When Scripture Screams

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke:24:27)

The Scriptures contains truth concerning about ourselves too just like it has about Jesus. Many times we miss those attributing it to someone else. What the Bible says about you and me had to be taken as it is for ourselves and shouldn't be missed. Jesus believed what the prophets had said about Him and His obedience to GOD enabled Him to see all that was spoken about Him come to pass. The disciples missed the truth concerning Jesus that was written in the Scriptures. Jesus attributes it to the condition of their hearts for being slow to recognize this truth. (Luke:24:25) We must have a humble heart and one that is quick to recognize what is being said about us in the Scriptures unlike the disciples.

Sin can harden our hearts like it did for David. When David sinned against the Lord by illegally marrying Bathsheba, the Lord sent prophet Nathan to condemn David's actions. When Nathan indirectly confronted David with a story, he didn't realize it was him that Nathan was referring to. "David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! (II Samuel:12:5-7) This is because of the sin that David had committed that he couldn't realize the words that's being spoken about him by the prophet.

The Bible says a lot of things about us, individually. We shouldn't be in a proud state of mind and overlook some of those things saying "It's not for me, I am fine in front of GOD". We should be always humble before GOD and ask the Holy Spirit's guidance while reading the Scriptures. It's more important that we recognize things that are being said about us in the Bible first, rather than about someone else.

Blessings!

Kingdom Awareness

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. (Matthew:13:45&46)

You got to be a pearl merchant first to figure out the finest of pearls. In the same way, we got to become a child of GOD first to figure out the truth about His kingdom. If you are here reading this message, you must be a child of GOD already or someone who is on the way of becoming one. Here is what you need to do to become a child of GOD. Please repeat this prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess my sins and I believe that you died for me on the cross. Your blood has cleansed me from all my sins and I am a new creation in Christ. In Jesus name, Amen! If you have just said this prayer you are born again and have become a child of GOD.

As a child of GOD, having a revelation about the kingdom of GOD is absolutely necessary. It determines whether we are going to live an ordinary life or a supernatural life which the kingdom of GOD is all about. The kingdom of GOD/heaven is in the "now" and not the one we have to expect at the end of the world. It began when Jesus started preaching the gospel on this earth. Paul understood this truth and that's what prompted him to say in Philippians:3:7-11 "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." Being aware of His kingdom gives us access to everything that Jesus had access to when He was on the earth. Power, peace, joy, knowing the will of GOD, prophetic revelations..you name it, He had it. That's what the kingdom of GOD is all about even today and we are a part of it whether you know it or not. Now that's worth having than anything else.

Blessings!

Lack ---->>>> Comeback

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (Exodus:3:1)

Not long ago, Moses was the prince of Egypt and the next in line to Pharoah's throne. But, here he is, tending to the sheep of his father-in-law. He doesn't even have a single sheep to call his own. I am sure Moses would have felt ashamed to look at the condition of his own life. However, something within him, the Hebrew lessons would have given him hope and told him not to give up on his dreams of delivering the people of Israel. Have you found yourself in a shameful situation and wondering if there is ever going to be end? Read on.

One day, as Moses was tending the flock, he had to take them afar due to the lack of pastures. It turned out to be the moment he had wished that would turn his life upside down for the better. An encounter with the Almighty GOD at the burning bush. Sometimes, our lack can become a pathway for our greatest comeback. It certainly did in the case of Moses. The lack of pastures for his sheep in their usual grazing land, drove Moses to the mountain of GOD where he met the Lord and his comeback was on. What are you lacking today? Your desperate pursuit to get out of that lack will lead you to an encounter with GOD that will change your life for good. Get ready!!

Hannah is another example where we can relate to. She was without a child and her lack attracted mockery from people. But her desperation to get out of that lack led her to seek GOD with a broken heart and the Lord answered her prayer by giving her Samuel. Don't mourn about what you are lacking but instead turn that into a desperate act to seek GOD and you will get hold of his blessings.

Blessings!

Discover Daniel in Psalms

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. (Psalms:34:19&20)

Psalms 34 resonates with the life of Daniel in many aspects. Let's start with verse 22 "The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned." We read in Daniel:6:4 "At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent." In whatever means they tried to find fault with Daniel they couldn't just as David says it would be case with righteous men.

In Psalms:34:7 we read "The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers." We find it being fulfilled in Daniel's case. My God sent his angel,and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” (Daniel:6:22)

Finally, we can see in verse 19 & 20 that the righteous man will face lot of troubles but in all of them the Lord will deliver him. It goes on to say that the Lord will protect his bones and none shall be broken. Though it's a prophetic reference to Jesus on the cross, we can see it happened with Daniel as well. His bones were spared from the lions whereas the bones of his false accusers weren't. "At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones."(Daniel:6:24) It's a simple lesson for all of us today. We will have troubles, be falsely accused and it would seem like there isn't a way out. But relax like Daniel, even if you are in a lion's den the Lord is sending His angel just in time for your rescue.

