As we draw closer to Christmas, we remember the birth of our Lord Jesus when God sent his Son to save the world. December 25th is a day we traditionally recognize Jesus’ birth but there is no written record that shows December 25th is Jesus’ birthday. So, December 25th is not a holy day the holiness is remembering the birth of Jesus when God by his grace sent his Son to save the world while we were still sinners.

The world does not see Christmas this way because they do not know or accept the gospel of Jesus. Christians should be thankfully to God for the gift of his Son who promises to give us eternal life.

Paul teaches that God gave his grace at his favor.

2 Corinthians 6: 1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

At God’s favor he heard the prayers of those seeking his salvation and sent his Son to save them.

The day of salvation began the moment of Jesus’ birth, so we are in the time of God’s favor to share the gospel that keep those who believe to repent and not perish.

Paul warns us not to put stumbling blocks in front of God’s grace by teaching the need to do works to be saved which would be useless.

God has set a day for his salvation to end day and bring his judgment to condemn all who refuse to believe in his Son.

Revelations tell us when the day of salvation will end.

Revelations 6: 9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.

The day of salvation ends when the number of saints set by God are martyred by the anti-Christ is completed. These martyred saints by the anti-Christ are the ones who will be with Christ in his millennium reign on earth.

Revelations 20: 4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Those who have fallen asleep in Christ before being martyred will be gathered by the angels Jesus sends to bring them home to his Father in heaven.

Paul teaches who God commends as his servant.

2 Corinthians 6: 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;

Jesus they are the kind of servants that will be blessed by his Father.

Matthew 5: 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

These commendable servants will be able to withstand the persecution and be will to die for Christ when the anti-Christ comes.

Paul teaches how a servant of God will respond when persecuted for his Son.

2 Corinthians 6: 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

They will bear the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatian, and have the love described in 1 Corinthians 13 in times of persecution.

Paul teaches that God’s servants will remain steadfast in the good or bad times by being devoted to love God.

2 Corinthians 6: 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Paul showed the love of Christ to the church like a father shows his children, but the church did not show their love towards Paul.

2 Corinthians 6: 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange--I speak as to my children--open wide your hearts also.

Jesus opened his heart wide to us and never withheld his affection from us. If you love Jesus because of his undying love for you, you need to show your love to him by obeying his teachings and commandments.

Christmas is Jesus’ birthday; the day God’s grace came to save us so that those who believe in his Son can receive his gift of eternal life.

We are in this time of Salvation to share and live the gospel and have our faith tested for it so that we can mature and be ready to overcome persecution to show we are not ashamed of Jesus’ name.

Your brother in Christ, Glenn.

Every believer will receive a different measure of faith from God based on their ability to increase.

God helps us increase our faith through the suffering we will go through as followers of Christ.

Romans 5: 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.

When our hope increases so does our faith in Jesus.

In the book of Job, God allowed Satan to cause great suffering upon Job to prove to Satan what is possible with those whose faith love God with all their heart.

Job 1: 8 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." 9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."

Job fearful love for God made him blameless, upright and shun evil to please God so that God would continue to fellowship with him. Job steadfast faith and love for God kept him from abandoning or cursing God no matter what happened to him.

Job’s faith and love for God was not dependent on the blessings God gave him because after Satan took away his children, servants and possessions, Job proclaimed naked I came into the world, naked will I depart, Lord gave, and Lord has taken it away, may the name of the Lord be praised.

When this did not work, Satan told God let me take Job’s health from him and he will curse you. God allowed Satan to cause boils to infest Job’s body, decaying his flesh making Job unbearable to look at and smell offensively which caused his relatives and friends to desert him. Job’s wife became disgusted with him and told him to curse God and die. Job lost all the respect he had among his peers because they believed God had cursed him for the sin he committed.

When Job’s 3 friend came to him instead of consoling him, they believed Job had sinned against God and began to admonish Job to confess his sins to God and repent then God would heal him.

This anguished Job because he knew he did not sin because of his love for God and wanted to appeal to God why he was suffering unjustly and no longer had fellowship with him.

Not being close to God, made Job depressed leading him to think the only way to find rest would have been perishing at birth or dying.

Job 3: 11"Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb? 12 Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed? 13 For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest

Job 3: 20 "Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, 21 to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure, 22 who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?

Job saw death as the way to escape the misery of being separated from God. But Job never asked God to take his life, nor did he ever attempt to take it because Job knew his life belongs to God.

Even though Job wanted to die he knew God was his Redeemer which kept him hopeful that someday God would rescue him.

Job 19: 25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes-I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

Job’s perseverance to remain faithful to God showed in his character which kept his hope always in God and prove to Satan that those who love God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength will be able to resist him causing him to flee from them.

James 4: 7 Submit yourselves, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Many depressed people have taken their life to end their suffering because they have no hope to live. Those who believe in Jesus, give their life to him because they believe in his promise of eternal life which gives them hope to overcome their suffering.

Many fear the thought of death because they do not know what will happen after they die.

There are those in church who fear death and hold on dearly to their life. That is because they still have not place their faith in Jesus who will free them from their fear death.

Hebrews 2: 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil—15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

The gospel of Jesus is about death and resurrection. Church goers who still fear death have not been clearly taught the gospel of eternal life. Those who know and believe in the gospel would have Paul’s point of view about death.

Philippians 1: 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 2For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

Paul believed in the gospel which made him desire to depart and be with Christ as far better than remaining on earth. Paul wanting to be with Jesus was not to relieve his suffering because to live would mean he could continue to serve Jesus with fruitful labor.

Paul said death is just a blink of an eye and you will be face to face with Jesus in heaven.

Some believers say they are not afraid of dying but fear the pain that may come with dying.

That is why some believers want Jesus to return before they die because they fear the pain of death or do not want to suffer when the anti-Christ comes to persecute and kill the saints.

Fearing the pains of death is still fearing death which faith in Jesus takes away. It’s not being brave for Jesus like Paul.

Acts 21: 13Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

If I asked Jesus to give me a painless death, I would be self-seeking because I do not care about the suffering that brave believers suffered when they died for Jesus. It’s not caring for all the brave Saints who will suffer death for not taking the mark of the Beast or worship his image. I am only thinking about myself because of my fear of a painful death.

I know God will not favor some with a painless death and others who love his Son suffer a painful death.

Romans 2: 11 For God does not show favoritism.

Jesus said being brave for him is an important attribute we must have if we say we love him and want to be with him forever.

Revelation 21: 8 But the cowardly, …. --their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Jesus said there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for his friend and Jesus did this because he called his disciples his friends. So, are you brave enough to be willing to lay down your life for Jesus who you say is your friend?

Be safe in Jesus, Glenn.

Paul said in Galatians 5: 6 The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

He said this because some people in church were teaching believing Gentile men that they needed to be circumcised to be saved. But Paul said only faith expressing itself in love counts to be saved.

Faith that saves must be rooted in the love we express to God by obeying the teachings and commandments of Jesus.

We also need to remember that faith is given to us in a measured amount by God.

Romans 12: 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

So, when you first believed in God it was with a measured amount according to God. Some will receive more faith than others. And when you receive this faith, it will be your responsibility to make it increase.

Jesus teaches this in his parable of the different number of talents he gave to each of his servants based on their ability and gave them the responsibility to increase it.

The amount of faith God gives us is based on our ability to increase it. This ability is how much your heart seeks God to know and love him.

The servant that received just one talent of faith refused to invest it because he feared God as being harsh with his laws and did not seek to love God. This made the servant hide his faith keeping his from bearing fruit and God took the servants faith from him and sent him among the unbelievers.

Paul teaches what will happen to those whose faith does not increase and how it will be taken away.

1 Timothy 4: 1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

Paul wrote this letter to Timothy about 2000 years ago, so we are in the later times. So, we should be aware that there will be those who will abandon their faith in Jesus’ gospel and follow teachings of deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

1 Timothy 4: 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

Paul warned Timothy that false teachers in church were going to teach OT laws not to marry a foreigner or to abstain from eating eat food that was unclean.

Paul said these teachers were hypocritical liars because they say the follow Jesus as the Lord and Savior but teach obedience to the law that Jesus freed them from.

In Galatians Paul teaches how we receive the Holy Spirit who is the seal of our salvation.

Galatians 3: 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing- if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

I have heard people teach their own laws telling people to be saved you must be water baptized or speak in tongues which is not true to Jesus’ gospel. They rather keep people in fear of their salvation by work and not by faith alone. Those who follow these false teaching is unable to hear the Holy Spirit recall to them God’s truth as a disciple and know that they are following the teachings of men.

We all must be on guard and recognize false teaching in church by maturing in God’s truth.

That is why John said we must test every spirit.

1 John 4: 1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

To test someone’s spirit is to know what is true to Jesus.

1 Timothy 4: 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

Paul said that everything God created is good which was marriage and food.

In Acts 10, Peter received a vision from God showing that everything he created has become made clean through his Son’s sacrifice on the cross and his shed blood that covers it.

This reassured Peter to enter a house of a Gentile to preach the gospel which was forbidden by the law and saved all who believed in his words.

1 Timothy 4: 6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

Paul tells us as disciples of Jesus we should know what is true faith in Jesus and know his teaching to be ministers of Jesus and pointing it out to brothers and sisters when something false is being taught.

1 Timothy 4: 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

Being disciples we are ministers of Jesus truth that does not teach godless myths and old wives’ tales but only what is godly.

Myths are taught by prosperity teachers, by those who sell ointment, holy water and relics saying they will heal or prosper you.

Old wives’ tales say that you will be blessed by God when you pray every day, go to church every Sunday, and tithe to the church. When people teach rituals, you can do to receive God’s blessings.

Jesus said Matthew those who will be blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hungers and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted because of righteousness and those who are insulted, persecuted and falsely accused of all kinds of evil against you because of your faith and love for Jesus. This is how you will be blessed by God.

Paul teaches how to identify someone who teaches false doctrine.

1Timothy 6: 3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

People will abandon their faith because they do not know the sound instructions of Jesus which is the doctrine that will save them. They will not recognize these bad characteristics of someone who is teaching false doctrine.

In 2nd Thessalonians 2, Paul said the anti-Christ will set himself in God’s temple which is Christ church, and he will deceive those who have not grown in their faith by knowing the sound instructions of Jesus and making it their doctrine. They are the ones who will abandon their faith in Jesus and follow the anti-Christ.

Be safe in Jesus! Your brother in Christ, Glenn.

When we are sick, we can take medication at home, if it’s more serious we see our doctor or if it is an emergency we go to the hospital.
What about when our spirit needs healing?
Why would your spirit need healing? Have you ever felt that God was not close to you? This will cause your spirit to suffer being separated from God. Jesus felt this on the cross when he cried out to his Father why have you forsaken him.
Isaiah tells us why our spirit will feel this separation.
Isaiah 59: 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Our spirit will begin to suffer when God separates himself because of our sin. Jesus felt this separation because his took upon the world’s sins.
Suffering for sin is not the same as suffering from trials that God gives to discipline us to mature.
James 1: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Sin is self-inflicted suffering when we refuse to repent from it.
Unrepentant sin will separate us from God. He will hide his face and will not hear us when we call him.
We read this in Malachi 2 where God will not pay attention to an unfaithful husband and in 1 Peter 2 where an inconsiderate and disrespectful husband will hinder God from hearing his prayers.
In Hebrews 12 it says those who God calls his children he will punish for their sinfulness. In the OT the Israelite suffered physically for the unrepentant sin. Today our Father will punish us when we are unrepentant by separating himself from us.
Jesus teaches that sin will always be with us.
Luke 17: 1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.
John said you are a liar if you say you do not sin.
1 John 1: 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
We must always be spiritually aware of sinning and repent quickly or the longer we remain unrepentant the Holy Spirit will separate himself from us. You will no longer hear his counsel and guidance and understand Scripture.
Paul teaches how he dealt with his sin and still remain close to Jesus.
Romans 7: 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
We do not know what Paul coveted, but his spiritual mind was in constant battle with his sinful nature, making him a prisoner of the law of sin. Paul was assured of his eternal life being thankful to Jesus for rescuing him from death which gave him strength to continue to wage war against his sinful nature.
Repenting is recognizing sin in your life and wage war against it and stand on the hope, we have in Jesus who died for our sins to save us. We know one day we will have complete victory over sin when we receive our new glorified body like Jesus.
Paul confessed his sin to the church because he wanted the church to pray for his healing.
James 5: 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
1 John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, Jesus is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
When we confess our sins, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive our unrighteousness which will purify and heal our relationship with our Father and he will draw close to you.
James said to confess your sins to each other, but not everyone in the body of Christ are mature disciples in Christ and do not know how to pray with the understanding and forgiveness of Jesus.
Paul teaches that the spiritually mature should restore those who sin in church.
Galatians 6: 1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
The spiritually mature battle with their sin to live in the righteousness of Christ. This helps them to be understanding and able to restore with gentle forgiveness of Jesus. Paul warns not to be tempted to condone others sin and fall into sin.
John teaches when we see someone commit a sin that does not lead to death in church we should pray for them.
1 John 5: 16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. 18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.
Sin that does not lead to death is sin we wage war against to repent from. That sin will not lead to death. We are to pray that God will keep them safe and protected from the devil.
Sin that leads to death is unrepentant sin which does not bring about Godly sorrow that would make the sinner to repent and be saved.
2 Corinthians 7: 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Worldly sorrow are the sins people crave for and cannot have or cannot have enough.
We all sin and some sins we have repented and overcome because of our love for Jesus, but like Paul there may be a sin you have been waging war with and need to confess so you can receive prayers of healing.
Some believe you can trust confessing your sins to pastors of to a priest because you assume they are spiritually mature in Christ. How do you know if you do not know the fruit they have bear?
Jeremiah 17: 5 This is what the Lord says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
John 2: 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25 He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.God does not want us to but our trust in man.
Someone who is spiritually mature is humble and contrite because they know they are sinners willing to confess their sins like Paul and wage war with their sinful nature to repent and steadfast in their hope in Jesus to purifying them to be with God.
They do not condemn but always forgive and encourage believers to repent, so together they will have life with God.
As the Body of Christ, we all must be spiritually mature so that we know how to pray for healing for those who are battling with sin.
Because we all sin, we must all wage war against it and confess we are sinners. We do not need confess exactly what that sin is but we all should seek for prayers to heal us from it.
Also me mindful that you do not want to be someone who causes someone to sin by your actions or inactions.
Be safe in Jesus, your brother in Christ, Glenn.

Aloha East Shore Family,

I pray you all have been good disciples of Jesus’ teachings and commandments so that we all can be united in our knowledge of our Lord and Savior.

In Colossians 2, Paul teaches at times our flesh will indulge in things that pleases our senses in ways that is sin to God.

Anytime we sin we commit idolatry because we made that sin more important than our love for God. Sin is being disobedient to God. To love God is to obey him.

Whenever you condone or compromise or ignore someone’s sin in church and only in church, you commit idolatry because you put the sinful person as more important than being obedient to Jesus.

Jesus teaches that you need to love God more than your own family. To hate loving your family more than loving God or you commit idolatry.

In Colossians 3, Paul teaches how to overcome idolizing something.

Colossians 3: 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

When we set our heart and mind on things in heaven where Jesus is seated next to his Father, we put God first in our heart and mind not what our flesh wants.

This made me think of the song, “I only can imagine”, a song imagining what it would be like in heaven.

In the NT, Stephen, Paul and John describe what they saw in heaven.

In Acts 7, Stephen saw Jesus standing in heaven at the right hand of his Father before he was stoned.

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul said that after he died, he went to heaven and heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.

In Revelations 21, John describes what Jesus showed him in heaven to prophecy to us what it will be like.

But we set our heart and mind on what they saw in heaven by faith to help us repent and overcome indulging in our sensual desires.

It would be amazing if we could just look towards heaven like Stephen and see Jesus when we are struggling with sin.

But Paul explains why Jesus does not do this.

2 Corinthians 5: 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight.

Our ability to overcome our sin is only by faith, being assured of what we hope for to be with God in heaven and certain of it even though we do not see it now.

Jesus teaches the kind of faith we need have to overcome our sins.

Matthew 18: 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 

Jesus teaches we must have faith like little children which is humble and contrite.

Isaiah 66: 2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the Lord . "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. 

Do you remember when you were a little child and believed in the mythical Santa Clause? How that belief was undeniable and true.

Paul teaches us what happens when we become an adult.

1 Corinthians 13: 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

We no longer think or reason the way we did as a child. Now our belief is seeing is believing.

Jesus said to be saved we must have a humble and contrite faith like children that believe he is in heaven with his Father to overcome our sins.

To increase this child like faith, we need to pray without ceasing to Jesus and our Father who art in heaven.

With this kind of faith we can put to death things of our earthly nature.

Colossians 3: 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 

Our earthly nature once indulged in things to satisfy our flesh which is idolatry and God’s wrath comes to all who commit idolatry.

The fruits of idolatry are anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language and lying. These bad fruits reveal a heart and mind that does not want to be with Jesus and his Father in heaven.

But those whose faith want to be with God will continue to mature in their knowledge of Jesus and begin to have his mind and walk like him. Paul teaches what that will look like.

Colossians 3: 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 

When we walk like Jesus, we become God’s chosen people who are holy and dearly loved by God as his children. We bear his Son’s likeness showing his compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness that comes through faith in the peace we have through him with our Father.

Colossians 3: 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

We only can have the mind of Christ when his word dwell richly is our heart and mind by being his disciple and teaching and admonishing each other with it through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

So, as one body let us continue to grow together in our child like faith by setting our heart and mind on things above where Jesus is at the right hand of his Father.

Be Safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

I want to share about jealousy. In Samuel we see this in king Saul.

1 Samuel 18: 6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. 7 As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" 9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

Jealousy is the destroyer of friendships, trust, respect, and love.

When the prophet Samuel first met Saul, he told Saul that God has chosen him to be Israel’s first king. This made Saul uncomfortable and unsure because he felt unworthy and incapable being from the smallest tribe in Israel. This showed when Samuel to presented Saul to Israel as their new king but Saul hid himself.

When they brought Saul out the people saw that he was physically a head taller than them, which made them rejoice that he would be their king because of his physical appearance and not what was in his heart.

God gave Saul victories over Israel’s enemies which gave him self-confidence and a prideful heart because of it and from the people’s praises for him. Through all that God gave Saul, he never honored God because he never sought a close relationship with him but saw God as Samuel’s God.

1 Samuel 15: 15 Saul answered, "The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest."

Saul said the animals were to be sacrificed to the Lord your God and not our God.

Saul heart was never devoted to God instead he sought the praises of people and was prideful taking credit for victories over his enemies. This made Saul jealous of David when the praises of the people and the great victories went to David and not him.

This is the danger of seeking success and popularity and not being grateful to God like David who knew everything came from God.

Those who seek security from their achievement and praises of people will be subject to jealously.

This does not only happen to people of this world, but also found in churches and in church leaders.

Being jealous is not always a sin, because we were all created in God’s image and jealousy is a character of God.

Exodus 34: 14 Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Jealousy is something we will need to contend with but just as with anger when we become jealous, we should not sin.

Ephesians 4: 26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

Sin occurs because of our action or what we say or think when we become jealous.

In the book of Numbers, it was not wrong for a husband to become jealous of his wife if he thinks she has been unfaithful. God made a provision for the husband who thinks or feels his wife had been unfaithful, so that he would not do something sinful.

Numbers 5: 29 " 'This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and defiles herself while married to her husband, 30 or when feelings of jealousy come over a man because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand before the Lord and is to apply this entire law to her. 31 The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin.' "

God did not say that the husband was wrong for being jealous of his wife. He made a law of jealousy to resolve the husband’s jealousy.

This OT law of jealousy we no longer use, but Jesus allows divorce for unfaithfulness, so that the faithful spouse may be free themselves of jealousy.

When there is jealousy, it makes you bitter and do things that are earthly, unspiritual which comes from the devil.

James 3: 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

To overcome jealousy James teaches that you need to use the wisdom that comes from heaven.

James 3: 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

When you feel jealous you need to apply the wisdom of heaven and then you will find the peace of God and provide a harvest of righteousness for Jesus.

Jesus tells a parable about those who seek honor in this world which leads to jealousy and humiliation.

Luke 14: 7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.

Those who seek honor and praise from people will tend to become jealous of those who receive honor and praise.

Jesus said we must always take the lowest place because we know in God’s eyes the last will be first in his kingdom and God rewards those who do all things in secret for him and not those who seek success and honor in this world.

God gave us his character of jealousy so that we know what it feels like when he becomes jealous for our love and devotion when it goes to things we idolize in this world.

When you love things of this world more than Jesus then you commit adultery towards Jesus your husband who Paul said he is jealous that it should be for Jesus.

2 Corinthians 11: 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

When you become jealous you need to discern if it is godly or is it earthly, unspiritual and from the devil which will take wisdom from heaven to know the difference.

Be safe in Jesus,

Ps. Glenn

Our faith in our salvation rest in our trust in God’s word that it is true and unfailing in all of God’s promises that he made through his Son’s life. Those who believes this are willing to surrender their life by denying themselves, dying to their sins and obeying Jesus.

Those who do not trust in God’s word will not surrender their life to Jesus. So, Jesus will not know them and will not entrust the secret things of God to them.

Paul’s love for Jesus made him willing to die for him and because of this Jesus entrusted to him the secret things of God.

1 Corinthians 4: 1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.

Paul tells us where we can find the secrets things of God.

Colossians 1: 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations but is now disclosed to the saints.

All the secrets of God mystery will be revealed only to the saints when they seek to know God through all of God’s word in the Bible.

Those who have been trusted with the secret thing of God must prove their faithfulness to it.

1 Corinthians 4: 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Saints are those who have set themselves apart to only follow and obey Jesus and have proved themselves by faithfully obeying his teachings and commandments by becoming his disciple.

Matthew 28: 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Jesus’ disciples baptize themselves by completely knowing the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Bible and obey the teachings and commandments of Jesus out of love for God. These are the saints who will be entrusted with the secret things of God which they must prove their faithfulness to it.

This will spiritually mature them in having the mind of Christ through Holy Spirit teaching and reminding them to always have God’s viewpoint and help them discern when it is the world’s.

1 John 4: 4 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. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

You will recognize you are on the right path to Jesus when you know your viewpoint is God’s and not the world by the Holy Spirit recalling God’s truth from his word. Your viewpoint has nothing in common with the world’s religious belief, their lifestyle and what they value in this world.

This is especially important to recognize in church to keep Jesus as its head.

In Ephesians Paul teaches that the church must be like-minded in Christ by being united in our faith in Jesus and to build each other up so that we have the whole knowledge of Jesus.

Jesus promises the more you seek to know the name of God the more abundantly the Holy Spirit will teach you the wisdom of God. Those who do not seek God what they may have learned will be taken from them.

Matthew 25: 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

Paul teaches it will be Jesus who will judge if we have faithfully proved our trust in knowing his name and obeying him.

1 Corinthians 4: 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.

Jesus will judge to see if his disciples obeyed him and do not follow teachings not true to his word or following their feelings and instincts. Those who obey Jesus teachings are those who love God.

Jesus said when you have been entrusted with the knowledge of God’s truth the more will be asked of you.

Luke 12: 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

This is why Paul said we should not forsake gathering with believers because then we become the body of Christ and each member has been entrusted with a spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of building each other up so together we attain the full knowledge of Christ.

1 Corinthians 4: 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Jesus knows the motive of everyone’s heart and when he returns he will judge to see if we have been faithful with what he has entrusted to us.

1 Corinthians 4: 6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

We must never go beyond what is written in the Bible then we can only boast that it is the truth of God and keep us from taking pride in our own words or that of others.

This is so important to remember that our every understanding of God must come from the Bible and explained in the fulness of it.

When telling someone what faith in Jesus means you must teach faith in the fulness of God’s word so that no one falls short in their faith that will keep them from being with God.

Be safe in Jeus, Glenn.

God’s word teaches God is a triune God, meaning God is 3 persons and yet one. He is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each being individually God and yet the same God as one. Each having a significant individual identity in their relationship and role with each other. They are one mind and one Spirit.

And it is important to identify them by their name. We do not address God our Father as Jesus nor Jesus as the Father and we call the Holy Spirit as God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus warns us not to treat the Holy Spirit as not being or less than God. That is blaspheming and unforgiveable. So, we cannot be trivial in how we treat our God and his name. It must be with fearful respect that they are God Almighty, giver of eternal life and second death. God commands us to do this in:

Deuteronomy 5:11 "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

As the body of Christ Paul said in Ephesians, we must be united in our faith in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord and that means to know and obey his teachings and commandments which includes Deuteronomy 5:11.

Ephesians 4: 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

Paul said the body of Christ must build each other up until we ALL reach unity in our faith in the knowledge of Jesus, the Son of God. This knowledge matures us to have the mind of Christ and walk like him which keeps us from being misled by false teachings and trickery and deceitful scheming of people who do not love God or obey his will.

Jesus said he does not want us to be a stumbling block that may mislead a brother or sister to sin, or we will suffer something worse than having a millstone tied around our neck and thrown into the sea.

So, as lovers of God we cannot be frivolous is what we say and do as being true to Jesus because Jesus will hold us responsible for its truth. It cannot come from our human instincts or feelings or by someone’s teaching not found in the Bible or out of context nor by reading into Scripture what we want it to mean.

Paul said pastors and teacher will be responsible to teach God’s truth and I pray that what I teach is from the Holy Spirit and not that of the anti-Christ. My love for you is not to mislead you but to help always help you mature in your knowledge of Jesus and to keep Jesus as the head of our Church.

It is important for us to know where Jesus is. Some think this as not important to Jesus and just assume he is everywhere. But God’s word teaches where Jesus is, so it is important for you to know this to understand Jesus’s role and his purpose in our relationship with him.

Scripture teaches that after Jesus resurrected, he appeared to his disciples.

John 20: 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection to prove his victory over death. Because of this passage some believe that Jesus can be among them and because of what Jesus said in Matthew.

Matthew 18: 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

New Christians and those who do not study God’s word may accept these passages and easily believe that the presence of Jesus is with them if a pastor or teacher said he is by using these passages. I once believed this as a new believer, but I found this is not true because I kept seeking to know Jesus from his word.

After Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, Scripture teaches Jesus remained on earth for 40 days and appeared to 500 people and then he went to heaven.

Acts 1: 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

The disciples were hoping that Jesus would remain on earth to restore his kingdom but Jesus said that was up to his Father. Then Jesus was taken up into the clouds and out of their sight and 2 men in white said Jesus will return the same way he was taken to heaven.

So, Jesus is no longer with us he is in heaven. That is why we need to always look up to the heaven from where our Savior Jesus will be coming from.

Jesus said he will sit on the righthand of his Father.

Luke 22: 67 "If you are the Christ, " they said, "tell us." 68 Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." 70 They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You are right in saying I am."

The martyr Stephen said he saw Jesus in heaven before he was stoned to death.

Acts 7: 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

Just like Stephen we will also see Jesus when we die when we have faith like him which Paul said must be worthy to Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 1: 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. 11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our faith is counted worthy when our every good purpose and every act is prompted only by our faith in Jesus obedient to his Father’s will which is to listen to his Son.

Those whose faith is not worthy do not know God and do not obey the gospel of Jesus. They will be forever separated from God’s presence.

Hebrews teaches the kind of faith we must have and its desire to be with Jesus which will save us.

Hebrews 9: 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Salvation will be for those who want to be with Jesus because they know to die is to gain being with Jesus believe this was made possible because Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross out of love for his Father and us to pay for the penalty of our sins making it possible to be with God that we love with all our heart.

So, when someone tells you that Jesus is present because of what Jesus said.

Matthew 18: 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Encourage them to always read Scripture in its context so that they can fully understand what Jesus was saying.

Matthew 18: 18"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Jesus said when you gather in his name means you know him through his teachings and when 2 or 3 agree of what is true to his teachings it will be bound or loosed on earth and in heaven and his presence is there through you.

That is why Jesus commands us to be disciples that completely know (baptized) the name of God and obey his teachings and commandment and they will be with you always.

Matthew 28: 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

And we will remain in Jesus’ truth through the giving of the Holy Spirit.

John 16: 5 “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

Jesus said he needed to go home so that he could send the Holy Spirit and he is the one that will remind us of everything we learn as a disciple of God’s word and have obeyed it and know that God is always with us.

So, keep the name of God holy and do not misuse it and know that Jesus is in heaven where Peter said he is.

Acts 3: 21 He (Jesus) must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

Be safe in Jesus, Glenn.

Do you remember as a little child how you once believed in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and or the Tooth Fairy. For the longest time I could not figure out how the Tooth Fairy was able to exchange my wrapped tooth that was under my pillow as I slept upon into a quarter.

As we grow older, we begin to believe only in what can be physically or scientifically or medically proved or with our senses. So, our childhood beliefs in what cannot be seen dissipate.

But the faith of little children is what Jesus said we need to have to enter the kingdom of heaven because it is a wholehearted faith that does not doubt but is innocent and just believes.

Solomon said there is something God has instilled in everyone that cannot be seen by our flesh, but he has set it in everyone’s heart.

Ecclesiastes 3: 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Because God has placed eternity in everyone’s heart people who did not seek to know God began to invent their many gods that would give them what their flesh desires now and after they die. They began to make idols of their gods so that they could worship them and made sacrifices and did rituals they believed would please their gods so they would answer their prayers.

Paul explains who will find God that placed eternity in their heart.

Acts 17: 24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

Paul said the God of eternity is not manmade nor does he live in manmade temples. God is the creator of everything and everything belongs to him and man only exist because of him and God has set exact time and place for everyone where and when they will be born for the purpose that they would seek God and those who do seek and reach out to him they will find the true God who is never far from anyone.

David tells us who God is looking for in those who reach to him and he will set them apart for himself and will hear them.

Psalms 4: 3 Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him.

The godly are those who are faithful to God those who seek God with all their heart and will find him.

Jeremiah 29: 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

God is Spirit, it takes faith to believe in our invisible eternal God

2 Corinthians 4: 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Jesus said blessed are those who have faith in him but have not seen him.

John 20: 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Faith that is true to God is not one that needs physical or scientific or medical proof to prove he is real. It is with a childlike faith that believes in our invisible loving Father and his Son that lovingly and faithfully seeks him and obey him. They will come and make their home with you and be with you forever.

Jesus teaches what faith in him is like in Luke 9.

Luke 9: 57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Faith that follows Jesus believes that his kingdom will not be a home on this earth where you will live in comfort it is faith that believes that your home will be in heaven where you will rest in God’s love forever.

Luke 9: 59 He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Faith that follows Jesus is not burying your loved ones that believe in him like those who are dead in their faith in him bury their dead. You bury those who love him the way they proclaimed the kingdom of God when they were living. That is why you must make sure that those who bury you know that you proclaimed the kingdom of God in your life so they can acknowledge you did as their testimony.

Luke 9: 61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Faith that follows Jesus, does not love their family more than him. It is faith that loves Jesus first as his obedient servant. When Jesus is not your first love you cannot truly follow him as your Lord and be his light for him and know how to love your family.

Jesus warns us that our faith in him cannot be half hearted and incomplete or it will be dead to him.

Revelations 3: 1 "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Our faith must always be one that seeks God’s kingdom first by loving his Son first and living in the hope of eternal life with all your heart, mind, soul and strength with a childlike faith.

Be safe in Jesus, your brother in Christ, Glenn.

Before Jesus came into your life would you agree you lived in the darkness of this world. A world that does not understand or know the light of Jesus that gives us eternal life.

John said Jesus is the light of life.

John 1: 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

We all were born into the darkness of this world, and some are blessed to be born with parents that knows the light of Christ and lived in it.

I was born in a family that did not know or believed in the light of Christ, so I lived in darkness. Even when I started going to church, I am sad to say that I was still in a gray area of knowing Christ light and at times remained in the darkness of this world.

Jesus teaches to know his light you must follow him and walk away from the darkness, and you will have eternal life.,

John 8: 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

To receive this light, you must follow Jesus which is to go after him and this is what Jesus said you must do.

Matthew 16: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

You must deny yourself, die to your sins and obediently follow Jesus. If you do not you will not be able to see the light of Christ and unable to find your way out of your darkness.

Jesus said that his light when he was on earth would be there only for little while.

John 12: 35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light."

Jesus’s light returned with him when he went home to be with his Father, so the light of his presence is no longer with us, and the darkness is still here. Jesus gave his light to the sons of light his apostles who have written his light in the Bible. When you are a disciple of God’s word, you receive the knowledge of Jesus’ light from it which saves you from the darkness of this world.

Peter teaches that when you walk in this knowledge of Jesus’ light you become participants in Jesus’ divine nature.

