vinecast

The Power of Thanksgiving

What is Thanksgiving?

• Thanksgiving is expressing appreciation for the source of our good or benefit.

• It can be expressed in many ways:

• A simple thank you

• A smile or a thumbs-up

• A note or gift

• A heartfelt prayer or praise to God

• True thanksgiving comes from recognizing that every good thing comes from God.

Biblical Command to Give Thanks

• God’s will for us is to be thankful in all circumstances.

• “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

• Thanksgiving is not about perfect circumstances but about trusting God’s sovereignty.

• Are we giving thanks only when things are good, or do we see God’s hand even in difficult seasons?

Story of Squanto – Thanksgiving and God’s Providence

• Squanto was a Patuxet Native American who was captured and sold as a slave in Spain.

• A Christian priest bought his freedom and shared the Gospel with him.

• Squanto eventually made his way to England, learned the language, and returned to America.

• Upon returning, he discovered his entire tribe had died from disease.

• Six months later, the Pilgrims arrived, and he became their guide:

• Taught them how to hunt, fish, and farm.

• Helped them survive through the winter.

• Played a key role in the first Thanksgiving in 1621.

God’s Plan in Squanto’s Life

• What seemed like a tragedy—his enslavement—was actually part of God’s greater plan.

• God used Squanto’s suffering to position him to bless others.

• He could have been bitter, but instead, he helped the Pilgrims survive.

• Application: Are we able to see God’s purpose in our hardships?

Story of Belshazzar – The Danger of Ingratitude

• Belshazzar was the king of Babylon, but unlike his father, Nebuchadnezzar, he did not honor God.

• He ignored God’s warnings and lived a life of pride and self-indulgence.

• During a great feast, a mysterious hand wrote a message on the wall.

• Daniel interpreted the message, rebuking Belshazzar:

• “You, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart… The God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.” — Daniel 5:22-23

• That same night, Babylon fell, and Belshazzar was killed.

• He failed to acknowledge God, and it led to his downfall.

Lessons from Belshazzar

• He took his power and position for granted.

• He ignored God’s sovereignty and warnings.

• He refused to honor the God who gave him life.

• Application: Are we honoring God with our lives, or taking His blessings for granted?

God Holds Our Very Breath

• “The God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.” — Daniel 5:23

• Every breath we take is a gift from God.

• Our bodies are designed by God to function perfectly:

• The oxygen in our blood sustains our 30 trillion cells.

• The sun, plants, and air work together in a system only God could create.

• The earth’s perfect positioning allows life to thrive.

• Do we recognize and thank God for the life He has given us?

The Importance of Gratitude

• Gratitude acknowledges God’s hand in our lives.

• Ingratitude leads to spiritual blindness and pride.

• Thanksgiving should be a daily practice, not just a holiday.

Three Reasons to Give Thanks to God

1. God Fulfills His Purposes

• He has a plan for history, nations, and individuals.

• Even when we don’t see it, God is working all things together for good.

• “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28

2. God Holds Our Life in His Hands

• “In him we live and move and have our being.” — Acts 17:28

• We owe every breath, every heartbeat, and every moment to Him.

• We should trust Him fully with our lives.

3. God is Our Shepherd

• Jesus guides and provides for His people.

• “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” — John 10:11

• We should thank Him for His sacrifice, love, and guidance.

How to Cultivate a Thankful Heart

✅ Keep a thankfulness journal to record God’s blessings.

✅ Express gratitude verbally and in prayer every day.

✅ Share testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

✅ Acknowledge God’s sovereignty, even in difficult circumstances.

✅ Live a life of obedience and worship as an act of thanksgiving.

Final Challenge

• Are we like Squanto, using our hardships to glorify God?

• Or are we like Belshazzar, taking God’s blessings for granted?

• Let us be a people who recognize, honor, and thank God in every season of life.

Closing Prayer

“Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your goodness, Your provision, and the life You have given us. Help us to be people of gratitude, always recognizing Your hand at work. May we never take Your blessings for granted, but instead, honor You in all our ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

One God

Romans 5:12-13 (ESV) 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.

Romans 7:6 (ESV) But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

There is no freedom from the power of sin without experiencing freedom from the law. Understanding the source or strength of sin is essential to determining whether one is free from it. 

The Word of God unequivocally states that the power of sin is the law.

1 Corinthians 15:56 (ESV) 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

The law represents God’s demands and requirements. However, you have been released from those demands.

God, in Christ, fulfills His own requirements within and on behalf of the Christian. Christians no longer need to adhere to the law to be accepted by God or transformed.

The conflict

John 1:16-17 (ESV) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Some people may find this confusing, which is why we need revelation.

We recognize that we are under the New Covenant. We also acknowledge that God gave the law. Which begs the question, what do we do then? 

Should we believe the work of the Spirit within our hearts and completely forget the law?

Should we still consider the law in any way to apply to our ethics and morality?

Are we obliged to adhere to the law as any means of acceptance before God?

The truth is that the law has been outdated and overcome.

(Romans 10:4, ESV) “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

(Hebrews 8:13, ESV) “In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”

As born-again children of God, with a new heart in Christ, we don’t need the commandments to refrain from murder, 

“You shall not murder.”

(Exodus 20:13, ESV)

We do not murder because the love of God has been poured into our hearts.

Romans 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

How one that has the love of God in their hearts will murder someone?

Legalism, at its core

It is all about strictly following moral rules and boundaries to keep the appearance of things, but not the reality.

Legalism can seem appealing on the surface. It offers a sense of clarity and structure, which can be reassuring for people trying to live ethically and maintain morality for themselves and others.

But here’s the problem: Legalism obscures the heart of the gospel—God’s saving grace. Instead of focusing on internal transformation and the righteousness that comes through faith, legalism often shifts the emphasis to outward compliance. It’s like prioritizing the rules over the relationship, missing out on the deeper, transformative power of walking with a holy and loving God.

What is the is the fear? If you learn that you are that loved, that redeemed, that forgiven, the believer will get crazy and live an evil, licentious, and promiscuous life. That is equivalent to a wife knowing that her husband loves her endlessly and that she will betray her husband.

So, while the way of the law may seem like a solid guide at first glance, it leads to legalism, which ultimately misrepresents the intent of God’s law and makes the self-reliant to leave the essential aspect of the gospel—God’s grace— That is off the table.

Hebrews 8:7-8 (ESV) For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.8 For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, […] 

Psalm 19:7 (ESV):The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Romans 7:12-13 (ESV): So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

Paul highlights that the law itself is good and holy. Its purpose is to reveal sin for what it truly is—utterly destructive—so that we might recognize our need for God’s grace.

Galatians 3:24 (ESV): So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

The holding of the right to be resentful.

A terrible temptation is to hold onto the way of law, the outward religious way, just to hold onto resentment. As crazy as it sounds, that motivates so many to stick with the law. They want the right to stay with a sense of justice and self-reliance. “I want justice.” 

