happening in Israel right now. Let me explain: the Holy Spirit mostly speaks a Rhema Word into our spirit as we read His Written Word. It’s made alive and often applies to a right-now situation in our lives or the world around us. A Rhema Word is the Holy Spirit drawing our attention to or confirming something of importance. In every case, God’s Rhema Word must align with His written Word—His Logos. Holy Spirit is a God of order, not confusion. He will not “share” something with any of His children that does not align with what He has already spoken in His inerrant Scriptures.

“When, Lord? “When will the fullness of the Gentiles be complete?”

“When will You rapture Your Church?”

Those questions were burning in my heart as I read today’s Scripture. Like many brothers and sisters, I, too, am “watching and waiting” for our Lord’s return.

A greater sense of expectation has gripped me lately—an even deeper longing has been awakened.

Today, that growing expectation made me ask: “When will You call us Home, Lord?”

This world is not our home, and it’s undoubtedly nearing its saturation point. How much further will You allow things to deteriorate before You say, “Come on Home?

Abba, I’m not questioning You. I’m asking You a question, putting to words the recurring thoughts in so many of Your children’s hearts, Lord. “Are we one drop, five, ten drops even from this world having reached its absolute ability to contain the sin, hatred, hardheartedness, rebellion and rejection of You and most anything to do with You?

Will my brothers, sisters, and I live to be raptured?”

Mind you, either way, we won’t stand idly by, just watching the sky or the news for signs—concerning the rapture, they’ve been fulfilled. Still, while we watch, wait, trust, and pray to the Lord of the harvest, we’ll fish for men.

Yet I’m hoping that today, no, before this sentence is finished…

“It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.” –1 Corinthians 15:52.

Still, I wanted to know more about those nine words Holy Spirit brought to life to answer my question.

I’ll pause here to clarify that Scripture clearly states no man knows the day or hour the rapture will occur, so, straightaway, what this teaching is not, is a false prophetic word concerning the Church being raptured. Given today’s climate, I choose to leave nothing open for interpretation.

As I said, I wanted to know the meaning behind today’s Scripture, so I went digging.

I read more concerning the historical background of Jerusalem and the Jewish people. That led me back to the Bible, to Jesus and today’s verse, then to the Apostle Paul and his teaching on the meaning of the fullness of the Gentiles. “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved.” –Romans 11:25-26.

At the end of the day, Jesus and the Apostle Paul confirm that a divinely set number of Gentile believers must first accept Jesus as Lord and Savior before every living Jew will be saved, having finally accepted the Truth that Jesus is the Messiah.

In roughly A.D. 70, Jerusalem received its fatal blow at the hands of Rome, its oppressor, where, it’s said, some 1.1 million Jews had been murdered and where approximately 100,000 others were enslaved, used to feed Rome’s insatiable appetite for dominance. Of this horrific atrocity, Johannes Norval Geldenhuys, a South African minister and Bible Commentator, writes: From the commencement of the history of the Jewish nation, God, through His servants, warned them clearly that if they behaved unfaithfully and wickedly, they would reap disastrous retribution. Especially the striking words of Deuteronomy 28:15-68. There is almost no form of calamity that visited the Jews during the Roman-Jewish war, not mentioned here in Deuteronomy.

I strongly recommend you pick up your Bible and read what the Lord warned would happen to His chosen people should they disobey Him. And then, ask yourself, if God did not allow His firstborn to escape the consequences of their deliberate sin and rebellion, what makes anyone today think that they will escape God’s judgement if they refuse to repent of their intentional, flagrant sins?

I share this Truth in love, not to frighten you but to remind us all, starting with myself, that we serve a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever. Full of mercy, longsuffering, and whose heart it is certainly, that not one should perish, yet He’s also a just God who will not allow his creations to reject Him forever. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” –2 Peter 3:9.

God’s heart is that no one tastes destruction—that which was created for Satan and his followers.

Some commentators say that when Rome had sated its savage appetite, having devoured Jerusalem and its people, not one Jew was left alive. In addition, no Jew was allowed to enter Jerusalem save one day a year—when they were allowed to enter and mourn the ravaging of their people, Jerusalem’s utter destruction, and its renaming at the hand of its Roman conquerors.