2 Peter 1: 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

The knowledge that you receive from Jesus’ teachings and commandments and obey them out of love for him you become participants in his divine nature which keeps you from being corrupted by the evil darkness of this world.

Your knowledge of Jesus must be with unwavering faith, built on a firm foundation that it is true to Jesus. There can be no doubt or questioning of its truth that this is the will of God for you, or you will succumb again to darkness of this world.

Peter teaches what we need to add to our faith to keep it true to Jesus.

2 Peter 1: 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Peter said you need to add to our faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love which will show the divine nature of Jesus in you which will make you effective and productive in your knowledge of him.

2 Peter 1: 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But if these qualities are not being added to your faith you are short sighted in your understanding of your faith and cannot see its truth and you have forgotten Jesus’ forgiveness of your sins and still living in the darkness of this world.

2 Peter 1: 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

So, if you believe in Jesus because you love God your Father with all your heart you will seek the knowledge to do what is good to please him and persevere in it with self-control that is godly shown by your kindness to your church family by loving them the way Jesus has loved you.

2 Peter 1: 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

If you have eagerly added these things to your faith, then you can be sure that you have been called by Jesus to come to his Father and that you are one of God’s elects to be saved and you will know you will receive a rich welcome when you go home be with them.

So, be the light of Christ and reveal his divine nature in everything you do.

Be safe in Jesus. Your brother in Christ, Glenn.

It can be overwhelming when you think about all the conflict that is occurring in this world and in our country. We need to be very thankful that we are isolated from them by the Pacific ocean but still makes us vulnerable by how it can affect receiving our goods from the mainland.

But we who love God will always be steadfast in the hope of being with God someday making us patiently hope in the return of our Lord Jesus to gather us and take us home.

In Matthew Jesus teaches that we need to be mindful of the prophecies that foretell of his return so that we will be ready and not be caught off guard.

Matthew 24: 32 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

Jesus wants us to recognize prophetic signs that tells us that he is coming soon. Some of these prophecies have been fulfilled and some are yet to come.

The first prophecy Jesus teaches we read in:

Matthew 24: Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down." 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

This prophecy was fulfilled when his Father’s temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD and has never been rebuilt. This prophecy has been fulfilled.

Some believe that God’s temple needs to be rebuilt before Jesus returns because of what Paul prophesied in:

2 Thessalonians 2: 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Paul said God’s temple, so some assume that the temple that was originally built by Soloman needs to be rebuilt before Jesus returns. Jesus never said that God’s temple will be rebuilt after it was destroyed because the name of God will no longer dwell in a manmade temple.

Paul teaches that the Spirit of God will dwell in the human body of Jesus’ disciples.

1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.

So, the lawless one, the anti-Christ will set himself up among believers the temple of God, so that he can deceive those who do not love God’s truth.

2 Thessalonians 2: 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Revelation 12 said that the Devil has made war against God’s children, so he will send the second beast to those in church who refused to love God’s truth and deceive them with counterfeit miracles, signs and wonder to follow him. Even God will send a powerful delusion so those who do not love his Son truth but believe in the devil’s lies so that they will be condemn and perish.

So, do not put your hope waiting for a temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem before Jesus return because it will distract you from watching for the anti-Christ who may already set himself up among believers and those who do not love God’s truth.

The 2nd prophecy that Jesus warns us to watch for.

Matthew 24: 4 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many.

There have already been many who claim they are the second coming of Jesus. As disciples you should know that in Matthew 24:30-31, Jesus will return in the sky and will send his angels to gather his followers. This prophecy has been fulfilled.

The third prophecy Jesus calls birth pains.

Matthew 24: 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

These birth pains have been increasing since the time Jesus said this. There have been wars, famine, and earthquakes all over the world. Today there is war in the Promised Land that God called the Beautiful Land, and we know in Revelations that end time prophecies will occur in Israel. This prophecy has been fulfilled

The fourth prophecy:

Matthew 24: 9 "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

This prophesy has been fulfilled in:

Hebrews 11: 35 Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned ; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

The fifth prophecy.

Matthew 24: 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

This prophecy has been fulfilled in:

1 John 2: 18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

What protects us from false teachers is the Holy Spirit recalling God’s truth to those who are disciples of Jesus’ teachings and commandments keeping their faith genuine to him.

The sixth prophecy:

Matthew 24: 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Paul prophecies this also in:

2 Timothy 3: But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

This prophecy also has been fulfilled, today people are growing colder in the world and in the church which Paul calls the rebellion in 2 Thessalonians.

Being cold in church is when members are not lovers of God truth but lovers of what they want church to be. They do not obey Jesus as the head of the church by obeying his teachings and commandments. Jesus said only those who obey his teachings and commandments are those who love him and his Father and will be saved.

John 14: 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

John 14: 23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

The last prophecy:

Matthew 24: 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

No one will know when this prophecy of the whole world being preached the gospel will be fulfilled. Jesus said only his Father will know when this will be fulfilled.

Matthew 24: 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Only the Father knows his elect, his chosen and those he is calling to his Son. The end comes when the Father knows there will be no one else in the world who will accept his Son’s gospel and those in church who only want Jesus as their Savior but do not make him their Lord so that they know God’s truth and be saved when the end comes.

It will be like the time of Noah when every inkling of the people had become evil and cold and no longer lovers of God.

Many of the signs have been fulfilled and the coming of the 2nd beast, the anti-Christ can set himself up at anytime and only God know when the heart of people will not love his Son and his gospel.

So, we must be ready now willing to give our life to Jesus as our Lord and to die for his name so that we can be with God forever.

Your brother in Christ, Glenn

Paul said that as long he was alive it meant more opportunities to do fruitful labor for his Lord Jesus.

Philippians 1: 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.

So, like Paul, we must also have the same attitude as him and use our time on earth to be fruitful for our Lord. How do we produce fruitful labor for Jesus?

Jesus teaches what will and what will not produce fruit for him in his parable of the 4 soils.

Luke 8: 11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Jesus said those who are noble and good hearted have good soil that is needed to produce fruitful crops for him. When good soil hear the word of God they spiritually hear it’s meaning and retain it as God’s truth and his will for them.

A noble person is just, honest, and trustworthy. A good-hearted person is loving, humble, patient, compassionate, and kind, Jesus said good soil have all these qualities when they read God’s word making them spiritually understand it and persevere in it and produce fruitful crops for him.

Jesus also describes 3 other kinds of soils that will not produce fruitful work for him.

The first are those who hear God’s word, but they do not understand it. Why? It is because they do not have the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2: 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit 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.

The reason why people do not receive the Holy Spirit is because they do not completely acknowledge God’s word as his truth, his will and obey it. Instead, they question God’s word and do not agree with it but follow their feelings or what they believe is best. So, Jesus said the devil comes and takes away any understanding of God’s word from their hearts, so that they will not believe and be saved.

Paul teaches in Ephesian that we need the Holy Spirit dwelling in us to be our seal that guarantees our eternal inheritance.

God prophesied about this kind of soil.

Matthew 13: 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

The second soil are those who receive the God’s word with joy when they hear it, but do not become disciples of it so they do not grow deep roots to firmly hold on to it. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.

These are the ones Jesus speaks of in:

Matthew 7: 26 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. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Deep roots are grown by those who put Jesus’ teaching into practice giving them a firm foundation to persevere and overcome times of suffering, trials, and persecution because of their love for Jesus.

The 3rd soil is those whose faith in God’s word is not genuine. They are not sincerely devoted to Jesus because God is not their greatest treasure, so they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, keeping them from spiritually mature in the acknowledge God’s truth to overcome the world’s hold on them.

Paul called this kind of soil being weak willed.

2 Timothy 3: 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

Not only weak-willed women but also weak-willed men.

When you are a faithful disciple of Jesus that does not doubt or question God’s word but obey them because you love him you will build a strong foundation that keeps you steadfast and not weak willed producing fruitful labor for Jesus and be a light for him.

Luke 8: 16"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

Your light for Jesus is evident by the kind of spiritual fruit you bear by through the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5: 22 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

So, you need the Holy Spirit to have good soil to hear God’s word it makes you noble and good hearted.

Luke 8: 18Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."

Jesus promises that those who carefully listens to God’s word and put them into practice he will increase their understanding of it, but those who do not he will take away whatever understanding they think they have.

So, listen carefully through the Holy Spirit teaching you to have the complete knowledge of Jesus. Do not read Scripture as an instruction or self-application or better improvement book. Read it to know the mind and heart of Christ and how to walk like him.

Luke 8: 19 Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." 2He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."

Jesus said only those who hear God’s word and obey them are his family members, children of his Father. So, examine yourself to see what kind of soil you have by the fruitful labor you are producing and shining for your Lord Jesus.

Your brother in Christ, Glenn.

Those who love God with all their heart are those who have made God their greatest treasure. Jesus has promised that those who love God will be his people and God will be their God forever in heaven.

Revelations 21: 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Our love for God is to believe that Jesus out of love for his Father came to give everyone eternal life with his Father by obeying his Father and died for our sins to save us from being separated from God for all eternity.

When God is your greatest treasure, your love for him makes you no longer look for or seek to gain earthly treasures and its desires. They have become rubbish to you and your mind is set on heavenly things. You seek what will please your Father in heaven because you thirst to be with him. Jesus promises to satisfy your thirst letting you drink the water of life without cost.

Revelations 21: 5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Jesus tells us in John what he will give us to drink.

John 7: 37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

So, those who thirst for God will receive living water the Holy Spirit to drink when they believe in Jesus as Scripture has said. The Holy Spirit will become a stream of living water of God’s truth for those who are a disciple of Jesus and will mature their heart and mind to be like Jesus helping them overcome this world as sons and daughters of God.

Revelations 21: 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

The Bible teaches that there will be those in churches who will not make God their greatest treasure and will not thirst for him. They do not love him with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. They do not fear God but will question and doubt his will for them written in Scripture. They have not made Jesus their Lord and Jesus will tell them why you called me Lord and not do what I taught and commanded. Paul said only those who confess Jesus as their Lord which means obeyed him will be saved.

The devil has declared war against God’s children, and he will attack us with his schemes and lies sending his dark powers of evil spiritual forces of this world to tempt our flesh to give in to our human instincts and desires and forsake God and not obey Jesus.

Paul teaches that we must protect ourselves from the devil by putting on the full armor of God.

Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

Disciples of God’s word wear the belt of God’s truth and use it to protect themselves from the devil’s schemes and lies and stand firm in it and not give in to their human instincts, emotions and desires of the devil temptations but will stand firm in God’s will.

Our righteous breastplate of our faith is the righteousness of Christ that we have in his broken body for our sins and the covenant of his blood for the forgiveness of our sins.

Ephesians 6: 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

This readiness is what Peter said we must always be prepared to do.

1 Peter 3: 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

To protect yourself you must always be ready to share the hope you have in Jesus’ good news that promise that all who believe and love him will be with him and his Father forever in their and love and peace.

The more you share and even speak to yourself the more confident and sincere your words will be in expressing your hope and love for God.



Ephesians 6: 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Your faith must be built only on the knowledge of God’s truth which Jesus used against the devil’s temptation to in the desert. This kind of faith will protect you from being deceived by the flaming arrows of the devil’s lies. Believing you are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus written in God’s word becomes your helmet that will protect your mind from doubting your salvation cutting away all falsehood not true to Jesus.

Ephesians 6: 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

To pray in the Holy Spirit is to pray what is true to God’s will and then you will know you will receive it.

1 John 5: 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.

God’s will is for you to love his Son and to listen to him as your Lord.

When God is your greatest treasure your love for him will make you do all that you can to protect yourself from devil’s temptations to take your love for God from you. That is why you must be a disciple of God’s word so that you can protect yourself with the full armor of God.

Be safe in Jesus, your brother in Christ, Glenn.

In Ezekiel 33 God called Ezekiel to be his watchman over Israel to warn them and to warn Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 33: 7 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.

These words of God to Ezekiel are also true for those who Jesus has called to be his watchman over his flock.

John 10: 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Jesus said his watchman are those who are responsible to opens the gate to his sheep and only allow him in.

Just like Ezekiel the watchman are responsible for his sheep to know only Jesus and teach them to only obey Jesus’ teachings and commandments as their Lord so that Jesus can lead them home to his Father.

Watchman is responsible to dissuade the flock from wickedness so that they will not be separated from Jesus and accountable if they don’t and hold them responsible if they are separated from him.

Paul said he was innocent of the blood of all men.

Acts 20: 25 "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Paul being a watchman of Jesus’ flock declared his innocents of all men’s blood because he never hesitated to proclaim the whole will of God.

Paul commissioned the overseers to be watchmen over their flock that Holy Spirit has given them remembering that Jesus had purchased them with his own blood.

So, pastors are the watchmen that are responsible to teach the whole will of God so that the flock are not misled away from Jesus and not teach what they think is palatable and pleasing to their ears to win their favor and not make them dislike them or leave the church or lose their job.

I have known some in church I have been in and pastors that think a pastor’s job is to bring people to church by making church feel like one big happy social family, by being entertaining, willing to condone bad behavior and even sins and not teach the whole will of God. They do not want a watchman responsible to just teach God’s will and to dissuade the sheep from sinning and to warn them to repent so that they do not separate themselves from Jesus and lose their life with him.

Paul said Jesus will judge us for what we have done good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5: 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Jesus will judge all his watchman by what they have taught, led, corrected and have warned his flock by the whole will of God because they know they are responsible for their blood. Jesus will Judge his flock for how they obeyed the whole will of his Father by listening and obeying him as their Lord.

As a watchman I understand that I must always teach and lead only by the whole will of God so that Jesus’ flock only hear and follow his voice and not a stranger’s voice and I must always correct those who are not loving God but seeking their own desires knowing if I do not dissuade them Jesus will hold me responsible for their blood.

When I became the watchman of our church, I have made changes in it and have corrected some in church who were not being obedient our Lord’s teaching and I have done my best to teach only the whole will of God.

But I have not found it to be a joy being a leader which Hebrews teaches it should be.

Hebrew 13: 17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

At times my heart is burden being a watchman because many have left our church because they disagreed with my leadership and authority trying to be Jesus’ watchman and not being what they want church to be.

They may not understand what I do is because I want to be innocent of anyone’s blood and do not want anyone to perish but repent to Jesus and be saved.

Let us be Christ church obeying the whole will of God and never condone bad behavior or close our eyes to sin because we want to be innocent on the Day we stand before the judgement seat of Jesus and have kept his bride holy to him.

Be safe in Jesus. Your brother in Christ, Glenn.

If we lived in a perfect world where there was no stress or anxiety just peace and love do you think people would seek God and reach out to be with him? Don’t you find yourself lifting up prayers when you want God’s help?

Jesus said in Matthew 5: 3-12 the blessed will be those who go through struggles in this world and trust in him. Those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, those who are persecuted being insulted and falsely accused his name. Jesus did not say blessed are those who live their life free of any problems in this world.

Peter said believers are blessed when they cast all their anxiety and stress upon Jesus by trusting him and they will have strength to overcome them.

1 Peter 5: 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

We will have struggles and conflicts with those who do not love Jesus. Jesus said he did not come to bring peace but for believers not to yoke themselves with the people of this world.

Matthew 10: 34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 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-- 36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' 37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Jesus wants his followers to be prepared for the times when stress and anxiety arises with those in this world. He does not want you to surrender to what they want to bring peace to them, Jesus wants you to give them what will give them peace with him.

John 14: 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.

There is a difference between the peace that Jesus gives and the peace that the world gives. Do you know the difference?

Jesus said when we are in his peace it will keep your heart from being troubled and overcome what makes you afraid. The way the world tries to achieve peace will never give you complete rest from your troubles or freedom from your fears.

When you feel stressed or anxious do you give it up to Jesus or do you try to resolve it the way the world wants you to?

Paul overcame something he struggled with after he prayed to God 3 times to remove what he called the torn in his side, but God did not heal him, but told him that his grace was sufficient for him because it promised him eternal life. This made Paul overcome his suffering because eternal life with God meant more than his own life which gave him peace knowing his suffering will not be forever.

When you are stressed and anxious because of a difficult relationship you can find peace by agreeing to do what Jesus wants you do.

Philippians 4: 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.

Those who love Jesus first believe in the peace we have in him because when we are in Jesus and do what agrees with him you know nothing can separate us from his love. When you love Jesus, you want others to have his peace. You want them to repent and find it and not perish. When you do not want Jesus’ peace for others his peace is no longer in your heart nor your love for him. This will keep you from finding his rest because you are not coming to him.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

When you come to Jesus with a gentle and humble heart following his teachings through the Holy Spirit you will find it not hard nor burdensome to do and will mature your love for him, and remain in his rest to overcome the anxieties of this world.

And to come to Jesus you need to put his teachings into practice to withstand the storms that will come and overcome them.

Matthew 7: 24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Let the grace of God be your forever peace in everything you do.

Your brother in Christ, Glenn.

Malachi 2:14 teaches that godly children are raised when believing husbands and wives are one in flesh and in spirit.

Being one flesh is being faithful keeping the sexual union of marriage pure to each other.

Paul teaches how Husbands and wives remain faithful as one spirit.

Ephesians 5: 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Husbands and wives are faithful in one spirit when both submit to each other out deep respect for Jesus as their Lord.

Husbands and wives must heed Jesus’ warning not to call him Lord if they do not do what he teaches and commands.

Paul teaches how wives and husbands spiritually submits to each other in Christ.

Ephesians 5: 22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Wives are one spirit with her husband when she submits to him as the leader of the family like the church submits to Jesus as its husband being it’s head.

Ephesians 5: 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- 30 for we are members of his body.

Husbands are one in spirit with his wife when they love her the way Jesus loved the church by giving his life to her, caring and protecting her by obeying the teachings of Jesus how to love her.

When husbands and wives are one in spirit they present the church as a radiant bride, holy and pure for her husband Jesus.

Ephesians 5: 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

When husbands and wives submit to each other out of reverence for Jesus as their Lord they glorify Jesus in the church.

But when the husband is not a disciple of Jesus teaching and commandments, he will not know how lead his family and love his wife out of reverence to Jesus.

Just as the wife who is not a disciple of Jesus teachings and commandment will not know how to submit to their husband and love him as the head of the family out of reverence to her Lord Jesus.

Jesus will hold husbands responsible to be the spiritual leader of his family and his wife responsible to submit to her husband leadership when both have the anointing of the Holy Spirit’s teachings of God’s word.

In 1 Corinthians Paul warns against division in church by following their own desired leaders and not Jesus. This warning is also for husbands and wives who go to different churches and divided themselves in spirit to follow the leadership they like and not Jesus.

The church glorifies Jesus by having husbands and wives as one spirit in the same church body and not separating themselves going to different churches.

But if a spouse is not a true disciple and follower of Christ and chooses to be at a church where Jesus is not it’s head then the other spouse for their own salvation should remain where Jesus is the head of the church.

God sent his Son to give us eternal life and only those who want eternal life will know the voice of Jesus and obey him as their Lord and will see this in their church and only hear the voice of Jesus being taught so that the anointing of the Holy Spirit remains in them as their seal that guarantee their eternal inheritance.

Let us only hear the voice of Jesus in our church.

Your brother in Christ, Glenn

The world sees persecution as a bad thing to go through, but persecution is something Paul said when we live a godly life we will be persecuted.
2 Timothy 3: 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
When we live a godly life, we need to be aware that we will be persecuted for loving Jesus. We need to understand that people in this world do not accept those who are godly but will persecute them because it attacks what they value in this world. They see you as an adversary because you are not for them but against them.
To overcome persecution, we need to mature in our faith by persevering in our trials.
James 1: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James said we should be joyful when the Lord tests our faith with all kinds of trials and one being persecution because that is when you will have an opportunity to persevere with the wisdom you received through the Holy Spirit’s teachings of how to obey Jesus and remaining steadfast to its end then you will mature in your faith becoming like Jesus.
James 1: 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
James said if you lack Godly wisdom, you should ask God who wants to give anyone who wants it abundantly. Because godly wisdom comes through the maturing of your faith by persevering in your trials it is not asking God to give your more trials to go through.
You ask God to give you wisdom to recognize the trials you are in and to help you persevere in them with the teaching, counsel and guidance of his Holy Spirit through Jesus’ teachings and commandments.
And to keep you from doubting the Holy Spirit teaching and not be double minded, to resist and recognize any false teaching that corrupts God’s truth which will make you unstable and unable to persevere in trials making you weak willed and unable to acknowledge God’s truth.
James 1: 9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Sometimes our trials are with ourselves when we cannot discern when our point of view is worldly or Godly when it comes to being rich or being poor. In Deuteronomy, God commands us to be thankful that he is the one that gives us the ability to prosper.
So, wealth is not wrong if you know who owns your wealth. As servants of Jesus, we need to always see ourselves as poor servants because everything we have belongs to God the same way Job saw his wealth.
God wants us to be rich in our inheritance waiting for us in heaven and not on earth because James said it is the poor who will inherit God’s kingdom.

James 2: 5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
Those who love God, God will make rich in their faith knowing they will inherit his Son’s kingdom and their love forever in heaven.
So, while we wait on earth, we are called to be good stewards of God’s wealth which make us persevere in times when we go through trials dealing with the riches of this world.
James 1: 13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.
There will be all kinds of temptation we will go through which are trials we must confront like Paul did with his coveting which he fell to and sinned because coveting is an act of the mind which Paul repented from. Sins of the mind can be hatred which is murder, lusting for someone other than your spouse, and envy.
When our spirit is being tempted, our flesh begins to persecute our spirit to give in to our temptation and sin that will separate us from God.
But Paul teaches that God will provide a way out of our temptations.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Jesus is faithful by providing his words that will provide a way out of our temptations and stand up to them. Paul repentance was assured by his faith in Jesus’s words of his forgiveness of his sins and that God’s grace was enough for him to overcome his physical suffering.
God words gives clear counsel and guidance for us to overcome and stand up to all our temptations.
James 1: 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
This good and perfect gift from God is his Holy Spirit that he has sent to all who love his Son. The Holy Spirit is the light of God’s word which is the same yesterday, today and forever so that we do not remain in the shadow of darkness of not knowing the light of God’s truth.
We are God’s first fruits that has been reborn as a new creation in Christ who received the Holy Spirit that helps us overcome all our temptations, trials, and tribulations when we trust and obey his teachings.
James 1: 19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Godly wisdom comes by being patient and listening with the ears of Christ and do not listen to find fault or insults but listen to hear and speak words that heal, correct, admonish, strengthen, encourage and comforts to bring all back to Jesus as their Lord.
Becoming upset when we hear something we dislike and quickly speak out with anger does not bring out the righteous life God desires.
As servants of Christ, we are called to listen first seeking understanding and not to speak with anger to defend or retaliate but speak to bring clarity if there is a misunderstanding especially when it is with your brothers of sisters in Christ.
Jesus holds the church to a higher standard of wisdom when there is a dispute in the church family. Our mind and words must be true to Jesus’ teachings with the goal of being obedient to his Father’s will and purpose for his Son’s body.
James 1: 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
God’s blessings come to those who obey Jesus’ teachings and commandments in all situations good and bad. We need to always remember the blessings we receive from God is what is good and pleasing to him and not what is good and pleasing to us.
James 1: 26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
We will be blessed when our words and actions glorify our Lord Jesus so watch what you say and make sure it is what Jesus wants you to say. And let your actions be pure and faultless by having the same compassion Jesus had to help those who are in need especially those in the family of believers.
Galatians 6: 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
So, let us joyfully mature in our faith by persevering in Christ in all kinds of trial we go through every day.
Your brother in Christ, Glenn.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
I think most of us have heard these words of God and some know them by heart believing that Jesus gave his life for ours through His Father’s grace and love for us because he wants to give us eternal life.
This is why we love God with all our heart because he has made a way through his Son that all who place their faith in him will be with them forever.
This should be the common bond we have as the body of Christ that we all treasure above anything this gift of eternal life with God.
It would be false to promise anything other than what the blood of Jesus has done to make us holy to God and justifying us to be righteous with God and not the right to ask for what we want in this world.
It is very important for us to know what it will be like when we receive eternal life so we do not make our own human description of what we want it to be.
Paul teaches what happens to believers who receive eternal life.
2 Corinthians 5: 1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
Our body will die because it is only a temporary tent for our spirit, those who are in Christ will receive a new eternal building from God to house their spirit. This will be our spiritual body like Jesus’ spiritual body.
When we long for this new spiritual body we will no longer want to remain in our body of sinful flesh. The body that Adam and Eve found to be naked with guilt and shame for disobeying God their Father.
Genesis 3: 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Before disobeying God Adam and Eve did see their body as naked only after sinning their eyes were open to see their guilt and shame which led to death, separation from their Father, bringing tears, mourning, crying and pain. But eternal life will give us a new spiritual body no longer naked but free from guilt and shame and all that it suffers.
Revelations 21: 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
The Holy Spirt is our seal guaranteeing our eternal life.
2 Corinthians 5: Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight.
The Holy Spirit is our seal that guarantees our eternal inheritance. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in those who believes in him forever to those who love him as their Lord. This makes us the bride and Jesus in our eternal spiritual union as one with God.
Paul said you can be confident that as soon as your spirit leaves it goes home to be with the Lord and we believe this by faith and not by sight. There must not be any doubt in this promise because without faith you cannot please the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5: 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
When you prefer to be with Jesus your heart wants to please him by having the same heart as him having the same attitude as Jesus which Paul teaches in Philippians 2 becoming a servant of his Father, obeying his will even on to death.
Jesus did not die so his Father would bless us with whatever we want in this world. Jesus said when we seek God’s kingdom first eternal life and then all things good and pleasing to God will be added to us.
2 Corinthians 5: 11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Like Paul we should live our lives in a way the proves to others we fear the Lord and to have pride in other believers you witness living in fear of the Lord which will give you strength and courage knowing because their faith and love like your you all remain steadfast for Jesus as your Lord.
This evidence of living fearfully for Christ, Paul said will testify to those who take pride in what is seen that you fearfully live by faith and hope of receiving eternal life. Believing that Jesus died for the world making it possible for God to sees the world’s sins paid for and only those who believe in Jesus will be resurrected when he returns.
2 Corinthians 5: 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
If you are new creation in Christ, you no longer see others the way the world does you see them the way God see them as people whose sins were paid for by his Son’s broken body and by his blood that covered their sins. We look at Christ like the world when believe that Jesus only died for believers. We need to believe that everyone who are not saved that Jesus stands at the door of their heart knocking and wanting to come in and all they need to do is open the door of their heart and ask Jesus to come in and be their Savior and Lord.
2 Corinthians 5: 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Through Jesus we are reconciled back to our Father. We are at peace with him giving us eternal life. We no longer are his enemy but are his children and as his children we are called to be his Son’s ambassadors that does not count people’s sins against them but offer reconciliation back to God who loves them with the gospel of Jesus and evident by fearfully loving God with our lives.
Be safe in Jesus, your brother in Christ, Glenn.

I think we all have made judgments, predictions and assumptions based on our pass experiences, which we call hindsight. We may have made them when we were still immature in our understanding and wisdom, and sometimes because we were easily deceived.
Some who believe they have hindsight tend to expect others to have common sense like theirs but fail to realize that some people may still be naïve or gullible.
We all form viewpoints from our pass experiences, by a family member, friends, biases, peer group, the news, those we believe are learned, the famous and the very rich.
These become our world viewpoints. Jesus rebuked Peter for having a worldly viewpoint telling him he had the mind of man and not the mind of God.
So do you capture your every thought and make it obedient to Christ.
John points this out in his words in:
1 John 4: 1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 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. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
When I first started going to church as a new believer, I was naïve and gullible in my complete trust in church and what the pastor was teaching and doing. I still had my worldly viewpoints with me and tried to define it in church.
One thing that is very important for all believers is to mature in their knowledge and understanding of God’s will, so they are no longer naïve or gullible. When you have the mind of God and no longer the world’s you then are called to do what Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 5 that you are judge those inside the church and not the world and especially testing yourself to see if we all are in Christ being united in one faith in the complete knowledge of Jesus as our Lord and as the head of the church.
Jesus will hold accountable those he called to be his watchman, gate keepers, servants he put in charge, overseers, pastors responsible to teach his church how to remain on the narrow path and enter the narrow door to his Father.
There are those who say pastor’s message needs to be entertaining, thought provoking and applicable to their daily life or they will look for one that those.
I was told that a pastor’s message needs to capture the thought of its audience within the first 10 minutes, or you will lose their attention. To do this we needed to be humorous, tell interesting personal stories or tell a joke to keep people interested in you.
There will also be people who seek churches where they will be astonished and awed by wonders, signs, miracles, visions and future prophecies and not a church the choose to obey God’s will to listen to his Son.
Read Jesus’ sermon on the mount and you will find that Jesus did not say or do anything to keep his audience attention with humor, jokes or interesting worldly stories nor did he do anything miraculous when he spoke. Only after out of compassion he fed the 5000.
I think there is a big difference why people gathered to hear Jesus’ teaching in the Bible and why some people gather in church today. In Acts the believer gathered to hear the apostles’ teachings. The apostles did not entice people to their church only those who feared God and wanted Jesus to be their Savior and Lord came and joined other believers in the church.
I know when Jesus returns, he will not judge you by what pleased you, the pastor you followed, the church because of its size, ministries, worship team, its building he will only look for hearts that truly loved him. He will praise those who obeyed his teachings and commandments and welcome them in to his kingdom as his good and faithful servants.
Paul teaches what a pastor must be teaching in church.
Titus 2: 1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
Pastor’s must teach sound doctrine that is true to God’s word and not made up, twisted or misdirected to gain a following or to tickle their ears.
Paul told Timothy that he must live and persevere in his doctrine because it will save him and those who hear it.
Only sound doctrine that is true to Jesus will save you. Pastor’s must do this because the Holy Spirit has given them the flock so that they only recognize the voice of Jesus and go to him when he calls.
Titus 2: 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
Pastors need to teach men to be content in all situations, to do all thing as if serving the Lord Jesus, to think of things above, to be true in their faith, love, and endurance by resting in the eternal hope they have in Jesus and love others as Christ has loved them.
Titus 2: 3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Pastors must teach women to live with the wisdom that comes by fearing God and not being weak willed always learning and not acknowledging God’s truth. To love their husband and children, to be self- controlled, pure, care for their household, be kind, and submit to their husband like Sarah all out of love for Jesus as their Lord.
Titus 2: 6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Pastors must teach young men to be self-controlled and example it by their integrity, seriousness, and their sound teaching so that others cannot refute them. They never teach to please or to win favor they only teach to make hearts obedient to Christ. We are friends with each other only when Jesus calls us his friend by being his disciples and not when we are friends with the world.
Titus 2: 9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Paul teaches we all need to be examples of Christ all the time especially in our place of work not only with our employer but also with our fellow workers so that in every way they may become attracted to Jesus that dwells in us. This is the same for employers and managers they must example Christ to make Jesus attractive to those they oversee.
Titus 2: 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
This doctrine pastors must teach and remind church members and make it the foundation of their salvation to obey Jesus and turn from sin so that they will be ready to go with Jesus when he calls them to take them home.
Titus 2: 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Paul wants all pastors to teach these things and encourage and correct only with God’s word to save and not condemn and always with the love of Jesus.
Be the mind of Christ, your brother in Christ, Glenn.