1 Peter 2:19-23 (ESV): For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

What to do with temptation?

Temptation only happens to those who are born again. Those who have the nature of God that is compatible with sin. For those under the power of sin, it is not a matter of temptation; it is a matter of following their sinful nature. We, on the contrary, have a new heart that rejects sin.

Believers have received a new nature that inherently rejects such acts. In the Old Covenant, the law was inscribed on tablets of stone; in the New Covenant, God’s will is now inscribed upon the hearts of believers through the Spirit given to them.

Galatians 5.1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:16-18 (ESV) 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

It is not the law that dictates a believer’s conduct. The law existed for thousands of years, yet it failed to prevent sin among humanity. The pivotal element in the Christian journey is the decision to walk by the Spirit.

Our goal in the next weeks is to find the gace of God in the Law. We will find that most of the 

What does the New Testament state regarding the law?

Key Points on the Law with Supporting Verses

1. The law is designed for the unrighteous, not for the righteous.

1 Timothy 1:9-10 (ESV): Understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine.

2. The law constitutes an unbearable yoke.

Acts 15:10 (ESV):Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

3. The law reveals sin but is incapable of correcting it.

Romans 3:20 (ESV): For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

4. If the law were effective, faith would be rendered unnecessary.

Romans 4:14 (ESV): For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.

5. The law brings wrath upon those who follow it.

Romans 4:15 (ESV): For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

6. The law’s purpose was to increase transgression.

Romans 5:20 (ESV):Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.

7. Christians are not under the law.

Romans 6:14 (ESV):For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

8. Christians have been released from the law.

Romans 7:1 (ESV):Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? […]

Romans 7:6 (ESV) But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

9. The law cannot render an individual good or holy.

Mark 10:18 (ESV) 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

Mark 10:20 (ESV) 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”

Mark 10:21-22 (ESV) 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

10. The law, which promises life, results in death due to sin.

Romans 7:10 (ESV):The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.

These passages collectively highlight the dual nature of the law: its goodness in revealing God’s standards and its limitations in providing salvation. We need grace through Jesus Christ.

The commandment is holy, just, and good

It must be acknowledged that the law is indeed holy, and the commandments are holy, just, and good.

Romans 7:12 (ESV) 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

Both God gave the law and grace. The critical distinction is that the law has passed for Christians, whereas the rest of the world still lives under its condemnation.

The law embodies God's character. Now, think about that. If the law is the portrait of the image of God, who could ever fulfill perfectly that image in a human experience?

(Hebrews 1:3, ESV) “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

However, only Christ represents God the Father, so believers must look to Christ, not the law.

We do not preach against the law. On the contrary, we will examine the inherent beauty of the law and, by it, be directed for grace.

But keep in mind this: if humanity were capable of fully keeping the law, the world would be an idyllic place, rendering Christ’s coming unnecessary. 

Christ came, and the purpose of the law was to reveal humanity’s profound sinfulness and complete inability to satisfy God’s righteous requirements, emphasizing the need for Christ.

One God

The law of Moses marked a significant advancement in civilization, and a closer examination of it is warranted.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me

Exodus 20:2-3 (ESV): I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.

2. You shall not make for yourself a graven image

Exodus 20:4-6 (ESV): You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain

Exodus 20:7 (ESV): You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

These verses form the first three commandments of the Decalogue, which focus on reverence and exclusive worship of One God.

The Lord has decreed that anyone who violates this commandment shall not be held guiltless. This implies that it is one of the most severe transgressions.

Levels of aggression to God’s image determine degrees of sinfulness.

Some assert that sins are equally severe; however, this interpretation is flawed.

The Lord informed Pilate that those who handed Him over were guilty of greater sin and stated that Capernaum’s sins were more severe than those of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Jn 19:11; Mt 11:23-24).

John 19:11 (ESV): Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

Matthew 11:23-24 (ESV): And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.

There are varying degrees of sin and accountability before God based on the knowledge and opportunity given to individuals or communities.

The gravity of taking the Lord’s name in vain arises from a misinterpretation of its meaning. Most interpret this commandment as prohibiting the casual invocation of God’s name, as in, “My God, how busy my day has been today!” Such an interpretation diminishes the seriousness of God’s judgment.

In the original Hebrew, the text does not state, “Do not take,” but rather, “Do not carry.” The literal translation reads, “Do not bear the name of the Lord your God in vain.” The New International Version translates it as “misuse,” which more accurately captures the original intent.

Exodus 20:7 (NIV): You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

What does “bear” or “misuse” God’s name mean? It implies committing evil deeds under the pretense of representing God. If an individual who is not religious commits evil, it does not tarnish God’s reputation.

When one, in the name of God, dares to say, “God told me.” “I am abandoning the church because God said to me…” “I am not following this direction because The Holy Spirit told me…” It is very serious.

We may all fall into that trap when we have no biblical argument or reasonable motivation and may even commit evil acts in God’s name, they not only commit the act itself but also bring shame to God’s name.

Think of the violence committed by extremists who torture, bomb, behead, and perpetrate genocide, all in the name of God. Such individuals will not be held blameless.

The most common objection to believing in God is the evil perpetrated in His name. Religiously motivated evil, which destroys victims and damages God’s image, is considered the most egregious sin.

Matthew 5:37 (ESV): Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Colossians 3:13-17 (ESV) bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

In Christ, we always have the yes.

2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV): For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Faith that comes from hearing

Unless you understand that faith comes from hearing Christ's word, you will miss so much of the Christian life. Wisdom and faith all come from listening to the Word.

Receive Wisdom

Only humble people ask for wisdom. Arrogant people think they can handle all situations by themselves because of their experience or cleverness.

Psalms 36:9 (ESV) 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

Psalms 119:130 (ESV) 130 The unfolding of your words gives light;

Wisdom is the most important thing in our lives. Why do you have problems in your marriage? Because there is something about marriage that you do not know. Why do you have financial problems? 

1 Kings 3:9-10 (ESV) Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.

The word used here, often translated as 'understanding,' is "shama," which literally means "to hear" in Hebrew.

Solomon asked for a heart ready to hear, which is what wisdom involves. A wise heart is one that is willing to hear.

Unfortunately, many neglects to listen to the Word. In the name of grace, some think they can do ministry, work for God, and be busybodies without the word in their hearts.

"The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught." (Isaiah 50:4).

Many would like to have "the tongue of the erudite," the words of masters and scholars. 

Indeed, it is a wonderful thing to be able to say the right word at the right time, which brings comfort and life. Blessed is a marriage in which the wife has the right words to speak, and the husband has words of wisdom because they will find solutions, not more conflicts in the middle of a crisis. 

The way we reach a "scholarly tongue" is first by having ears ready to hear the Word. Many want to talk without ever listening.It is not enough to just hear the Word on Sundays. We must learn to ruminate the Word we heard to gain the "tongue of the wise."