Even then, to ensure nothing of the Jews remained, Rome renamed and rebuilt a city atop Jerusalem’s ruins, calling it Aelia Capitolina.

Antisemitism is nothing new.

Knowing that He had forewarned His people of the inescapable destruction to come upon them and their land should they choose not to obey Him, is it any wonder that as Jesus drew near Jerusalem and, seeing into its near future, the utter pain and destruction yet to come, He wept? “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things [that make] for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. “For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, “and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” –Luke 19:41-44.

In 1948, a Jewish state was established by what can only be described as the Sovereign Hand of God after thousands of years of its people having been scattered, existing in exile. Yet it wasn’t until 1967 that Israel took control of the Old City in the Six-Day War with Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. And yet, even to this very day, Arab Gentiles continue to reign over the most contested site in all of Jerusalem – the Temple Mount.

And so, we wait and watch while we continue to work—knowing that, at least for today, the fullness of the Gentiles has yet to occur.

Unless, suddenly…

Friends, the fullness of the Gentiles is about God not wanting any man—Jew or Gentile, to perish. So, if you have yet to accept Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior, please do it today. Listen to Jesus’ Words concerning the hour we find ourselves: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24: 36-37; 42:44.

A Living Fountain

September 2, 2023 /

Matthew Botelho

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” –John 7:37-38.

One of my many joys is camping with my family, which goes back to when I was growing up in New Hampshire, and my dad would take us camping in the White Mountains. Sometimes, the days were bright and sunny without a cloud in the sky. But then there were days when dark clouds would form in the distance and roll in on us. This meant it was about to rain, and we needed to take cover in our tents and wait for the storm to pass. 

Waiting was never my strong suit when I was a kid, and I may struggle occasionally still as an adult. So, I would leave the tent with my sister and go out and play in the rain, jumping in puddles and getting all muddy, and my mom would tell my dad to get us back in the tent. But he would just let us run around and get wet and muddy. It was all about the experience and the memories we were making.

Why am I sharing this time with you? Because now I’m the dad. And I just took my family on a camping trip. And while I was there, the Lord shared a revelation.

I usually like to camp in a tent, but we decided to rent a little cabin on a hill this time. While camping, a huge rainstorm came over us, complete with winds. It stormed until the next day. When morning came, I walked out of the cabin and looked around. As we were on a hill, I could see some cranberry bogs about a mile away from the cabin. They were filled with the rain from the night before. 

Cranberry bogs are made to grow cranberries; some bogs are designed to collect and hold water. When the time comes to harvest the cranberries, the farmer will open the channels and let loose the water from one bog to flood the other, making it easier to gather the cranberries.

As I looked out over the bog, the revelation came to me: “Imagine if there was no rain.” Imagine if water never touched the surrounding land. What if the ground was dry and barren, and nothing would grow? That is when I heard God speak this clearly in my Spirit, “What if My Spirit was never poured out on you?”

Can you think of a time when you did not have the Holy Spirit with you?

Throughout the Bible, we read of droughts and famines. In 2 Kings 17:1, we read where the prophet Elijah says: “….As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew or rain these years, except at my word.” Scripture tells us King Ahab was married to Jezebel, A very evil priestess of the Baals. The land was in sin, and the prophet Elijah declared God’s hand; His presence over this land would be removed. God was not worshiped and loved there. The land was dry and barren as a result of God’s judgement upon it; the wages of sin is death. 

We can see in this what Jesus meant, beloved, “What if My Spirit was never poured out on you?”

This is the revelation the Holy Spirit shared concerning those who run to Jesus.

No longer are they dry and barren, but like that bog, they are full to overflowing with God’s Holy Spirit. Those who repent of their sins and declare that Jesus is Lord will no longer walk in the ways of the Baals but run to the only One that will give them eternal life. The only One who can bring them into right standing with the Father, the only One who died and rose again for the sins of all humanity. Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords!

At one point in our lives, we were all dry. We were living a life full of sin and fleshly desires. We were empty, cracked vessels, unable to hold or let anything Godly grow inside us. The water we drank could only quench our fleshly thirst. We were just like the woman at the well.

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst, But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” –John 4:13-14:

Water helps things grow. When we sow a seed in the ground, we do not just plant it and leave. Seeds need to be watered as well.