Blessings!

An ear eager to hear

Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” (Matthew:13:34&35)

Does GOD speak to us even today in parables? Yes, you can say that. The Lord speaks to His people in various ways and it differs from one individual to another. There is no fixed formula to hear from GOD though there are guide lines for our assistance in the Bible. We cannot expect GOD to speak to us in the same way He talks to someone else. He may or may not but that's not the only way. We should be clear on that. Today, when we say that the Lord speaks to us in parables it would be absurd to expect that He may do so through a preacher. It could be a remarkable coincidence or an event that will make you to pause for a second and wonder if it is GOD trying to convey a message to you. Freaky coincidences can be a sign that the Lord is trying to tell you something. But again, it all depends on the individual and his personal relationship status with GOD.

Sometimes, His voice could be heard within us and it would feel very simple. We may discard it thinking it's our own mind playing tricks and it couldn't be GOD since we haven't reached a certain level required to hear from GOD. That's a blatant lie found in our fallen mind. That's why it is imperative to have a renewed mind, a guilt free conscience which will help us to distinguish the voice of GOD from the rest. Take Samuel's case for example from I Samuel chapter 3. He misunderstood the voice of GOD to be that of Eli thrice. That tells us the voice of the Lord was like a man's and wasn't like thunder that we often expect it to be. Let's not confine GOD to our own thinking and if we did we will miss His messages that are being conveyed to us often. Let's have an open mind and expect Him to talk to us out of anything or anyone.

Blessings!

Make use of the Mustard Seed

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” (Matthew:13:31&32)

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, but it isn't useful until we take it and plant it in our field. What does the kingdom of heaven mean? Every area that is under the dominion of the Lord, where the Lord's will is being done refers to His kingdom. The Bible says in Romans:14:17 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit". Also we read in I Corinthians:4:20 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power." We can have all these things concerning the kingdom of GOD in our lives, yet it won't be of no use, if we don't start to display it for the people to take note of.

As Jesus says in the parable, we need to plant it or in other words we need to demonstrate the kingdom. Where? He says the seed should be planted in our field, which is our home, workplace, neighborhood and every where we go. He also says it is the smallest of all seeds. Your smallest act of demonstrating the kingdom can produce a whirlwind effect in the lives of those around you. A simple act of the kingdom of heaven like being kind to someone, helping someone in need, praying for someone's healing can yield great results. When we demonstrate the kingdom in its fullness like Jesus did - "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him." (Acts:10:38), it will grow in stature and it can't be contained. The parable ends citing that the birds will come and perch in its branches. The birds here refer to the nations of the world. Nations and kings will come to you if you go on demonstrating and establishing the kingdom of heaven in your life. "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." (Isaiah:60:3)

Blessings!

Problems precede Promotion

..and he sent a man before them— Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. (Psalms:105:17-19)

Have you felt frustrated being at a place, position or situation which you have been comfortable for so long but not anymore? Maybe, it's your job or a relationship or a place that you have been living for so long, but now suddenly you have this strange feeling that you don't want to be there anymore. Your heart is longing for a change and you wish to break the shackles and break free. Fear not! It's your 'metamorphosis' moment. A butterfly experiences this frustration at its final stage of metamorphosis. But what it doesn't know is the beautiful transformation it's being getting into. The process of transformation is tough especially at its final stage inside the cocoon, but it's worth it.

In our life too, when the Lord is going to take us to higher ground or a promotion rather, we undergo this metamorphosis phase. If you hadn't been there, you wouldn't understand it. It's a frustrating feeling you couldn't explain or understand, but all you want is to break free, mind you, I am not referring to the desire you get to break free from an addiction or an act of sin. The Lord decides to shift us when we are ready for an expansion in our life. When the current position that we have been in, has squeezed us to the maximum and we don't have nothing else to offer, it's time for a change.

The life of Joseph is an apt example. We read in Genesis:39:4-6 "Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate". Joseph had reached the tip of the pyramid in Potiphar's house and the Lord decided it's time for a change. And it happened in an unusual way,(as it's often the case with GOD) in the form of Potiphar's wife who tempted him daily. I believe at some point Joseph would have gotten frustrated (metamorphosis moment) and wished all this would change sooner or later. He is a slave, remember, so he can't run away. Many of you can relate yourself to that situation Joseph finds himself in. You really want to get away but you can't. We knew the rest of the story. Joseph was wrongly accused and sent to jail where he encountered another metamorphosis moment (second in command to the jailer) and was elevated to be the Prime Minister of Egypt. Always remember, in your metamorphosis process when problems abound, promotion is around the corner.