Some believe that there are more important things to do in the church. However, those who do not listen to the Word suffer significant loss because they lack wisdom and faith. Those who do not have the heart to hear the Word do not receive the riches of the Father.

Receive faith

Some think that we receive faith in our hearts only when God speaks directly to us. This is unquestionably true. However, Paul argues that faith comes from hearing the Word preached.

Romans 10:17 (ESV) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

(Romans 10:17 - AMPC)"So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ." 

(Romans 10:17 NIV)"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ."

Faith comes by continuing to listen, always, to the Word of God. Paul makes a point of saying this. Faith will not come from listening to God directly from within but through preaching.

God values preaching highly.

(1 Corinthians 1:21) "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” 

All the riches of heaven, blessings, miracles, and salvation will come to you through the folly of preaching. 

This method may seem unsatisfactory. A man stands up, preaches the Word, and then people receive the blessings of God. However, this is God's method.

The Word of Christ.

The preaching that gives that faith is the one that comes from the Word of Christ.

If one preaches according to the law, preaching the "Old Covenant" message, the listeners will not receive faith but death.

2 Corinthians 3:6-8 (ESV) who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

The gospel is the power of God for your salvation. The verb "to save" is "sozo" in Greek, and it means much more than saving from hell. "Sozo" means saving, healing, restoring, protecting, and leading to success. All of this is included in the blessings we receive through sermons.

"But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities." (Luke 5:15)

"And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured." (Luke 6:17-18)

The Lord Jesus always preached first and then performed miracles. The sequence was to always preach, teach, and then heal. 

If you are expecting a miracle. You're only "doing" is to listen.

While He preached, people listened, and as they heard His Word, they received faith to be healed.

We receive the Spirit when we hear.

"Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?" (Galatians 3:2).

Even the Holy Spirit is given to us through the preaching of faith.

Those who seek to live utterly upright by fulfilling all the commandments before receiving the Spirit will wait forever. 

In Acts 10, we read that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Cornelius and his family as they simply listened to Peter's preaching. Particularly one aspect of Peter’s preaching.

Acts 10:43 (ESV) 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Acts 10:44 (ESV) 44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell [ to fall into one's embrace] on all who heard the word.

It is not by the works of the law but by hearing the preaching of the faith. 

We simply cannot build up the house of God without the ministry of the Word.

Acts 6:4 (ESV) But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Miracles when we hear the Word

Miracles come by hearing the Word of Christ.

"Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith..." (Galatians 3:5)

 In Acts 14, we have the account of the healing of a paralytic.

 (Acts 14:8-10) "Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, 'Stand upright on your feet.' And he sprang up and began walking."

Why was the paralytic healed? Because he had faith. And why did he receive faith? Because he heard the preaching of Paul. And what did Paul preach?

"...there they continued to preach the gospel." (Acts 14:6)

Today thare is a lot of preaching but not much preaching of the true Gospel. If we read verse 3, we will see that the Gospel that Paul preached was the word of his grace.

(Acts 14:3)"...they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace..."

In Acts 13, we have the entire preaching of Paul. If we want to have the same results as Paul, we must preach what he preached. We will not quote the whole message, but the end of the preaching is very clear.

"Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38-39 ).

The paralytic had heard this preaching, which filled his heart with faith in his healing. Note that Paul said nothing about healing but about forgiveness of sins and justification by faith. This is the word of grace that we must preach today. 

You will not receive a miracle by doing something for God but by simply hearing His Word, Accepting His forgiveness, and growing in your faith. 

There is a direct connection between the forgiveness of sins and healing. This means that he received a revelation while listening to the Word. 

The paralytic heard about forgiveness, but God spoke to him about healing.

Eat homemade food.

The Lord's favorite expression during his ministry was, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 

That expression is particularly repeated in his words to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. Why does Jesus speak like that to his disciples, His committed followers? Why affirm that, especially to the church? We quickly take the truth for granted and get accustomed to it, not developing gratitude and awareness of God's blessings.

If you believe that God has planted you in this local church, you must receive the food from it. 

You can eat all kinds of food when you eat out, but the food that will sustain you is undoubtedly the food from home. If there is no "homemade" food in your life, then you will be subject to all kinds of spiritual intoxication and will not have a healthy life. 

Only homemade food can you be sure of quality and hygiene. Another aspect is that, at home, we eat even what we do not like because our mother or our wife cares for us. 

I'm not saying that you cannot hear other preachers, but this cannot be your normal daily diet. Many are listening to the preachings of the law. Others keep hearing a kind of emotional self-help message that has nothing to do with the Gospel. We need to spend time listening to the healthy message of the Gospel.

Listening to Jesus the good portion.

In Luke 10, the Lord went to the house of Martha and Mary. The scripture says that Martha was pacing back and forth to prepare food for Him. Prepare food for Jesus, the one who had multiplied loaves and fishes, not once, but twice.

On the other hand, Mary sat at Jesus' feet, listening to His word. Martha was bothered that she alone was working while Mary was "only listening." But the Lord replied that Mary had "chosen the best part." Hearing the word is the best part.

Luke 10:38-42 (ESV) 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Like Martha, there are many busybody Christians who must overcome a resentful spirit when Jesus says, “No, I don’t need your service. I need your heart now.”

A couple of years ago, I talked to a brother who had distanced himself from the church. The reason, he explained, “Because I want to do something in the church, but the pastor asked me to come to listen to him for a while. “ I wondered, what was the problem of that? He said, “I only go there because I like to do “this and that”. Since I am not doing it, I am not going anymore.” 

Does hearing the Word produce some kind of inactivity? Of course not. Listening to the Word causes the believer to do the work that really counts for the Kingdom. Mary anointed Jesus with the perfume, and the Lord said that wherever the Gospel was preached, people would know what she did (John 12:1-8, Mark 14:9). 

The work of the one who hears the word has eternal influence, but the work of the one who only serves has a short impact. All service will be rewarded, but hearing the Word is the best portion.

Receive to be able to give

We always think we should give something to the Lord, but He wants us to receive it from Him. The spiritual principle that giving is better than receiving is only valid in our relationship with men.

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35)

 However, when it pertains to God, it is better to receive than to give. Receiving from the Lord is the best part, and it is better than giving Him something. Those who receive will eventually give something of eternal value to the Lord.

Being no hearer who forgets but a doer who act

Whenever we speak of the importance of hearing the Word, someone always reminds us of James' words, which seem to teach that we do not need to hear.

"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." (James 1:23-25).

The context urges the church not to be careless listeners of the law of freedom. This law of freedom is the Gospel.

The “law of liberty” refers to the transformative power of the gospel, which frees believers from the bondage of sin and legalistic adherence to rules.

Romans 8:2 (ESV) For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

It is a law that is fulfilled through love and obedience to God, empowered by grace.If we look closely at the context.

James is urging the church not to be careless listeners of the law of freedom. This law of freedom is the Gospel.