And how do we water a spiritual seed? Through praise and worship, my dear friends. The Holy Spirit comes in power and will help you grow your relationship with God the Father. Knowing God’s Son, Jesus, is the only way for the Holy Spirit to live in you. “All things have been delivered to Me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” –Matthew 11:27

My dear brothers and sisters, If you have a relationship with Jesus, have repented of your sins and confessed Him as your Lord and Savior, then His Holy Spirit is living inside you.

Jesus is the Living Water who springs forth within you.

He is not still and stagnant. He is a Living, rushing, mighty river of Water bursting forth within you.

Think back to when the farmer opened the water channel to fill that bog I spoke of earlier. That water rushed throughout the bog, saturating it so the ripened fruit could be harvested. So, too, the Holy Spirit rushes in and helps harvest the fruit you will bear.

What fruit?   The fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” –Galatians 5:22-23. A follower of Christ will display at least one, hopefully a few, of these fruits.

Do not worry if you still need to get all of them. Sometimes, it takes longer for some to grow than others. And if you feel you are not bearing fruit in your life, ask the Holy Spirit to help you. But remember as you do this that you are the branch, Jesus is the vine, and God the Father is the Vinedresser. So you may be pruned to see that fruit come forth. Pruning is a necessary process. It rids us of dead things that are stopping our growth. Pruning is painful, but its harvest will be beautiful. 

As we end here, know that if Christ is in you, you are an overcomer. “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” –1 John 4:4.

If you are a child of God, Christ in you is a river of everlasting Life. The Potter Himself has changed you. The Fountain of Living Water has filled you with Himself.

And if He has not filled you, will you allow Jesus to bring you to a place of overflowing joy today, knowing that if you do, your name will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Jesus says in Matthew 7:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Declare today, “I choose You, Lord Jesus, and come fill me with You, Living Water!” Amen.

Fruit On The Tree

July 22, 2023 /

Matthew Bothelo

In Matthew 23:19-20, Jesus gives His disciples marching orders and with them comes a great responsibility for each disciple to follow: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. In the NKJV, Matthew’s “amen” is added after our Lord’s command. It was Apostle’s agreement with Jesus’s command. Like Matthew, we need to come into agreement with this same mindset.

Because in this season, many have been calling out to the Lord, asking, “What is my purpose in You?

What must I do to be seen by You?” Know this, my dear friends, that the work of the Cross is finished, and you do not need to operate in a “works” mentality. Your salvation is the most important thing in the eyes of Jesus, your confession of faith and the repentance of your sins. Believe me, God sees you! “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” –Ephesians 2:8-9.

“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, Repent, and believe in the gospel” –Mark 1:14-15. Often, we can get hung up on, “What is my calling, my purpose?” In John 6, Jesus answers this question when the people of Capernaum asked, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”– John 6:28-29.

If you are a child of God, you have a heart for our Lord Jesus. Each of us has a purpose, and God knows the hearts of His children. Jesus knows who His children are and are not. He knew who He was going to call. Each of His disciples played a major role in God’s plan, even Judas Iscariot.

 Judas walked with Jesus, performing miracles and healings in Jesus’ name. But Judas was never His, meaning Judas’ relationship was not that of a true believer. His interest wasn’t in spreading the gospel. It was for his own gain. It wasn’t a love for God that motivated Judas. Still, God used Judas for His glory. Judas had the wrong mindset, and his heart was not in line with the heart of God.

Jesus desires to have a relationship with His creations and bring glory to God. Judas chose his own gain. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him” –John 6:63-64. 

When we are willing to do the work of the ministry, we always need to have our hearts in the right place.

We must ask and pray, “Is this your will, Lord, or my own.” Too often, we can fall into the trap of “self-elevation.” We promote ourselves, get puffed up, and throw ourselves into situations and places we should never be. God may have given you the gift, but if the anointing to operate in it is not there, and the timing isn’t right, moving in your own strength will crush you. Our desire to serve God needs to be out of love for Him, for His glory and not for us to be seen by man. God will elevate you at the proper time, in His time. He does this because He loves us, dear friends, and He does not want to see any harm come to us. “He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly” – Luke 1:51-52.

“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously?’ But He gives more grace, Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” –James 4:4-6. Judas wanted to be seen as someone important. He served God for what he could get out of it. This mindset brought him before the chief priests, where he asked the question, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Jesus to you?’ And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver” –Matthew 26:15.