The apostle Paul teaches that we should pray, request and intercede with everyone and with those who govern us to allow us to live in quietness and holiness in all godliness and holiness.
1 Timothy 2: 1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Paul does not say to demand that it is our right to live in peace and quietness he said to be persistent in making requests, to pray, and to intercede with everyone and those in authority to allow us to live in peace and quietness in all godliness and holiness.
When we do this then it pleases God because unbelievers and those in authority who see believers’ peacefulness, quietness, godliness and holiness will see Christ in us and may seek the hope we have in God’s truth and be saved.
How well do you think Christians do this with unbelievers and with our governing authority? Do you think they see our peacefulness, quietness, godliness, and holiness or see Christians demanding what they think is their God given rights? Do you think they see the peace of Christ when we demand this?
Paul teaches in Colossians 3 the peace of Christ must rule in the heart of his church.
Colossians 3: 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Everyone in church need to have a united heart that is ruled by the peace of Christ so that we are at peace with each other and thankful to Jesus for giving us his peace with his Father.
Paul teaches what we must do to be ruled by the peace of Christ.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
For the peace of Christ to rule in our heart we must be a disciple of Jesus’ and his apostles’ teachings and commandments and make it dwells richly in us so that we are able to teach and correct one another in its wisdom. You do this by constantly being in the word of God, meditating on it and studying it. Let me encourage you to write a New Testament teaching not to memorize it but write done what the Holy Spirit recalls to you from God’s word to understand it with the mind of Christ which will richly dwell in you. This will make us thankful as one body in the peace of Christ and acknowledge his truth when we sing our psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to him.
Colossians 3: 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
When Christ peace reigns in you, you will speak and do all thing thankfully in his name out of love for God. This is the hope the world should see in us and draw those who God is calling to him and ask us of this hope we have.
Paul teaches that Christ peace is found in a Godly marriage.
Colossians 3: 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
The peace of Christ reigns in marriages when wives submit to their husbands the way it pleases the Lord and Godly husbands love their wives as themselves, washing them in the word of God which is to love one’s wife in the way it pleases Christ and to respect them as their weaker partner in their eternal inheritance. Christ peace in marriage is found only when Jesus is Lord in that marriage.
Paul teaches how believing children find Christ peace.
Colossians 3: 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Children in Christ find his peace when they honor their Godly parents by obeying them in everything because they know this pleases the Lord.
Paul teaches what parents should not do to their children that will not bring Christ peace in their home.
Colossians 3: 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Fathers and mothers should not make their children resentful or bitter towards them causing them to become discouraged that leads to rebellion, low self-esteem and depression which drives Christ peace from their family.
Paul teaches what we should do to show the peace of Christ with those who have authority over us.
Colossians 3: 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
This is applicable when we work for someone. The peace of Christ comes to those who work for the Lord first being sincerely grateful for the job God gave them and for the opportunity to serve him out of love for thankful for the reward of their eternal inheritance they do not deserve.
Colossians 3: 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
The peace of Christ is in knowing that God is a just God that has no favoritism that all who do wrong will be repaid by God no matter who they think they are.
So, let us find the peace of Christ by following the teachings of Paul in all aspects of our lives.
Let Christ peace reign, your brother in Christ, Glenn

How often do you spend time to imagine what it would be like when you go home to heaven and be with your Father and your brother Jesus forever?
Do you think we all will see the same heaven? What you imagine heaven will be like does it look like what the book of Revelations describes it will be?
Revelations 21 it tells of a city with walls made of precious stones, 12 gates made of pearl, street of transparent gold, where God and Jesus is it’s temple, and their glory is our everlasting light, where the water of life flows from under their throne and the tree of life bearing its fruit for us. And the greatest of all being in the everlasting love of God forever.
Setting our mind on things in heaven is something Paul teaches we should do.
Colossians 3: 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
When your heart’s desire is to be with God forever it makes you want to know how to love God which Jesus teaches is to obey his Father’s will and that is to obey his teachings and commandments.
You may have experienced this feeling of desiring something that made your heart yearn to have. I know this is true when falling in love with someone. You find yourself not able to get that person out of your mind and you do all that you can to please them.
When someone longs to be with God it is not physically by our flesh it is by our spirit because God is Spirit. It is an eternal desire to be with God the Father of our spirit. Making us no longer think of earthly things, but on spiritual truth.
Colossians 3: 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
When our hope is being with our Father we believe it is through his Son’s death for our sins making our life hidden in Christ death and in his resurrection believing we will be like him transformed into a new glorified body when he returns to take us home.
Paul teaches how to recognize when we are clinging on to our earthly nature which we need to put to death or suffer God’s wrath.
Colossians 3: 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
When we abuse what God has given to us to enjoy on earth from how he designed them to be enjoyed we make them our idols. They become things that we worship more than obeying God’s will for them.
To keep from God’s wrath, we must overcome our earthly nature to give in because of our lack of self-control and help each other from making things God gave to us to enjoy on earth from becoming our idols.
Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 7 how marriage partners marital duty keep Satan from tempting them from becoming sexually immoral, from impure thoughts and to lust because of their lack of control.
Paul teaches that we need to learn how to be content and to be thankful in all situations because this is God’s will for us and to obey Jesus’ teaching to love others as he has loved us. By doing this we will overcome evil desires.
Jesus teaches when we make heaven our greatest treasure we will give all we have to gain it making us overcome earthly greed.
Colossians 3: 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
When you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you know you will have eternal life with your Father. This hope in Jesus makes you reborn in God, it transforms you, you become a new creation in Christ. The old are gone and the new has come.
You see this transformation because you no longer live with anger, rage, malice, and slander and your speech no longer includes filthy language.
Colossians 3: 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
God never lies so like our creator Jesus we who are reborn in Christ do not lie but always speak what is true to God with his wisdom.
A lie is also when we tell someone what is not true to God, things not found in Scripture. That is why Paul teaches we should never go beyond what is written in Scripture. It is a lie when we add or take away from God’s written word. Revelations 21: 8 warns that all liars will not be with God. Be careful with what you say is God’s will and practice what James said we should do be quick to listen and slow to speak and what Paul said to capture every thought and make it obedient to Christ.
Colossians 3: 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
As citizens of heaven there is no prejudice, caste system or merit system. We all are loved the same in Christ. There is no favoritism with God, we all are loved as his children as one family in Jesus. God will not recognize us by our denomination, church we attend or pastor we follow God will only see his Son’s faithful disciples who obeyed his Father’s will they are the ones God will see as his kingdom children.
Colossians 3: 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
When you love God with all your heart and want to be with him forever you are clothed with Holy Spirit being reborn in Christ bearing the fruit of the spirit.
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
1 Corinthians 13 Paul teaches that love is keeping no records of wrong. Holding on to grievance you have against someone is not loving in Christ. Jesus wants us to forgive them because he has forgiven us for our sins. Our forgiveness came at a great cost to God when he gave his Son to suffer for the penalty of our sins covering it with his blood forever. Unforgiveness is something Jesus said his Father will not forgive and will keep you from being perfectly united as the body of Christ.
Let us take some time from all the world’s distraction and set our heart and mind on things in heaven so our heart continues to transform to be like our Lord Jesus.
Your brother in Christ, Glenn.

Jesus said his true worshippers worship his Father with spirit and truth and Paul teaches that being a living sacrifice is our spiritual act of worship in Romans 12.
Paul teaches to worship God is to renew your mind to be like his Son then we will be able to test and approve what is our Father’s will and know that we are not conforming to the patterns of this world. Only when we have the mind of Christ, we will know what is good, pleasing, and God’s perfect will for us.
We worship God by never measuring ourselves by other believer’s weakness or strengths but always have a clear conscience of the measure of faith we were given by Jesus so that we always treat each other with patience, understanding and forgiveness.
We must worship Jesus as his body by using the spiritual gift we each have received for the purpose of strengthening, encouraging, and comforting each other so that we all mature in our faith and become united in the full knowledge of our Lord Jesus.
Let’s continue with Paul’s teaching of how to be a living sacrifice.
Romans 12: 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
As a living sacrifice our love for Jesus must be sincere when we love others by hating what is evil but not the person and cling to what is good to God when we love others.
Romans 12: 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
As the family of God, we worship our Father by being devoted in loving each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. Honoring each other by wanting God’s best and goodness for each other by loving each other the way Jesus has loved us. Serving each the way Jesus served his Father becoming a servant of all.
Romans 12: 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Our spirit must never lose its first love for Jesus which is having a spirit that is intensely passionate for Jesus. We do this by always having the name of Jesus on their heart, so that our spirit is always ready to serve Jesus and never being afraid or ashamed to speak his name before others because it has the power of eternal life.
Our spiritual fervor in the body of Christ is where it is freely and joyfully glorify the name of Jesus speaking to each other by capturing our every thought and make it obedient to Him so that it will build us up.
Romans 12: 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
We worship God joyfully because of the hope we have in Jesus making us patient is our suffering because of our faith in Jesus’ promise of our eternal life and with faithfulness and thankfulness knowing it is God’s will when he answers our prayers.
Romans 12: 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
As living sacrifices we share in caring for the needs of our brothers and sisters and practice hospitality by being friendly and generous in receiving and entertaining our church family.
Romans 12: 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
As a living sacrifice, we are like our Lord Jesus when others persecute us because of our love for God. We do not curse them but are like Jesus when he said dying on the cross, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” When we do this we are blessing our persecutors.
Romans 12: 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
We worship God by rejoicing with those who have found strength in the Lord because they brought him joy and we mourn with those who mourn for their love ones who do not have faith in Jesus. This just like Jesus who wept when people did not believe that is he was the life and the resurrection.
Romans 12: 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Our spiritual worship must be in harmony in one belief in Jesus and his teachings with our brothers and sisters in Christ and not being boastful, proud or conceited but always putting the interest of others before yourself by being a humble and lowly servant of all.
Romans 12: 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
Our spirit must be true to Jesus by knowing what is evil and never using it against others but do what Jesus commands us to do and love our enemies so that other can see the righteousness of God in you.
Romans 12: 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
We are a living sacrifice when we use the measure of faith, we each have received from Jesus and live in peace with everyone because we believing it is through the blood of Jesus that covers our sins which God sees and forgives us giving us peace with him. And because of this peace we have with God we do not take revenge and also know that our Father will avenge all the evil that has been done to his children.
When we live as living sacrifices, we are true worshippers worshipping our Father in spirit and truth.
Be safe in Jesus, your brother in Christ, Glenn.

The apostle Peter said in
Acts 4: 12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

And that name is our Lord Jesus Christ found only in the Bible which says Jesus is the Word of God who has come in flesh.

We love the name of Jesus because it saves us from our 2nd death and gives to us eternal life with his Father. Our love for Jesus makes obey all his teachings which we never add to or take away from. Our obedience to his teachings and commandments make us walk like him and have his mind.

When we do this, we become children of his Father which Jesus said only his family will do, obey his Father’s will and that is to listen to his Son.

In Matthew, Jesus tells us to ask, seek and knock on door of our Father and he will provide for our needs.

Matthew 7: 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

When we ask, seek and knock out of love our Father will give us good gifts, find what we seek for and open doors that we knock upon. So you know whatever you receive, find or open you know it is good and pleasing to our Father’s will and not yours. That is why we always give thanks in all situations because we know this is God’s will for you. Paul teaches we must live to please God.

1 Thessalonians 4: Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

In Matthew, Jesus teaches what pleases his Father.

Matthew 7: 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus gave a new commandment of what he wants us to do to others.

John 13: 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

This is the new law of Christ because of his Father’s love for this world which he willingly gave his life because of his love for his Father. So, are called to do more than just doing for other what you want them to do for you we are to love others as Jesus has loved us. This fulfills the law of Christ.

Obeying the teachings and commandments of Jesus will keep us on the path to eternal life.

Matthew 7: 13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Jesus’s teaching and commandments keeps us on the narrow road and lets us enter the small gate to eternal life. Jesus said only a few will find it because many in churches believe the way to heaven is through a wide gate and broad road because they compromise Jesus’ teachings and commandments and make up their own truths and some even believe that all religions lead to heaven which Jesus said leads to destruction.

Peter said that there is only one name under heaven that saves and that is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior in Scripture.

Every church overseer is responsible to shepherd Christ flock to be the few who know how to remain on the narrow road so that they can enter the narrow gate by teaching them to recognize only the voice of Jesus and to follow him, so they get home to their Father in heaven. That is why Jesus warns us to watch out for false teachers and teachings.

Matthew 7: 15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Jesus commands us to watch out for false teachers of God’s word. Paul said we are in the day of salvation, but we are also in the days of false prophets. Paul warned the elders of the church that false teachers would come out of churches.

Acts 20: 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

Paul wants all elders to keep watch over the body of Christ which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers and be responsible protect them from false teachings and false teachers.

We do not have someone like Paul who night and day tearfully never stopped warning the church of false teachers. We who love Jesus’ teaching need be like Paul and protect the body of Christ from false teachers and false teaching by discerning everything spoken in the church through the Holy Spirit’s anointing of God’s word.

Jesus teaches how to recognize false teachers and those who follow false teaching by their fruit.

Matthew 7: 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

The good fruit comes from the Holy Spirit when we love Jesus.

Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Our love for Jesus will bear his fruit of love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Paul tells us the kind of bad fruit those who follow false doctrine will produce.

1 Timothy 6: 3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

Those who teach and follow false doctrine will bear bad fruit. They will be conceited about to their false doctrine because they do not know God’s truth and obey his will. They will have unhealthy interest in worldly controversies because their interest is what interest man and not what interest God. They quarrel about worldly things that result in envy, bitter disagreement, hateful talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction because they do not know God’s truth. They use godliness for financial gain.

Paul tells Timothy how important it is for us to watch out for our own doctrine.

1 Timothy 4: 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Your doctrine must be true to Jeus because it will save you and save those who hear it. Your doctrine must be true to only Scripture anything else will be false and lead to destruction.

Jesus warns us of a doctrine that just because you call him Lord does not mean he will know you because you never obeyed his will.

Matthew 7: 21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Jesus said on the day he returns there will be many who will call him Lord because they think the spiritual gift they have makes Jeus their Lord and saves them. They are the many that Jesus will tell plainly, I never knew you and cast them away as evildoers because he was not their Lord because they did not obey what he wanted them to do. Only those who obey Jesus can call him Lord because they are the one’s Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in them.

Matthew 7: 24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But 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. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Jesus tells us that we need to put his teachings and commandment into practice so that our foundation stands firm in God’s truth. When we do not put them into practice will be like sinking sand when we go through storms that will arise and we will be beaten and crash because of them.

Be disciples of Jesus and put all his teachings in to practice so that in becomes second nature to you and you will find yourself walking like Jesus because you have the mind of Christ.

Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

Every Sunday we gather as the body of Christ because we love God and the reason why we love God is because He loved us first when by his grace, he sent his Son Jesus to die for our sins while we were still sinners. Giving eternal life to all who wants to be with God in his love forever by believing in his Son Jesus and obey him.
This is the greatest commandment Jesus want us to obey and that is to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and to love God in this way is to seek with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength how to love God from his Word, Jesus.
Jesus teaches how to love God.
John 14: 15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
Jesus teaches to love God is to obey his teaching and commandments and when you do he will ask his Father to send the Holy Spirit to dwell in you forever.
Paul teaches in Ephesians 1 that the Holy Spirit becomes your seal that guarantees your eternal life. So, the Holy Spirit must dwell in you to be saved.
John 14: 23 "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Jesus said that his teachings and commandments is not his own it comes from his Father and the Holy Spirit will teach you and remind you of everything that he has said. Again, I cannot stress how important that we must all be disciples of God’s words especially that of Jesus.
In Matthew 5 thru 7, we learn the teachings and commandments of Jesus that he wants us to obey if we love him.
Matthew 5: 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
To love God is to never break one of his commandments or to teach other to break them.
Matthew 5: 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Jesus teaches do not call a fellow believer a fool meaning worthless or useless when you become angry with them, or you will be judged by God. Being angry is not a sin, it is what you do when you become angry, which may be a sin.
Ephesians 4: 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
Paul did not say anger was a sin, it is what you do when you are angry. It is sin to speak falsehood or to degrade someone in anger and not being truthful to them wanting to heal a broken relationship.
Matthew 5: 25"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
Jesus wants us to settle disputes quickly and not let it linger because if it may evolve into a lawsuit where a worldly judge will settle the matter. That is why we must always lead with forgiveness and love and not keep any records of wrong.
Matthew 5: 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Jesus teaches you commit adultery by just looking at someone other than their spouse lustfully. Having strong sexual desires other than your spouse.
Paul teaches in 1 Corinthian 7, how to keep a marriage faithful.
1 Corinthians 7: 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Husband and wives are responsible to keep Satan from tempting their spouse from becoming unfaithful.
Matthew 5: 31"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
Jesus teaches that marriage is holy to God. What God has joined together let no one separate. Therefore, believers must never divorce but are allowed only when a spouse is unfaithful in their marriage union. Jesus does not call divorce a sin. Sin occurs when a divorcee commits adultery when they marry someone else.
The other allowance for divorce other than unfaithfulness Paul teaches in:
1 Corinthians 7: 10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Paul teaches only when a non-believer wants a divorce then the believer is allowed to accept but not vice versa. When is comes to non-believers divorcing, they are not bound by Christ law because they do not believe in him as their Lord or want eternal life. God only bound marriages of those who love him and obey his Son and want to be with them forever. So, divorced unbelievers who become believers are not committing adultery when they remarry a believer but will be if they marry a divorced unbeliever. We must remember adultery is sexual immorality which will keep you from being with God.
Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and you will be found by him.
Ps. Glenn

I once thought a humble person was someone who was quiet, shy, introverted, lacked confidence, did not stand up for oneself and feared others.
I have learned that is not what a humble person is. A humble person is someone God highly values.
Isaiah 66: 1 This is what the Lord says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? 2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the Lord. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.
God said He highly values those who are humble and contrite in spirit and highly honor and respect his word.
To be humble is to understand what it means to be a servant of God.
Luke 17: 7 "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8 Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "
As servants of God our worth to God is because we serve Jesus as our Lord. We serve God not so in exchange he will serves us but we serve God because we love him and have given our life to him. It is believing your worth to God is because we have been purchased by the blood of his Son.
Jesus teaches that those who are humble will be blessed by inheriting this earth.
Matthew 5: 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Meekness is humility toward God and toward others. It is having the right or the power to do something but refraining for the benefit of someone else. Paul urged meekness when he told us “to live a life worthy of the calling [we] have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1–2).
Being meek like this Jesus said we will be blessed by inheriting the earth.
Being meek is letting your good actions speak for themselves its not to prove yourself worth to others. It’s using your gifts, talents and knowledge to help others and not to bolster oneself and seek accolades. Those who are meek will be blessed by God by inheriting respect, honor and success in this earth
Jesus said we should learn how to be humble like him and we will find rest for our souls.
Matthew 11: 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
God called Moses the most humble man on earth.
Numbers 12: 3 Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.
Jesus being the Son of God and Moses, God’s chosen prophet had the power to act on behalf of God but always refrained themselves to always do God’s will and not their own so that God would always be glorified. They would be humble, gentle and patient, bearing the weakness of others by loving them.
We see this when Moses pleaded with God not to destroy the Israelites several time for their contempt towards God and God listen to him and forgave them.
Jesus asked his Father to forgive his crucifiers as he was dying on the cross.
Luke 23: 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
The love Jesus and Moses had for people made them humbly seek God’s forgiveness for weakness of people.
Our humbleness comes through the knowledge we receive by the Holy Spirit’s teaching of God’s word which is called the sword of God and it must always be used to serve Jesus and never abuse its power.
The power of God truth can turn some to become arrogant, and self-seeking if not humbly used out of love for God. The Pharisees and Sadducees did not do this so Jesus would always confront them for abusing it.
So, as we mature in our knowledge of Jesus it should make us more humble and never puff ourselves up.
1 Corinthians 8: Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.
We must always love others and always exercise the freedom we have in Christ out of love for God.
1 Corinthians 8: 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
So, we must always refrain ourselves from exercising the freedom we have through Jesus before others so that we cause those weak in their faith to stumble. It to do all things with the compassion Jesus had for people by leading with forgiveness and loving them with the love Jesus has loved us with.
Paul defines the love of Jesus.
1 Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
So, humbleness is not being shy, fearful and unconfident it is being right and powerful in the knowledge we have in Jesus doing everything out of love for him and then we will be blessed by God and inherit the earth.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

Have you ever heard of the tribulation saints? There are teaching that there will be believers who will not be raptured when Jesus returns to take his church home. They received Jesus as the Lord and Savior after the other saints are Raptured. These are the saint that were left behind.
These tribulation saints will suffer the coming of the beast and the anti-Christ who will be forcing everyone to worship the image of the beast and take it’s number or be killed but these saints will refuse to obey them and will be martyred because of their faith in Jesus.
So, these tribulation saints were never part of the church, the body of Christ. Scripture teaches when anyone believes in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they become one of his saints they become one in his body, his church.
The Bible teaches that all the saints are chosen by God before creation. God knew all who would be one with his Son making them one with his body, becoming his children, his family.
Why would a loving merciful God only rapture selected saints and not all his children? Why would we want our brothers and sisters to be left behind to suffer the tribulation and not be willing to suffer with them? I cannot see the love of Jesus wanting them to be left behind. I would not feel blessed to be raptured and know my brothers and sisters are left behind. Even Paul felt this way for his Jewish family who did not believe in Jesus. God said he does not show any favoritism so he would not favor some saints and leave others behind.
All the saints by the same faith are washed by the blood of Christ and saved by God’s grace and become worthy to receive eternal life and go with Jesus when he returns and be with him forever. So, Jesus wants all his saints to be ready for what the beast and the anti-Christ will do to them.
The 1st beast will be given power to conquer the saints.
Revelations 13: 7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them.
The 2nd beast, the ant-Christ will force people to worship the beast and take his number if they want to live.
Revelations 13:15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
The saints in the time of the anti-Christ will be conquered like the early Christians who were martyred for their faith in Jesus.
Hebrews 11: 35 Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated- 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Hebrews said God’s planned something better for them that only together with us we would made perfect in Christ this is when we are raptured together and receive our spiritual body and be with Jesus forever. Hebrews said “together” which includes the tribulation saints.
Jesus will test us to see if our faith is genuine to see what type of the 4 soils we have by putting us through the different storms God has willed for us to strengthen our faith in him.
2 Corinthians 13: 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?
So that our faith in Christ will remain steadfast in the hope we have in him to be ready to die for him if we are called to be one of the saints in the time of the Great Tribulation.
God warns what will happen to those who willingly give in and worship the beast and takes his mark.
Revelations 14: 9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, 10 he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."
The third angel also tell the saints to do.
Revelations 14: 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."
Because we are foretold of what God will do the saints need to patiently endure patiently during the tribulation because God’s justice will be done in the end.
He also said that the saints who die from now on are blessed because they will not go through the great tribulation. It did not say they would be raptured before it.
Jesus promises this to the church of Philadelphia in Revelations 3, when he said he would keep them from the hour of the trial that was coming. They all died before the great tribulation.
So, when will the rapture come? It will be during the tribulation when the number of saints that God has determined is martyred.
Revelations 6: When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.
When that number of saints that God has determined to be martyred during the tribulation then Jesus will be told by his Father to go and harvest his saints both dead and alive.
Revelations 14: 14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
This is the rapture the harvesting is the gathering of the saints which Jesus teaches which will be during the tribulation in:
Matthew 24: 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.
So, during the tribulation God will cut short the time when the anti-Christ can kill the saints so not all the saints will be killed but will be raptured.
Matthew 24: 29 "Immediately after the distress of those days " 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' 30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Here in Matthew, Jesus said he did not know when to gather the saints only his Father knows. That is why we read in Revelation 14 the one that look like the Son of Man is Jesus who was told by the angel sent by his Father to go and reap and harvest his saints. To rapture them.
Jesus tells what some believers will be doing because they were not being ready for when he returns.
Matthew 24: 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
Jesus said in verse 25 that he is telling us this ahead of time so that we will be ready if we are chosen to be one of the saints who will go through the tribulation.
If we believe that we will be raptured before the tribulation we will not be ready and prepared to give our life for Jesus. We will be unprepared like those people before the flood who were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day.
Jesus wants us to be ready.
Matthew 14: 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Every church leader will be held responsible by Jesus to prepare His servants for his return by teaching them ahead of time what He said is coming before he returns and teach them how to love God so that they will have a faith that is willing to give up their life to have an eternal life with the Father and the Son.
Matthew 14: 45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
So, let me encourage you to remain steadfast in your sincere devotion to Jesus our Lord and to always be ready to surrender your life for him by having the same faith as the martyr Stephen who was ready to die for Jesus and saw Jesus standing up for him in heaven welcoming home because he loved Jesus more that his life on earth.
Be ready because the Rapture is when all the saints are called home and not just some.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

Jesus has taught that it is important for his followers to be prepared for times of suffering and even persecution before He returns and the way we do this is placing our hope in our eternal inheritance with God because of His grace and our faith in Jesus. Our hope foundation is built on our trust in God through the Holy Spirit to completely know the name of God by obeying the teaching and commandment of Jesus out of love as Christ disciples.
The Bible teaches of how many believers of Jesus suffered and were persecuted because of their faith in him. Most Chrisian do not suffer or are persecuted like the Revelations 2 and 3 churches today, but we all will go through some type of suffering be it physical, financial, marital, or spiritual suffering which we still overcome by our faith in Jesus but is it possible to feel content when we go through them.
To be content is to be satisfied during our suffering so it would mean we see something positive when going through them by understanding the purpose for them and what we will gain from them for Jesus.
Paul found contentment as a follower of Jesus in whatever circumstance, he was in.
Philippians 4: 10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Paul said he learned how to be content in every circumstance when he went through the highs and lows of his financial needs when he was fulfilling the mission Jesus gave him which was far greater than his personal needs. Paul’s contentment was through the faith he had in accomplishing God’s will for him. We also can find contentment when we are fulfilling God’s will for us by being Godly in our marriage, in our family and with others, with our finances, in our job and doing his good works for his kingdom. This will help keep us content when life storms arise by doing God’s will for us and his kingdom.
Paul was content when he was suffering with an illness.
2 Corinthians 12: 7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul did not say what his physical ailment was, but it may be the illness he was suffering with in:
Galatians 4: 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
It may have been his ability to see after he saw the bright light of Jesus that blinded him on the road to Damascus and only after something like scales fell from his eyes allowing him to see but may have damage them. This blindness may have been what Paul said was given to keep him from becoming conceited.
Paul petitioned Jesus 3 times to heal him of his ailment, but Jesus did not. So, even when we petition God, we may not receive it. Instead, Jesus told Paul the secret of finding contentment in his suffering. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Paul found strength in the power of believing in God’s grace that promised him eternal life in heaven where there will be no more death, pain, suffering or tears.
This does not mean we should not petition God because there is prayers that Jesus want us to petition God for.
Luke 18: Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Jesus teaches we should not cease praying to God when you are seeking justice from your adversary. An adversary is not just your enemy but anyone who may not like you or oppose you unfairly.
God is a just God and Jesus said our Father will bring justice quickly for those who are his chosen when that cry out to him and believe that his justice will prevail because they are innocent. God only hears the cry of those who are his chosen because they are just and merciful to others.
You may be going through difficult times, and you may be crying out to the Lord seeking his justice, but the quickness of God’s justice is his and not ours. It is for us to be humbly patient and seek God’s purpose and his will for us to be in it and learn from it and cry out not looking for our justice but his. Praying that our adversary will repent and not perish because we know that there will be a final judgement when Jesus will sit on his judgment seat and judge all the unjust and give them what they deserve.
When we seek justice in church Paul teaches that disputes between believers should be brought before church leadership for guidance and instructions to submit to Jesus’ teachings and commandments so that disputing believers can reunite as one body in Christ. There can be no division between believers, especially between married believers.
Paul also found contentment when it came to dying.
Philippians 1: 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
Paul found contentment in death because he believed death was just the spirit leaving their earthly body and going home to be with Jesus which was far better. Everyone who believe in Jesus should be content like Paul when they view their own death as being far better and be with Jesus. Paul was content about dying because he learned it through the many times, he faced death. He said in Philippians 4:11 that he learned how to be content in all circumstances, even death which he learned not to fear because it is much better to be with Jesus.
To be content in all circumstances is something we must learn, its not something embedded in us. Contentment is learned by wanting something more than life itself on earth which is wanting to be with God forever.
Jesus said in Revelations to the 7 churches that only those who overcome their suffering and persecution for him would receive their reward in heaven. Overcomers are those who have found contentment in wanting to be with Jesus.
Why I believe we need to find this contentment in our suffering and even our death is so that we will be ready to be an overcomer if we are one of the saints who will suffer, persecuted and martyred when the anti-Christ appears. I do not believe the gathering of saints (Rapture) will come before the anti-Christ appears only after.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

Jesus promised that all who believed in him would receive the Holy Spirit.
John 7: 37 Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
The Holy Spirit is Jesus’ gift to all who believe in him as Scripture has said. He sends the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus to come and make His home in every believer.
Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit is our seal guaranteeing our eternal inheritance. He is our teacher, counselor, and our guide.
But do you know if the Holy Spirit is guiding or calling you to do something for Jesus?
In Matthew and Luke it teaches that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert where he was tempted by Satan.
Also in Acts 13, the Holy Spirit spoke to Jesus’ prophets, teachers and the apostle Paul to tell them what he wanted them to do.
Acts 13: 1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
These spiritually gifted men were praying and fasting because they wanted to know God’s will for them. Then they heard the Holy Spirit tell them to set apart Barnabas and Saul to do the work that he has called them to do and then he sent Barnabas and Saul to Cyprus.
I have never heard the Holy Spirit audibly tell me the work he has set apart for me or tell me where to go.
But we see the Holy Spirit doing this in Acts, so I think it is helpful to understand why the Holy Spirit spoke to Paul and Barnabas.
Paul was chosen and called by Jesus to be his apostle to the Gentile, but he did not know where to go.
Barnabas whose name is Son of Encouragement was full of the Holy Spirit and faith and he led many to Christ and he also need to be told where to go.
Acts 11: 22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
The Holy Spirit spoke and led Paul and Barnabas because they clearly knew their spiritual gift that they received and their calling to preach the good news of Jesus to the Gentile and he sent them to certain cities and he also kept them from going to places he did not want them to go.
Acts 7: 6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Each city that Paul and Barnabas they always sought out Jewish synagogues to preach at because they knew they could effectively preach the Good News of Jesus to them.
Acts 14: At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.
Synagogues was where there would be God fearing Jews and Gentiles who studied Scripture which the Holy Spirit could recall to them God’s truth from Scripture and those who were seeking God with all their heart would come to believe in Paul and Barnabas’ word because it came from Jesus and come to believe in Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
This is true today for any church that fearfully sought Jesus by being his disciple studying God’s word which made them effectively hear teaching in church by having the Holy Spirit recall to them God’s truth from Scripture, just like the Bereans who honorably examined Paul’s teaching from Scripture.
We also need to remember that there will be those who will oppose God’s truth in church and sway others from it because they do not seek to know the voice of Jesus from Scripture and obey it.
Paul and Barnabas were also able to confirm the words they spoke were from God by doing miraculous signs and wonders. Today, the Holy Spirit does not need to show us miraculous signs and wonders to confirm that the Bible is God’s true because the Bible is the living word of God. In the early church there was no written New Testament, but we have it today and have no excuse for not knowing the good and pleasing will of our Father in heaven.
There are people in churches who look for miracles, signs and wonders to confirm God is with them or believe what they are taught is true but Paul warns not look for them because when the lawless one comes, he will deceive many people by doing false miracles and wonders.
2 Thessalonians 2: 9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
We hear the Holy Spirit speak to us from the Bible, not audibly but with spiritual ears because Jesus said his word is spirit written by the Holy Spirit through men. This is what Jesus’s spiritual word are telling us to do.
Matthew 27: 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
The Holy Spirit is speaking to us to go make disciples by soaking them in the understanding the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit by teaching each other to obey the commandments of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit wants to also do this while we wait for our Lord Jesus return.
2 Thessalonians 1: 4 Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. 5 All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
The Holy Spirit speaks and leads all who sincerely seek God with all their heart because they want to be with him forever by teaching, counseling, and guiding them from Scripture which will keep them faithful in times of struggles and persecution for loving Jesus more than this world.
So, like Elijah just listen for the quiet whisper of the Holy Spirit speaking to your spirit as he recalls Jesus words to you from Scripture.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

Matthew 5: 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
The righteousness of God is his perfection in attribute, attitude, behavior, and word and Jesus said those who hunger, and thirst for God’s righteousness will be blessed by being spiritually satisfied and quenched being filled with his righteousness.
In Luke Jesus teaches the character needed to be someone who hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness.
Luke 18: 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
The Pharisee did not hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness but justified himself by exalting his own righteousness by boasting how he fasted twice a week and tithed and exalted himself over those he called sinners.
But Jesus said God will justify and exalt those like the tax collector who humbled himself before God, seeking his mercy because he knew he was an unworthy sinner.
Those who humbly seek God’s mercy know they are unworthy sinners and will hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness which comes through his Son who revealed his Father’s perfect attribute, attitude, behavior, and word in himself. As follower of Jesus, we hunger and thirst to be like our Lord Jesus and his righteousness and will humbly walk like him.
1 John 2: 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
When we are humble and contrite because when we fear his word, God will highly respects and admire us because we obey Jesus who is the Word of God.
Isaiah 66: 2 "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.
Jesus teaches in Matthew 6 what a humble heart does to show his righteousness dwells in them.
Matthew 6: 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
In Luke the Pharisee boasted to God about how he tithed to temple to exalt himself. Jesus teaches that his righteousness is to care for the needy and when you do it must be in secret wanting only God to know you have done it out of love for him out of mercy and compassion. When you give so others know then it is not for God but to receive an earthly reward. Only when your giving is done in secret out of love for God then he will exalt you and reward you in heaven.
At times you may still be praised by others for your good deeds done in secret because some good deeds will not go unnoticed which may open a door for you to share your love for God.
Anonymous is always an honorable name to have. Jesus also exalts those who secretly give out of their poverty which he saw in the widow who gave all she had to the temple. Those who live in poverty are humble because they know everything they have belongs to God like Job. We are poor because we are just servants and stewards of what belongs to God.
Jesus teaches how we should pray in his righteousness.
Matthew 6: 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Jesus said not to be like the Pharisee who like to make long winded public prayers to exalt themselves and not to pray like a babbling brook, repetitively saying the same thing repeatedly. Jesus said to pray in secret to your Father who hears your every word and the heart behind it. He will answer you even before you ask him because you are his children who pray knowing his will from his word and then he will reward you in heaven.
James said the prayers of a righteous person is powerful and effective because they pray knowing Jesus’s righteousness through the teaching, counsel and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus teaches his righteousness of denying yourself for him.
Matthew 6: 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Fasting was denying yourself from food for a day because you wanted God to come near and to hear him. Jesus said that fasting was for God alone and not so others know you are fasting only then God will reward you.
Do we need to fast today to have God come near and to hear him? Through God’s grace and our faith in Jesus we receive the Holy Spirit, God dwelling in us because we love God and we hear God through the Holy Spirit teaching, counsel and guiding us through God’s word. But there is a fasting that God still wants us to do found in Isaiah.
Isaiah 58: 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