This law of liberty, operates in the power of the Holy Spirit’s work within believers. It is Him who enables us to walk in obedience.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV) Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

The law of Moses was a message of subjugation and enslavement. James says that if we are diligent listeners, we will eventually be doers of the Word. However, those who neglect to hear the Word cannot be faithful, steadfast, continuous, constant doers of the word.

Steps of gorwing in faith

Levels of receptivity

After hearing the preaching of a man of God, the anointing can be transferred to you. Listen to the sermons more than once. We can see from experience that a "metabolic spiritual change" happens. Let us list some levels of receptivity to the preaching of the Word.

a. The preaching has no impact whatsoever

The first time you hear it, you do not understand the message, or the subject may not suit you. The reality is that your heart is closed, so the message has no influence on your life.

b. The preaching has some impact

The second time you listen, you start getting excited and feel it's a good message. The problem is that we retain just over 10% of what we hear in a message. If you hear the sermon only once, you will receive only a small portion.

c. You absorb the preaching but cannot reflect the message

On the first and second times, you heard only to be blessed. Once you feel ministered to or satisfied with the message, you forget the subject. Here, we should insist and listen once more. Now you understand the message so well that you would even like to share or preach it; however, you still feel that you are not able to do so.

d. You absorb the preaching to propagate the message

You hear the preaching more than once because your goal is to preach it also. Some even transcribe the content of the preaching.

e. You begin to learn how to preach and teach

At this stage, you begin to preach and teach under the same anointing as the preacher. You will obtain means of speaking and arguing and even the same boldness to share.

f. You absorb the message and also the spirit of the message

You hear the message and are now able to absorb things that were secondary to the message. Those things can translate into powerful principles, and now you can listen beyond what the preacher spoke because you entered into the spirit of the message. You perceive other additional lessons or topics that were not the primary purpose of the sermon.

g. The gift of ministry is transferred to you

When you are in the stage of receiving the same gift, you become able to follow the preacher's reasoning even when it is disordered and messy. This is because you are able to perceive the heart and mind of the person you are listening to.

We know that the gift is being transferred when you can discern how the person analyzes the scripture, how the preacher deals with problems and how they perceive the spiritual principles. This is only achieved after hearing the message of that preacher many times. But the main sign of the transfer of the anointing is when you unconsciously begin to minister and think like the preacher you are listening to.

One Faith, one Family

“Sola Fide”- Faith Alone

God is calling us to walk in one faith and as one family. Today, I want to first emphasize our "one faith". What faith is that?

October 31 marks the anniversary of a pivotal moment in Christian history—507 years since Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the doors of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1517. This act is often seen as the spark that ignited the Protestant Reformation.

Luther’s theses, officially titled Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences, boldly challenged the Catholic Church’s practice of selling indulgences—payments made to reduce punishment for sins—which he viewed as a corruption of the gospel message.

Luther argued that forgiveness and salvation could not be bought or earned but were gifts of grace received through faith alone. (Sola Fide).

Luther’s actions quickly spread. By questioning the Pope's authority and emphasizing the centrality of Scripture over church tradition (Sola Scriptura), Luther set the stage for profound religious, social, and political change across the Western world.

The Reformation revealed that faith, rather than works or sacraments, was the true path to salvation.

The Five Solas

The Five Solas of the Reformation capture the core beliefs that make you a Protestant. At the heart of these principles is Sola Scriptura, or “Scripture Alone,” the belief that the Bible is the ultimate authority in matters of faith and practice, standing above church traditions or papal declarations. Building on this, Sola Fide, or “Faith Alone,” asserts that salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by works or human efforts. This connects closely with Sola Gratia, or “Grace Alone,” which emphasizes that salvation is a free gift from God’s grace, given purely out of His mercy and love. Solus Christus, or “Christ Alone,” teaches that Jesus is the sole mediator between God and humanity, meaning salvation is found only in Christ, not through the intercession of saints or priests. Finally, Soli Deo Gloria, or “To the Glory of God Alone,” proclaims that all glory belongs to God, as He is the source of salvation and every good thing. 

Luther’s story.

Luther saw it as God’s strict justice—a terrifying concept that seemed to demand an unreachable level of moral perfection.

The term iustificare [latin] (justification.) Luther examined this word deeply; he turned to the Greek word used in the New Testament, dikaiosyne, and discovered that it meant “to regard as righteous” or “declare as righteous.” 

These Five Solas became the foundation of a direct, grace-based relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, as revealed in scripture. That is the gospel message. That is the power of God 

(Romans 1:16-17) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” When Luther first encountered the phrase “the righteousness of God,” 

Hence, justification is not an internal change that comes from the effort of the pious, religious person, but it is an external declaration by God regarding those who believe in Him as righteous.

The Reformed theology sees justification not as a human achievement or a result of one’s works but as a gift of God’s grace, received through faith, confirming and making sense of all the New Testament writings. 

That righteousness is declared by God through faith—the cornerstone of the doctrine of justification by faith. In Luther's view, if “the righteousness of God” was a standard humans had to achieve, then salvation felt hopelessly out of reach.

Righteousness is a gift that God freely grants through faith. It is not something people earn; it is a gift God declares over believers.

Our entire Soteriology is anchored in this core belief: salvation through faith alone. “Sola Fide.”

Indulgences (1517)

Johann Tetzel, a Dominican monk known for his theatrical marketing tactics, traveled across Germany selling indulgences with dramatic flair. Tetzel held grand processions adorned with papal symbols, and his captivating sermons included the memorable sales pitch: 

“Every time a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.” 

This phrase promised buyers that their payment would release a soul from purgatory, a concept Luther found deeply troubling.

In response, on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther drafted his Ninety-Five Theses, a document challenging the theological validity and ethical implications of indulgences. Luther’s Theses were intended as a scholarly protest, addressing what he saw as the abuse of indulgences and calling for reform within the Church.

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther deliberately chose to post his Ninety-Five Theses on the eve of All Saints’ Day, November 1, a significant religious holiday that drew large crowds to church.

This timing ensured his message would reach many people attending mass the following day, maximizing its visibility. Luther’s act wasn’t rebellious or disrespectful. Posting notices on the church door in Wittenberg was common practice; the door functioned as a community bulletin board where scholars, clergy, and townsfolk could share news or announce debates.

Luther’s primary intention was to spark an academic discussion on the sale of indulgences and the nature of true repentance within the church rather than to provoke a public outcry.

He wrote them in Latin, aiming to initiate a debate among scholars. However, thanks to the printing press, the 95 Theses spread quickly, reaching a much wider audience and inadvertently fueling a wave of reform that would transform the church and European society.

The printing press, invented around 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg, a German blacksmith and goldsmith, revolutionized communication by introducing movable metal type. This innovation allowed for the mass production of books and written materials, vastly increasing public access to literature and knowledge and laying the groundwork for widespread literacy.