In Judas’ mind and heart, the things of this world were so much more important than service to the Kingdom of God; still, God was in control. Judas was giving up an inheritance much more valuable than anything silver could buy.

Judas knew Jesus by name only, but not in his heart.

That is what salvation is, dear brothers and sisters. It is a change of heart. It’s God plucking us from this kingdom of darkness and, in an instant, placing us in the Kingdom of Light, transforming our hearts and minds through the work of His Holy Spirit alive in us now. This change happens from within and moves outwardly, producing good fruit. Accepting Jesus as Lord of all is the very first and most important work we will ever do; believing in the One who was sent. This never happened in Judas. For him, it was all show. “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me” –Matthew 15:7-8. 

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” In the end, Judas betrayed Jesus, but still, God is glorified. God uses this betrayal to show His love for each of us. Jesus goes to the Cross and dies the death that we all deserve. We were sinners who are washed clean by the Blood of Jesus. By the work of the Cross of Christ Jesus, we are reconciled to the heavenly Father if we accept Him as Lord of our lives.

Along with our brothers, we too can say, as one people of the Kingdom of God, Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one! Unlike Judas, who, suffering from guilt, runs back to the chief priests with the money given to him, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”—Matthew 27:4.

There was no remorse for the death of Jesus in the chief priests or Judas. The flesh will never understand the things of the Spirit. Man will never be made whole by the things of this world. In the end, they bring only death. Judas hangs himself and dies, full of regret and sin. Galatians 3:13 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree).”

Romans 5:8-9 “But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” Rejoice, my dear friends, that Christ died for you, and salvation is the fruit of His death!

By accepting Jesus, you are no longer slaves to your sin. I want to invite you to know Jesus and the finished work of the Cross. He went willingly to it for you and poured Himself out till there was nothing left of Himself. He selflessly gave it all for you so you would never have to hang from a tree of sin, sorrow, and shame. Ask Him to come into your heart today. Amen

Repent, The Kingdom Of God Is At Hand!

June 24, 2023 /

MaryEllen Montville

“Seek the Lord [search diligently for Him and regard Him as the foremost necessity of your life], All you humble of the land Who have practiced His ordinances and have kept His commandments; Seek righteousness, seek humility [regard them as vital]. Perhaps you will be hidden [and pardoned and rescued] In the day of the Lord’s anger.” –Zephaniah 2:3 AMP.

When my eyes hit verse 3 of Zephaniah, Chapter 2 this morning, I knew what I was being led to share this week. It’s definitely not a feel-good, popular message. It never has been. But it is needed. So thank God I care little about popularity…

Smack dab in the middle of foretelling of God’s impending judgement—Zephaniah reminds Israel that Love and mercy have always been the Father’s heart towards them—towards all His children. One of the most quoted and recognized Bible verses makes this Truth abundantly clear. “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” –John 3:16 AMP.

As I read Zephaniah’s third verse, almost instantly, my mind went to the Words Jesus spoke in the beginning of His earthly ministry. “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” –Matthew 4:17 AMP. And these nearly verbatim Words echo back to John the Baptist, Jesus’s forerunner. Jesus and repentance are synonymous, after all. We can trace this foundational Truth all the back to Eden.

So if God has been tugging on your heart, beloved friend, it is likely for salvation. God is offering you a relationship with Himself. “Today [while there is still opportunity] if you hear His voice, Do not harden your heart, as when they provoked Me [in the rebellion in the desert at Meribah].” –Hebrews 3:15 AMP. If you will humble yourself, repent of your sins, and tell God you’re genuinely sorry for even the vilest sins you may have committed. Then by His Word, God is faithful to forgive, cleanse, and restore you to Himself. “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises] and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].” –1 John 1:9.

And to you, dear brother, beloved sister. Since you have tasted salvation freely given you, the goodness of God, I admonish you never to lose sight of your desire for your first Love. “But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me].” –Revelation 2:4 AMP. As I hope you would me, I encourage you to do whatever you must to ensure God remains first in every aspect of your life, and, if your love has grown cold, your flame of love flickering, stoke that fire right now!