God said he does not want our fast to be only a day when you humble yourself by bowing your head like a reed and lying on sackcloth and ashes. God wants us to be his light by sharing that only Jesus can loosen the chains of injustice and set the oppressed free and lighten their yoke.
Matthew 11: 28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
God also said the fast he wants is to spend yourself in caring for those who are hunger by sharing your food and to provide the poor with shelter, clothe those who are naked not turning away those in his family.
Jesus teaches this kind of fasting in:
Matthew 25: 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
The fast Jesus wants us to do is to care for the needs of those in his family be it physical or spiritual needs and when you do you will be blessed by his Father and receive your inheritance in his kingdom.
The righteousness of God is what your heart treasures.
Matthew 6: 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The righteousness of Jesus is having a heart like his that treasured being home with his Father in heaven when he was on earth and not treasuring things in this world that will not last.
When your heart treasures being with your Father and Jesus forever in heaven then you will hunger and thirst for their righteousness, humbling your heart and being the righteousness of Jesus.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

I shared how Jesus said he only came for the lost sheep of Israel and not the Gentiles. God sent his Son to preach to the Jews because his covenant was made with only the children of Abraham.
But this all changed when Jesus died for the sins of the whole world and not just for the Jews which made it possible for God to make a new covenant with everyone and receive eternal life.
Hebrews teaches that God’s 1st covenant was with the Jews when they obeyed his laws, but now we have a new priest in Jesus from the tribe of Judah and not Levi so there has be a change to the old law and a new covenant with God that gives eternal life for both Jews and Gentiles that believes in Jesus. They are now God’s chosen people, not by genealogy but by faith in Jesus.
In Acts, it teaches that after Jesus went home to be with his Father there were only 120 Jewish disciples of Jesus that remained together. The remaining Jews still did not believe in Jesus where not God’s chosen people unless they accepted Jesus as their God, Savior, and Lord.
Paul said God still did not reject the Jews if they repented.
Romans 11: 1 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah--how he appealed to God against Israel: "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"? 4 And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. 7 What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, 8 as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day." 9 And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. 10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever." 11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
Paul teaches that God did not reject all the Jews when they rejected his Son because by his grace there will be a remanent of Jews that he has chosen who will repent and follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They are his elect, his chosen and will be saved.
But there still will be Jews who God has put in a stupor having eyes that do not see or ears that do not hear Jesus’ message and receive him as their Messiah, King and God.
Peter sent to be the apostle to preach to the Jews to change their heart and repent and believe in Jesus and be saved,
Acts 3: 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. 17 "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.' 24 "Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.' 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."
As believers of Jesus as our God, Lord and Savior we cannot not agree with those who follow Judaism or Islam as having the same belief in the same God. I have heard pastors say these religions believe in the same God which cannot be true if they reject Jesus who said his name is “I Am”, God All Mighty.
Only Jews and Gentiles who accept Jesus as the Son of God, one with to the Father as their Savior and Lord are joined together and become the one body of Christ. The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament and his name is Jesus, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Moses said if the Jews did not listen to Jesus, they would be cutoff from God. So, never condone or compromise other beliefs that reject Jesus as their God, Savior, and Lord because they would not compromise theirs for Jesus for who he really is.
Romans 11: 13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.
Paul wanted to save his fellow Jews by making them feel envious of the freedom that the Gentile believers had in Christ that they would repent and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior and be saved. That is what we should also want for the Jews to come to Jesus and not remain in the darkness.
Romans 11:15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant but be afraid. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. 22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
Paul wants Gentile believer to remember because the Jews rejected Jesus it opened the door for the whole world to be reconciled back to God. Paul said it would be sin to boast or be arrogant about our salvation over those who refuse Christ, but we must always be fearfully thankful to God because he can also remove us who are unnatural branch that has been grafted into Christ to be cut off for our disobedience and how easily it would be to regraft a Jew who is a natural branch if they should repent to Jesus.
So, like Peter and Paul who loved their fellow Jews and want them to repent to Jesus and not perish. Our future hope is not seeking prophetic signs of things happening in Israel, but to seek what Jesus wants for the Jews to repent and not perish when he does return.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

The Holy Spirit teaches in the Old Testament, the relationship the Jews and God had and how God blessed, disciplined, punished and cursed them because of the covenant relationship they had.
God chose the Jews out of all the nations to be his chosen holy people and everyone else were called Gentiles and considered by God to be unclean.
Jesus said he was sent by his Father to minister to only the Jews and not the Gentiles which we read in this story in:
Matthew 15: 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." 25 The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. 26 He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." 27 "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Jesus said he was sent to only the lost sheep of Israel, the children of Abraham. The Canaanite woman was a Gentile and was considered unclean like a dog. The woman understood and acknowledged this to Jesus as her Lord but her desperate love to save her daughter made her humble herself asking Jesus for just the crumbs of his blessings that fell to the ground that he gave to the Jews. Jesus seeing her faith he mercifully healed her daughter from the demon.
But God’s covenant still belonged only to the Jews because God’s covenant with Abraham, his son Isaac and his son Jacob and Jacob’s 12 sons which became the Jewish nation.
Some 2050 years after Abraham received God’s covenant God sent his Son to bring a new covenant with the Jews. But the Jews did not believe that Jesus was their promised Messiah and God’s prophet that they studied in OT would come.
Jesus proved he was their Messiah by fulfilling OT prophesies, by his authority when teaching God’s word, and by the power of his miracles that prove he was sent by God.
The Jews knowing Scripture where the ones ready to receive their Messiah and be harvested to receive God’s new covenant by having faith in his Son.
That is why Jesus sent his Apostles and disciples out to preach this good news to the Jews.
Luke 10: 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
Jesus said the harvest of Jews where plentiful because they have been prepared by God by their studying of Scripture to receive their Messiah. Jesus also told his disciples the harvest of Jews were great so pray that those who received their message also go out and share the Good News to other Jews.
Today we do not have a nation like the Jews to harvest because God prepared them by their studying of Scripture to receive Jesus as their Savior. We have a world where the Holy Spirit has been sent to convict it of its guilt in regards to sin, righteousness and judgement which the world does not believe or know Scripture. So, we seek to harvest those who Jesus is calling to his Father, who wants to know God and be with him forever.
Luke 10: 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6 If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. 8"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.'
Jesus warns his disciple that there will be strong opposition when sharing the Good News to others, so we must also be ready. We will also know when people welcome God’s peace through the gospel of Jesus and those who will reject the gospel of peace because they refuse to accept it.
Jesus said to just shake of the dust when people do not want his gospel, do not retaliate, or feel the need to defend its truth, just move on because they do not want peace with God. Just let the peace of God rest with those who welcomes Jesus’ Good News because they will receive the Holy Spirit who make it possible for them to understand the truth of God’s words and remain in it.
Luke 10: 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. 13 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. 16 "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
Jesus did many miracles to show that he was sent by God to teach his true. He warned that there will be no excuse for those who reject his words after they witness God’s miracles because they were rejecting his Father.
We no longer need God’s words sealed as being true with his miracles. We have the living written word of God in the Bible which truth is sealed and empowered by the Holy Spirit by our faith in Jesus.
Luke 10: 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." 18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
The disciples found joy in the authority Jesus gave them over demonic spirit to obey them, but Jesus told them not to be joyful in your authority over demons but be joyful that your name is written in heaven.
Church leaders may find more joy in their authority over their church, because of its numbers, its wealth and influence. Even church members find it more joyful being in a large church, by its influential speakers, great ministries, and great amenities. There focus is not what Jesus wants his disciples to be joyful for and that is their name is written in the book of life. Finding everlasting joy that they will be with God forever.
Luke 10: 21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
Jesus said he finds joy through the Holy Spirit when his Father reveals the knowledge of his word to his humble children and hides them from those who say they are learned and wise like the Pharisees and Sadducees because they studied Scripture and taught how to be right with God. The Holy Spirit still finds joy to teach God’s children who humbly seek God with all their heart and still hides his truth from those who believe they are more knowledgeable and have authority of God’s word because of their credentials.
Luke 10: 22 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
Jesus said only he can reveal his Father to those he has chosen to reveal him to. When you believe that everything that Jesus did and said in the Bible is his Father then you have been chosen by Jesus to reveal his Father to you through the Holy Spirit.
Luke 10: 23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
We may not have been blessed like Jesus’ apostles and disciples to eyewitness and touch and embrace Jesus physically. Jesus also said that blessed are those who have not seen him but yet believe that someday we will see and be embraced by the love our Father and his Son when we go home to them in heaven.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

Jesus teaches what we need to do to have him come in and dwell with us.
Revelations 3: 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Jesus said he is standing at the door of our heart calling and knocking, but the one inside needs to recognize his voice and then opens door and lets Jesus in.
Jesus will not force his way in, the owner must open the door when he recognizes Jesus’ voice because they love him the way Jesus wants them to in John 14.
I have heard when people are invited to receive Jesus is for the forgiveness of their sins by raising their hand and repeat a prayer to receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord but they do not emphasize that they will have eternal life with God which Jesus came to give.
We cannot assume that people are saved just because they raised their hand and said they accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior because only the individual and the Holy Spirit will know if they truly accepted Jesus and that they want eternal life with God.
Remember the thief who just asked Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom only Jesus saw this man’s faith and told him today, he would be with him in paradise.
In Philippians 2, Paul teaches that we need to work out our understanding of our salvation with fear and trembling that it is true to Christ. Knowing that you have truly made Jesus your Lord. Paul said salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Jesus confessing he is your Lord because you are his disciples obeying his teachings which becomes your spiritual act of worship as a living sacrifice for him.
Jesus teaches what we must do to be a living sacrifice for him.
Matthew 16: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
Jesus teaches in Luke 3 things we need to deny or sacrifice ourselves from too be able to follow Him.
Luke 9: 57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
Jesus is saying that earth is not his home, so like Jesus we must deny making this earth our permanent home but desire to be with Jesus and follow him home to heaven. When you want earthly things like an earthly home more than following Jesus, they become thorns in your life.
Luke 8: 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
The next thing we must deny ourselves is our concerns about death.
Luke 9: 59 He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
To follow Jesus is to want to proclaim the good news of eternal life in God’s kingdom and not so much be concerned about death or how we bury our dead. Jesus said let the dead bury their dead because those who believe in Jesus will never die,
John 11: 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
Who are the dead?
John 3: 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
The dead are those who are condemned to perish because they do not believe in Jesus, God’s one and only Son. They are the dead who bury those who die not believing in Jesus.
But we who believe in Jesus will not perish but proclaim and celebrate eternal life with other believers whose body have fallen asleep in Jesus and whose spirit have gone home to be with Jesus in heaven.
The next things we must deny is loving others more than Jesus.
Luke 9: 61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Jesus is saying you must deny yourself from loving your family more than him or you will not understand his teachings or be worthy of him.
Luke 14: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers, and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple.
Jesus is not teaching to hate your family he is teaching you to hate their teaching if it is in conflict or denies his teaching because it will prevent you from being his disciple that understands his teachings and commandments.
Matthew 10: 37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
To follow Jesus is to love him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength which is the greatest commandment and to love your mother and father more than him is to place God second in your love which will make you not worthy of him. In heaven you will have only one Father and all believers his children and Jesus your brother.
So, make Heaven your home, live in the hope of eternal life and love
God with all your heart and he will provide for all your needs on earth.
Matthew 6: 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

Most people learn their parenting skills from what they learned from their parents raising them as children, which they learned from their parents passed down through generations.
When parenting causes a breakdown of normal or beneficial relationships in the family, we call that being dysfunctional.
Being a dysfunctional parent will create dysfunctional children who grow up to be dysfunctional in their relationship with others and as a parent because they do not know what is normal or beneficial in their relationship with others.
To learn what good parenting you will find in the beginning of Genesis when God parented his created son, Adam.
Genesis 2: 7 the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground-trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
God provided a safe place for his son to live and provided for his needs. Good parenting is to provide a home where their children feel safe and know they will be provided and cared for because they are loved and not because it’s their job and responsibility to do it.
Genesis 2: 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
God teaches his son how to work and to care for what he is provided. Parents show their children the importance of honest work with the attitude as if working for the Lord to provide and to care for their needs and others so that they will grow up with the same attitude to care for themselves and others for the Lord.
Genesis 2: 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
God instructed and warned his son to keep him safe from harm. Parents teach their children godly values which they example to keep themselves and their children from harm and from the storms in life.
Jesus said to put his teaching in to practice which parent must do and teach their children so that they have a firm foundation in Jesus and stand firm in any storms that comes along.
Genesis 2: 18 The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.
God saw that it was not good for his son to be alone because of the way he created him with flesh which his Spirit could not provide. Our spirit does not feel alone when we are loved by the presence of God’s Spirit in us, but our flesh feels alone when it is not comforted by the love of their parents as children. When a child grows up without being loved by parents, they become dysfunctional by creating their own ways to overcome their loneliness.
Loneliness is real in a child’s life, and it must be cared for by their parents reassuring them with words of love, by their comforting them with their touch even as they get older to assure them, they are loved.
This is important to do because children whose loneliness were never comforted when they reach sexual puberty their loneliness increases, and they think by satisfying their sexual need it will overcome all their loneliness. This is when love becomes dysfunctional because their loneliness was never comforted as child.
God never raised Adam as a baby but as an adult male which he provided for Adam’s sexual loneliness by providing him with a wife.
Genesis 2: 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man." 24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
God created the marital union as the means for the husband and wife to be one in flesh and in spirit so they do not feel alone, and their marriage is an example for their children to learn what a loving marriage is and gives them the security that their parents will never separate.
So, we should always look to God’s word to teaches us how to be good parents.
Be safe in Jesus,
Ps. Glenn

With each birthday I am reminded how much closer I am getting to be with Jesus.
Jesus said he wants us to be with him.
John 17: 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
Paul wanted to be with Jesus.
Philippians 1: 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
I have often wondered how many people in church believe it is far better to die and be with Jesus forever.
Those whose heart want to be with Christ forever have their thoughts on things in heaven and not earthly things because heaven is where Jesus is.
Colossians 3: 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Faith that is sure of the hope of being with Jesus forever keeps them from losing heart and overcome the troubles and worries they will have in this world.
2 Corinthians 4: 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
When we believe that it is far better to depart and be with Jesus forever even though we do not see now gives us hope that helps us to overcomes our worries and troubles that we go through in this world believing they are just temporary.
Imagine what the world thinks when people they know go to church share their worries and troubles being hopeless. They think being a Christian is no better than themselves.
Having thoughts on things above it is thinking of what Paul teaches we will receive from God.
2 Corinthians 5: 1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
One day we will receive an eternal house from God when Jesus returns to gather his elect and bring with him the spirit of those who have died in him and together receive their eternal house, their new spiritual body.
1 Thessalonians 4: 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Let us encourage each other constantly of this hope we have in Jesus returning to gather all his followers and bring with him all those who have died in him and giving us our new spiritual body in the sky and take them home to be with him forever.
When you have this hope in Christ you have been called by God, you are one of his elect and his chosen who was created for this very purpose of receiving eternal life.
2 Corinthians 5: 5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
The Holy Spirit dwells in all who confess Jesus as their Lord becoming their seal guaranteeing their eternal life which gives you the confidence that your spirit will be with Jesus when it leaves your body. This compels you to love and please Jesus by fearfully obeying his teachings and commandments.
Because on day we all must appear before Jesus when he sits on his judgement seat and judge to see if we truly made him the Lord of our life.
2 Corinthians 5: 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
Our love for Jesus compels us to be living proof of our love for him so that others who see it can testify that he is our Lord.
2 Corinthians 5: 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Our love for Jesus will make us his new creation in the way we see things.
2 Corinthians 5: 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
To be the righteousness of God is to become his new creation that no longer sees others from a worldly point of view but see everyone from God’s point of view as people whose sins have been forgiven through the sacrifice of his Son. All who believes in the forgiveness we received from God because of his Son are reconciled back to him and we become his ambassador to share this message of reconciliation to all who are seeking to be with God.
Let us love Jesus and be his ambassadors of his Father’s love, Ps. Glenn.

Faith that pleases God is faith that comes not by sight but by believing everything written in the Bible is true.
2 Corinthians 5: For we live by faith and not by sight.
Our human instincts believe something is true when we personally eyewitness it which removes any doubt.
But our relationship with God is having faith in every word in the Bible comes from God which assures us with the hope of eternal life and certain of it even though we do not see it now.
This faith comes through our spirit’s understanding and not our flesh. That is what Jesus said in John 6.
John 6: 63, The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
Jesus said his words are spirit, which means you cannot understand it with your human instinct but only through the Holy Spirit teaching it to your spirit.
Even the Jews did not believe Jesus was their Messiah and wanted him to prove himself by giving them a sign by miraculously providing them bread from heaven which God gave to the Israelites in the desert. But Jesus refused and told them the only sign he would give them was the sign of Jonah, that when God’s temple was destroyed, he would raise it again in 3 days, meaning his body.
The Jews wanted eyewitness proof to believe Jesus, but Jesus refused them, but gave them only what was already written prophetically in Scripture.
Eyewitness evidence is still a weakness many Christians have that can create doubt in their faith which does not come by sight but believing that God’s word is true.
Many Christians have a hard time believing the Holy Spirit dwells in them and want evidence of his presence in them. Paul teaches how we will know the Holy Spirit dwells in us by the words we proclaim who Jesus is.
1 Corinthians 12: 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
When you truly confess that Jesus is your Lord it is not you who proclaims it but the Holy Spirit who dwells you.
Jesus teaches this to Peter.
Matthew 16: 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
It was the Father that revealed to Peter that Jesus is his Son and Savior to his spirit and not his flesh.
Paul teaches salvation is through faith that proclaims Jesus as their Lord.
Romans 10: 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
There are some who are led to believe that it is necessary to speak with the gift of tongues to be secure in their salvation which is no longer by faith alone. They are misapplying what spiritual gifts are for from what Paul teaches.
1 Corinthians 12: 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
The giving of spiritual gifts is determined by the Holy Spirit meaning no one can give spiritual gifts to another believer and gifts are for the common good of the church and not to prove one’s eternal security.
I have heard someone being told that you must speak in tongues and someone telling me I must be water baptized to be saved which both are no longer by faith. I also know of a church requirement that teaches to be a pastor you must be able to speak in tongues.
The misuse of spiritual gifts causes division in church because it is no longer for the common good but used to gather those who have the same gift.
1 Corinthians 12: 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Spiritual gift must be used out of love for what Jesus loves and that is his church. When gifts are not used out of love it becomes nothing to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 13: 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Spiritual gifts are used out of love for Jesus by obeying his command to love as he has loved us and that is to serve others and not be self-serving. If not out of love, it becomes nothing to the one you call your Lord.
We should eagerly seek spiritual gifts that will help instruct and improve the church.
1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
The gift of prophecy is to speak God’s word which strengthens, encourages, and comforts the church and builds it up in Jesus.
Tongues edifies the church only when it can be interpreted. Just gathering with those who speak in tongues is no longer out of love for Jesus but elevating a gift as greater than other spiritual gifts. This also applies to pastors who think their gift is above other gifts. There is no edification for those who gather just to speak in tongues when no one can understand what someone else is speaking in tongues.
1 Corinthians 14: 6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?
1 Corinthians 14: 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
1 Corinthians 14: 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. 13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
If you have the gift of tongue, you should eagerly seek to understand it with your mind so you will have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 14: 16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
Tongues is expressing words that pleases God which only your spirit knows done out of thankfulness and humbleness to Jesus and not to please yourself. The gift of tongue is to speak it before other believers only when they can celebrate with your amen, thanksgiving and praises to God you are speaking.
1 Corinthians 14: 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church, I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
Spiritual gifts are not for self-pleasure to use like selfish children. Tongues must be used as a mature adult who do not use it for evil.
1 Corinthians 14: 22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
Paul said the purpose for speaking tongues is for unbelievers to hear spiritual words of God and prophecy is spoken with intelligible words of God to edify believers.
1 Corinthians 14: 26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
Paul teaches when we gather it is for the strengthening of the church by edifying it by sharing a psalm, an instruction, a revelation, or an interpretation of tongues of God’s word.
1 Corinthians 14: 37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. 38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored. 39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
Paul teaches that those who are mature disciples of God’s word or gifted in the knowledge of God’s word will accepts his teachings as the Lord Jesus’ commands which cannot be ignored but obeyed or the Lord will ignore them.
In everything we do when we gather as Jesus’ church it is to serve him by loving each other by edifying each other with the gift we have received by the Holy Spirit to become on in Christ.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

Jesus said that the path and the door that his Father provided to be with him is narrow and only a few find it.
This narrow path and door that leads to eternal life is Jesus and we do this by believing that Jesus is the Son of God, making him equal to God and he took upon our flesh and willingly died for our sins to save us through his Father’s grace and resurrected defeating death which justified us. By our faith in these truths, we confess Jesus as our Lord by obeying his teachings and commandment out of love for him. When we do this we keep ourselves on that narrow path that leads through that narrow door to his Father.
Paul teaches in Ephesian 4 that every church must be united in this knowledge of Christ which is the foundation of the church.
In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul teaches that we need to be careful in the way we use this knowledge of Christ.
1 Corinthians 8: 1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.
Having the knowledge of Christ can make you prideful, puffed up in the freedom we have in Christ. This knowledge is not to benefit just yourself but to serve Jesus as your Lord by loving others as Christ has loved you.
There were some in church who exercised this freedom to eat food sacrificed to idols but did not stop to think of how this may affect the conscience of those who were still weak in their knowledge of Christ.
1 Corinthians 8: 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. 7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
Those mature in their knowledge of Christ believe that there is but one God through whom all things come and through whom they live. This truth gave them the freedom to eat all food no matter where they came from. But to exercise this freedom before weaker believers who still believed that the food was offered to idols would embolden them to believe it was okay for them to eat food offered to Idols causing them to sin.
Paul said a mature believer sins against Christ when they cause a believer with a weak conscious to believe it is okay to participate in the worship of idols by eating it’s offering.
Paul teaches that the worship of idols is worshipping demons.
1 Corinthians 10: 19 Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
Jesus teaches who we must only worship God.
Matthew 4: 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me Satan!” For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’
In the OT and in the NT it tells of the foreign gods the pagans worshipped which misled the Israelites and Christians to embrace their beliefs.
In Hawaii we are the melting pot of many religions of foreign gods and religions that worship a false Jesus not of Scripture.
In my early days as a believer, I believed from the Bible how strong God’s jealousy was for his children to be completely devoted to him and to never worship a foreign God.
Exodus 34:14, “For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Because of this truth, when I attended a Buddhist funeral, I would not go up to offer burning incense before the shrine even when I was coxed by my relatives to go up. My love for my God made me steadfast not to.
I was surprised once when a couple I knew from my former church told me I should go up to show respect for my family. I do not blame them for not understanding God’s jealousy because they were never taught by church leaders who did not want to teach God’s truth that might offend their feelings.
We fail Jesus when we do not teach the whole knowledge of God’s truth because people will not know how to walk the narrow path and enter the narrow door to our Father in heaven and not be the few who find it.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

In my previous message I shared what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6 that believers are to settle their disputes with each other by mature believers, their overseers in church.

I also said the most common dispute in church is divorce which people in church take their dispute to the ungodly in the world to settle their divorce.

If divorce is a common dispute in church, would it not be spiritually wise for pastors to teach what marriage is to God often? But it seems that marriage and divorce is an uncomfortable subject for pastors to teach which does not edify the church.

Jesus taught in Matthew 7 that there will be storms in our lives and we need to have a firm foundation by putting into practice his teachings and commandments, so that we do not collapse when a storm hits. Wouldn’t divorce be a total disaster from a storm. The collapse of a marriage because it did not have a firm foundation of God’s teaching of marriage.

It seems that the subject of marriage and divorce is taught only in private counseling when a married couple is having problems or when a couple in church are planning to get married. Don’t you think that is too late to teach them what God designed marriage to be?

In 1 Corinthian 7, Paul addresses a concern in church regarding marriage.

1 Corinthians 7: 1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.

This question about not marrying was also raised when Jesus taught on marriage and divorce.

Matthew 19: 3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" 4 "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate." 7 "Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" 8 Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." 10 The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry." 11 Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

Jesus said marriage was ordained by God when he created a man and a woman to care for their desire to be one flesh. Marriage is recognized by God when a man and a woman become one flesh for the first time which he commands that no one must separate. That is to divorce.

Jesus said God will accept divorce when one spouse is unfaithful but to divorce other than unfaithfulness is to commit adultery if they should remarry.
Hebrews teaches marriage is a pledge between a husband and wife to be faithful in their sexual union only to each other.

Hebrews 13: 4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Even Jesus disciples had a hard time accepting Jesus’ definition of marriage and divorce. They wanted divorce to be for any or every reason if they were unhappy with their spouse.

There are a lot of false reasons why people marry. Some marry because they believe they can change their spouse to be someone they want them to be to make them happy, they marry to have children or marry to make them feel secure or provide financial stability. But when a believing couple first seek God’s kingdom in their marriage, meaning to live in the way God ordain marriage to be then all these other things can be added to their marriage.

Peter teaches what God ordained how married couples are to treat each other.

1 Peter 3: Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if
any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by
the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

1 Peter 3: 7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of
the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

A Godly marriage is when the husband and wife love each other by the way they treat each other.

One of the most common reasons for marriage to fall apart is unfaithfulness.
Paul teaches that a husband and his wife are both responsible to prevent Satan from tempting them from becoming unfaithful by fulfilling their marital duties because of their lack of self-control.

1 Corinthians 7: 2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Paul teaches married couples are responsible not to be a stumbling block to their spouse to become unfaithful and not just physically but also in their heart by fulfilling their marital duty.

God ordained marriage to be forever. So, a single believer must use Godly wisdom when choosing the person, they want to be married to forever. Godly wisdom teaches that marrying someone should not be physical first it must be spiritual first, having a common belief of loving God first.

Paul teaches we should not be yoked with an unbeliever.

2 Corinthians 6: 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

You should never believe that you can change an unbeliever to become a believer after you marry them? You do not know if God called them or is his chosen or his elect only God knows. If you love God first, find someone who loves God first which will take time to see their fruit and not just because they say they are a Christian. But you also need to be someone who loves God first before you marry another believer.

Paul teaches about marriage and divorce when you and your spouse get married as unbelievers and later you become a believer.

1 Corinthians 7: 12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Paul teaches that when your unbelieving spouse wants to remain married to you, you must not divorce them but continue your marital duties and godly life with your spouse. Paul said the unbelieving spouse is sanctified by you, meaning set apart for God’s use in your marriage for your children so they do not become unclean, meaning become dysfunctional when parents’ divorce. Malachi teaches that in:

Malachi 2: 14 You ask, "Why?" It is because the Lord is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. 15 Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So, guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. 16 "I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the Lord Almighty. So, guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.

God hates divorce due to unfaithfulness, because only in a Godly marriage comes godly offspring because children learn from their parents example of loving and caring for each other.

Paul said only when the unbelieving spouse wants to divorce and not you and not because you were not fulfilling your marital duty or were being a Godly spouse, then it is okay to accept the divorce because God wants you to live in peace. After the divorce the believing spouse can remarry but only to another believer.

Marriage was created by God in the beginning for a man and a woman to care for their sexual desires which he ordained to be only fulfilled within a faithful marriage that is forever. Do not be afraid to teach about Godly marriage in church so that marriages has a firm foundation that prevents divorce.

Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

The reason we love God is because God loved us first when he sent his Son Jesus to save us by dying for our sins which made it possible for all who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior to be saved and not perish which is to be separated from God forever but give us eternal life with God.
Jesus teaches how to love God in John 14 and that is to obey his teachings and commandments and his apostles’. When we do this Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to make his home in us and becomes our seal that guarantee our eternal inheritance.
This is the gospel message which Paul teaches is the foundation of the church which we build on.
1 Corinthians 3: 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the foundation of his church and everyone who goes to church must follow Jesus as its Lord and seek and obey his will. It’s not to go to church because it has thought provoking and entertaining messages, because it has great ministries, worship music or amenities, nor because of its denomination. Church is where everyone follows Jesus as their Lord and are united in the same faith and knowledge of him.
God said we can find him by seeking him with all our heart. (Jeremiah 29:13). This is the same with everyone in church we must all seek Jesus together with all our heart and then we will find Jesus as Lord over his church.
In Revelations 2, Jesus warned the Ephesian church if they did not make him their first love, he would remove his presence from them.
In John 10, Jesus said his church leaders must be his gate keeper who are responsible to only allow him into his flock, the church.
Keeping the church’s firm foundation in Jesus does not falls upon church leaders alone, but also those who are mature in their love for Jesus as their Lord. Those who are firm in the church foundation and only recognizes Jesus’ voice and will only follow him because they are disciples of his word.
Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 1:10, that those in church must not be divided but must be perfectly united in mind and thought in Jesus Christ. They must be single minded as faithful followers and disciples of Jesus that want to be with Him forever.
When the church foundation is true to Jesus as its Lord then it can build upon that foundation, but it must be worthy to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 3: 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
When your foundation is true to Jesus you will be saved, but what you build upon it must be worthy to Jesus because it will be tested by his purifying fire. If it survives you will receive a reward from Jesus, but if it is unworthy, it will be destroyed, and you will feel the suffering of loss because what you thought was worthy was not to Jesus. You will be saved but you will feel like someone who barely escaped from a burning house.
So, as disciples of God’s word you must know what is worthy to your Lord and only use that to build up the church which will become evident by the fruit it will bear from the Holy Spirit.
Paul goes on to teach the importance for us to keep the church holy to Jesus because it is his bride. Paul rebuked the church for allowing someone to stay in the church who was sexually immoral, and he tells them how they must deal with those who are in church.
1 Corinthians 5: 9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
Paul said the church members must judge its moral compass in the church and not in the world because God will judge the world.
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul teaches that Godly love is to protect, and we are called to protect the body of Christ. So, we must all be sensitive to the kind of fruit we bear as brothers and sisters for Jesus and to love each other the way Jesus loves us. So, we must be willing to correct and admonish those who are bearing bad fruit in church because bad morals will corrupt the church’s good morals, We correct with the goal that they repent and be saved.
Paul teaches that church members should settle disputes with each other within the church and not with those outside who do not follow Jesus as their Lord.
1 Corinthians 6: 1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
The biggest disputes you will find in church are divorces between people in church and most couples would rather take their dispute before the ungodly to settle it and not before the saints.
Paul raises the question of whether there is anyone in church that is competent to judge disputes between its members.
Paul said we should have Godly wisdom to be able to judge disputes in church because one day we will judge the world and angels as one of God’s saints. A saint is a believer who has been set apart for God use by having the whole knowledge of Christ.
When there is a dispute between believers, they both should seek the judgment from the same church overseer, but an overseer who has met the standards that Paul has set in:
1Timothy 3: 1 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
Overseers and mature Christians who has these characters would only be able to help with disputes between believers and not with unbelievers who will not submit themselves to God’s word and Jesus as their Lord.
As the body of Christ, you must remain steadfast upon the foundation of your salvation in Christ and only build upon it what is worth to Jesus and not what you want church to be.
Be safe in Jesus. Ps. Glenn

I have often shared that the Holy Spirit lives in you which Jesus said he would send to his servant disciples to be their helper, counselor, and teacher.
Paul said our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6: 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.
Paul also said the Holy Spirit is our seal that guarantee our eternal life
Ephesians 1: 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
So, it is very important that your faith does not doubt the presence of the Holy Spirit lives in you because you believe in the gospel of your salvation.
Because the Spirit of God dwells in us what does James mean when he said this in:
James 4: 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Because the Holy Spirit already dwells in us, James teaches to have the Holy Spirit come near to your spirit, your spirit needs to come near to the Holy Spirit. Just like in our relationship with our friends we need to get close to know and understand each other and in marriage it requires a deeper relationship between a husband and wife which comes through an intimate relationship with each other that creates a lasting bond.
To come close to the Holy Spirit our spirit must have an intimate relationship with Him to know his presence is in us.
So, how do we get intimate with God? Paul teaches this in:
1 Corinthians 8: 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.
You know God’s presence is with you because you know God knows you because of your love for him. You have an intimate relationship with God because you know what pleases his will and you obey it.
That is what Jesus said in:
John 14: 15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth.
John 14: 23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

To love God is to obey the teachings of Jesus. Jesus also teaches how much we need to love God to intimately know him.
Matthew 22: 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
God said if you seek him with all your heart you will find him.
Jeremiah 29: 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
When you love God through Jesus’ teachings you will know his presence is in you because you begin to have the mind of Christ by recalling his teachings and his commandments.