The printing press, invented around 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg, a German blacksmith and goldsmith, revolutionized communication by introducing movable metal type. It laid the groundwork for widespread literacy. One of Gutenberg’s most famous works was the Gutenberg Bible, printed in 1455 (in 1987, the original copy was sold for $5 million which nowadays will be equivalent to $13 million).

Gutenberg printing technology allowed in only 2 weeks the 95 Theses to be spread in every single Geman village.

Background on Luther’s Early Life and Struggles

Early Crises: Luther experienced significant life crises that shaped his path, notably his entry into the monastery (1505) and disillusionment with Rome (1510). Called to Wittenberg by Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony, Luther became a Bible professor and began his work that catalyzed the Reformation. Wittenberg as an Intellectual Hub: Frederick , The Wise, aimed to rival German intellectual centers and collected relics, intending to establish Wittenberg as a prominent pilgrimage site.

Luther’s Tower Experience and Revelation, Inspired by Augustine, Luther viewed righteousness as “alien,” belonging to Christ and imputed to believers, not earned by personal merit.

Luther’s “Tower Experience” (around 1519), he prepared a lecture in Romans 1:17

Romans 1:17 (ESV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

“At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I gave heed to the context of the words, namely, ‘In it the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”’ There I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous lives by a gift of God, namely by faith… Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates.”

This revelation righteousness is a gift from God, received through faith, rather than something earned by works. This is the foundation on justification by faith alone, a cornerstone of the Protestant Reformation.

John 3:5-7 (ESV) 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

John 3:10 (ESV) 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

John 3:16-18 (ESV) 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Despite his growing criticisms of certain church practices, Luther initially sought to remain within the Catholic Church. His goal wasn’t to create a schism but to address what he viewed as abuses, particularly regarding indulgences. Luther’s intent was reform rather than rebellion. Luther’s criticisms targeted Tetzel’s methods rather than the papacy directly. Hoping to gain support for reform, he even sent a copy of his Ninety-Five Theses to Prince Albert of Brandenburg, the archbishop who authorized Tetzel’s indulgence campaign in Germany.

However, instead of taking up Luther’s concerns, Prince Albert sided with Tetzel and escalated the matter by forwarding complaints to Pope Leo X. This move drew Rome’s attention to Luther’s teachings, marking the beginning of a deeper, more intense conflict with the Church’s hierarchy.

Interestingly, while the Ninety-Five Theses questioned indulgence practices and emphasized genuine repentance, they did not directly lay out the full doctrine of justification by faith alone.

At the time, Luther’s main focus was exposing the corruption in indulgence sales and encouraging a return to true contrition and repentance rather than addressing all the theological principles that would later define the Reformation. 

The "sola fide, or justification by faith alone, developed as Luther continued his theological exploration and debate, eventually becoming a core doctrine of the Protestant movement.

Pope Leo X’s eventual intervention led to the formal condemnation of Luther’s views, setting off a chain of events that would ultimately lead Luther further away from the Church he had hoped to reform. This marked the early stages of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that transformed Western Christianity.

Here is Luther’s response in the Diet of Worms in 1521:

“Since your most serene majesty and your highnesses require of me a simple, clear, and direct answer, I will give one, and it is this:

Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the Pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted, and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot, and I will not retract anything since it is neither safe nor right to go against my conscience.

Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”

“What exactly are we celebrating each year on Reformation Day? “Is it the profound recovery of the truth of justification by faith alone in Christ alone? Is it the liberation of the Bible into the language of the people? Is it the end of indulgences?” Is it the rejection of papal authority? Is it the dismantling of the priest class as mediators between God and man? It is all of these things combined.

Ultimate Celebration: The glory of Jesus Christ is the foremost reason to celebrate.

It is not faith in faith but in the truth of complete forgiveness.

The reformation faith is anchored on the finished work of Christ. Our healing, our blessings, the newness of life, transformation, and everything good that comes with the Salvific faith is not a different faith as it is grounded and some other foundation.

1 Corinthians 3:11: “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

That is why we should never lose sight of Christ. There are so many distractions in other influences within evangelicalism that insist that the church needs a more pragmatic and applicable message. These influences include psychology, sociology, political Science and the Social Sciences.

Hebrews 12:2: “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

There is a place for all of this in the church, but it should never become its foundation or identity. What makes us the household of God is one faith generated and developed in Christ.

The truth of Jesus’ sacrificial death as the fully sufficient atonement is our faith ground.

Hebrews 7:27: “He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.”

Hebrews 9:12: “He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”

Hebrews 9:26: “For then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

Hebrews 10:10: “And by that will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

The Reformers saw this as a theological basis for rejecting the reenactment of Christ’s sacrifice, holding that His work on the cross was complete and needed no repetition.

Access to the Scripture.

Our VSM students are studying the wisdom books and Psalms. This week, Pastor John Warton asked me about my favorite Psalm. Psalm 90, Psalm 23, 139. But we take it for granted so much what cust the life of many believers.

Access to scripture is essential for a true and joyful relationship with God. Before the Reformation, the Bible was out of reach for most people because it was only available in Latin and closely controlled by the official church, so laypeople couldn’t read it in their language. This barrier forced them to rely on priests to interpret God’s word for them, making a direct connection with scripture impossible.

Psalms 34:8-10 (ESV) Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! 10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

The Reformation changed all of this, opening the door to the scripture. 

Anyone can read and understand God’s Word for themselves; anyone can have a direct relationship with Him and experience a new sense of peace and connection.

What the Apostles and Reformers actually fought for.

Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV) 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Paul prays that Christ may dwell in the hearts of believers through faith. A prayer for Christians—not for initial conversion, but for a deeper, conscious experience of Christ’s presence within them.

It is a call to an intimate relationship with Christ, where He is not only present but “at home” in believers’ hearts, alive and actively cherished.

This “dwelling” of Christ is a living, present reality rather than an abstract belief. Only made possible through faith alone—faith is the “sufficient instrument” by which believers enjoy personal fellowship with Christ. 

Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Accessible directly through personal faith without needing external rituals or mediators. This understanding is a central theme of the Reformation, celebrating the accessibility of a close relationship with God through scripture and faith.

Do you want that Reformation in your faith today?

Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Romans 10:8-13 (ESV) The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The Holy Spirit is an advantage, helper, and guide to the truth.

God wants us back in love with him and his word. He doesn't give us a commandment. He knows the commandment of "you shall love me" will not develop love from within. He wants a genuine heart.

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV): “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

It is the Spirit that will lead the church back into love and passion. A spirit will join the church in the last days and store the crime. "come.

Revelation 22:17 (ESV): “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

Usually, we do not like to be close to people who are constantly nagging voices. Those who still condemn us look to find fault no matter how hard we try to please them.

Actually, we try to avoid those types of people. Usually, we tend to fall in love with those who, despite our faults and ugliness, still can find beauty in us. Usually, we want to marry those types of people.

My wife has a saying, "If you can still love him despite everything you see now that you are engaged, move forward."