Humble yourself before your Lord, repent, and run back to the feet of your Lord. Take to heart what God’s Word has to say about your salvation: “So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ].” –Philippians 2:12 AMP.

The Holy Spirit had led Jesus into the wilderness to be tested. There, Jesus had fasted and prayed for forty days and forty nights. During that time, Satan came to Him on multiple occasions to do what He does best—kill, steal, destroy—and lie. But God always has a plan! Because through this same Jesus, the Father made possible the only Way for you and me to be restored to right relationship with Him. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.” –Acts 4:12.

This Truth, God’s intent to provide the Way back to Himself, has lived in the heart of our Father from the beginning—as we understand it.

How can I confidently state this without sounding as though I, His creation, would dare presume to know the mind of God, my Creator? Because of His Word, I trust the infallibility of God’s Word. In addition, I know my Father’s heart—experientially. I hear it beating loud and clear across every page of the Bible—God’s infallible, life-changing, Living heartbeat. “He humbled you and allowed you to be hungry and fed you with manna, [a substance] which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, so that He might make you understand [by personal experience] that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.” –Deuteronomy 8:3 AMP.

God’s fierce and resounding “I love you” is the very Lifeblood and Bread of the Bible’s every syllable.

And so, it is towards Jesus’ finished work, towards salvation—that Zephaniah is pointing us. Light and Hope amid great darkness and sin.

It’s toward the Cross, the foreshadowing of Jesus’ finished work, the shedding of His Blood, that sinless, blameless sacrifice first witnessed in Eden. Where God put to death innocent animals to cover Adam and Eve’s sinful, fallen nakedness—sin separates us from God—yet another point Zephaniah makes clear for those with ears to hear. “…Seek righteousness, seek humility [regard them as vital]. Perhaps you will be hidden [and pardoned and rescued] In the day of the Lord’s anger.” –Zephaniah 2:3.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul said it this way concerning those who have come to know the Lord: “How will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? For it was spoken at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved authentic by those who personally heard [Him speak].” –Hebrews 2:3.

In Christ Jesus, eternal Life and hope are offered in place of death and judgment.

Again, it is towards this Truth that Zephaniah points us. Most in Israel had abandoned God—His commandments and ways. Great apostasy had saturated the people’s hearts (the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief—Oxford Dictionary) indeed, in part, that had much to do with their time in Babylon in exile. Zephaniah reminds Israel—and through them you and me, to humble ourselves before God, remembering to live by His Word—His commands, to seek His heart and to enthrone Him on ours—it is His rightful place, after all. And do not delay!

Zephaniah calls us to repent our sins before God’s righteous judgement begins and the window of God’s grace closes. Remember, Beloved, God will not tarry with man forever. “But understand this: If the head of the house had known what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.” –Matthew 24:43 AMP.

In these last days, I pray you’ll chase after Jesus with all that is in you, friends. “The Lord bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you]; The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favor], And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness]; The Lord lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval], And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].’ –Numbers 6:24-26

Veritas.

April 29, 2023 /

MaryEllen Montville

“Pilate said to Him, Then You are a King? Jesus answered, You say it! [You speak correctly!] For I am a King. [Certainly I am a King!] This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth [who is a friend of the Truth, who belongs to the Truth] hears and listens to My voice. “ –John 18:37.

In a world where everyone’s truth is the truth, it should not take us by surprise that not even Jesus’ declaration of His being the Truth would escape questioning, as horrifying as that is for those of us who call Jesus Lord. The unremitting, centuries-old scrutiny of Jesus—the doubtfulness and disparity regarding the Truth concerning The Son of God, of His God’s inerrant Word, is nothing new; today’s scripture verse makes this plain. Solomon was right: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” –Ecclesiastes 1:9.

Since Christ entered this world, men have done their best to defame Jesus’ Holy name, His person and purpose, to deny His very existence. They’ve tried and failed to “bring Him down to size.” To make Jesus ordinary, pass Him off as some nice guy who once walked the earth like many other nice guys before and after Him. Countless people questioned Jesus’ legitimacy in days past, and many still question it today: Who is this Jesus, really? They’ve heard and seen evidence of who God is, yet they refuse to believe.

Still, Christ’s response to such questioning and doubt remains unremitting: “All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”  

So then, it seems the question each man must settle in his heart is that exact question Pilate once posed to Christ: “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. –John 18:38.