John 14: 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

To recall the teaching of Jesus you must become his disciple which he commanded us to be by going after him with all your heart.

Luke 9: 23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
Jesus tells us to be with him you must deny yourself of wanting worldly desires more than what God desires and you must die to your sinful nature and follow and obey him as your Lord. And you will be with him forever when you give up your life for this world and give your life to him and be saved.
So, be steadfast in your faith and believe that the Holy Spirit is in you because your spirit recalls the teachings of Jesus in the gospel and the teachings he gave to his apostles that we read in their letters for his church.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

When I first read the book of Job, I thought Satan could attack me the way he did to Job. It was to make me fear God so that he would not allow Satan to harm me. But that is not the reason why the Holy Spirit wrote this book for us.
Most of what we read is about Job’s so-called friends telling Job he was being stricken by God because of his sinfulness and that he should repent and seek God’s forgiveness.
Job reaffirmed that he was sinning against God and was seeking God to give him an answer to justify the torment he was suffering. He also complained to his friends how they were not bringing any comfort to him but more grief.
What the Holy Spirit wants us to understand is found in the first 2 chapters which teaches why Job was being tested and the ending of the book when God explains himself and admonishes Job and rebukes his friends.
In the beginning, God asked Satan if he has considered his servant Job who He saw as a man who was blameless, and upright, who feared him and shunned evil.
Why did God ask Satan this? The name Satan means adversary or accuser and Satan accuses that man was not good which God said was good when he created him.
Satan is also our adversary because he has made war against God‘s children.
Revelation 12: 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring--those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
To prove that man was not good, Satan said to God if Job lost all that God blessed him with Job would abandon him. God allowed it and Satan destroyed Job’s children and his wealth, but Job did not forsake God.
God asked Satan again to consider Job and Satan said to God if Job was stricken with a tormenting disease, he would abandon him. God said he could but do not kill him. After Satan struck Job with a tormenting disease Job still did not forsake God.
God foreknew that Job would never abandon him no matter what Satan did to him, but Satan did not.
God allowed Job to be tested to show Satan that it is possible for those who love him with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength would never forsake him.
Job’s steadfast love for God after Satan tormented him was a lesson for Satan to know he cannot accuse that all people will forsake their love for God even if their life and all they have in this world is taken from them. This is true of the saints we read in Revelations who will be martyred for not forsaking Jesus by taking the mark of beast and worshipping its image.
What sustained Job was the way he worshipped God after losing everything.
Job 1: 20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
When we believe that everything we have, even our breath belongs to God which we do not deserve, and it is up to God to give and take away, because he is a loving, merciful, and just God, it will make you thankfully praise him. We must also remember that our existence and everything we have comes from the mercy of our just God and not from what we desire or by our effort.
Romans 9: 14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
We should not fear that God would allow Satan to test us the way he did with Job unless your righteousness is the same as Job, Moses and Daniel which God said their righteousness would save them.
Ezekiel 14: 13 "Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals, 14 even if these three men-Noah, Daniel and Job-were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD.
We should always be thankful to God that he would not allow us to be tempted by Satan beyond what we are capable of.
1 Corinthians 10: 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
We also learn the limitation God placed on Satan. He can only be in one place at one time because he can only roam the earth, he is not omni-present like God.
Satan is not all knowing, omniscient like God or he would have known Job would not abandon God.
Satan is not all powerful, omnipotent like God or he would not have needed to ask God for his permission to attack Job.
We must always hold on to this promise that Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil.
1 John 3: 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.
Jesus has given us the word of God that destroys the lies of the devil. This does not mean we go around picking a fight with the devil or his demons which the book of Jude teaches to only rebuke them in the name of the Lord.
In the end God rebuked Job’s friends for assuming they knew his will for Job and told them to ask Job to pray for them so he would forgive them.
Then God admonished Job for thinking he had the right to ask him to justify why he was suffering when he was faithful to him.
Jesus teaches the attitude we must always have towards God.
Luke 17: 7 "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8 Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything, you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'
As servants of God our duty is to serve him and not expect God to serve us. Jesus has shown us how we must serve and to love each.
The story of Job reveals what God’s justice, mercy and his will is for those who love him and to understand what Satan knows about man’s faithfulness to God and God’s authority over him and the ignorance of man knowing the mind of God.


In the book of Mark, it tells a story of how Jesus wants us to always be in season for him
Mark 11: 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.
Mark 11: 20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"
Those who believe in the laws of nature may think it was unfair for Jesus to curse the fig tree when the tree was out of season for producing figs. But who was hungry? It was Jesus who Paul said in Colossians is the creator of everything. Who made the fig tree staff of Aaron sprout leaves and figs. The fig tree disobeyed its creator to bear him fruit, so Jesus cursed the tree and it died. Faith in Jesus is not dependent on the physical laws of the world. When your faith is mixed with worldly beliefs it will not bear fruit for Jesus because it doubts that all things are possible with God.
Mark 11: 22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
When we ask anything that is God’s will at any time, we can believe we have already received it and know it is ours because of the righteousness of Jesus that made it possible.
This is true also with preaching God’s word it is not seasonal.
2 Timothy 4: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
We must always be prepared to preach the Word to strengthen and encourage the body of Christ because we are in the time of false teachers and those who want to hear only what their itching ears want and not God’s truth that will protect them from wandering away from Jesus and their salvation.
Be safe in Jesus. Ps Glenn

In the early 1960 some people in the USA had an urgency to build a bomb shelter to protect themselves from a nuclear attack by Russia. We are blessed that it never happened. There is an instinctive reaction for people to protect themselves if they recognize or are warned of coming harm or disaster so they will survive.
God also warns us that there will be a day when his Son will judge everyone and everyone who has rejected him will perish. That is why Peter said God is being patient because he wants everyone to repent and not perish. But God has set a time when the number of Gentiles he has determined would be saved then he will bring his wrath and destroy both heaven and earth.
Jesus teaches that we should watch for the signs of the last days so we will be ready for his coming and have the same heart as his Father for people to repent and not perish.
Paul teaches one of the signs we should be watching for in:
2 Timothy 3: 1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Paul tells us that we must be looking out for these terrible times when people become lovers of themselves and not lovers of God. This increase of bad behaviors are signs of the last days before Jesus returns.
Have you notice in the new these terrible characteristics increasing all over the mainland? We are blessed being isolated from the mainland troubles being surrounded by the Pacific ocean but have you notice that these bad behaviors are increasing in our state.
If we see these signs, shouldn’t we also have this urgency to save the lost.
When Paul said to mark this terrible time, he was not speaking about the people in this world he was telling Timothy these terrible times will increase within the church as a sign of Jesus return.
Since this concerns the church this list of ungodly characteristics is something we must look to see if we have any of them.
Because in 1 John: 10, John teaches, “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
At times we may fail and find ourselves having one or more of these bad characteristics in our heart, but if you teach yourself to always be aware of what are ungodly behaviors, especially the ones you struggle with you can catch yourself and repent quickly and be thankful to Jesus forgiveness through his blood covenant that covers our sins.
One of the bad characteristics is being rash which comes from having other bad traits of being proud, boastful, no having self-control and being a lover of self. That is why James teaches in:
James 1:19, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
That is why Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 10:5, to capture your every thought and make it obedient to Christ.
To overcome these bad characteristics, you must always make God your first love and to seek Jesus’ teachings and commands by letting the Holy Spirit recall it to you. Then you can discern with the right Christ like heart before you speak or act and not by your flesh. Do everything always out of love for Jesus and it will keep you safe from sinning.
Paul teaches that the Church must also keep itself from these terrible behaviors and to recognize them and repent from them and not to condone or tolerate them, so the church remains holy to Jesus.
As members of the Christ body, we must always examine ourselves to see if we are in Christ when we gather as his church. To be watchful that these bad characteristics do not reside in it and be willing to correct those who have them so that they can repent back to Christ and be saved and to keep the church holy to Jesus.
Some people think it is wrong to judge within the church, but Paul teaches it is your responsibility to do it.
1 Corinthians 5: 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
Paul said you need to recognize when terrible characteristics exist in church and do not get involved with those who have them, because it will corrupt your good character.
2 Timothy 3: Have nothing to do with them.
1 Corinthians 15: 33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

Jesus teaches that we must not let our brothers or sisters in Christ continue to misbehave but to confront their bad behavior so that can repent from them.
Matthew 18: 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. 15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Jesus said the purpose of helping your brother or sister to repent from their sin is because their Father in heaven does not want any of his children to be lost.
The reason why we watch out for each other must be out of love so that no one in church gets lost from our heavenly Father.
Paul warns us in 2 Thessalonian 2 about this terrible time when the church rebels against their love for Jesus as a sign of Jesus return and teaches how this terrible time will infiltrate the church in:
2 Timothy 3: 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth--men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
To worm into church is when someone comes to church with false pretenses of what church is and that is to be the body of Christ with Jesus as its head. And the church gives in to these bad behaviors because they are weak willed. Always learning about God’s word but never able to acknowledge it’s truth.
Paul said the terrible times will come to churches and I believe this will happen when the watchmen of churches do not watch for those with bad behaviors and oppose the truth and allowed them to worm their way into church.
The truth is that you cannot assume everyone who comes to church loves Jesus as their Lord and Savior and wants what Jesus came to give them, eternal life with his Father, but seek to take advantage of the goodness and kindness of its members and use it to benefit themselves.
Paul said their folly will eventually be revealed if you recognize their bad intentions. Those who love Jesus are not ashamed to proclaim his name before others especially to their brothers and sisters and confess and show that they serve Jesus and not serving to win favor from others or to take advantage of our sisters in Christ or those who are weak in their faith.
I am not asking us to be the bad behavior police, but we must love each other by helping each other to repent from any bad behavior so that we will never be lost to our Father in heaven. Because the terrible times in churches are here and we do not want to be one who rebels against Jesus.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

When Solomon completed the temple that his father David wanted to build for God, God accepted it as a place where his Name would reside if the people kept his name holy.
After the temple was built the Levitical priests and Levites were given the full-time responsibility to maintain and care for God’s temple. So, to care for them God commanded the other Israelites to give a 10% of their grain and fruit that belonged to him to the priests and the Levites.
Leviticus 27: 30" 'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
Numbers 18: 23It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting and bear the responsibility for offenses against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. 24 Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.' "
Later the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians because of the Israelites continued disobedience to God. After 70 years God allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild his temple. After it was rebuilt the Levitical priests and Levites were reinstituted to care for the new temple and the other Israelites were still commanded to provide a tithe to care for the temple’s upkeep. But the Jews began to neglect giving their tithes to the priest and Levites who in turn neglected to care for the temple.
Because of this in Malachi God tells the Jews to give the whole tithe to his house and he would bless them by opening the floodgates of heaven.
Malachi 3: 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
Does God still want his chosen people to give their tithe to care for his temple and to those who are responsible to care for it?
Jesus said this prophecy about God’s temple that was made of stone.
Matthew 24: 1 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down."
Jesus said not one stone of the temple will be on another, meaning the temple would be destroyed and not rebuilt.
If the temple has been destroyed and there is no Levitical priests and Levites to care for it do we still need to tithe?
In Hebrews it teaches that Jesus has become the priest of his temple.
Hebrews 6: 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
And not being from the tribe of Levi but from Judah there has been a change of the priesthood which also changes God’s law.
Hebrews 7: 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.
Because of Jesus we no longer follow the law of the Sabath day but now follow Jesus who has become our Sabath rest for our soul. We no longer need to tithe to care for the Levitical priesthood and Levites to care for God’s temple of stone.
God no longer gives name to reside in a manmade temple. Believers of Jesus become the temple where God himself will make his home in all who love him and his Son.
1 Corinthians 6: 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.
Our body become the temple of the Holy Spirit so do we still need to provide a tithe to care for our temple?
The tithe we give our body is not 10% of our wealth or 10% of other believer’s wealth. The 10% we provide daily for our temple is spiritual food which is every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Matthew 4: 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "
So, the tithe you give to God is spending 10% daily to feed upon God’s word which is about 1.5 hours. Your tithing is to learn how to honor God with your body by feeding yourself spiritual food by reading God’s word being taught to you by the Holy Spirit.
When you tithe to God’s temple God will open the floodgates of heaven and bless you with spiritual blessings.
Malachi 3: 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
Be safe in Jesus. Ps. Glenn

Whenever believers gather together as the Body of Christ, they become his body with Jesus as its head and the Holy Spirit dwelling in each believer. Jesus teaches that all who believe in him as their Lord and Savior and obeys his teachings, he promised to send the Holy Spirit to dwell in that believer forever.
John 14: 15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17the Spirit of truth.
John 14: 23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Jesus said the Holy Spirit makes his home in you and will be with you forever when you love him by obeying what he commands. The Holy Spirit does not live outside of a believer but within as their seal that guarantee one’s eternal life which Paul states in Ephesian 4. You do not want the Holy Spirit outside of you, but always inside of you.
In Acts 2, Jesus first fulfilled his promise when he sent the Holy Spirit to his 109 disciples and 11 apostles after he went home to his Father. He did this at Pentecost the festival of thanksgiving for the harvested crops that God required the Jews to celebrate.
Acts 2: 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
The tongues of fire occurred only in this story in the New Testament to show the receiving of the Holy Spirit. The other sign of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit was when the Holy Spirit enabled them to speak in various tongues which is a gift, he gave to them.
The vision of tongues of fire was so that we could read it in the Bible as an event that they eye witnessed when they received the Holy Spirit as God’s truth so that by faith, we believe they did.
The Bible is God’s truth and by faith we believe everything that we read in it as God’s true. What we read is not to seek seeing the evidence of tongues of fire appearing over us to believe that the Holy Spirit is dwelling in us. Jesus’s gift of giving us the Holy Spirit comes only by having faith in him as your Savior and obeying him as your Lord.
Paul teaches that speaking in tongues was a sign for unbelievers to believe that someone has received the Holy Spirit. He said tongues was a sign for unbelievers.
The purpose of the Holy Spirit enabling the disciples to speak in tongues was so the God fearing unbelieving Jews could eye witness the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit and to hear the testimony of Jesus in their own language.
Acts 2: 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine. "
The Holy Spirit gave the gift of speaking in tongues was so the disciples and apostles could serve God’s purpose and turn unbeliever’s hearts to Jesus.
In Acts 2 the gospel message was given to God fearing Jews because the gospel is best received by those who fear God.
The Jews feared God because they wanted what God promised them if they obey him that God would be their God and they would be his people and not because they were going to hell.
The gospel is not to scare people about going to hell to believe in God. The gospel is an invitation for those who love God to be with him in his love forever because hell is reserved for those who do not love or want to be with God forever.
Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in various tongues so that each Jew could understand it in their own language the words the Spirit gave him.
Acts 2: 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 " 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
The Jews understood Peter as he quoted from the book of Joel that God foretold the signs of the coming of the Lord which they were witnessing by the pouring out to the Holy Spirit by speaking in many tongues that Jesus is their Lord who came to save them.
Acts 2: 22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: " 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
Peter tells them that they witnessed the miracles, wonders, and signs that Jesus did that proved he was sent by God as his Son which they helped in crucifying him. But being the Son of God, God raised him from the dead which David prophesied that death had no hold on Jesus which showed him the way to eternal life.
Acts 2: 29"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." ' 36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Peter tells the Jews to stop putting their hope in a descendant of David returning and reinstating his earthly kingdom. But to turn to Jesus and his kingdom of eternal life in heaven were there in no more death or decay when God resurrected Jesus from the grave and Peter and the other apostles and disciples eyewitnessed.
Acts 2: 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Some of the Jews believed in Peter’s words and were convicted and believed that Jesus was their promised Messiah that they have been waiting for and had crucified. Their Godly sorrow made them repent and turn from those who did not believe in Jesus and turn to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Peter tells them to receive Jesus they must be baptized in knowing his name completely then they will receive the Holy Spirit and be saved.
The receiving of the Holy Spirit came to those who feared God and accepted the Holy Spirit filled words of Peter about Jesus and his promise of eternal life.
To know God is to know the Holy Spirit for the words we read in the Bible are his words that he gave to his chosen authors to write and for us to be blessed by.
You know you are filled with the Holy Spirit when you are overcome to speak God’s word boldly.
Acts 4:31, They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
The Holy Spirit makes his home in you if you believe and obey in Jesus as your Lord and Savior because only when the Holy Spirit dwells in you, he becomes your seal of your eternal inheritance.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

In the Old Testament it teaches that God’s chosen people only remained in their covenant with God was by completely obeying the laws God gave to them which required animal sacrifices before God so that its blood would cover their sins and receive his forgiveness.
In Hebrews 9:22 it tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.
Hebrews teaches that animal sacrifices could not clear the guilty conscience of sin because it needed to be continuously done. Only through the grace of God when he sent his Son as the onetime sacrifice for the world’s past, present, and future sins animal sacrifices were no longer required. Sin was completely paid for, and God graciously forgives us so that no one perishes but could have eternal life if they believe in his Son Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
Jesus instituted communion to remember him and what he did to save us. Eating the broken bread represents his broken body that suffered for the payment for our sins. Sins that separated him from his Father on the cross suffering our 2nd death and drinking of the fruit of the vine represents his blood covenant that covers our sins forever.
In Acts, Communion was something the early church did whenever they gathered for a meal which was almost every day. So, the church knew how important that they always remember what Jesus did to save them every day and not only on special occasions.
Taking communion is not what saves us it is remembering what Jesus did saves us. Spiritual communion with Jesus should be a daily remembrance before we begin our day to serve him. So, that we can walk in the grace of our Father’s forgiveness in our hearts so that we are able to forgive those who sin, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Jesus teaches that forgiving others are essential to our salvation because of his Father’s forgiveness of our sins. Being unforgiving is a sin that God does not forgive.
Matthew 6: 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

We forgive others by the blood of Jesus that has covered our sins and theirs. Its forgiving others by the Father’s grace and not our grace. We do not have the grace that God gives when he sent his innocent son to die for us while we were still sinners. We are not innocent of sin to give grace like God.
Jesus warns us that sin is an everyday occurrence, and we should not be the reason for causing someone to sin.
Luke 17: 1 Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. 2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
How often do you stop to think that your words or actions could cause someone to sin? Do you capture every thought and make it obedient to Christ? It’s hard but we need to put it into practice.
Paul warns about how we exercise the freedom we have in Christ may become a stumbling block to someone to sin.
1 Corinthians 8: 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
Paul said we need to be aware of believers who have a weak conscience. These would be new believers who have been influence by the world’s false teaching or by false religions or false teachers about God’s truth. Jesus warns us when we cause someone to sin, we sin against Christ.
Jesus teaches we must also confront sin in the church.
Luke 17: 3 So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
Jesus said as his followers we must confront those who sin in the church by rebuking them out of love because it is leading them from eternal life. You want them to repent, to turn from their sin and come back to Christ. Jesus said only when they repent forgive them so that they can return to the body of Christ. This forgiveness is to restore one back to the church and not having the continued forgiveness we give by the blood of Christ.
Jesus disciples found it difficult to forgive others so they asked Jesus to increase their faith so that they can forgive others.
Luke 17: 5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 6 He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.
Jesus teaches faith as small as a mustard seed is faith that does not have any doubt. It is faith that believes that Jesus being God came to reveal his Father in the flesh to those who love him and to save all who receive him as their Lord and Savior. This kind of faith in God makes it possible for God to do the impossible for those who knows and obeys his will.
To have faith like this is to be a servant of Jesus which Jesus teaches the attitude we must have to one.
7 "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8 Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything, you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "
So, if you truly confess Jesus as your Lord, you will always have this attitude of being unworthy of receiving God’s grace of eternal life and obeying his commandment to love one another as he loved us by forgiving each other’s sin because he died for them.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

Dear East Shore Family,
Our Lord is our great provider, and he has blessed us with a place to gather in his Name. I am grateful to Kailua Christian Church for allowing us to rent these classrooms for our gathering and for their sincere joy and welcome for East Shore to use these classrooms.
Let us always be thankful to our Father by having the understanding that our stay here will be at the pleasure of KCC members and their new pastor they are looking for. Our stay here may be short or long but will always with a grateful and thankful heart for our Father’s will for us.
As servants of Jesus, we are called to serve what pleases our Father’s will and that is to be his Son’s light that shines to all those around us. A light that shines Jesus’ teachings and commandments because we love him. Our light must shine to our neighbors next door by being mindful that the early morning sound of our activities do not offend them. We do this so that we can win their respect and hopefully lead them to Christ. In order to do this, I have submitted to KCC trustees and were approved to modify the classroom window with sound deadening boards and to install AC units when we close classroom windows and to replace one of the children’s toilets in the class restroom by installing an adult toilet.
I told them that the new AC and toilet are a gift to them and is not to obligate our stay. I was told this past Sunday that the trustees approved our modification very thankfully and humbly.
This modification will be donated by Cornerstone AC to East Shore as a gift to KCC for allowing us to rent these classrooms. These gifts are given not reluctantly or under compulsion but cheerfully for the Lord.
2 Corinthians 9: 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
I want to share what causes reluctancy and compulsion and keeps us from being a cheerful giver and that is greed. Jesus teaches 2 types of greed he has seen.
Luke 12: 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." 14 Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Greed is revealed when there is dispute over inheritance by sibling or relatives. Jesus said he is not the arbitrator of people’s inheritance meaning God is not on anyone’s side when is comes to who has rights to earthly inheritance. I know siblings may also get hurt over unequal share of parent’s inheritance because they use it to measure which sibling their parents love more. This is like the parable of the prodigal son and jealousy of the older brother.
God gives his inheritance to his children equally with no favoritism because he loves us all the same.
Jesus continues with a parable of another kind of greed.
Luke 12: 16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." 20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
This is the greed of hoarding of one’s wealth so that you will always have more than enough to enjoy an easy life of eating, drinking and being merry all the time. This is like the story of the rich man who enjoyed his wealth and did not think at all of the need of Lazarus the beggar.
This kind of greed keeps our heart from just being thankful to God for providing us what is necessary for our life on this earth. Wealth is not evil unless it becomes your god. We need to be thankful because it is God who gives us the ability to prosper and to enjoy our wealth by sharing with others and those in need and not selfishly.
So, as we again gather in person your donation to the church is never with the intent that God will make you prosper and never from caring for your family needs first. Our giving to East Shore is to always care for anyone in need and secondly to care for church expenses as we gather and never for things that would put us in debt.
I was so blessed to meet in person this past Sunday and if you could not make I hope you can join your East Shore family next Sunday 9am and gather as one body in Christ.
Ps. Glenn.

Jesus would often go to a lonely place to speak with his Father. A place where he could share his heart to him and hear his Father’s love for him.
Paul teaches we should pray without ceasing.
1Thessalonians 5:16 Paul says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do you pray without ceasing and how effective are your prayers?
When Daniel prayed it was so effective that God would send an angelic messenger to answer him.
Daniel 9: 17"Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." 20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill- 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.

What made God hear Daniel’s prayers was because God highly esteemed Daniel. God wanted to hear Daniel and he would answer him even before he began to pray. God would also answer Daniel because he loved his heart for him.

Daniel 10: 10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words Iam about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." Andwhen he said this to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."

God had great respect for Daniel because Daniel set his mind to gain understanding and humbled himself before God this made God want to hear and answer him and would not let anything stop his message from getting to Daniel.

In Ezekiel we find that God also highly esteem Noah and Job because of their righteousness.

Ezekiel 14: 13 "Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals, 14 even if these three men-Noah, Daniel and Job-were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD .

Reading the Bible about these men we learn about their righteousness towards God. They obeyed God’s will for them, they never forsake or abandon God when their life was threaten or were in a dire situation and they always humbled themselves before God. Their righteousness made God hear and answer their prayers.

Do we need to have the same righteousness as Noah, Daniel or Job for God to hear and answer our prayers? If he did there would not be to many people that God would hear and answer prayers.

Through Jesus, God does not hear prayers through the righteousness of people he hears prayers through the righteousness of his Son.

Hebrews 10: 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us
through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over
the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Our righteousness in found in the blood of Jesus that covers our sins forever giving us faith that is assured that by Jesus’ blood we are made holy in the sight of his Father. It is Jesus’ righteousness that makes it possible for God to hear our prayers.

Jesus’s righteousness frees us from the burden of trying to have the same righteousness as Noah, Daniel, and Job so that God hears and answers our prayers.
Paul teaches that we know God is for us when he sent his Son to give his life to save us and to graciously give us all things.

Romans 8: 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

When we believe in Jesus’ redemption and his resurrection, Jesus justifies us before his Father not to be condemned to death but receive eternal life. Jesus sits at the righthand of God and intercedes with his righteousness and makes it possible for God to hear our prayers.

We may not need the same righteousness as Daniel for God to hear and answer our prayers, but our prayers must be righteous to God’s will for him to give us what we prayed for.

1 John 5: 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask
anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us--
whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.

What made Noah, Daniel, and Job’s righteousness highly esteemed by God was their undying love for him and this is the same love God wants us to have for him by loving his Son which gives us his righteousness which far outshines that of Noah, Daniel and Job. And to love God is to obey the teaching of Jesus and to disobey him is sin which will hamper our prayers.

James 5: 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

To pray without ceasing is listening to the Holy Spirit as he speaks to you God’s word so that you can capture every thought and make it obedient to Jesus so his righteousness shines in you and makes your prayers powerful and effective.

Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

Exhortations in the Bible are written to encourage us, to incite us to act, or earnestly advise us as followers of our Lord Jesus.
Exhortations by a church leader exhorts us when we know they are speaking God’s word from Scripture as disciples of Jesus. In Hebrews 13, we find words of exhortation.
Hebrews 13: 7 and 17 exhorts church members how they need to remember and treat leaders who oversee their church.
Hebrews 13: 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Overseers of church must be remembered by the way they have lived their lives as faithful followers of Jesus. Paul teaches Timothy the qualities an overseer must have in 1 Timothy 3.

Overseers must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

This description of church leaders is what church members must look for in their overseers and not by their credentials of college or seminary degrees and recognized as your relationship with them grow over time. Those who are mature in Christ must help leaders when they are struggling to meet these qualities and overseer must humbly receive. These qualities every leader must embrace and hold themselves accountable to, to lead a church.

When a pastor has these qualities the church in turn should follow what Hebrews exhorts in:

Hebrews 13: 17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Church members are to obey and submit to leader’s authority with the Holy Spirit’s teaching, counsel, and guidance when leader’s instructions and teaching, are true to Jesus’ teachings and that of his apostles and not of their own instincts.

Members who follow their own instincts and disobey leadership will be held accountable to Jesus for not knowing and obeying his teachings and commandments.

Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

This exhortation is for our reassurance that from creation, to the present and for all eternity that the Word of God is true and never changes. We can trust that everything in the Bible past, present and future has been and will be forever true.

Hebrews 13: 9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

We are exhorted to discern carefully what is true to Jesus and to distinguish when teachings are strange to God’s truth so that we are not carried away by them.

There were sacrificial, special festivals and days that was God’s laws in the OT, but today we no longer are required to follow these laws because we have been freed from them by the grace of God through the sacrifice of his Son. We no longer are required to partake the flesh of animal sacrificed at the temple for our forgiveness but now partake the spiritual flesh and blood of Jesus to remember the eternal forgiveness we have received by it.

Hebrews 13: 11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.

The sacrificial animal blood was waved before the Most Holy of Holies by the high priest but because of Jesus’ blood that was shed outside of the temple before the presence of his Father and his beaten body that bears the disgrace of our sins, we no longer seek God’s forgiveness with the blood of animal sacrifices at a temple but receive God’s grace of forgiveness by the blood of his Son for all eternity at any time and at any place.

Hebrews 13: 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

We are exhorted not to seek a kingdom of God on earth but look forward to God’s kingdom in heaven when Jesus takes us home to his Father.

Hebrews 13: 15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

We are exhorted to continually make sacrifices of praise by thankfully confessing the name of Jesus for his sacrifice and to do good to all and share with those in need.

Hebrews 13: 18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

We are encouraged to pray for church leaders that they lead with a clear conscience before Jesus by living a life that is honorable to God and glorifies his name.

Hebrews 13: 20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

We are exhorted to faithfully stand firm in the peace we have with God by his covenant made possible through Jesus’ resurrection and that Jesus our great Shepherd continue to equip us through the Holy Spirit to do what is good and pleasing to God’s will that glorifies our Lord Jesus forever.

Be safe in Jesus,
Ps. Glenn

After Jesus went home to his Father, he sent the Holy Spirit to give birth to his first church in Jerusalem by his apostles. The spiritual heart of this church is described in:
Acts 2:44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The first church had a strong spiritual bond to be together because of the common faith they had in wanting to be with Jesus forever. They met daily in the temple court as brothers and sisters of Jesus. And as a family that took care of those in need as others helped financially. They gathered often in their homes to have fellowship meals, communion and worshipped as one with glad and sincere hearts which made them grow united in their faith in Jesus.

What makes a church the body of Christ its being a family in Christ, caring for each other’s needs and to fellowship together as often as possible by having meals, communion, and worship together with the purpose to grow united the same faith in the knowledge and understanding of our Lord Jesus. A church needs to meet in person so that the spiritual gift we receive from the Holy Spirit can be used for the common good of the church.

1 Corinthians 12: 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
The Holy Spirit has given every believer a spiritual gift to use for the betterment of the church and not for oneself but to unify the church and not divided.
1 Corinthians 12: 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
The Holy Spirit determines the spiritual gift we each receive, and no individual can give a spiritual gift to someone or give themselves a spiritual gift. Spiritual gifts are for the common good of the church. So, no gift is greater than any other gift, all gifts are needed to be the one body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12: 12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So, it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
1 Corinthians 12: 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
We all receive a spiritual gift when we meet as the church so that we can use our gift to unite as one body in Christ. We must treat all spiritual gifts with equal importance and necessary to function as the body of Christ because God has arranged the gift we received for his purpose.
So, how do we use our spiritual gift as the body of Christ when we do not gather as his body. It has been 2 years since we met Sundays at KIS and we need to gather together again as one body of Christ.
The Lord has taught me that having Sunday service at a house will be taxing on the homeowner and upon their neighbors which I learned because of our tunnel vision when doing church, we do not think that the noise we generate and parking we take may be bothering the neighbors. This is something Paul said we need to be aware of so that we do not lose the respect of our neighbors.
1 Thessalonians 4: 11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

We are thankful to have Kailua Intermediate School for a season but now we are unable to return. We have an opportunity to rent a classroom on Sunday at Kailua Christian Church which many of us once attended. There may be an uncomfortable feeling about going back there. But I see that as opportunity for us to show the spiritual heart of Jesus’ 1st church and then Jesus may send those who were being saved to join us.
Please let me know what the Holy Spirit is discerning in you so we can decide best way to gather again as the body of Christ.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

One of the many attributes of love written in 1 Corinthians 13 is to always protect and John writes in 1 John how believers are to protect themselves and the body of Christ. John teaches what we should and should not do, what to expect in the future to protect ourselves and that God’s truth protects us.

1 John 2: 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world--the
cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has
and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

We need to protect ourselves from sinful craving, lusting with our eyes and to boast of what we have and achieved in this world because that is loving the world more than God. John said that one day all the worldly things people love will one day perish and the only thing that will remain is God and all those who have loved God by obeying his will. God tested Abraham to see if he loved him first more than his son Isaac, so we should also ask ourselves if there is anything in this world that you love more than God that keeps you from obeying his will.