Blessings!

Safeguard your Heart

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew:13:18-23)

As children of GOD, we should be possessing a heart of 'good soil' so that we can be fruitful. We need to guard our hearts from all evil to keep it that way. At the same time, we should be cautious of falling into the other three types of hearts mentioned in the parable of sower.

Heart of 'a path':

The Bible says in Psalms:1:1 "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers". It's important that our heart of good soil doesn't allow gossip and other evil talk to enter making it a heart of 'a path'. What is a path? It allows anyone to come and go. Such a state shouldn't happen to our hearts, letting words of every people to enter and leave at their own will.

Heart of 'a rock':

The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. (Genesis:4:4&5). Our hearts will get hardened like a rock when we have a wrong knowledge of GOD, when we hold a grudge against Him. When Cain's offering was not accepted, he should have repented and turned towards GOD and not against his brother, thus becoming a murderer in the process. In the same way, jealousy too can wreck our hearts just like the case of Saul. He became jealous of David leading to a hardened heart and ultimately his downfall.

Heart of 'thorns':

When any good yielding land is left unattended without proper care, thorns and bushes will start to grow. In a similar way, if we don't keep meditating the Word of GOD daily, we will let the cares of this world and the lure of wealth to rule our hearts.

Blessings!

Ever felt blessed?

But blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men [men who were upright and in right standing with God] yearned to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Matthew:13:16&17)

The people who lived during the time of Jesus including the disciples would have been in awe of the Old Testament prophets like Moses, Abraham etc. To them Jesus says that they are more blessed than the prophets who lived before them because of what they have been seeing and hearing. The Son of GOD walking among them in the power of the Holy Spirit demonstrating and establishing the kingdom of GOD on earth. The prophets who prophesied the coming of the Messiah and His kingdom, longed to see that day but didn't.

The disciples having heard about Moses like the account we read in Deuteronomy:34:10-12 "Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel" would have been taken aback hearing the statement of Jesus concerning them that they are more blessed. Not just the disciples, we too are often negligent of the privileges that we enjoy today which wasn't available to the generation before us. We have the privilege of taking the gospel to the ends of the earth through technology which wasn't available in the Biblical times or a few generations before us.

Jesus rightly pointed out the privileges that we have as children of GOD which are better than the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. The word "Blessed" gets translated as "happy, fortunate and to be envied" and it won't be case if we are not aware of how blessed we are. Instead of always looking at the negative things around us, let's take time to ponder over the good things in our life and ask the Lord to help us realize how blessed we are. Don't give the feeling of "being blessed" a rest!

Blessings!

How to break hardened hearts?

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. (Matthew:13:10-13)

We need to make sure that we fall into the category of having spiritual knowledge to receive the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Now, it begs the question, "What happens to those who don't have the knowledge?" GOD is certainly not someone who is going to let them live with a hardened heart forever. He isn't a respecter of persons and He always gives ample opportunities to all humans so that they will turn to Him and not away from Him.

The disciples weren't an exception to this and they had a hardened heart too. We read in Luke:24:13-16 "And behold, that very day two of [the disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, [which is] about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things that had occurred. And while they were conversing and discussing together, Jesus Himself caught up with them and was already accompanying them. But their eyes were held, so that they did not recognize Him." They couldn't recognize Jesus neither on His physical form nor on His spiritual form from the scriptures. The reason for their lack of knowledge is as Jesus says in verse 25 "And [Jesus] said to them, O foolish ones [sluggish in mind, dull of perception] and slow of heart to believe (adhere to and trust in and rely on) everything that the prophets have spoken!"

How can we deliver people with hardened hearts and spiritual blindness? By blatant display of GOD's power of resurrection in the form of miracles and teaching the Word of GOD in such a measure that would burn the hardened hearts of the people. The disciples were astounded about the Lord's resurrection when the women told them. On top of this fresh demonstration of GOD's power at the tomb, Jesus Himself caught up with them on their journey and interpreted the scriptures concerning Himself which set their hearts on fire. When Jesus showed Himself as going away, they begged Him to stay with them. This is a sign that their hardened hearts had been softened both due to the demonstration of resurrection power and the Word of GOD. Let's cry out to GOD for more of His power to be displayed through us and a revelation of the Word of GOD that would set people's heart on fire. When both these things happen hand in hand, people would be drawn to GOD without us telling them to, just like the disciples were drawn to Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

Blessings!