Why? Because their eternal soul is inextricably tied to how they answer this very straightforward question.

Did you catch what Jesus made clear to Pilate—to anyone with ears to hear?

He plainly stated that not only is He alone the Truth, equally, one reason He was born into this world was to testify, proclaim, and profess Truth. And if you receive Truth when it’s spoken, putting it into practice as a doer and not a hearer only, if, like Elizabeth, your belly leaps when Truth is near you, you have likely recognized your Master’s voice. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” –John 10:27.

If so, I pray you will remain faithful to the Truth, hunger and thirst for more and more of Jesus. I pray that you will follow God’s leading and guiding all the days of your life, living pure and holy lives before Him. “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!” John 14:15.

Because friends, there is no such thing as your or my truth—only The Truth. So then, how or if we receive said Truth—receive Jesus, will determine how we live our lives now and where we will spend eternity. Jesus has made Himself crystal clear: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” –John 14:6.

In a world where we’re told the truth is anything we say it is, where we play little g god over our lives, acting out and being whoever or whatever we say we are or choose to be. In a world where mere men—creation, not Creator- dare alter God’s original work, I am so grateful that Christ is still our Due North.

Every man needs that fixed point on his moral compass by which his life is governed—aligned… “So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.” –Genesis 1:27.

And so I thank Jesus for keeping all those who believe in Him in our right minds—the mind of Christ, for safeguarding us from falling for the lies of the prince of this world. Lies that tell us if it feels right for you, then it is right for you; lies that would have anyone who heeds their treachery build their house on sand—the shifting sands of opinions, trends, and ever-changing feelings. “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” –Matthew 7:26-27.

God’s Holy Spirit is the only fixed point on life’s compass by which everything must align or realign if it has gone off course. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. –John 14:6.

Everything else you’ve been told, taught, believed, heard on the news or in the court of public opinion is a lie. Yet, to believe this, you must be delivered from the strongholds in your life.

Because behind every stronghold, there is a lie. But behind freedom in Christ, there is Truth. –Pastor Lino Braga, Highland City Church.

And Truth says, if I am a child of God, I am:

“A new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” –2 Corinthians 5:17.

“I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me.” –Philippians 4:13.

“In all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us].” –Romans 8:37.

“I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.” –Ephesians 1:3-8.

“I am complete in Christ, lacking nothing.” –Colossians 2:9-10.

“In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.” –Epehians 3:12.

Soap and water are great for cleansing yourself, but not if they’re not used! –Pastor Lino Braga.

Sadly, No true and lasting change can be born in you. None of the above Truths will mean anything in your life; they’ll have no effect—if you choose not to believe. Perhaps strongholds have held your thinking captive for most of your life, blocking the Truth of God’s Word—His promises, from penetrating it. Friend, only a life in Christ Jesus—a relationship with Him, His Holy Spirit alive in you, offers you the sure hope and promise of such freedom and knowledge. “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” –John 8:34-36.

It is not enough to hear the Truth—you must grab hold of it for yourself. Clinging, white-knuckled to it, like a drowning man to a life ring! Why? Because Truth is Who God’s Living Word is—Truth is Jesus Christ. “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.” –John 1:1.

And only through a relationship with Jesus, by placing the full weight of your trust in Him, can any man be restored to a right relationship with Father God. And this is Truth, believe it or not.

So please, don’t let one more day pass you by without knowing Jesus personally or inviting Him into your heart. Just talk to God, ask Him in, and He’ll come and begin a new work in your life. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. God is a Faithful God, He will never start something and not finish it.” –Philippians 1:6.

Do You Believe?

April 8, 2023 /
MaryEllen Montville

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age.” –Titus 2:11-12.

Many of us will celebrate Resurrection Sunday tomorrow morning. Yet what Christ did—defeating death, sin and the grave, making it possible for “whosoever will” to be restored to right relationship with the Father, coming not to judge, but save, indeed supersedes a day, any day, on man’s calendar.

Because, somewhere in eternity past, in obedience to the Father’s will, Jesus deigned to leave God’s side temporarily, to step away from the Perfect and Holy Majesty on High. God’s saving grace wrapped Himself instead in humility and flesh. Born into obscurity, Jesus was laid in an animal trough. He tasted our temptations while remaining God’s only sin-less, sacrificial Lamb. “He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” –1 Peter 1:20.