In the same way, if you still think that the work of the Holy Spirit is a nagging, condemning voice to you, you will never be open, for he's working in your life. But today, I'm here to affirm that the Holy Spirit came to our advantage. He is a helper. The Holy Spirit is a guide—the minister of the new covenant within our hearts.

John 16:7 (ESV) Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

The Holy Spirit Does Not Condemn Us

Many you confuse the devil’s condemnation with the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit does not condemn but reminds us of our righteousness in Christ.

Accuses us of leaders of depression is Satan. That's his job. And there is no other way to overcome him unless you discern the truth.

Revelation 12:10 [...] “For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”

How can you overcome that continuous condemnation and push into depression? We are constantly reminded of our faults. How much like any Ministry. How distant we are from being a better husband. The appropriate mother for our kids. How can we overcome that? 

These thoughts are not from the Holy Spirit. Satan, the accuser, wants you to be held back by that lie. But today, stand on the word of God. 

The most debilitating power of the enemy is accusation. It keeps us under a slavery mentality and away from our true identity in Christ.

Revelation 12:11 (ESV) And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

The Holy Spirit does not remember your sins, so He cannot condemn you for what He has forgotten.

Hebrews 8:12 (ESV): “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

Hebrews 10:17 (ESV) “Then he adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’”

Jeremiah 31:34 (ESV) “And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

The Holy Spirit working now

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin but comforts you by affirming their righteousness. He guides you into all truth, not condemnation.

(John 16:8–9) “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me.”

(John 16:13) “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

You are in Christ, and now it is time to live free from all condemnation, which marks the beginning of life in the Spirit.

There are people wanting to be filled with the Holy Spirit, trusting the old way of the law. However, the ministry of the Holy Spirit works only according to the new covenant.

(Romans 3:20) “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

The law was designed by God to bring the knowledge of sin and tutor us to God by

Galatians 3:24 (ESV): “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”

Christ has come! He has freed us from the law.

(Romans 8:1) “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

The law is called the ministry of condemnation, while the gospel is the ministry of righteousness that brings life.

Jesus empowers you to live a changed life by freeing them from condemnation.

2 Corinthians 3:7-11 (ESV) 7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

The Power of Grace Over the Sin and Death

If you want to break out from the endless destructive cycles of sin, addiction, violence, and anxiety, the way to that is not by the law. The way of victory is by the grace of God. 

Jesus showed that to the woman caught in adultery.

(John 8:10-11) “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

The cycle of obsessive destructive behavior is fueled by Satan, with temptation in the beginning and condemnation at the end. 

If you are empowered by the power of God's grace in the beginning and reminded of His complete forgiveness at the end, believe me, you will break free once and for all of these harmful practices. Therefore, before getting free from sin, you must be set free from the law.

(Romans 6:14) “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

How does the law strengthen sin? 

The principle of the law that condemns so many you is its function as a revealer of God’s perfect holiness and human sinfulness. The law exposes humanity’s inability to meet God’s righteous standards, showing that no one can attain salvation through their efforts or works. It was meant for good, but now it is producing harm.

Jonas was plagued by a mysterious, invisible disease. He couldn’t see it or touch it, but he could feel it. It drained his energy, left him weak, and made even the simplest tasks seem impossible. Worse still, no one else could understand what he was going through. Every day felt like a battle, and though he appeared healthy on the outside, he felt like he was dying inside. 

Leah came to Jonas with a solution. A powerful medicine that could cure even the most mysterious diseases. “Take this,” Leah said, handing him a vial. “It will give you relief and restore your strength.”

Jonas was skeptical at first, but he was desperate. So, he took the medicine. To his amazement, the relief was immediate. The heaviness that had plagued him for years lifted. He felt full of life and energy.

He felt so good that he kept taking the medicine, even when he didn’t feel the symptoms anymore. But slowly, something began to change. The medicine, which had once brought him healing, started to affect him differently. He became jittery, his thoughts clouded, and his body felt weak again. He began to lose sleep, his mood darkened, and he started feeling more anxious with each passing day. Worse yet, he was afraid to stop. 

Leah noticed the change in Jonas and grew concerned. “You were healed. Why are you still taking the medicine?” she asked.

Jonas shrugged, “It felt so good, and I thought more would keep me better. But now I fall apart.”

Leah looked at him sadly and explained, “The medicine was meant to heal your disease, not to be part of your life. The more you take it, the more it harms you. You need to stop before it destroys you completely.”

The very thing that had saved him was now his greatest burden, pulling him down and stealing away his joy. 

Realizing the truth, Jonas made the hardest decision of his life: to stop taking the medicine. It wasn’t easy, and the withdrawal was brutal. 

Jonas began to feel free again. He realized that true healing wasn’t in relying on the medicine endlessly but in trusting that it had done its job—and letting go.

Galatians 3:24 (ESV),“So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”

Romans 7:10-11 (ESV): “The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”

The law, for the believer in Christ, is now an instrument of condemnation and death.

(1 Corinthians 15:56) “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.”

Christ’s work breaks this cycle. All emotionally depressing life, sucking feelings come from fear and condemnation. It also affects all our relationships. Remember Adam? Condemnation led him to blame and start the blaming game. He excuses himself and even dares to accuse God himself. 

(Genesis 3:12) “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

The Holy Spirit wants to set you free from fear

The Holy Spirit convicts you of your righteousness in Christ, not your sin. He testifies that you are children of God, freeing them from fear and condemnation.

(Romans 8:15–16) “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

Able and willing to do far more abundantly

This week, after Hurricane Milton, many brothers came to me with relief and gratitude. However, some came to me and were disheartened because now they have to face the havoc of renovation, cleanliness insurance claims, and other challenges.

One particular person was sharing with me his heart of sadness. Years ago, he had a dream car. He worked hard to be able to acquire that car. After restricting himself to leisure and comfort in order to save up to buy that car, he finally was able to do it. Unfortunately, when Hurricane Ian hit two years ago, that car had a total loss. Even after the insurance claim, he could not recover the total amount to buy that dream car. For the last two years, that brother has finally worked hard to buy the brand new model. The model he had was way better than the first. But, once again, another hurricane. He asked me, "Pastor, why did the Lord allow that to happen to me? Why did I not hear the voice of the Lord?"

Today, I would like to talk to those who are feeling accused, condemned, and discouraged by things that are happening in their lives; they have no control over it; they are discouraged.

Satan, the accuser, is creeping in. Because of that, you either believe in an image of an evil God that is pleased to punish and treat his children, or you believe that you are not godly enough, Christian enough, committed and devout enough, to listen and obey this God perfectly.

God is able. But is He willing?

Ephesians 3:17-21 (ESV) 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Many believers do not have a problem believing that God is able. Yes, we think he is powerful and capable. But is He willing?

Matthew 8:2-3 (ESV) And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

On the healing of the leper, Jesus made the ultimate statement of His will. He wants you to be cleaned, purified, forgiven, restored. 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Change the image you have about God.