1 John 2: 18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

We need to protect ourselves by being ready for the coming of the antichrist. John said this over 1900 years ago and many Christians have become complacent in protecting themselves from the antichrist. John teaches that we will know the antichrist is close in coming when people in church begin to leave the truth found in the Bible and begin to follow what is not found in the Bible. This is what Paul warned in 2 Thessalonians 2, that there will be a rebellion within churches when churches no longer know or obey the truth of Scripture and follow their own instincts of what is good to them and not what is good to God.

1 John 2: 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.

The Holy Spirit’s anointing is God’s words that he has given to us in the Bible. These are God’s truth and everything that is not found in the Bible is a lie. That is why Jesus commands us to be his disciples of God’s word so that we remain in the truth so that we can distinguish when someone is lying about God’s truth.

1 John 2: 22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

The Holy Spirit teaches that Jesus is the Son of God, he is God and anyone who denies that Jesus was sent by God to represent the Father himself also is denying the Father because they are one. Anyone who denies Jesus as being God is antichrist. Only when we acknowledge that the Son and the Father are one then we are one with them.

1 John 2: 24 See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—even eternal life. 26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.

John taught the churches God’s truth from what we read in the book of John and when that truth remains in us then Jesus and the Father will remain us and even eternal life.

Jesus promised that all who believe in him, he will send the Holy Spirit to dwell in them forever. The Holy Spirit is the anointing we have received from Jesus to teach us his truth. When we know the truth of God’s word and can distinguish what is counterfeit. When we know God’s truth from the Bible then we can trust that it is the Holy Spirit who is teaching you. This trust is so that we do not feel incapable to know God’s truth and depend only in teaching by those who have theological degrees.

When you are not being taught by the Holy Spirit to know God’s word then you will not be able to discern when someone with a theological degree is teaching what is counterfeit to God’s truth.

I have witness this when a teacher of authority in the UCC church told me what I said at a church meeting was untrue because he studied Greek and Hebrew language to interpret the true meaning of Scripture which allowed gay union and gay pastors in church. He was trying to lead the church astray from what was clearly taught in Scripture that any kind of sexual immorality cannot be tolerated or condone in church it must be holy to Christ.
You must trust in the Holy Spirit’s teaching of what is written clearly in the Bible so that you can discern every teaching you hear.

That is why Jesus said he never put his trust in man because he knew what was in man.

1 John 2: 28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

We are God’s children because we do what is righteous to Jesus because we know and obey his teachings and commandment out of love for God and have the confidence and be unashamed when Jesus comes to take us home.

God did not create the world to be sin but was made from his love because everything he made was good. Only when our sinful nature distorted and abused God’s design in how to enjoy his creation it was cursed.

We have God’s truth being taught to us by his Holy Spirit from the Bible so that we can protect ourselves from following our sinful nature and do what is true to Jesus.

Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

Faith is believing in the miraculous and wonderous things God did and the spiritual and demonic stories that we read in the Bible. All these stories were supernatural events that goes beyond scientific explanation and the laws of nature.
God’s supernatural stories are to help us to believe what is impossible is possible with God. It also helps us to understand the supernatural spiritual realm that exist around us.
The History or Discovery channel have attempted to explain away the supernatural things God did by disproving it with a natural event or scientifically.
God does not ask us to prove to others that he exists because he already has done that by the evidence found in his creation which Paul said in Romans and because of the evidence found in creation no one will have any excuse that God does exist.
Reading the gospel Jesus told stories of what he has seen to teach us what we must believe and learn from.
One story was about the shrewd manager and what he did to gain friends and the woman who constantly pestered the judge for justice.
Jesus also told a story Luke to help us understand about where the spirit goes when body dies and what the spirit can do.
Luke 16: 19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named them.' Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22"The time came when the beggar died, and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 25 "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross from over there to us. 27 "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'. 29 "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to 30 " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31 "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "
This is a true story that only Jesus could have witnessed and share to teach us what happens to people’s spirit when they pass away.
Jesus tells us that the rich man did not care about Lazarus’ health and hungry condition as he begged the rich man for the craps of food that fell off his table. The rich man completely ignored Lazarus.
Then Jesus teaches what happens to the spirit of them both when they died. Lazarus’ spirit was carried by angels to Abraham’s side which was a place of comfort and the rich man’s spirit went to hell a place of agony. These 2 places were completely separated from each other where no one could go even if they wanted to. We learn that people’s spirit are consciences and aware of its surrounding and has feelings after it leaves the body. They can communicate and see each other.
This place of comfort where Lazarus and Abraham’s spirits were was not in heaven but a waiting place under the ground because Jesus had not died for sins of the world which would then allow believers to go to heaven. We know this was not heaven because Samuel’s spirit came up from the ground when he spoke to Saul.
Jesus teaches that there are only two options where a person’s spirit can go determined by God by the choices that person’s makes. That is why we are forever thankful to our Lord Jesus for saving us by his Father’s grace that all who believes in him will be with him forever in heaven.
Jesus wants us to have clear understanding what happens to people’s spirit when they die and that spirits have feelings, comfort and agony, they can see and speak in the spiritual realm and the earthly like Samuel’s spirit which God allowed. Remember the chasm no spirit could cross. This knowledge is to give you the confidence of knowing what happens in the spiritual realm and will help you explain to someone if they ask you what the Bible teaches when someone dies.
Jesus ends his story by teaching that faith in God does not come from seeking things that are supernatural like someone coming back from dead or seeking anything that is supernatural. Faith that pleases God is one that comes from knowing and believing in his words which Paul said in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing the word about Christ.
So, seek all truths from God’s word and apply them to help you know the heart and mind of God and only do his will.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

In Acts 13:22, God said that David was a man after his heart because David loved God and would do anything that God asked him to do.

David knew it pleased God when he completely obeyed his commandments, and he asked God to test him to see that his heart and mind was blameless before him.

Psalms 26: 1 Vindicate me, O Lord , for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. 2 Test me, O Lord , and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 3 for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. 4 I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites;5 I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. 6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O Lord, 7 proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. 8 I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells. 9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes. 11 But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me. 12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord.

My Bible commentary said that David may have written this psalm during the time his son Absalom was attempting to take over his kingdom. So, we know this is after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered, her husband Uriah and repented seeking God’s forgiveness which God gave him.

David knew God was faithful in his forgiveness and again sought after the heart of God by living a blameless life by walking continually in God’s truth and staying away from those whose character God rejected. David sought God’s mercy asking him to redeem his life from those who were scheming to take it. He asked God to test him to see if he was worthy to be saved by the blameless life, he lived for him.

Some may think God expects every believer to be just like David and live a blameless life that measures up his, but the Bible does not say we need to be like David, but we need to have the faith David had in God. The Bible teaches each believer will receive their own measure of faith by God which he wants us to use for him.

Romans 12: 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

This is just like Jesus’ parable of the different measure of talents Jesus gave to his servants to invest in God’s kingdom.David asked God to test him, but Jesus wants us to test our own faith to see if his Spirit dwells in us.

2 Corinthians 13: 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.

Paul said that we should examine our faith by testing it to see if the Spirit of Jesus dwells in us. Paul said that his life will show that he has not failed to do what Jesus has asked him to do because of his faith in the truth he has found in Jesus.
2 Corinthians 13: 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

In Corinthians 11: 1, Paul said to follow his example as he follows the example of Christ. To test ourselves to see if Jesus dwells in us is to know his truth like Paul and obey what Jesus commands us to do.

John 13: 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Jesus commands us to love one another the way he has loved us and to examine ourselves and test ourselves to see if we love the way he has loved us.

When we love like Jesus, we are made holy to God set apart for his use. Jesus is not commanding us to live a blameless life because he knows all will sin and false short of God’s glory but to live a life knowing we are saved by God’s grace through faith in him and obey him out of Love. Because love covers a multitude of sin.

1 Peter 4: 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

This is how we are to love like Jesus.

John 13: 1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." 8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." 9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" 10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus washed his disciples’ feet out of love for them and not as a symbolic gesture. He first dressed himself as a servant showing that he has come serve them out of his love for them and then wash his disciples’ feet which was at time a house servant’s duty to clean the dirty feet of a quest. Jesus also told Peter that it was not necessary for him to wash what was already clean. Meaning love is not caring for what is not necessary but only what is.

Jesus’ washing of his disciples’ feet has been used as a symbolic gesture by ceremonially washing someone’s feet just like water baptism or having a wedding ceremony. It’s only a symbolic gesture because there are some who have not kept what they gestured.

Jesus is not looking for symbolic gestures when serving him. He wants what James said we need to prove our faith in Jesus by our deeds and not by our words or gestures.

So, when you examine yourself if you truly love others with Jesus’ love test to see if it is by deeds of servitude caring for others in their time of needs.

Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

In Matthew 24, Jesus gave us clear instructions of what we should be doing in:
Matthew 24: 42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

Jesus said we should be watching for the day he returns to take us home. In Matthew 24:31. Jesus said he will return in the sky and will send his angels to gather his elect from all over the world and take them home.
Before Jesus returns, he said his faithful and wise servants that he has put in charge are responsible to prepare his servants by feeding them spiritual food, so that they will know what to do before he returns.

Matthew 24: 45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

So, what will Jesus be looking for when he returns?

Luke 18: 8 However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Jesus will be looking for the true faith we must have in him. Faith that has matured in the hope of assurance of our salvation and the certainty of eternal life because of our faith that we have in him.

Hebrews 11: 1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Pastors are the wise and faithful servants who must teach and lead Jesus’ servants to mature in their faith in Jesus through God’s word to prepare them before Jesus returns. They also must teach that God will test their faith to see if it will remain true to his Son as he did in:

Hebrews 11: 32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead,
raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that theymight gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned ; they were sawed
in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

These people of faith remained true to God even when faced with death and God commended them for that kind of faith. Most Christians do not experience that kind of life-threatening test of their faith in God that refuses to forsake God. This is the kind faith God commends, one that remains steadfast in the hope it has in him and promise of being with him. God wants us to have that same kind of faith and God said he will help us build up our faith to be steadfast because he loves us and calls us his children.

Hebrews 12: 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Our faith increases in righteousness and peace when we go through God’s discipline that he does out of love for us and his punishment because we are called his children. And when we train ourselves in them our faith grows to be steadfast and not weak and feeble but will be like his Son whose faith was out of love for his Father which made him willingly die for him.

Jesus wants our faith to be like his because his saints will be tested one day to see if it will be willing to die for him when the anti- Christ is revealed and kill the saints because of their faith in him.
There are those who believe that their faith will not be tested with their life because they will be raptured before the coming of the anti-Christ saving them from being killed by him.

I once believed this and that prophetic signs of Jesus’ return were so I would be ready to be raptured and not be killed by the anti-Christ.
Paul words in 2 Thessalonians teaches that the prophetic signs of Jesus return is so we can prepare our faith to be ready when the anti-Christ comes to destroy the saints because Paul said the Lawless one, the anti-Christ will reign, exalt himself before Jesus returns.

Our faith must be true to Jesus and our Father’s will because Satan has declared war on God’s children.

Revelations 12: 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Our faith must be ready when the first beast appears because God will allow him to make war against his saints and conquer them.

Revelations 13: 7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them.

This will be like the persecution and killing of the early Christians who Caesar ordered to be killed by wild animals for sport or were crucified or burned as human torches because they refused to forsake the name of Jesus. They were not raptured.
Jesus teaches what our faith must be ready for by what the anti-Christ will do.

Revelations 13: 15 He (2nd beast the anti-Christ, the lawless one) was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Our faith will be tested to see if it is willing to surrender one’s life for Jesus by refusing to worship the image of the beast and take his mark. But Jesus says that those who do shrinks back from their faith will be forever tormented and destroyed.

Revelations 14: 9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, 10 he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."

Hebrews 10: 38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

We also learn that those whose faith willingly surrenders their life for Jesus will be blessed if they should die before the coming of the anti-Christ.

Hebrews 14: 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."

We will be blessed if we should die before the anti-Christ comes because of the deeds that we have done through faith that surrenders itself to Jesus we will go home to be with God forever.
We also will be blessed if we are one of the saints who the anti-Christ martyrs. We will be resurrected and will reign with Jesus for thousand years on earth.

Revelations 20: 4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

As brothers and sisters in Christ I want our faith to be prepared for what is to come before Jesus returns and not mislead you to think that you will be raptured before the anti-Christ comes.
Paul said we need to work out your salvation with fear and trembling so I know we must teach God’s word the way he wants it done.

2 Timothy 3: 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

If my teaching sounds like I am correcting and admonishing, I do it because of my love for Jesus and for you and how much I do not want us to go off the narrow path home to God.
We should not think that we are adults and should not be taught that way because you will always be a child in God’s eyes who will always need his correction and admonishment so that our faith remains true to him.
Faith that is ready to surrender their life for Christ comes by believing what the saints in Hebrews believed.

Hebrews 11: 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.
14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their
own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 12: 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Faith that surrenders itself to Jesus is one that longs to be with God forever and not this world. It is Faith that sees this world as strange because God does not reign in it making it foreign to them because we are citizens of heaven.
When our faith is like theirs, we no longer are afraid to surrender our life for Jesus because of the hope that we have in him and his promise to be with God forever with all their heart, mind, soul and strength.
This is kind of faith Jesus will look for when he returns. Faith willing to give their life for hm and not be unprepared like the 5 foolish virgins in his parable who were unprepared by not bringing extra lamp oil and missed going with Jesus.

Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

I once thought that evangelism is sharing the gospel to unbelievers outside of church. Like Billy Graham who had big tent gathering to reach unbelievers outside of church.
I also assumed that everyone who goes to church knows the gospel and wanted eternal life with God.
The Lord has allowed me to witness in myself and in others in church that we did not truly know and understands the gospel of Jesus that saves to bring us home to our Father in heaven. I also learned that I truly do not know who will go to heaven. Only God knows the heart and mind of what people believe is true to him and be saved.
Jesus calls us to go make disciples for him meaning we are responsible to teach new believers the gospel of Jesus that will save them.
In Ephesians 4, one of the gifts in the church is the evangelists and they also were gifted to prepare the church for works of service to build it up so that they all reach unity in their faith in the complete knowledge of Jesus.
So, evangelism is to be taught in the church.
Jesus said that his gospel is a narrow path and door to his Father and only a few find it.
So, we should not assume that everyone in church is the few that are on Jesus’ narrow path to his Father if they are not being evangelized to know and understand the whole gospel truth.
Eternal life comes through knowing what is having faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and being obedient to his teachings and commandments because you love him. This is what should be evangelized in church to keep everyone on the narrow path to be with God forever because no one comes to the Father but through the Son and no one comes to the Son unless his Father calls them to him.

We must evangelize that God’s promise of eternal life is not because you do good works in church or that you follow God’s laws. Eternal life is promised through God’s grace and faith in Jesus. That is why we must evangelize in church so that no one falls short of being in God’s rest, eternal life which Hebrews warns.

Hebrews 4: 1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard it did not combine it with faith. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest,

The Israelites fell short of receiving God’s promise rest in the promise land because when the gospel was preached to them, they did not value it and had no faith in it. It is the same for us today that we must preach clearly the whole gospel message of Jesus so that no one fall short and off the narrow path of God’s promise of eternal rest with him.

Pastors are not the only one responsible for church members falling short of their salvation. Pastors are responsible to preach the gospel, but they are not responsible for members to know and understand the gospel and have faith in it. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, so this responsibility falls upon every family member in church.

Everyone who has confessed Jesus as their Lord should have faith and understanding of how not to fall short in their love for God and should recognize when someone is falling short or do not love for Jesus because the do not obey his teachings and commandment or really want eternal life.

They come to church just to make friends and for the social activities. There will some who will do things to win hearts for themselves, some seek to have important status or authority in church. They all are looking out for their own interest and not what interest Christ. We who are mature in Christ are called to correct and admonish them with the gospel to save them so that they will repent and be saved.

There will be those who come seeking God because they were once lonely and felt unloved but found the God who loves them and now are seeking to know and love him. We who love Jesus are responsible to evangelize to them and teach them the gospel so that can be one with God and his family and not fall short of their salvation.

The clear sign of our salvation is when we long to be with Jesus.

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many
people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

When your hope is in being with Jesus it becomes the anchor of your salvation because this hope keeps you on his narrow path home to our Father.

Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.

As disciples of Jesus, we should know what Jesus wants us to do in every situation that God has planned for us. Because Paul said we have the mind of Christ, walk like Jesus and be imitators of God.

Ephesians 5: 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

To be able to do what Jesus wants us to do it must be done out of faith. Faith that believes that Jesus willingly gave himself as a sacrificial offering to ransom us from our death penalty for our sins. That he did this out of love for his Father and their love for us. If you believe this, you will love God with all your heart because he calls you his children and welcomes you into his eternal kingdom.

To love God is to willingly die to sin knowing that this pleases him. Jesus said if anyone wants to be with him, they must deny themselves, pick up their cross, meaning to die to sin and to follow his teachings and commandments.

Paul teaches in Ephesians how to imitate what God wants us to do.

Ephesians 5: 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

There cannot be any hint of sexual immorality and that is same sex union, adultery after a divorce that was not out of unfaithfulness or an unbelieving spouse wanting a divorce. There cannot be sex outside the bond of marriage. Sexual immorality is anything that is not true to God design that he created it to be from Scripture.

There cannot be any kind of impure acts or thoughts in the heart of believers that is not Christ loving and pure to each other as a family of God.

1 Timothy 5: 1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. 3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.

There cannot be any love for wealth which Jesus said is the root of all Evil. When money becomes a person or a church first importance, they have lost their first love. Churches that conduct service just to increase their wealth has lost its first love for Jesus. A church is the body of Christ and Jesus as its head who wants everyone to work out their salvation with fear and trembling so that they repent and be saved. The church does this by first loving Jesus and obey his will that all be united in faith, having the complete and full knowledge of him,

Revelations 2: 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Just the hint of sexual immorality, impurity and greed, Pastors, church leaders and mature disciples are responsible to protect the body of Christ and keep Christ’s bride holy to Jesus. Hints of sin must be confronted quickly so it does not spread, condoned, or tolerated by immature believers in church. We must protect Christ bride and not a person’s sinful nature by correcting, admonishing sinfulness with God’s word with 1 Corinthians 13 love to save the lost and not be afraid to hurt someone’s feelings. When we condone or tolerate someone’s impurity it misleads them to continue in sin which drives the Holy Spirit away from them. Loving some in church is not giving in to their sinful actions but to love them by confronting their bad choices, so they can repent and be one with the Holy Spirit again.

When we love Jesus, we capture our every thought and conform it to him which changes the way we speak.

Ephesians 5: 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

As disciples of Christ, we have the light of God’s wisdom to know and understand his truth so that we will not be deceived by empty words that is spoken in and out of church but live with the wisdom of God.

Ephesians 5: 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15 Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

To love Jesus is not being asleep in knowing his teachings and commandment for the they are the light that saves us and the power of God.

Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

The apostle Paul was sent by Jesus to preach and teach the Gentiles his gospel of salvation and this gospel is the foundation of all the churches of Jesus Christ.

Paul said that the power of God is the gospel which is the Word of God and that is Jesus. This means that everything that Jesus taught, commanded and did was God’s Word. Jesus sent his chosen apostles to proclaim his gospel and to make disciple commanding them to obey his teaching and be completely emersed in knowing the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

So, every believer in church must be a disciple and follower of Jesus that is maturing in knowing the teachings and commandments of Jesus because they believe in his gospel.

Jesus’ gospel must be true to God’s word, or our faith will not be true to Jesus. That is why Paul said in Philippians that we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Do not take for granted that your faith is true to God when you do not know God’s word.

Jesus told the Pharisees you read the Old Testament Scripture because you think it will give you eternal life, but the OT Scripture was to reveal him. Today we have the Holy Spirit’s New Testament of Jesus’ words that reveals God’s will which is to believe, listen and obey to his Son and you will receive eternal life. This is the new covenant we have with God it is no longer the old covenant which no one could follow and obey to receive the promise land.

Because of God’ grace Paul passionately preached the gospel with the strong desire to save those who were seeking God. This same passion and desire should be in every believer’s heart in church because they believe it is through God’s grace and belief in the gospel of Jesus they are saved and will be with God forever.

Paul teaches in Romans 12, what a believer that love Jesus becomes.

Romans 12: 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.

Out of love Jesus willingly sacrificed himself to save us so those who are thankful willingly offer their body as a living sacrifice out of our love for Jesus. Paul teaches what a living sacrifice will do.

Romans 12: 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

A living sacrifice knows what is and is not conforming to patterns of this world. To do this you must renew your mind and see things from God’s perspective and then you will be able to know what God approves and what pleases his perfect will. Paul teaches what God’s will is which we must renew our minds to obey.

Romans 12: 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

The renewing of our minds begins in the way we fellowship with each other in church as brothers, and sisters in Christ which does not follow the pattern of this world. Paul continues to teach how we must treat everyone including those in this world.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The power of Jesus’ gospel is our faith, a faith that is a living sacrifice.

Be safe in Jesus
Ps. Glenn

When I was a new Christian, I thought a church was a building where Christians gathered to worship God. Just like the temple in the Old Testament where I thought God dwelled in making the building sanctified and holy. The building is where you could go to be close to God and where he would hear your prayers, a shelter where God would protect you.
But as I matured as a disciple of God’s word, I have come to understand what God’s temple is and where He dwells. This is very important to know so that we are not misled in knowing what God’s temple is and how this understanding effects the future prophesies before Jesus returns.
We first must understand if God actually lived in the temple.
God did not ask David to build him a temple it was what David’s desire to build the temple for God. God allowed David to build the temple through his son Solomon. Solomon understood what the temple would be to God and the purpose it would serve.
2 Chronicles 6: 18"But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! 19 Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 20 May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.

Solomon said God could not be contained in a man-made temple and we should not think God would dwell among men. The temple is where God would place his name not himself. The temple was where people could pray to him and he would see from heaven and hear their prayers.
And God tells Solomon how the people should pray so he would hear their prayers.
2 Chronicles 7: 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

God said His eyes and ears will be attentive when they prayed with the right heart and then he will make the temple sacred and his Name would remain in it and his eyes would keep watch over it and his heart would be there. God also warned Solomon what would make him reject this temple.

2 Chronicles 7: 19 "But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands, I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say, 'Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' 22 People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them-that is why he brought all this disaster on them.'

God did reject this temple when it was destroyed by the Babylonians because the Israelites forsake God’s decrees and commandments and worshipped other gods and the Romans destroyed the rebuilt temple in 70 AD because the Jews forsake Jesus’ teaching and commandments and refused to worship him as God because Jesus was the temple of God.

John 2: 18 Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

When Jesus gave up his spirit on the cross the curtain that covered the entrance to the most holy of holies in God’s temple was torn from top to bottom.
Matthew 27: 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to
bottom.
The opening of the curtain meant when Jesus died for our sins we no longer will be separated from God. Before only the high priest could enter the most holy place after being purified and only once a year.
Hebrews 9: 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the
people had committed in ignorance.

Read Hebrews 9:8-28, the Holy Spirit teaches why the most holy of holies was open through Jesus.

Hebrews 9: 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings-- external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

Because the Most Holy Place in the temple was still standing to receive the gifts and sacrifices for the forgiveness of one’s sins it would not remove the quilt of our sins it remained in our conscience.

The temple was where the Israelites were commanded to go by God to receive his forgiveness of their sins by shedding the blood of their animal sacrifice that represented their blood being shed for their sins. But this continuous need to make animal sacrifice could not free their consciences of their continuous sinning. Only when Jesus entered the temple of God in heaven as our high priest and sacrificed his sinless self once and for all for the world’s sins, only then all sins past, present and future were forgiven. Opening the door for all to receive eternal life. Jesus is our mediator before his Father in heaven, being our eternal ransom for sin which frees us from having a guilty conscience that kept us from being with God.

Therefore, there is no longer a need for a man-made temple to be with God. Jesus is the temple which we go to and be one with God.

Hebrews 10: 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

We are told not to give up on meeting together because we become the temple of God, which is the body of Christ, the church and not a building.

1 Corinthians 12: 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

So, when the curtain was torn open it means God’s name is no longer in a man-made temple. Now his Holy Spirt dwells in the temple of a believer and when believers gather, they become the body of Christ the temple of God.

So, when Paul speaks of the lawless one who sets himself in God’s temple and proclaim himself to be God which temple is Paul speaking of, a new man-made temple which God will no longer need to dwell in or is it the temple of believer’s body that the Holy Spirit now dwells in?

Paul said we should know the schemes of Devil wanting God’s children to be unprepared for the coming of the Lord. Believing in which kind of temple will gets you ready for the Lawless One? God’s temple that exists now in believers or the man-made one that is still waiting to be built.
Be safe in Jesus,
Ps. Glenn

Is being the light of Jesus in this world important to Him? Yes, it is.
Jesus said this in:
Matthew 5: 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Jesus calls us to be his light before people. The question is how does Jesus want his disciples to shine His light in this world? Jesus teaches what our light should look like.

John 8: 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

Jesus said those who follow him become his light in this dark world. So, your light is following Jesus’ teachings and commandments and exampling what Jesus and his apostle’s did in the Bible that glorified God. So, our words and actions become the light of Jesus in this world.

That is why Jesus commissioned his apostles to go make disciples by completely soaking them to know the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and obey his teaching.

Matthew 28: 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

When we are completely soaked in knowing the name of God and obey Jesus’ teachings and commandments, we become the light of Jesus doing his Father’s will and glorifying him in this world. Being the light of Jesus is not guessing or assuming or feeling what Jesus wants you to do. As disciples of Christ, we know what to do by the Holy Spirit recalling it to us.

Our light will expose the darkness in this world and does not condemn but live a life that glorifies Jesus by doing what pleases God and that is to love as Jesus has loved us.

When we gather as the body of Christ, we are not like the world that lives in darkness. We are the one light of Jesus who know, understand, and obey Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

When we shine the light of Jesus in this world it is with the heart desire of God that all repent and be saved and not perish. We do not condemn people of their sins because then we become hypocrites of our own sins.

Our light is God’s love expressed by our good deeds is so that those who are seeking God can find him in the darkness of this world so when they ask you of the hope you have you can share the gospel and invite them to come to the Father who loves them.

Our light must be with an attitude to save people because it is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6: 2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

Spiritual wisdom tells us that the light we shine the world will not understand that it is our of our love for God, but out of love we always forgive them and remain steadfast that our light is to glorify Jesus and to save people and never to show our righteousness as a Christian.

Paul teaches how our light should shine before others.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Our light is to daily lead a quiet life that minds its own business and to work with our hands which will win the respect of unbelievers who God may open their heart to ask you about your faith.
We must always be ready and prepared because our light may be tested for being a Christian and be judged by the way the world falsely sees a Christian. But our confidence does not stand secure on the world’s judgment but that of Jesus’ judgment of the light we shine for him.
Be the light of Christ always,
Ps. Glenn

Last Sunday I shared that Jesus’ brothers and sisters are those who are disciples of his teaching, who know his Father’s will and obeys it. (Matthew 12: 49-50).
As a disciple of God’s words, Jesus said you will be reminded of what he said by the Holy Spirit.
John 14: 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
This recalling of God’s words by the Holy Spirit is the evidence of God’s presence in you. You do not need to memorize the Bible address of where it is written you just need to know it is written in Scripture. Just like Jesus when he quoted Scripture verses from the OT, he just said it is written.

Do not feel pressured to memorize Scripture, just reach the Bible continuously seeking to know the heart and mind of God. Then the Holy Spirit will remind you what is written in it and the more you feed yourself daily in God’s word the more the Holy Spirit will recall to you, even where to find it.

When the Holy Spirit’s reminding comes to you quickly you begin to hear and see things from God’s perspective. You become someone who is quick to listen and slow to speak in discerning what is true. You measure your words and actions to be true to God’s word.

It is also important to know who receives the Holy Spirit.

John 7: 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living
water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Jesus said anyone who believes in him will receive the Holy Spirit who will come and makes his home in a believer. So, it is very important to know what you believe in Jesus is true to Scripture.

Jesus warned that there will many false Jesus’, false prophets and false teachers who will distort God’s word about him, his teachings and his Father’s will for us.

Jesus proclaimed that God is his Father, meaning he is claiming to be God, co-equal to his Father. This is what the Pharisees knew he was saying and said that was blasphemous.

John 5: 17 Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

As disciples we believe Jesus is our Lord, our God and obey his teachings as the will of God.

John 5: 19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and
shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

To hear Jesus’ word means you obey it as the will of his Father who gives eternal life to all who believe in his Son as their Lord and what he did to save us.

Believing in Jesus is not just in thought it must transform into action. Jesus said our faith in him must be one of loving obedience only then will the Holy Spirit come and make his home in you.

John 14: 23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

A disciple of Jesus constantly trains themselves to read the whole Bible. I encourage you to read daily following the daily bookmark or any reading plan that covers the whole Bible. Read seeking the heart and mind of God so you know his will, which is to obey his Son’s teachings and commandments.

In Matthew chapter 5-7, Jesus teaches what he wants us to obey which the Holy Spirit will remind you when you are in a situation which it will apply to.

Jesus taught we must distain committing any sin. Do not commit adultery with our eyes. Marriage must always be faithful and do not divorce unless unfaithful. To always forgive those who sin against you. To love your enemies. Do not judge like a hypocrite. When you give to help others and when you pray do it in secret to the Lord then you will receive his reward in heaven.
Do you recall these teachings in Matthew? If you do, it is the Holy Spirit reminding you of it, so obey them out of love for Jesus and the Holy Spirit will remain in you.

I say the Holy Spirit will remain in you means that he can also leave.

1 John 2: 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.

The Holy Spirit will only teach you what is true to Scripture and not what is counterfeit and only those who seek God’s truth in Scripture will the anointing of the Holy Spirit remain in them. This anointing of the Holy Spirit in us is our guarantee of our eternal life with God.

Ephesians 1: 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our
inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

This truth of the Holy Spirit remaining in you teaches that the saying once saved always saved does not stand in Scripture. If it did Paul would not have said, we need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

So, be a Christ disciple and seek God with all your heart in Scripture and the Holy Spirit will remind you of what he taught you and obey it and this will assure you of his seal remaining in you assuring your eternal inheritance.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

Being the family of Jesus, we are his church.

We gather as brothers and sisters in Christ which means we are Jesus’ brothers and sisters making us the children of God the family of God.
Jesus teaches what makes us his brothers and sisters.

Matthew 12: 46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." 48 He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Jesus said his family members are those who are his disciples that do the will of his Father, and the will of his Father is to listen to his Son.
Jesus tells what it takes to be his disciple.
Matthew 16: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

A disciple of Jesus is someone who denies oneself, takes up their cross, which means willing to die for Jesus and follows him by obeying his teachings and commandments as their Lord.
When someone calls themselves a Christian, a believer or a brother or sister in Christ you do not know if they are what Jesus would call his disciple. Only they and Jesus would know if they were.
So, when we gather as the body of Christ, we are confessing to each other that we are a disciple of Jesus, who do the will of God, who denies oneself, willing to die for Jesus and obeys his teaching and commandments.
The only means we have in knowing if someone is our brother or sister in Christ is by the spiritual fruit Jesus said they will bear.
Matthew 7: 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
So, to bear good fruit we would need to know the will of God and to know God’s will we need to be a disciple of God’s word learned through the Holy Spirit. Spiritual fruit are evident by our words and actions that pleases God and for someone to recognize these spiritual fruit they themselves would need to be a mature disciple of God’s word.
Hebrews 5: 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
You need to constantly train yourself in God’s word to know his truth to do his will because you know good from evil.
God is pleased when we believe Jesus is his Son and that you love him by obeying his teachings and commandments and spiritually maturing through Holy Spirit.
Before Jesus went home to his Father, he gave clear instructions for his church and one is for faithful and wise servant he has put in charge of his church prepares his servants for his return.
Matthew 24: 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 45 "Who then is the faithful and wise
servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household
to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

So, pastors of a church is put in charge to prepare Jesus’ servants for his return. They do this by teaching the flock to be a disciple of Christ feeding on the word of God daily so that they know what pleases their Father’s will. So, when Jesus returns, they will recognize his voice when he calls them, and Jesus will find his good and faithful servants and welcome them into his kingdom.
Being ready for Jesus is not just when he returns it is also if he should call you home before he returns.
My hope is that I have been serving you by teaching you to be a disciple of Jesus and encouraging you to constantly train yourself daily in God’s word so that you know God’s will and obey it so that you will always be ready for Jesus when he calls you home.
And let’s pray that every faithful and wise servant is clearly teaching their flock as their brother or sister in Christ to prepare them so that they can go home to Jesus.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

At one time it seemed like our home in these islands was isolated from all the increasing violent crimes that are occurring on the mainland and in the world but now it has become worrisome seeing the increase in murders, violent crimes, robbery and abuse of children and women in our islands.