Jesus, who wrote the Book on self-sacrifice, God’s Living Word, died that you and I might live. “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.” –Hebrews 2:14.

Christ, the King of Kings, was born not to the royal, the high and mighty—though they are welcome at His table, in His heart.

No. Jesus chose to live amongst, be born to, poor people, according to the world’s standards, that is. Jesus came to serve, not to be served, to extend His Royal Scepter of grace and mercy to all those who only deserve death. To lay down His life for the least of us—the trainwreck, the sin-soaked addict and homosexual. The prostitute, the wife abuser, liar, the child killer, and the murderer.

And, dear Christian, since we have tasted so great a Love, been set free from the certain death sentence, that automatic guilty verdict rendered when we succumb to sins allure, as our Scripture instructs then, ought we not live sensibly? Choosing to deny our flesh, clinging instead to every Word that comes from the mouth of God? Denying ungodliness and worldly desires, living righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age.”

 You and I, dear believers in the Lord Jesus, have been called to a life counter to the world we live in—always remembering this world is not our home. Like Jesus, the Firstfruit of the resurrection to come, our heart’s desire, our earthly mission ought to be to do the will of the Father. To join Jesus in the death of our wills, wants, and fleshly desires that we might also join Him in the joyful celebration awaiting all those who, through Christ’s victory over sin and death, will soon, and very soon, live with Him forever and ever, amen!

And for anyone who thinks this is impossible, I will remind you that this is Ressurection season! A season of “suddenly” and of the unexpected!

Undoubtedly, many in Christ’s day, even some closest to Him, never expected to truly see Jesus rise from the grave on the third day—even though He had told them He would. And as it was then, so it is now, today. Many will not believe Jesus’ Word. Moreover, they refuse to believe Jesus is who He says He is and will do all He says He would do—was born, lived and died to do! And that includes His soon return to judge the living and the dead.

How I pray you will not be counted among those who refuse to believe.

Instead, you’d call out to Jesus today, taking Him at His Word on this Ressurection eve. That you’ll choose to accept, He is Mighty to save even the one who sinned so greatly that they’ve bought into their enemies lie hook, line, and sinker. The lie telling them Jesus couldn’t possibly want them, save them. The lie that says you’re too far gone, their sin too great for Jesus to remove.

Yet tomorrow’s celebration of our Lord’s victory over death and the grave truly is a new beginning—a next and not an end.

Let tomorrow’s dawn find you, find us all, those waiting on the return of our Lord, with eyes fixed on the horizon. “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” –Hebrews 12:2-3.

Because for every Blood-bought believer, tomorrow marks the rolling away of the stone; Life, not death. Revealing the next chapter of that abundant life Christ came to give all those who would believe in Him. His here-and-now life. And, His eternal life.

Tomorrow marks the season of revisiting, of resurrection if you will, of hopes and dreams deferred. Tomorrow marks the beginning of a time and times of new strength and vigor—a fresh grip on our sleepy faith. And, Oh, Beloved, how our “weary from well-doing hands “would benefit from a new grip.” So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.” –Hebrews 12:12-13.

So I am not at all surprised that Holy Spirit led me to Titus Two for today’s teaching. For some, the end of a thing. For others, new beginnings. If you doubt me, the one who’ll be saved tomorrow will be sharing their testimony of how they felt hopeless this week, yesterday, last night, wanting to end their life. They’ll tell you how in desperation, not even sure if they genuinely believed God cared, they cried out to Jesus in despair nevertheless. And they’ll testify how, in His mercy, Jesus showed Himself real to them—alive. And because He did, they are still.

If I were you, I wouldn’t miss church tomorrow. More, starting today, I’d choose to take God at His Word because it is our choice. “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

“The grace that has appeared,” the One Paul refers to in today’s Scripture, is, indeed, King Jesus!

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” –John 11:25-26. Jesus was talking to Martha, Lazarus’ sister, beside Lazarus’s grave. Then this happened a few minutes after asking Martha if she believed Him: “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” –John 11:39-43.

If I were you, I wouldn’t miss church tomorrow. More, starting today, I’d choose to take God at His Word.

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