I came from a school of thought that taught me that most of my interactions with God are projections of my human relationships. Therefore, I thought I had to fix my relationship with my father to appropriately relate to God as my heavenly father. I had to fix my relationship with my teachers so that I could better understand God's authority. I had to fix my relationship with my mom so that I could understand God's disciplinary love.

However, the more we grow in the revelation of the gospel, the more I understood it is the other way around. I mean, first, you must have the right image of God, based on the truth of the gospel, and then you're gonna project that relationship with God with every other relationship you have.

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

The truth is, we had received complete forgiveness. The more we understand the power of this message and allow it to take every fiber of our lives, the more free and encouraged we'll be.

John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

The conscience of sin does not increase God's forgiveness.

When someone truly understands that they are no longer under condemnation, they break free from the power of sin.

John 8:10-11 “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’”

This woman could only walk away from her sin because she first received freedom from condemnation. People trapped under condemnation often feel stuck, repeating the same sins. If you see yourself as a dirty person you do dirty things. 

Living under the law is the same as living under condemnation.

Romans 6:14 “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

This means that sin no longer rules over us because we are now under grace. And if sin has no power over us, then neither do things like poverty, sickness, curses, or the devil.

The law says we must obey perfectly to earn God’s favor. But since we can’t keep the law perfectly, it only leads to condemnation. That’s why being under grace – God’s undeserved favor – changes everything.

Some people misunderstand and think that preaching freedom from condemnation makes God lenient toward sin. But the opposite is true.

There is no more condemnation for us because every one of our sins – no matter how big or small – was already condemned on the Cross. From the slightest wrong thought to the worst act, all of it was placed on Jesus. God didn’t overlook a single sin.

God’s Justice

We are free from condemnation because our sins were already condemned in Jesus’ body. And since a sin can’t be punished twice, God declares us innocent.

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

This declaration isn’t based on mercy alone; it’s rooted in God’s justice. If Jesus took the punishment for our sins, the devil no longer has the right to accuse us.

Even though we still make mistakes, the blood of Jesus answers every accusation. According to the law, the soul that sins deserves death. But Jesus took that punishment for us by dying in our place. His sacrifice is the reason we stand free today.

Called to soar

If you take an eagle egg and put it under a hen, you’ll soon find a little eagle among the chicks. This little eagle will learn to live like a chicken, always on the ground and never flying. It will live the life of a chicken, even though it is an eagle. 

Just because it acts like a chicken, does it become a chicken? No! When you were born again, you were born with God’s nature and His life inside you. You may feel dirty and impure and like the worst person in the world, but you know what? You still have God’s life and nature inside you!

Although chickens surround this little eagle, it’s not a chicken. But it has learned to be afraid like chickens, to look at the ground like chickens, and every time it dreams that it can fly, its wings don’t support it.

One day, however, we all have to grow up, look up, and see that there are eagles to fly. When this little eagle hears, for the first time, a message that reminds them of their identity, its heart is touched. Right now, you’re feeling in your heart that what I’m writing is accurate and that this is the God you’ve been looking for all along. Even if you still have some doubts in your head, your heart is discovering the truth. The Word of God says that one abyss attracts another abyss.

In our story, one day, the cry of that eagle in the sky, a glorious and majestic sound, deeply touched the heart of a little eagle who said, "I want to be like that!" All the chickens around it responded, "Stop dreaming! Beware of the eagle, for it will devour you!" But the little eagle was so moved that it began to cry loudly like an eagle.

All the hens tried to stop it, saying, "You belong to the earth and can’t stay in the sky! Don’t you know that eagles are part of a heresy? They always stand out, which means they’re proud. They always want to be the head and never the tail." The chickens insist, "Careful with the eagles!"

However, one day, the little eagle saw an eagle in the sky with a snake in its beak and thought, "Does an eagle eat snakes? We chickens run away from snakes!" Again, the chickens replied, "Watch out! They’re a strange group. They believe in a victorious life, prosperity, and healing. We need to be careful with these people!"

Then came the moment when the eaglet decided to leave its foster family and climb some rocks. Now, it was further away from its foster family and closer to the eagle. The eagle in the sky approached the little eagle and started making eagle calls. As a result, the little eagle started sounding like a mature eagle. Seeing and hearing that eagle, it could see and listen to itself. For a long time, it had been among the chickens without ever recognizing its true nature. It had nothing in common with the chickens. It noticed that its wings were like an eagle’s, not a chicken’s, and said, "I look like that!" The little eagle finally found its true identity. How did it find it? Look at that eagle, a figure of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When you were born again, God placed everything you need for success within you. You are meant always to be the head, never the tail, always above, never below, and to live a victorious life on this earth.

The child of a serpent looks like a serpent, but the child of God looks like God. A child of God will speak like their Father. They will live like their Father. God is never sick, never internally destroyed by something, and never depressed. God never says, "What do I do now?" You are a child of God! I’m here to tell you that you are a child of God!

There will be voices telling you to be careful about the gospel of grace. But I know that, in your heart, you know that you are hearing divine truths. God didn’t create you to live constantly in the midst of problems. Jesus didn’t die for you to live a life of sickness, misery, and failure. Jesus said He came to give you life and life in abundance! We must enter into this life not through our efforts but through faith. Everything has been done for us, but our part is to believe in the truth because when you believe, it manifests itself in your life. When you believe in the truth, you also begin to feel it. I pray, in the name of Jesus, that everyone can feel that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses them perfectly, continuously, and eternally.

When the young eagle began to fly, it looked down and exclaimed, "I didn’t think my world was so small!" While it was on the ground, the chickens claimed they were free thinkers and that the eagle was not free to think. They said the eagle was always preoccupied with negative and depressing thoughts and was never truly free. However, the young eagle was finally realizing how limited its life had been on the farm. Now, it could see beyond the constraints imposed on it. It could do this effortlessly, just by moving its wings slightly. The eagle soared above the snakes and scorpions.

You don't need to fear the devil, the serpent, anymore. You are a soaring eagle. Is the snake looking for you? Know that the blood of Jesus overcame Satan! You must believe in the truth! Your sins are no more significant than the blood that cleanses you. What should we be more aware of—our sins or the blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanses us from all our sins?

God never calls His children chickens; He calls them eagles. When eagles grow old, they renew their youth and strength. They have sharp vision and focus on their goals. They are not afraid of the storm because they master it. All problems work to their advantage because they soar above them. God calls us eagles.

If, upon hearing this message, you feel a cry within you, it is because you are an eagle. Come into the freedom of God’s children. You were born to soar high in heavenly places.

What Should We Do When We Sin?

A believer should not live under the consciousness of sin, constantly searching for wrongdoing to please God and be accepted by Him. We live in peace in God’s presence. However, a question arises: "What should we do when we sin again? We know all our sins have been forgiven, but what should we do before God if we fall again? Should we ignore the sin?"