Paul tells believers to mark these terrible times that will increase during these last days before the Lord returns.

2 Timothy 3: 1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

Paul was not only talking about people in this world he was identifying people in the church who had a form of godliness but denied its power, those who did not love God but loved pleasure and those who were weak willed who were always hearing God’s word but never acknowledging its truth.

Some of those who committed crimes may have gone to church at one time or were brought up in a family who attended church but when at church did they witness the power of God and acknowledgement of God’s truth by members in church especially in their own family.

If the church only had a form of godliness because they did not teach the power of God and acknowledges its truth, they would bear the fruits of terrible people which would reproduce in their children. They would be people who love what pleases them and not what pleases God

This is where Paul teaches that the church must judge within itself to see if their church has the power of God and acknowledges its truth. Paul tells us what the power of God is and why it must be taught.

Roman 1: 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

The power of God is the good news that the Word of God has come to us in the flesh to bring God’s salvation to the world. The gospel is the teachings and commandments of our Lord Jesus which must be the foundational teaching whenever the church gathers in his name.

So, that they know how to love and please God and become the righteousness of his Son and receive the power of his salvation. A church that wants to be saved by the power of God will bear Spiritual fruit and not terrible ones.

When we live in the power of God’s word we live with the wisdom and understanding of our Lord Jesus who teaches us not to worry.

Matthew 6: 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than
food, and the body more important than clothes?

Matthew 6: 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Jesus said we should not worry about our life necessities because your Father knows our needs and he will provide them if you seek him first.

Matthew 6: 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

God’s kingdom is where God reigns and seeking his kingdom first is making God your king above all other things. Seeking God righteousness first is being like his Son first in our life. Doing this first you will receive God’s kingdom and his righteousness and everything for our life.

Does this include not worrying about the evil in this world?

If you receive the kingdom of God and his Son’s righteousness, you have the power of God’s salvation knowing neither death nor life can separate you from the love of God.

Romans 8: 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let us be in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ps. Glenn

At easter we commemorate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. His resurrection assures the resurrection of all who believe in him.
We have not witnessed Jesus’ resurrection, but we believe in those who did see Jesus’ empty tomb on the third day and then Jesus’ bodily appearance and speaking to them to prove his resurrection by their testament in the Bible.
Jesus said we will be blessed when by faith we believe in his resurrection.
John 20: 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
We are blessed because by faith we believe in Jesus’ resurrection after dying on the cross for our sins and like Jesus we who believe in him will also resurrect and be with him forever.
Paul preached that we must be firm in our faith in Jesus’ resurrection and our own resurrection and to refute those in church who do not believe in it.
1 Corinthians 15: 12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Jesus’ gospel it is a message of eternal life with God after death for those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for their sins and rose from the grave receiving God’s forgiveness so not to sufferer spiritual death; eternal separation from God.

Jesus’ resurrection is proof of his victory over death and our victory over the sting of death giving us eternal life which comes by God’s grace through faith in his Son which we must fearfully hold on to and not abandon.

This is the fear that Paul had when he preached the gospel to persuade others to believe in what is unseen.

2 Corinthians 5: 11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.

Paul is not asking us to take pride in him but to take pride in the truth that he preached about Jesus and his salvation which is sown in our heart by our love for Jesus in what is unseen and not what can be seen.
2 Corinthians 5: 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Believing Jesus died to give you eternal life transforms you to love Jesus with all you heart, no longer living for yourself but only for Jesus. You no longer see Jesus as the world those the way the Jews saw Jesus as their King who would save them from their enemy the Romans like God did for King David. When people want Jesus to fulfill their will and not God’s will they have a worldly view of Jesus. As a new creation in Christ, you perspective is like Jesus’ and your old earthly perspective is gone.

2 Corinthians 5: 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus died for the world’s sins to make a way for the world to be reconciled back to his Father. We are ambassadors of Jesus to share his gospel of reconciliation with those who are seeking God so that they can find their way back home to Him. Jesus message is one that reconciles and not one that condemns but one that saves through faith in Jesus.

2 Corinthians 6: 1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

Ever since the world was redeemed by Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have been in the time of God’s favor of his forgiveness that gives eternal life by God’s grace through faith in his Son. Now is the time of God’s salvation.

Easter is a time to reaffirm our calling to be ambassadors of Jesus’ salvation to those who are seeking God by sharing a message of reconciliation of his forgives so that they can be with him and his love forever.

When you are reconciled with God, you are a new creation in Christ you love what he loves and separate yourself from what unbeliever’s love. You do not yoke yourself to unbelievers in the world.

2 Corinthians 6: 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." 17 "Therefore come out from them and be
separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Not yoking yourself to unbelievers in this world is not separating or associating with them it’s not joining yourself in what they believe. Paul clarifies this in:

1 Corinthians 5: 9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?

If we separated ourselves from unbelievers in this world, we no longer can be ambassadors for Christ and share a message of reconciliation with God.

Paul teaches that we must be able to judge those who say they are your brother or sister in Christ but act like an unbeliever they are the ones you should not associate with but point out their shortcoming so that they can repent and be reconciled back with God and be one with the body of Christ again.

Easter is a reminder to test yourself to see if you are a new creation in Christ and be reconciled back with God because you believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection and living to love him because your utmost desire is to be with him forever.

Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

You may have heard someone put a spin on a truth to benefit themselves or someone. A spin is to twist the truth for one’s advantage.
Being honest in telling the truth plainly and at times people will twist the truth or just plain lie to protect themselves or someone from the consequences for telling the truth.
You would think this would not happen in churches, but that is what Paul was dealing with.
1 Corinthians 11: 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval.

There will be people in the church that will twist God’s truth to benefit their own belief to get what they want. There will be those who do not know God’s truth and will make up their own truth so that church will be what they want it to be. Paul saw this in church, and he needed to defend God’ truth from those who were twisting it to benefit themselves. To protect the church Paul tells us what we should do.

2 Corinthians 4: 1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
We should always set forth God’s truth plainly which gives us the confidence what we set forth are true to God and those who hear our words become conscientiously aware of God’s truth.
That is why Paul said we should never go beyond what is written in Scripture.
1 Corinthians 4: 6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.

As followers of our Lord Jesus the words we speak and the words we hear must be the plain truth of God’s word which the Holy Spirit will recall to you if you are a disciple of God’s word.
Paul tells why there will be unbelievers in church that do not accept God’s plain truth.
2 Corinthians 4: 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
God’s truth has come through his Son’s gospel, but there will be those who are blinded by what they want more in this world than the gospel. They refuse to accept the truth of Jesus’ teachings who is God and will perish.
Paul teaches the attitude we should have when teaching and hearing God’s truth.
2 Corinthians 4: 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

We must remember we are only a servant of Jesus and must only speaks the plain truth of his teachings for his sake. We are only a vessel of the Holy Spirit whose teaching we speak and hear which is God’s truth that he recalls to us. This truth is the light that shines through the darkness of our doubts and unbelief.

The plain truth of God’s word becomes our doctrine that saves us.

1 Timothy 4: 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

A church is the body of Christ when believers gather to only follow Jesus and obey his teachings. We do measure a church as the body of Christ the way the world would measures by the number of people, by its building, its ministries, its worship music, its talented people or by its pastor. The church should be measured by its members loving Jesus first and know and obey the plain truth of his teachings and commandments as his disciples. Then the church can be assured that the Holy Spirit dwells in its members and their seal that guarantees their eternal inheritance. That is the church that will never lose heart as they serve Jesus in the assurance of what they hope for and certain of what they do not see now waiting for them in heaven.

2 Corinthians 4: 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

When we believe in God’s plain truth of what is unseen, we overcome our momentary earthly troubles because of what we know we will become when we leave this earth.

2 Corinthians 5: 1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Believing that you will never die because Jesus resurrected to give you eternal life in a new spiritual body gives you the lasting hope of being in your new spiritual body with Jesus forever.

2 Corinthians 5: 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.

When Jesus is your first love you will always have a strong desire to be home with the Lord like Paul did which will make your goal to pleases Jesus knowing that he will judge what you do to be good or bad. This will make you fearfully share only the plain truth when sharing Jesus’ gospel which will make your conscience right with Jesus.

Be safe in Jesus,
Ps. Glenn

In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul calls upon pastors and church leaders to counsel and make judgement in settling disputed between believers in their church.
This is where their teaching, counseling and judgment must be inline with Jesus’ teachings and commandment which he gave to his apostles to teach the church.
Paul said to appoint those in church who are of little account to judge disputes because the leaders were not willing to settle disputes in church.
1 Corinthians 6: 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?

How many believers settle a dispute by seeking their pastor or church leader counsel? Trusting that they will receive Godly counsel and instructions when they themselves do not know Jesus’ teaching and when they learn it is from Jesus are willing to submit to it because Jesus is their Lord.
Paul said in: 2 Timothy 2:5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.

For us to win the prize of being with God we must follow the rules that Jesus has set forth for us to receive it. This is not working for our salvation it is knowing how to work out our salvation with fear and trembling by staying on the narrow path Jesus has set for us to follow.
What pastor’s set before the church is the teachings and commandments of Jesus which they use to settle disagreements, but it will be up to the believer to obey their counsel because they personally know it is true to Jesus and that he is their Lord.
These rules are the works of service that the church follows so that they become united in one faith to have the complete knowledge of our Lord Jesus that Paul taught is Ephesians 4.
I shared some of Paul’s rules last time ending with the husband and wife being responsible to care for their marital needs to protect their marriage from the temptations of the devil.
Paul continues in chapter 7 teaching why men and women should or should not marry, what a believing wife must do if she separates from her husband, a believing husband must not divorce their believing wife, reason for not divorcing and when divorce is allowed when married to an unbelieving spouse and who a believing widow or widower should marry.
Chapter 8, Paul teaches the freedom we have in Christ and to be careful in how we use our freedom before others.
1 Corinthians 8: 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
Paul said those who are knowledgeable in the freedom they have in Jesus need to be careful not to flaunt that freedom before other believers whose faith is still growing to distinguish good and evil. Flaunting our freedom may make them believe it is okay to sin.
1 Corinthians 8: Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.
Loving Jesus is doing everything out of love for him and when we do not do it out of love for God, we will not be known by him.

In chapter 9 Paul said when he preaches the gospel, he does it voluntarily because he knows then he will receive a reward in heaven. Those who do preach should receive an earning if they are sowing spiritual seeds, but Paul said he is compelled to preach because of his love for Jesus and he will become whatever is needed to save some because of his love for them.

So, when we follow these rules that Paul lays out for the church it must be done out of our love for God which Paul teaches in Corinthians 13.

In chapter 10 Paul wants the church to learn from Scripture God’s reasons for punishing the Israelites as a warning for us not to commit idolatry, sexual immorality, to test God and to grumble to God as they did. We also must not participate in any other religion rituals even though we know their god or gods do not exist because they are worshipping demons.

In chapter 11, Paul said men and women in church must respect the authority that God has created them to be as they serve each other unto the Lord. Communion must always be taken respecting the holiness of the bread and the fruit of the vine being the broken body and shed blood of their Lord Jesus.

In chapter 12, Paul said it is through the Holy Spirit that one proclaims “Jesus is Lord” because this statement is true to God. Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit as he determines and not by others and he gives these spiritual gifts for the common good of the church.

In chapter 13, Paul teaches everything we do must be done out of love for God or it has no meaning to him. Paul describes the attributes of Godly love.

In chapter 14, Paul said the gift everyone should seek is speaking God’ word, which is prophesy because it edifies the church giving it strength, encouragement, and comfort. Tongues should only be spoken when it can be interpreted so it can edify the whole church and tongues are evidence for unbelievers.

In chapter 15, Paul teaches never doubt the resurrection of Jesus for it is one of the pillars of our faith for our salvation. It is the proof like Jesus our body will one day resurrect not in flesh but into a new spiritual body like Jesus.

In chapter 16, Paul teaches that our giving should be to help those in need and done not as a sacrifice but in keeping with our income so that what we receive from the Lord cares for our own needs.

These are clear rules we as a church must understand and follow to settles any disputes and disagreements and obey as on to the Lord.

Be safe in Jesus.
Ps. Glenn

I have shared the importance of wearing the armor of God, which is God’s Truth, his righteousness, Jesus’ gospel of peace, having faith in Jesus, our salvation in Jesus, using God’s word to protect us and praying in the Spirit on all occasions. This armor only protects us when we understand its meaning and believe in it to stand against the devil’s schemes that he uses to attack us to lead us away from Jesus.
God’s armor is to believe in the forgiveness of God’s grace, to believe Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave.
This armor is put in action by loving God by obeying Jesus’ teachings and commandments in the gospels and the letters his apostles wrote for his church to protect itself from the devil’s schemes to destroy the church.
We need to protect the body of Christ because Paul warns in 1 Thessalonians 4 of the rebellion of the church before Jesus returns.
Paul was one of Jesus’ chosen apostles.
1 Corinthians 1: Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

Paul’s 1st Corinthian letter teaches the church the armor it needs to wear to protect the body of Christ. The most important armor that the church must wear is to only follow Jesus because some church members were not but were following church leaders.
1 Corinthians 1: 11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

The church must only follow Jesus, when they are not, they are dividing the body of Christ because Jesus is no longer the head of his church and only through Jesus, we become a member of his body.

1 Corinthians 1: 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

When we follow Jesus we receive the wisdom of God, his righteousness, his holiness, and his salvation through the Holy Spirit. Our boasting can only be in Jesus and not in an apostle, a saint, a pastor, a teacher, in a church or in a denomination.

Boasting in the Lord is to give glory to God. So, when you boast in someone other than Jesus you are giving glory to them, crediting them for giving you God’s wisdom or even for saving you or someone, when all these things has come about through God’s will and not by a person or by an environment.

Paul teaches how we should recognize apostles, pastors, and teachers.

1 Corinthians 3: 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

Pastors and teachers only plant and water with God’s words and never with their own personal beliefs. They should never seek gratitude for being a servant of Jesus because their teaching is a gift, they received from the Holy Spirit it’s not their own. Paul said when we use our gift according to God’s purpose, we will receive a reward from him in heaven it should never be used for personal gain.

Pastors and teachers pray in the Spirit that God will uses their teaching to make the listener grow which also depends on the kind of soil the listener has.

We must only boast and follow Jesus giving him thanks for the Holy Spirit who teaches us God’s wisdom which will protect the church from false teaching and spiritual death.

1 Corinthians 2: 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit 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. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

When you hear teaching or speak what you believe is true to God you must discern that it is true to God’s word. Never agree with a teaching because the teacher is an eloquent speaker or a friend, you must only agree with teaching through your love for Jesus’ teachings and commandments that the Holy Spirit has taught you is true to God’s word.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3: 12, When you build upon the foundation of Jesus’ gospel with God’s truth, they are spiritual gold, silver and precious stones which you will be rewarded in heaven for using, but if you build with things that are not precious to Jesus like wood, hay or straw it will burn up when it passes through Jesus’ purifying fire. You still will be saved because of your faith in his gospel but the useless things you were building with will be burned up and you will not receive a reward from Jesus.

When you follow Jesus, you will have his mind and you will know how to build on his foundation at church.

In chapter 4, God’s armor is to always stand upon the teachings of Jesus’ apostles and follow their examples of living for Christ because they were his servant, and they know the secret things of God.

1 Corinthians 4: 1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.

God’s armor in chapter 5, the church must never tolerate anyone who is sexual immoral, greedy, idolater, slanderer, a drunkard, or a swindler in the body of Christ which must always be kept holy for Jesus as its bride.
1 Corinthians 5: 9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not tojudge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."

Today you will find that this armor is not used in many church denominations today.

This armor is only for the church and not for believers to use to judge and condemn the immoral in this world.

God’s armor in chapter 6 is for believers who have a dispute with each other to seek counsel and judgement by church leaders and not to go seek the judgment of those in the world who do not know Jesus or obey him. This is only between believers who profess Jesus as their Lord and submit to the same church leadership.

1 Corinthians 6: 1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!

God’s armor in Chapter 7 is for the husband and wife to diligently care for their spouse’s marital needs to protect their marriage from the devil’s temptation to destroy it.
1 Corinthians 7: 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.

Marriage was created by God for a man and woman to unite as one flesh for the spiritual wellness of their marriage and to raise Godly children.

So, the armor we need to put on to protect the church from the devil is to only follow and boast in the Lord, to obey the teachings and examples of Jesus and his apostles, do not allow anything that is immoral in church, believers to settle their disputes through the counsel of church leaders and for married couples to care for each other’s marital needs.
When a church wears all this armor it will be the body of Christ.

Be safe in Jesus
Ps. Glenn

I have heard of religious groups that say that they are bullet proof because of their faith in Jesus. They say no harm will befall them because they literally believe what Jesus said in Mark 16 that a snake bite or drinking poison will not harm them.
I have heard people say that God will surround a believer with his angels to protect them and fight demons for them or God himself will go out before them and fight for them which Moses did say to the Israelites before they entered the promised land.

Deuteronomy 9: 1 Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have
walls up to the sky. 2 The people are strong and tall-Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: "Who can stand up against the Anakites?" 3 But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the Lord has promised you.

God promised to go before the Israelites and destroy their enemies. But this promise was conditional upon the Israelites completely following and obeying his commandments.

Reading Deuteronomy, we know God knew it was impossible for them to do this because of their sinful nature and they did disobey God and received his promised curse that he forewarned them they would receive if they disobeyed him.

Today people say they believe in God’s promise to go before them and fight for them because they are now under God’s grace having been forgiven of their sins. Is that true?

Jesus promised his presence would always be with his disciples.
Matthew 28: 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Jesus said he will always be with those who love and obey him which he promised in John 14. But it is false to believe that Jesus will go out and fight our spiritual battles. Paul teaches something different.

Ephesians 6: 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against
the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Paul said our battle is with the spiritual forces of evil. James said the devil is like a prowling lion looking for someone to devour. Paul did not say Jesus will go out and fight evil for us. He said we need to put on the full armor of God, and we must stand our ground in that spiritual battle.

The Holy Spirit’s teaching provides us the spiritual armor to go into battle. He will not make you put it on, nor will he fight your battles with it.

Jesus told his disciples they will be protected by his name in John 17. He said our faith in his name will protect us from evil. Those who love Jesus will always have the Holy Spirit in them if they have faith in his name. This faith in Jesus must be true to his name which makes up the armor of God. That armor is putting on the breast plate of his righteousness, his belt of truth, his helmet of salvation, his gospel on your feet, using his word as a sword, and faith in him as our shield.

God wants us to fight our spiritual battles with the spiritual armor that he has provided and as you use them it will mature our faith as we witness it defeat our spiritual enemies.

Jesus commands us in Matthew 7 to put his teachings into practice which gives us a solid foundation and makes us stand strong in the storms to come.

In Galatians, Paul was dealing with the spiritual battle of life and death in this church. Paul warns the church not to follow a different gospel from the one they already received from him. A gospel that was proved to be true when they received the Holy Spirit and by the evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit miracles he did.

There were Jews in the church telling Gentile believers that they must be circumcised, or they will not be accepted by God. Paul warns if they are circumcised themselves they must follow all the OT laws to be saved and if that was possible then there would be no need for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

Paul put on the armor of God as he confronted the false teachers that were misleading and confusing church member. He said those who teach a false gospel should be condemned to hell because they were leading believers to spiritual death.

Paul went out to fight his spiritual battle. He did not wait upon God to go out to fight for him. So, we should not think that God will fight our battles. If you want God to do that you would need to be perfect in following all the laws of God in the Old Testament, which is impossible to do because we sin.

We are in a spiritual battle because Revelations 12:17 says that the devil has made war against God’s children and if you are not prepared to battle the devil with God’s armor you will be defeated and sin.

But always remember that Jesus has defeated the devil on the cross for you and he promises that all who repent and seek his forgiveness will not perish they will be restored as a child of God if they do not doubt this everlasting truth.

Be safe in Jesus
Ps. Glenn

Paul said that those who hope in Christ their lives have been predestined according to God’s plan for them for his purpose of his will.
Ephesians 1: 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

So, we can look back at our life and see God’s plan that he had predestine for us to find the hope we now have is Jesus.

Looking back, I grew up in a home that did not know Jesus. We were supposedly Buddhist, but I did not know what that meant because we did not study or practice Buddhism. I first heard the gospel of Jesus when I was 21, when I attended a Campus Crusade for Christ meeting and heard the 4 spiritual laws of God.
This is the 4 spiritual laws.
The 1st law.
1. God loves you and created you to know Him personally. John 3:16 "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life".
And this is eternal life: John 17: 3 "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent".
The 2nd law is Man is sinful and separated from God, so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love. Romans 3: 23 "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".
Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his own stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin. Our sins separate us from God. Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is death"
This death is spiritual separation from the presence of God. 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9 "...(Those) who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus...will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord..."
The 3rd law is Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him alone we can know God personally and experience God's love. Jesus died in our place for our sins. Romans 5: 8 "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us".
Jesus Rose From the Dead. 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 "Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred..." .
Jesus is the Only Way to God. John 14: 6 "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me'".
The 4th law, it is not enough just to know these truths... We must individually receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord; then we can know God personally and experience His love.
These 4 spiritual laws as a disciple of God’s word for 23 years I have come to truly believe they are the gospel truths that will give eternal life to anyone who believes in it by faith.
When I first heard the spiritual laws, I did not understand it or believe in it, because when I went to Campus Crusades, I was not seeking God. I went there because of the deep loneliness that I had. But after attending several meetings I found a strong presence of God’s Spirit in the students there and at one meeting God made himself real in my heart and miraculously my loneliness disappeared making me believe that God was real in my life, and I never wanted him to leave.
At that time, I was someone that Paul described in Acts 17. Someone seeking and reaching out to God but did not know how to find him.
The 4 spiritual laws were shared to me again, but I still could not grasp its meaning because I did not understand what eternal life was because I did not know the true God and Jesus Christ which Jeus said in John 17:3, you needed to know to have eternal life. So, I became a disciple of God’s word and sought to know the true God and Jesus Christ for the Bible.
Learning from God’s plan in my Campus Crusade experience I saw that the gospel was presented in 2 ways in the New Testament. One to the Jews which Peter did in Acts 2. Peter shared Scripture from the Old Testament to reveal Jesus because Jesus said he came only to the lost sheep of Israel. The Jews were God’s chosen people who knew and believed in God and the covenant God had with their father Abraham from the Old Testament. They believed in the written words of his prophets and their prophecies of their Messiah. That is how Peter shared the gospel to Jesus them.
But through God’s grace and faith in Jesus dying for the sins of the world even the Gentiles who believed in Jesus would have eternal life.
Paul was sent by Jesus to be his apostle to the Gentiles, so his gospel would take a different approach then Peter’s gospel to the Jews which we see in Acts 17.
Most children who were raised in a Christian church grew up believing in God like the Jews. Debby as a child and my children grew up in church believing in God of the Bible. I was different, I did not grow up believing in God, I was a Gentile pagan who did not know or believed in the God of the Bible.
I believed in things of the world just like the people in Athen the apostle Paul spoke to in the Acts 17. That is why I could not embrace the 4 spiritual laws because I did not know the true God and Jesus Christ as someone who was a Gentile pagan. It took a long time seeking to find the true God in the Bible and I did find him and now understand and believe in the 4 spiritual laws.
Paul’s Galatian’s letter was written to Gentiles that he converted through his teachings of the gospel that gives freedom from the law because of the hope we have in Jesus. But these Gentile believers were easily swayed to follow a different gospel by Jews who told them they must obey the laws of Moses or they would not have eternal life.
Galatians 1: 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Paul received the true gospel personally from Jesus and he battled against the Jews who misused God’s laws to confuse and pervert the Gentile believers to follow a different gospel other than the one they first believed in Christ. Paul knew if they followed this false gospel, it would lead them away from Jesus and to spiritual death.

This Galatians letter and all the other letters written by Paul and the other apostles are the written truth of their Lord Jesus which they wrote through the Holy Spirit. The gospel truth of Christ frees us from the curse which Paul said came from God’s OT laws because no one could fulfill God’s law that would have made someone holy and righteous because our sinful nature. The laws led us to death which is not good news.

As we study Galatians you will see how Paul clarified and justified the freedom we have in Jesus and not in the OT laws which cannot help us come to know our true God and Jesus Christ and provide a way home to our loving God.

We may have come to know God by being raise in a Christian church or come to know of God as a Gentile pagan of this world. But understanding the truth of the gospel is how we each heard it shared from where we were in our belief in God.

Jesus said he came to give us eternal life, so what you have been taught about the gospel is to learn to know the true God and Jesus Christ which would give you the hope of having eternal life.
John 17: 3 "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent".
Our hope in receiving eternal life is to know the true God and Jesus Christ and obey his gospel.
2 Thessalonians 1:8,9 "...(Those) who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus...will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord..."
In hindsight can you see God’s predestine plan he had for you to come to where you are today as someone who is his chosen, his elect, his son and daughter.

Be safe in Jesus,
Ps. Glenn

Paul said in:
1 Corinthians 12: 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

Paul said those who say “Jesus is Lord” proclaims this through the Holy Spirit because they are uttering prophetic truth. Anyone who says that Jesus is Lord even though they do not know or believe in Jesus they are still stating something that is true to God. Jesus is Lord.

When someone speaks prophecy from God it does not mean that person understands what they said or believe in the prophecy. They may even refuse to speak it or even question it. We know this because Balaam who spoke God’s oracles blessing the Israelites later cause the Israelites to sin. We know Jonah refused to speak God’s prophesy to Nineveh, Jeremiah questioned God’s will for him, and John the Baptist questioned if Jesus was the Messiah. We also see this with Peter.

In Matthew 16, Jesus asks his disciples who do people say that he is and then asked his disciples who do you say I am.

Matthew 16: 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

Peter proclaims Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God and this proclamation is the foundation which the body of Christ is built on. This truth is the key to our salvation, and it is not Peter being the key to our salvation or him being the foundation of the church which some have made him.

The disciples said some Jews believed that Jesus was a prophet of God like John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah. A prophet is someone who speaks the words God has given them. What Peter proclaimed, Jesus said was given to him by his Father in heaven, meaning Peter’s words were prophetic and not from his own understanding.

We know what Peter proclaimed was not something he believed in because he later rebukes Jesus for saying that he would be killed.

Matthew 16: 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

What Peter prophesized about Jesus he did not understand because his mind was like that of men.

Later Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain to pray and they saw Jesus being glorified and heard the voice of God clearly telling them who Jesus is to him.

Mark 9: 7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"

In Numbers 12:6, God said that he speaks to his prophets by visions and dreams but only with Moses he spoke face to face and clearly. Here on the mountain God speaks clearly to these disciples that Jesus is his Son, that he loves and commanded them to listen to him.

Today we have the living word of God in the Bible that gives eternal life to those who by faith believes that Jesus is the beloved Son of God and listens to him. And by having faith in Jesus the Holy Spirit comes and makes his home in them to teach, guide, and counsel his words in the Bible to have the full knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Believing God’s word is true is by faith and not by sight because only by faith we are healed. That is what Jesus said he will look for when he returns just as he looked for faith in people in the gospel.

After Jesus returned from the mountain, he found a group of people surrounding his disciples because they could not drive out a demon in a boy.

Mark 9: 19 "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."

Jesus asked the boy’s Father how long his son has been possessed by this demon.

Mark 9: 22 "From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my
unbelief!"

To help the father’s unbelief Jesus removed the demon from his son.

Mark 9: 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why
couldn't we drive it out?" 29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

Jesus’ spirit becomes troubled because of people’s unbelief in him, just as he was troubled with Mary and those with her in John 11. After witnessing all the miracles he showed them that he had the authority of God in him they still did not believe in him. They were just like the Israelites who did not believe in God after all the miraculous things he showed them in Egypt, at the Red Sea and in the desert.

Even his disciples struggled with their faith which Jesus often admonished them for having little faith in him. Their little faith kept them from healing the boy. Jesus tells them they could not heal the boy because this kind of healing comes only by prayer and prayer without faith in him is powerless. Without genuine faith in Jesus, we cannot release the impossible that is our Father’s will.

Jesus teaches who he will identify as his followers

Mark 9: 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

Being last and a servant of all is foreign to people in this world, but it must never be strange for those who are children of God. We must always care for the needs of others especially our church family, helping with their burdens and seeking their interest first. This is the salt Jesus looks for in his followers in his parable.

Mark 9: 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with each other."

Saltiness is putting others first and serving to care for the needs of our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. Because that salt will be tested by fire by Jesus.

1 Corinthians 3: 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Every prophecy, teaching and commandments that God wants us to know and obey is written for us in the Bible. We cannot add or take away any of it. And only by faith in Jesus can it be empowered to glorify and honor God’s will for us.

So let us be Jesus’s salt in the church and a light for this world to see.

Be safe in Jesus.
Ps. Glenn

Reading the books of Moses, we learn after 400 years in Egypt the Israelite had grown accustomed to their Egyptian lifestyle which made them rebel against God’s plan for them to go and take the promised land he promised to give them, but refused when they were told by their spies of its giant inhabitants.
Numbers 14: 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert!
3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our
wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to
go back to Egypt?" 4 And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt."
The Israelites did not believe in God’s promise that he would go before them and help them defeat their enemies in the promised land. They just feared what the spies said that there were giants in that land that would destroy them. They did not believe God and treated Him with contempt and wanted a new leader to take them back to Egypt and this angered God.
Numbers 14: 11 The Lord said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?
The Israelites had witnessed all the wonders of God’s miraculous signs against the Egyptians, walked through the parted Red Sea and watched their enemy being covered by the sea and destroyed, receiving daily bread from heaven. Witnessing all these miracles by God and yet they did not believe His promise to give them this promised land. Their contempt angered God and he would not allow them to enter his promise land.
Numbers 14:21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, 22 not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times- 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.
The spies that gave the bad report were killed by God which made the Israelites fear God realizing they have sinned and then presumed that God still wanted them to go and take the promised land which God commanded he would not let them enter.
Numbers 14: 40 Early the next morning they went up toward the high hill country. "We have sinned," they said. "We will go up to the place the Lord promised."
41 But Moses said, "Why are you disobeying the Lord 's command? This will not succeed! 42 Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies, 43 for the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword." 44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the high hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord 's covenant moved from the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.

It is dangerous to assume the will of God and not know his will from what he commands and teaches from Scripture. Presuming God’s will lead to destruction like these presumptive Israelites.
Never assume what God’s will is, you need to always know it is God’s word. When you hear someone says something about God’s will you are responsible to know it is from Scripture and not assume. Knowing God’s word is the firm foundation to know what is true to God.
God is faithful in keeping his promises and he did not tolerate any contempt by the Israelites who did not obey his commandments. Abraham believed God’s promise to give his offspring’s this promised land, but the Israelites had no faith in God and wanted to return to Egypt. They feared the giants more than believing God’s promise that he would go before them and fight for them.
Israelites often treated God with contempt, and he wanted to wipe them out, but Moses would appeal to him to forgive them and God relented and forgive them but still punished those who showed him contempt.
In the NT we find a God of grace through his Son to forgive sin and not condemn. Jesus was the promised Messiah that the Jews were waiting for, but Jesus was not the Messiah the Jews assumed he would be and refused to accept Jesus as their Messiah. Instead they held fast to the laws of Moses.
Mark 2: 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are
forgiven." 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."
The teachers of the law did not accept Jesus’ authority to forgive sin because they did not believe he was their Messiah. They showed contempt towards Jesus, but Jesus showed his authority to forgive sin by healing the paralytic to prove he was sent by God which Isaiah said the Messiah would set the oppressed free.
Jesus did not condemn them for their contempt for him but forgave them. Jesus forgave even to the point where he was dying on the cross asking his Father to forgive them for not knowing what they were doing.
The Jewish leaders were unwilling to repent because they assumed the Messiah would follow the laws of the Old Testament. They refused to become a new creation in Christ which Jesus said they need to do in his parable.
Mark 2: 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. 21 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins."

Jesus teaches to understand his teachings you cannot remain in your old OT beliefs or assumptions you must become a new creation in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Being a new creation is to always remain new in your understanding of Christ as you continually study God’s words. Receiving Jesus’ teachings as living and growing in you through the Holy Spirit who will help you mature and transform your mind to grown in having the whole knowledge Christ.
This transformation of God’s OT law to his law of grace and forgiveness through faith in his Son is found in these passages.
In the OT, God commanded if anyone did any work on the Sabbath they must be die.
Numbers 15: 32 While the Israelites were in the desert, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering wood
brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, 34 and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. 35 Then the Lord said to Moses, "The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp." 36 So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord commanded Moses.