30? 60? 100? still HIS Beloved!

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (Matthew:13:8)

This is a well known excerpt from one of the most famous yet simple and profound parables that Jesus taught. Let's begin by addressing how to be productive in our life which is the main theme of this parable. The seeds that fell on the path, rocky places and thorns didn't produce the desired effect but only those that fell on good soil yielded thirty, sixty and hundred fold. It's a known representation that the seeds are the Word of GOD and the various type of places it fell is our condition of our heart. Our hearts need to be like a good soil and it can become one if we act according to Matthew:12:34 & 35 For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. Let's be careful with what we fill our hearts with by means of seeing, listening and thinking.

Even then, the seeds that fell on good soil didn't produce a hundred fold all the time. The Lord is very much aware of it. At times, the yield was sixty and thirty times what was sown. The Lord still accepts us even if we aren't hundred percent perfect at all times, though that's what His desire is. He has granted us the necessary tools through His Spirit and His Word to do so. Yet the Lord accepts whatever the response we give to His word and it could be thirty, sixty or hundred. But at the same time, His leniency and graciousness shouldn't be a stumbling block for us to settle for less, but to strive and produce the hundredfold He desires. An apt example for this case is found in John:20:24-29 where Thomas doubts the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus didn't admonish him, but accepted him and cleared his doubt by appearing again and said that it's good that he believed after seeing him, yet blessed are those who believe without seeing. Jesus approves both the kind of believers, yet He would prefer the latter - those who believe without seeing which is an equivalent of hundredfold produce in the parable of sower. He will feed His flock like a shepherd: He will gather the lambs in His arm, He will carry them in His bosom and will gently lead those that have their young. (Isaiah:40:11)

Blessings!

Create and Deliver

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. (Matthew:13:1&2)

Jesus on a boat above the waters reminded me of the Spirit of GOD hovering over the waters in Genesis:1:2. As I was pondering over it, the Lord helped me to discover a couple of things about it. The 'waters' were present when GOD started to work His way of creating the world or rather fixing the world which was torn apart when satan was cast away from the heavens to the earth. The 'waters' represent the talents in our life. We are born with it. When the Spirit of GOD hovered over the waters, the Word was spoken and creations took place. In the same way, when the Spirit of GOD is allowed to hover over our talents, we start to being creative beings just like the way the Lord intended us to be.

Secondly, as we read in II Corinthians:3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." there is deliverance associated with the Spirit. David was a man full of the Spirit (II Samuel:16:13). He had an inborn talent of playing a musical instrument called lyre. Now, Saul was experiencing torments from an evil spirit at time to time. When David used his talent of playing lyre with the Spirit of GOD hovering over him, it made the evil spirit that was tormenting Saul to flee, thus bringing deliverance. Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. (I Samuel:16:23).

Moses tried to use his talents on his own and become the deliverer that the Israelites were in need of. But he failed miserably and ended up being a murderer. Fast forward forty years, the same Moses with his broken talents but this time with the Spirit of GOD, delivered the people of Israel from bondage. Whatever maybe your talent, let the Spirit of GOD hover over it and and you will see yourself making a difference in the world around you by being a creative force and a deliverer.

Blessings!

Unfair? Couldn't Care Less

And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who [reverently] fears God and abstains from and shuns all evil [because it is wrong]? And still he holds fast his integrity, although you moved Me against him to destroy him without cause. (Job:2:3)

Life is unfair and there is no better example than Job's. The Lord Himself says that Job went through destruction for no reason. But let's not misunderstand and hold the Lord accountable for all the troubles in this world. GOD was good, is good and will always be good. There is no evil found in Him. Job was living at an age when there was no written laws of GOD nor the blood of Jesus had been shed. So, his righteousness were based upon his own actions, whereas today, our righteousness is based upon Jesus'.

All the evil that came upon Job was from the devil. But the Lord was so confident in Job, that He was willing to place a bet with the devil. GOD knew that eventually Job is going to end up doubly blessed thus turning the evil from the devil into good. Even today, the fallen world that we live in is full of evil and that's the reason for the hatred and destruction we see in people's lives daily. The Lord is not dependent on our ability to overcome evil but on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, for our righteousness is based on Him and not on ours like Job's time. Our faith in the Lord and understanding of His loving nature determines how we overcome evil and spread the goodness of GOD in this world.

We read in I Corinthians:10:13 For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. Every trouble that we face is not new to mankind and the Lord is faithful to His word and helps us by showing the way out of every temptation and trouble. Let's pray that we will have a better understanding of GOD's goodness and love, so that we will not murmur and get frustrated at every unfair situation in our lives.

Blessings!