To break the Sabbath law meant death. Jesus changes this Sabbath law to his.

Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the
Sabbath?"
The Pharisee saw God’s Sabbath law in Numbers 15 being broken. This being the Lord’s law only the Lord could change that law, which Jesus did.

Mark 2: 25 He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his
companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest,
he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions." 27 Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

Jesus reminds the Pharisees that David also broke God’s law because he was God’s anointed and now God’s anointed Son is with them and he is Lord over the Sabbath and has the authority to change the Sabbath law.
Jesus said the Sabbath law was made for man to rest from his work and not a law not to work because of a Sabbath day. Jesus proclaims that he is the Lord of the Sabbath and now we rest in Him and not in the law. Jesus has become our eternal Sabbath rest in God.

Hebrews 4 explains this Sabbath rest we have in Jesus.

Hebrews 4: 1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.' " 4 And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work." 5 And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest." 6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.
7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later
he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for
the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
Jesus is our sabbath rest through faith in him who gives us an eternal rest with God in heaven. We no longer depend on the laws made for the Sabbath which the Israelites did not believe would give them rest. That is why the sabbath was just a shadow of the eternal rest we would have in Jesus.
Colossians 2: 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is
found in Christ.
This reality in Christ only comes to those whose wine skin remains new and have become a new creation in Christ where the old has gone and new has come.
Your sabbath rest is in the name of Jesus, the Son of God, our Lord and Savior.
Ps. Glenn

The 6 elementary teachings from Hebrews 6 were written for disciples of Jesus and not something you would want to talk about to an unbeliever. As disciples we believe the Bible is the living word of God, and every word in it is true but unbelievers will not accept it’s truth. Jesus’ teachings will help his disciples to mature in having a united knowledge and understanding about Him and his will for us to obey.
To understand and believe in God’s truth Solomon’s proverb teaches we must fear God.
Proverbs 9: 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
People in this world and some in churches do not fear God which makes it impossible for them to understand the wisdom and knowledge that comes from His word because they have no fear in obeying God’s will that is found in it.
The last elementary teaching is “Eternal Judgment”. This teaches why we should fear God. Paul says God commands the world to repent because of his Son’s eternal judgment that has been set to come.
Acts 17: 29 "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the
divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design
and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
A day has been set when Jesus will judge this world and his disciples need to understand and believe in His eternal judgment and be repentant, so not to perish with those who do not fear God.
There are pastors that preach fire and brimstone sermons which is about Jesus’ final judgment when he will judge unbelievers for what they have done and send them to the lake of fire. Sermons of the eternal judgment put the fear of God in the heart of the listener so that they repent to God’s grace and be faithful to Jesus as their Lord. Is it wrong to put this kind of fear of God in the heart of a believer?
Jesus said this:
Matthew 10: 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Jesus said we should fear God who can destroy not only the body but also the soul in hell.
I never heard any pastor teach God’s eternal judgment at the 2 church I attended. But teaching of the eternal judgment is one of the elementary teachings which we need to understand so that we can mature to understand more solid spiritual teachings.
I think pastors do not teach God’s eternal judgment is because they are afraid church members may turn away from them and may leave the church. I know this is true when I shared Jesus’ parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25, and someone left the church because of that. I have found that people prefer a church where the pastor teaches from the Bible or from their own personal experiences about life applicable lesson. A pastor who can keep the listeners attention by interjecting funny quirks or jokes or worldly factual subject.
They do like pastors that uses Scripture to admonish, correct or train in righteousness, which Scripture is for to know the will of God.
2 Timothy 3: 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness,
A pastor is the shepherd of Jesus’ sheep, responsible to protect and help them get home to their Father by teaching them useful Scripture that will keep the sheep safe and not get lost. Pastors teaching is not to draw the sheep to follow them, so they do not leave the church. A pastor just wants to be a family member of Jesus’ flock who has been given a spiritual gift to care for his brothers, and sisters teaching them how to love the way Jesus has loved them. Teaching the sheep to only hear and recognize the voice of Jesus by knowing and obeying His will from Scripture and Jesus’ will is to know his eternal judgment.
In Revelations 20, Jesus’ eternal judgment will be for those whose name are not written in the book of life.
Revelations 20: 11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
This is the final eternal judgment of those who have not died in Christ and bodies where not resurrected in the gathering of the saints. This is the resurrection of people’s spirit rising to face judgment by Jesus. This is like the rich man’s spirit in Jesus’ story in Luke 16 who was suffering in the grave waiting to stand before Jesus sitting on his white throne and be judged by him. The throne is white because Jesus’ eternal judgment will be pure and just.
Their name will not be found written in the book of life and they will be thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire was prepared by God for the devil, beast, anti-Christ and all the fallen angels.
Matthew 25: 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Revelations 20: 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Our Father never wanted this lake of fire to be a place for his children that he loved from the beginning, but it was the only place he could send those who were condemned for refusing to love and believe in his Son that he sent to save them.
John 3: 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, thatwhoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
This is Jesus’ eternal judgment for those who do not believe in God’s one and only Son. Jesus will also judge those who call him Lord to see if their faith is genuine by how they loved obeying him. Those whose faith is genuine will be called his elect, his chosen, his Father’s children who will resurrect and gathered when Jesus comes with his angels to bring them home to his Father before His eternal judgment.
Be safe in Jesus,
Ps. Glenn

The 5th elementary teaching in Hebrews 6 is, “the resurrection of the dead”. This resurrection is for those who have died in Jesus and their dead body being resurrected like Jesus and be with Him forever.
The resurrection of the dead is something Marth believed when she told Jesus that she believed that to her dead brother Lazarus will resurrect in the last day.
John 11: 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
Martha’s belief in the resurrection of the dead was taught to her by the Pharisee’s teaching of the resurrection of the dead which they believed in.
Acts 23: 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)
Pharisee’s belief in the resurrection is not the same resurrection that Jesus promises to give those who believe in Him.
The Pharisees affirmed the doctrine of a literal resurrection of dead Jews physical body on the last day when their messiah returns and be reunited with their spirit.
Jesus tells Martha that he is the resurrection and the life for all who believes in him even though they die will live and those who are alive and believe in Him will never die because he is the Messiah.
This is the elementary teaching Jesus wants us to understand and believe in as the resurrection of the dead and is not just for the Jews but for all who believes he is the Messiah, our Savior. And it will not be a literal body of flesh resurrection but a resurrection into a new transformed spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15: 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a lifegiving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the
earth, the second man from heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. 50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
At the resurrection our body will no longer be of flesh but transformed instantly into a new imperishable spiritual body like our Lord Jesus because flesh and blood can never inherit the Kingdom of God.
Our new spiritual body being like Jesus we will no longer desire the thing our flesh desired it will only want to love and please our Father and be in his love forever.
Jesus teaches what will happen at the resurrection.
Matthew 24: 30"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Jesus will return the same way he left this time with his angels and gather God’s elect from all over the world.
Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Everyone will see Jesus coming down from the sky with his angels to gather and take all his elect home and the wicked will be left behind.
Matthew 24: 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
I heard a pastor say that those taken in this story are the wicked people because the wicked were taken away in the flood and those left are the elect. This story is about Jesus coming to take his elect by his angels and gather them with the other elect. If the wicked are taken, where are they taken to and if the elect is left when are they taken by the angels. Jesus mentions the flood as an analogy of no one knowing when he will return to take the elect away and not the wicked. So, Jesus teaches in Matthew 24: 42-51 to keep watch and be ready for his return.
Revelations 20:11-15, tell what will happen to those who are left behind because their name was not written in the book of life. The wicked dead will appear not in flesh and blood but in spirit on the last day before Jesus sitting on his throne to be judged by him and sentence to suffer 2nd death.
Jesus teaches in Matthew 25 who are his elect in his parables of the faithful wise servant, the 5 wise virgins and his sheep. So, as disciples we have no excuse for not knowing what God’s chosen elect should be doing.
Paul teaches the order of how God’s elect will be resurrected.
1 Thessalonians 4: 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Those who died in Christ their spirit will return with Jesus and their dead body will resurrect first before living believers and be transformed into a new spiritual body and join their spirit in the sky. This is the gathering of all God’s elect who will be with Him forever. This also confirms that when you die your spirit goes home to Jesus and comes back at the resurrection.
We need a new spiritual body for our spirit and not just remain as a spirit. Paul explains why in:
2 Corinthians 5: Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
Our spirit longs to be with its new heavenly dwelling it’s spiritual body with God in heaven. Because in our earthly body our spirit groans and is burdened as our body dies making our spirit long to be clothed with our spiritual body that will never die guaranteed by the Holy Spirit presence in us. And to be away from your body your spirit is at home with the Lord.
Jesus has given us signs we must watch for before he returns. He also gave Paul other prophetic signs we need to look out for before the coming of the Lord Jesus to gather his elect.
2 Thessalonians 2: 1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or
alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us,
saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
There are 2 events those who long for Jesus’s return should be watching out for, the rebellion within the church and the appearance of the man of lawlessness, the anti-Christ.
The rebellion will be the increase of false teaching and the pursuit of things not taught by the apostles for Christ church. It is when the church no longer obeys Jesus to go make disciples by teaching them to obey his teaching so that they completely know the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The 2nd event is the appearance of the anti-Christ which will be made known to all believers before Jesus returns which we see in Revelations 13-14 happening to the Saints.
We need to know all this to understand the resurrection of the dead when Jesus returns. Paul teaches who are those that will be saved and resurrected when Jesus comes.
2 Thessalonians 2: 13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ
God’s elects are those he has chosen before creation because he foreknew who would believe in the truth of his Son’s gospel which teaches the truth of these elementary teachings, so that we will not go astray by false teaching and be saved and ready to resurrect with a new spiritual body for our spirit when Jesus returns to gather his elect and be with him forever.
Be safe in Jesus,
Ps. Glenn

I hope you have been making a constant effort as you study God’s word to apply anything that the Holy Spirit reveals to you regarding these elementary teaching so that it matures you as Hebrews 5:14 teaches we need to constantly train ourselves in God’s word so that we begin to understand solid spiritual food so that we can distinguish good from evil. We cannot remain as infants in God’s word.
The 4th elementary teaching from Hebrews 6 is “Laying on of hands”.
In the gospel, we see Jesus at times laying his hand or touching someone to heal them as seen in Matthew.
Matthew 8: 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said, "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.
Matthew 8: 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
Matthew 9: 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
Matthew 9: 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; 30 and their sight was restored.
We need to remember one reason Jesus did miraculously healing was to show that he was sent by God and had the authority to speak for God.
Acts 2: 22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
Jesus also healed by the power of the Holy Spirit that was upon him.
Matthew 12: 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Luke 5: 17 And the power of the Lord was present for him (Jesus) to heal the sick.
Some have come to believe because Jesus touched or laid his hands on people that it was also necessary for them to touch the person to heal them, but the gospel teaches that Jesus also healed without touching the person. At time he just spoke, and people were healed.
Examples of this is when Jesus healed the centurion’s sick servant who he did not touch or see but just spoke it and he was healed because of the centurion’s faith or the 10 lepers who asked Jesus to heal them and Jesus just told them to go show themselves to the priest and on the way they were healed because they believed and obeyed what Jesus told them to do.
So, healing comes by faith in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, but always by God’s will. God’s will because not all will be healed just as Paul asked God to be healed of his torn in his side 3 times and was not healed but told by God that his grace was sufficient for him.
Also, the apostles healed as a sign that they were sent by Jesus to be his spokesman.
Romans 15: 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done- -19 by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit.
So, healing is not a matter of laying hands on someone it is by the power of Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus. It is also a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit to someone as he determines. Laying hands on someone to ask for healing is not wrong, but it is wrong to think it is necessary to heal someone and not remembering it will be God’s decision to heal them.
So, the elementary teaching of laying on of hands should apply to what will build up the church in works of service to unite it in one faith and complete knowledge of Jesus. This is what laying of hands was for in:
Acts 13: 1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas,
Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with
Herod the tetrarch) and Saul 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit
The prophets and teachers placed their hands on Barnabas and Paul to acknowledge that they were chosen to do the work of the Holy Spirit for the building up of Christ church. It was to choose church leaders.
Also seen in Acts 6 when the church selected 7 men who they believe were filled with the Holy Spirit and God’s wisdom to be its deacons and brought them to the apostles who commissioned them by laying their hands on them.
Acts 6: 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their
hands on them.
Paul also warns Timothy not too hastily lay his hands when selecting church leaders.
1 Timothy 5: 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,
The elementary teaching of laying on of hands is choosing a church leader that will help build the church.
Paul instructs Timothy of the characteristic that a church leader must have to lay his hands upon. Characteristic that the Holy Spirit looks for to give the gift of spiritual leadership.
1 Timothy 3: 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
The elementary teaching of laying on of hands is to choose church leaders that will accomplish God’s will for his Son’s church which every disciple will be responsible for knowing this clear instruction given to them of the characteristic they must have to lead Christ church.
Be safe in Jesus
Ps. Glenn

The 3rd elementary teaching in Hebrews 6 is teaching on baptism which is important to understand and believe from God’s word and not what others wants it to be. In Luke 20, Jesus asked this question to the Pharisees in verse 3 “Tell me, ‘John’s baptism was it from heaven or from men?”
Jesus asked the Pharisees if they believed John’s baptism was from God or was it John’s own idea. I know there are different teachings on water baptism, so we need to be very careful in how we interpret baptisms in the Bible by trusting and seeking the Holy Spirit guidance for its truth because when misinterpreted it becomes harmful.
I remember a church sister once said to me that someone she believed was a Christian told her when her mother passed away that her mother would not go to heaven because she was not water baptized. I also know of a person who goes to a church that teaches this need to be water baptized to be saved. There is also a belief that babies need to be water baptized so if they should die before accepting Jesus they still will be saved.
When people believe the act of water baptism is required for a person to be saved it takes away God’s salvation by his grace through faith in his Son. Paul teaches salvation is by faith and not by works. Our salvation has nothing to do with being water baptized, if it did is it becomes a work to be saved and not grace by faith.
Baptize is first found in the NT when John the Baptist began baptizing Jews. In John 3 we learn what water baptism meant to the Jews at that time.
John 3: 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan--the one you testified about--well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." 27 To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
Water baptism was a ceremonial washing meaning it is a formal observance of a ritual. The Jews also practiced this ceremonial washing by baptizing a Gentile when they wanted to convert to Judaism.
John was baptizing Jews to ceremonially wash them to show that they accepted what he was preaching to repent from their sins.
Jesus’ disciples were baptizing Jews who accepted what Jesus was preaching the coming of God’s kingdom. There is another Biblical baptism which comes only by faith in Jesus is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3: 11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
This baptism is what Jesus commissioned his disciples to do before he left commanding them to baptize disciples in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Greek meaning of baptize is to completely soak, so the baptism Jesus commands us to do is to completely immerse a believer to know and believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and obeying his teaching and by this faith they are baptized by the Holy Spirit coming and dwelling in them.
This is what disciples and apostles were doing in Acts.
Acts 18: 24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor
and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
Acts 19: While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. 4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming
after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Both Apollos and the disciples only knew the baptism of John the Baptist, but Priscilla and Aquila explained to Apollos more adequately the way of having faith in God’s grace and faith in his Son. With this faith in Jesus, Apollos was baptized by the Holy Spirit and given the gift to teach Christ church.
In Acts 19, Paul first asked the disciples if they received the Holy Spirit, but they never heard of the Holy Spirit but only knew of what John the Baptist preached about repentance. So, Paul explained to them to believe in Jesus the one John said would come after him. Hearing this the disciples believed in what Paul said and were baptized by the Holy Spirit into Jesus’ name. Paul did not water baptize them they were baptized the Holy Spirit because of their faith in Jesus..
Paul did not know if these disciples believe in his words, so he laid his hand on them to find out if they received the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit confirmed this to Paul when they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. Paul now believed that the Holy Spirit was with these disciples making him confident that he could use these disciples to help him build the body of Christ.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not something a person can give to another person by laying their hands just because Paul did. Remember Paul was an apostle of Jesus, and this happen for Paul for his ministry given to him by Jesus. The Holy Spirit only comes to those who have a genuine faith in Jesus.
Paul teaches in Corinthians 14 that tongues is for the unbeliever to hear which Paul needed to believe that these new disciples of Christ had the Holy Spirit dwelling in them.
It is a false teaching when people say they can give the gift of tongues to someone. The Bible teaches that gifts are given by the will of the Holy Spirit as he decides and not the will of people.
Paul teaches when we are baptized by the Holy Spirit, he give us a spiritual gift for the building up of the church to be united in its faith in Jesus. Gifts are not to be prideful in but used humbly in servitude to Jesus. The gift of tongues is not needed to prove you are saved or the evidence to be a church leader. Read Timothy and Titus which Paul outlines the qualities of an Overseer. There is no mention of having tongues. Spiritual gifts are never used for gaining a personal following or for aggrandizing. Only tongues have a dual purpose when spoken, to edify the church only when it can be interpreted or to be used in private or in quiet prayer to God.
There is only one baptism that Jesus commanded his followers to do and that is to baptize disciples to completely know the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit through Jesus’ teaching and obey it so that the Holy Spirit will always remain as their seal guaranteeing their eternal inheritance.
Understanding the elementary teaching of baptisms will help you understand the reason why the apostles water baptized Gentile and Jewish believers to believe that Jesus suffered and died and rose on the third day and to repent and receive the forgiveness of sins. This is the same for a church member who choose to be water baptized they are confessing the same belief before the body of Christ so that the body can help them to be true to that confession to Jesus.
Hebrews 5 teaches we must constantly train ourselves in God’s word to mature in knowing his Father’s will so that we can distinguish what is good from evil.
Do not be satisfied or be overconfident in knowing the heart and mind of Jesus for we will fully know everything only when we see Jesus, face to face.
So, continually seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to know his truth and he will give his wisdom generously to those who ask him.
Be safe in Jesus,
Ps Glenn

I pray that you all believe the importance of maturing in knowing Jesus by being his disciple and chosen not to remain immature in your spirit by just drinking spiritual milk and not pursue eating solid spiritual food.
Drinking milk is when you just depend on someone other than the Holy Spirit to teach you the heart and will of God.
The next few Sundays I will be teaching on the elementary teachings in Hebrews 6 which it says we need to know first so that we all can move on to mature teaching and eat solid spiritual food through the teaching and guidance of the Holy Spirit teaching us its spiritual meaning.
Last week I shared about acts that lead to death and about sin that does not lead to death.
Let’s look at the 2nd elementary teaching in Hebrews 6 having faith in God.
Paul teaches the importance of having faith in God.
Ephesians 2: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
We are saved because of God’s grace when he sent his Son to die for our sins while we were still sinners and by having faith in Jesus, we receive God’s salvation. This is one of the pillars of Jesus gospel that we build on.
Having faith in God is completely different from what the world believes faith is.
The world when it hears the word faith it may first think of the word “f-a-t-e”. Which means something that will happen in the future that they have no control over.
But when asked to define “f-a-i-t-h” the world believes it is to wish with a strong desire for something that seems unattainable and hope it will happen.
That kind of faith is not the faith Jesus wants us to have. Hebrew teaches what faith is.
Hebrews 11: 1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Faith in God is not wanting what is unattainable or want it to happen, it being sure and certain of what we hope for even though we do not see it now.
This is the faith Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had when God told them that someday they would inherit the promised land even though they would not receive it in their lifetime.
Hebrews 11: 8 By faith Abraham, when called to go toa place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
Hundreds of years after Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were buried God fulfilled his promise to them when Joshua led the Israelites into the promised land because of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob faith in God and his promise to them.
This is the elementary faith we must have in believing Jesus’ promise of someday going home to be with our Father in heaven. A faith that is sure and certain in this hope to be with God as seen by the way we live our lives on this earth like other people with the same faith.
Hebrews 11: 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of theirown. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Faith in God is believing we are aliens and strangers on earth longing to be at home in a country of our own with our Father in heaven. It is a faith that never wants what this world gives but hope in what we will receive in the future.
Faith in God is certain and sure of this hope because Jesus made this hope possible and by having faith in him as our Lord and Savior.
Faith in God believes that Jesus is the Son of God who came to earth born in flesh to be our sacrifice for ours sins by dying on the cross for them and believing he was buried in a tomb and resurrected from his grave 3 day later and went home to be with his Father. Faith in God loves Jesus by obeying his teaching and commandment and by this faith receives the Holy Spirit to dwell in them to be their teacher, guide, counselor, and seal guaranteeing their eternal inheritance.
This is the elementary faith we must have in God so that we can mature in the complete wholeness of knowing Jesus and be able to serve him.
You know you are maturing when you can capture your every thought and conform it to Christ and do not depend on others to hold you accountable to Jesus. If Jesus is your Lord, you know how to serve him and not your own self-interest or what you think is right for you.
Have the mind of Christ and your life will be worthy to God and less angry and frustrated.
Ps. Glenn

I shared the importance for a disciple of Jesus to mature in their knowledge and understanding of Jesus and it begins by understanding and knowing the 6 elementary foundational teachings found in Hebrews 6.
1. repentance from acts that lead to death
2. faith in God
3. Teaching about baptisms
4. the laying on of hands
5. the resurrection of the dead
6. eternal judgment.
And Hebrews tell how we do this 5: 12, But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
To mature we need to constantly train in knowing these elementary truths to mature so that we can distinguish good from God’s perspective and not evil from the worlds.
As members of the body of Christ we must all pursue to grow in the full knowledge of Jesus Christ to be called his church. That is what Paul teaches in:
Ephesians 4: 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
We are building up to be united in maturity in the knowledge of Jesus as his church. That is what Paul tells us to do so that we will not be misled by false teachings especially about the elementary teachings by being infants is understanding them.
Ephesians 4: 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
These elementary teachings in Hebrews are important for every disciple to mature in and be united as a church having the same faith and knowledge of them from Jesus and his apostles’ teachings.
Let’s look at the first elementary teaching in Hebrews which is too repentant from acts that leads to death. This death is spiritual death called 2nd death which means to be separated from God’s presence for all eternity.
Repentance is turning from doing what is evil and turn towards what is good to God. Evil is sin that is acted out which leads to death. This could be mentally like lusting in your heart or physically being sexually immoral.
Now there is sin that does not lead to death.
1 John 5: 16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should
pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
John teaches that not all sin will lead to death but there are sins that will. Sin is disobeying Jesus’ teachings and commandments and those of his apostles, it is not having faith in Jesus and making him your Lord, it is anything that is not true to God and his will for us and his creation, visible or invisible. So, which sin will not lead to death? This is what Paul said in:
1 Corinthians 3: 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
The church foundation must be built on what is true to Jesus’ gospel that saves us from our sins. What we build upon Christ foundation that can be burned up by God’s cleansing fire is things that is worthless to him because it does not help the church mature in Jesus. But those who build worthless thing on Christ foundation will have that sin which is worthless to Jesus burned away but still be saved because of their faith in Jesus. But those who build on Christ foundation with things God considers as gold, silver or costly stones will pass through his cleansing fire and receive their reward in heaven.
When you mature in your understanding of these 6 elementary teaching you will find them as foundational truths that are pillars in Christ foundation keeping you from being misled by the craftiness of men teaching but grow in the knowledge of Christ and know how to build upon his foundation with things that will stand his Father’s cleansing fire.
Be safe in Jesus,
Ps. Glenn

Happy New Year!
In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul teaches that we need to examine our faith to see if it is in Christ. As followers and disciples of our Lord Jesus let us begin this new year by examining ourselves to see how much our faith has matured in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. Jesus has said his family members are his disciples, those who know and obey his Father’s will. So how much have you matured in your knowledge in knowing your Father’s will and one is to listen to his Son. Jesus said that the truth he has given us will set us free if we know his truth from his teachings in the Bible. That is why he only called his disciples his friend because they sought to know Him and understand his teaching.
So, examine yourself and ask if you have matured in your understanding and knowledge of Jesus from when you first began walking with him as a disciple of his word or have you been a slow learner. In Hebrews it warns us not to be a slow learner or you will not mature.
Hebrews 5: 11 We have much to say about this, but itis hard to explain because you are slow to learn.12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still
an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
This food is every word that Jesus said proceeds from the mouth of God which we have written for us in the Bible. Only those who constantly train themselves in God’s word will mature in knowing the righteousness of God to know what is good from evil. Those who do not constantly train themselves in God’s word will be slow in their understanding of the elementary truths of God and not mature. Hebrews tells us what these elementary truths are which we must train ourselves to understand as the foundation of truth to build upon to mature in Christ.
Hebrews 6: 1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying
on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
There are 6 elementary truths that we must understand first to mature in Christ.
Biblically repentant from sins that leads to 2nd death. To know and understand what sins to God are and turn from it.
Biblically have true faith in God from his prophets and Jesus’ apostles’ teachings.
Biblically know the teachings about water baptisms, called by the Jews as ceremonial washing to convert to a new belief and the other baptism by the Holy Spirit which is to only one that will save you and know how to receive His baptism.
Biblical teaching of laying on of hands which is choosing and knowing who can be, overseers, pastors, deacons, teachers, or evangelist of the body of Christ.
Biblically know who, why and when those who have died will be resurrected in Christ.
Biblically knowing why, when and what God’s eternal judgment is.
When you look at these 6 elementary teachings churches have made their doctrinal statement of what they mean, and you find that their doctrinal statements are not all the same. If not the same, which is true to God so we can move on to maturing in his righteousness to know what is good from evil.
This responsibility will rest on Christ disciples who constantly train themselves in God’s word seeking the very heart and mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit teaching which begins by understanding these elementary teachings and not be a slow learner.
To be a child of God you must seek him with all your heart and personally know his will from his word and not depend on others to teach you but depend on the Holy Spirit to teach you.
Be someone Jesus can call his friend, be his disciple.
Ps. Glenn

We just celebrated the 2nd Covid restricted Christmas this past Saturday. Again being warned of the potential of getting the virus if we do not follow safety guidelines to protect ourselves and our family.
I am reminded of Paul’s words in:
Romans 8:28 “We know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, those who have been called according to His purpose.”
So, we should recognize the good purpose of God for these 2 Covid Christmas because of our love Him and his purpose for them.
Every Christmas people in the world celebrate the season of Christmas but how many really stop to take to heart it’s true meaning of Jesus’s birth to be the Savior of the world but instead get caught up with everything that is not about Jesus. I think God’s good purpose for these Covid Christmas is to truly take more time to remember why He sent his beloved Son to die for our sins and to be the light that came to expose the darkness that was in this world.
John 9: 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Our Savior Jesus also came to be the light of God’s truth, so that all who believed in him would receive his Father’s gift of eternal life. Jesus also said that while he was in the world, he would be its light, but night would come when he left.
John 12: 35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light."
John 12: 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
Jesus said when he left darkness would come but warns us not to let darkness overtake us by putting our trust in his light and be children of his light.
Now that Jesus has left, the world is in darkness where Satan roams as a hungry lion trying to devour God’s children with his temptations and lies.
The light of Jesus is the word of God from the Bible where we learn of his teachings and commandments that exposes the darkness that leads to death, but all who remain in Jesus’ light keeps it shining until he returns.
The light of Jesus lives is all who love him, and this is how we love Jesus and become his light in the world.
John 14: 15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Those who love Jesus are his disciples who know his teachings and commandment and obey them as their light through the Holy Spirit’s counseling who will dwell in us forever.
John 14: 23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
This light of God’s truth is something we must keep filled with so that it does not go out which Jesus teaches in his parable the light of the 10 virgins.
Matthew 25: 1 "At that time the kingdom o heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 " 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Loving Jesus is keeping the light of our lamp filled with God’s truth, so that our light does not go out and be overtaken by darkness preventing us from seeing Jesus’ when he returns.
So, let our light shine by knowing why Jesus was born to us on the day we call Christmas and to love him by obeying his teachings and commandments, so that they will make their home in us forever.
John 14: 23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

This past week I was watching and listening to a local morning news show, and they said a survey showed that the most stressed-out state is ours. Hawaii has the most stressed-out people. The survey said that the high stress factors are cost of living, especially the high cost of houses and rent, the traffic and road conditions and it is the 2nd loudest state.
Compounding our state’s stress is this Covid virus and how it has changed the way we live with all its restrictions and fear, you can imagine there is a lot of stressed people which leads to depression, abuse, and angry people.
As follower we are told to give all our anxiety to the Lord.
1 Peter 5: 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
We know that God knows our every need because he loves and cares for us. We just need to trust in him in every difficult situation or condition because we are in his mighty hands and every difficult situation, we go through we will serve God in them for his good purpose for us.
Jesus also teaches that we should not worry about our needs.
Matthew 6: 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than
food, and the body more important than clothes?
Matthew 6: 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
The way we overcome our stress is to seek for God’s kingdom and his righteousness when we are going through difficult times. The way we do that is to look at how he created us for his kingdom’s good purpose for his righteousness. When we live the way that God created us to be, we can overcome the stressful things of this world and receive all the things God wants to give us.
Let’s look at Genesis and see God’s kingdom purpose for us.
Genesis 2: 7 the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there
he put the man he had formed.
Genesis 2: 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
God created us with the ability to work to care for his creation. So, doing God’s righteousness is to do work in caring for other people especially those in his family. When we work to care for what God cares for he will give us his peace and not the stressful things of this world.
Paul teaches that work is part of winning the respect of others which will relieve stress from outsiders.
1 Thessalonians 4: 11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Paul said to wins the respect of others is to live a quiet life and to mind your own business. Extroverts will have a hard time with this but blessed are the introverts in Christ. And to work with your own hands so that you are not dependent on others to care for your needs. These 3 things, living a quiet life, minding your own business, and working with your own hands Paul side will win the respect of others. When others respect you the less stress you will have from them
This is also true in marriage where the husband works to care for the needs of his wife and their children, he will receive their respect and less stress.
Paul tells us the attitude Jesus our Lord wants us to have when it comes to work.
2 Thessalonians 3: 6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,8 nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.13 And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
God created us with the ability to work, he also said in the OT to be thankful because he is the one who give us the ability to prosper. When we use this ability to and care for others in their need we are doing it for his kingdom and righteousness. We are his righteousness by not being burdensome by being idle and not working to care for our own needs which Paul said leads to being a busybody that leads to sin and more stress.
God created us to work for his kingdom purpose and righteousness because of the hope we have in Jesus our Lord who will give us his peace and his strength in times when we are weary and tired.
Isaiah 40: 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn

Though we are separated physically as the body of Christ we are never separated in spirit being united in one faith and in one love for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
This season of change because of the covid virus we know it is our Father’s will for us and as followers of Christ we do not surrender to it in distress or hopelessness but have learned to persevere through it by our faith and hope we have in Jesus and his promise of eternal life. We know our perseverance pleases God because we do it out of love for him which make us known to him and draws us closer to him.
Our perseverance in Christ will also save us.
Hebrews 10: 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
We persevere through hard times because we believe Jesus died on the cross to save us which keeps us steadfast knowing we will never be defeated in hard times because we will live forever in Jesus. That is what Paul’s words teaches in:
2 Corinthians 4: 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.
So, to keep Jesus’ death in our body, Jesus provided a way to remind us of his sacrifice by eating his body and drinking his blood which we do when taking communion. Jesus instituted this in:
Matthew 26: 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." 27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the
forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
Jesus said eating the broken bread represented his broken body that he suffered on the cross for our sins and drinking of the wine represented his blood that covers our sins. In the OT the people were told to eat the sacrificed animal which represented their death penalty for their sins and the sprinkling of the animal blood over the altar represent their blood atonement to cover their sins.
But now Jesus is our one time forever sacrifice which we must eat his body and drink his blood so that we receive it as our body being broken and our blood being shed for the forgiveness of our sins.
That is what we must believe when taking communion. Jesus tells us what we are doing when we are taking communion.
John 6: 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
John 6:53 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”
To the unspiritual person hearing these words of Jesus made them think Jesus was talking about cannibalism. Jesus saw this unspiritual hearing in some of the disciples.
John 6: 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 What if you see the Son of Man
ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
Jesus said he spoke spiritual words which takes spiritual hearing and understanding and without spiritual hearing his word will be offensive because you are trying to understand it with human perspective and understanding.
Paul teaches how we should receive communion.
1 Corinthians 11: 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
So, when we take communion when we gather together again or when you spiritually take communion in spirit with Jesus remember what it means and examine how it has spiritually renewed your heart and mind to love God with all your heart.
Be safe in Jesus,
Ps. Glenn