1 John 2:1-2 (ESV) My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

As children of God, one of their main goals is not to sin. There is no need to sin. But sin is an undeniable fact.

"My little children" indicates that he refers to those who belong to God. In case they sin, John says they have an advocate before the Father. We have a lawyer not before a judge but before the Father, highlighting that this is a family matter.

Our lawyer does not defend us by saying, "The temptation was too big for the little children to handle, which is why they failed." The Lord doesn’t argue, "Because they are still little children and lack knowledge, they should be forgiven." No, that’s not how He defends us.

The Lord defends us by asserting that He is the propitiation for our sins. His defense is based on His finished work on the Cross. This sacrifice was perfect and included all the sins of all believers throughout time and space. When this propitiatory sacrifice is presented to God, He no longer has a way to punish us.

For sinners, the Lord is their Savior, but for God's children, He is the Advocate. As Savior, He completed the work on the Cross, but as Advocate, He applies the work of the Cross. He became our Savior long before we repented, believed, and came to Him. He became our Savior when we were still sinners.

Romans 5:8 (ESV) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He doesn’t become our Advocate after we repent. On the contrary, He is already our Advocate even when sinning.

The moment we sin, the Lord defends us by showing the Father His finished work on the Cross. In this way, the blood of our Lord Jesus continually purifies us of all sin.

The continuing effectiveness of the blood

1 John 1:9 (ESV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The blood of Jesus is continually purifying us from all sin and unrighteousness. The Bible never shows the blood of Jesus doing a second work of purification. Instead, it shows that the blood purifies us all the time. There are no "multiple purifications," only a continuous and definitive one.

The finished work of the Cross happened once and for all, but the work of purification by the blood is continuous. But why is it continuous? Because the Son is continually presenting the finished work of the Cross before God. It is not a re-purification but a continuous demonstration to God that He already died and all our sins have been taken care of.

Confess That You Have Been Forgiven Because of the Blood

The forgiveness of our sins is totally based on the blood of Jesus. The"confession of sins" has no power to erase sins. But why do we need to confess? John doesn’t say that confession is praying so God can forgive our sins. The apostle says we must recognize and treat our sins as such; in other words, call sin what it is: a sin, a mistake, a wrongdoing. No excuses.

Remember that you are not forgiven because of your confession. If that were the case, we would have to confess our sins constantly, making our Christian life very stressful and heavy.

But there are moments when your conscience will feel heavy. Then, at that moment, you will need to confess. How do we confess? Simply confess that you recognize that such an act is a sin, and also confess that the blood of the Lord Jesus has forgiven you.

If we were purified by confession, we would need to be aware of all our sins all the time. We are not purified only of the sins we know or perceive in ourselves. The Lord removed every single sin by His knowledge of us, not based on our own knowledge. If forgiveness were only for the sins we know and confess, it would be very limited. But the Lord knows us deeply and forgave us completely.

Our friend paid it all

Imagine you have a friend you haven't seen in years. One day, he shows up and tells you he has become a multimillionaire. Because he loves you dearly, he decides to pay off all your debts. Then he meets with your accountant and pays them all. Later, you ask your accountant to show you everything that has been paid for, and you notice that there were debts you didn’t even know you had. Nevertheless, your friend paid them all. This is exactly our story. We cannot measure the extent of our debt, but we can be certain that the Son of God has fully paid it on the Cross.

God does not forget. Therefore, He forgives it all.

We shouldn’t think that God also ignores the sins we’ve ignored. God does not do that. 

In Joshua 9, the Gibeonites tricked the Israelites into making a peace treaty, and even though it was based on deception, the Israelites swore before God to protect them. Many years later, Saul broke this oath by trying to wipe out the Gibeonites in his zeal for Israel, which brought guilt upon the land and offended God. As a result, God sent a famine during King David’s reign, and when David sought the Lord, he learned that the famine was caused by Saul’s actions (2 Samuel 21:1). The Lord showed him that the cause of the problem was the sin of Saul against the Gibeonites years ago.

David was not aware of the sin of the nation, but that didn’t mean God had forgotten it. According to this text, neither the passage of time nor ignorance can erase wrongdoing before God. Here is an example of what it means that God takes into account all of our sins, including those that we might not be aware of. Therefore, only the blood of Jesus can remove all our sins.

That’s why it’s not a confession but the blood of Jesus that washes us clean of sin. However, we need to confess our sins because this is God’s way of removing self-righteousness from us. We must call sin what it is and recognize that it still exists in our flesh. When we admit our sins, we humble ourselves before God, allowing us to have fellowship with Him.

Sin is a problem for our perception of the Lord's love.

John 13:1-4 (ESV) 1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.

In John 13, we read about the day the Lord washed His disciples’ feet. This event is significant because it teaches us that we still need to be purified before we can have communion with the Lord at the table.

The washing of feet is fundamental because Jesus said that if He didn’t wash Peter’s feet, there could be no communion between them. Therefore, washing feet has to do with fellowship with God.

John 13:8 (ESV) 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

Jesus said we could not have communion with Him without the washing of water. Water symbolizes the Word of God, and the Lord said that the disciples were cleansed by His word.

(Ephesians 5:26)…that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word…

(John 15:3) Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

When we confess the word of Christ, we are washed by water. Thus, confession of sin must always come with confession of the gospel.

This washing of the feet is not related to salvation. The Lord didn’t say to Peter, "If I don’t wash you, you have no part in Me." Instead, He did say, "If I don’t wash you, you have no part with Me."

"In Me" refers to salvation, while "with Me" refers to communion and fellowship. This means that, after being saved, we can still have problems in our fellowship with God.

John 13:8-10 (ESV) 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 

The Lord said that those who have already bathed need not bathe again. Bathing here refers to salvation. The blood of Jesus has already washed us, but we still need to be washed daily by the water of the gospel Word.

Sin doesn’t change our position before God, but it can still hinder our communion. We need to be washed by water. It’s not a confession that washes us clean of sin but the blood of Jesus. Through the blood, we have already been completely clean and bathed, but there are still times when we need to wash our feet from the dirt of sin with the confession of the gospel. If we don’t wash our feet, the Lord says we can’t have fellowship with Him.

Now, have faith to believe God is able and He willing.

Ephesians 3:17-21 (ESV) 7 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Priests and Ministers

Hebrews 10:11-12“ And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.”

God made all his atoned and redeemed children priests. You are a minister called to be in God's presence.

You are a priest representing yourself first before God. But also, you represent others when you pray for their salvation. Or when you pray for a divine intervention. You are a priest.

Revelation 1:5-6 (ESV): ”…To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Forgiveness is Complete through the Blood of Christ

The most referred and central element in the priestly work of the Old Testament is sacrifice—particularly the blood sacrifice for atonement. This is seen as the heart of the priestly function, and it carries deep spiritual realities. 

Blood is the way for sinful people to approach a holy God. The blood maintains the holiness of the people. Blood sanctities of the temple. The blood sacrifice—is the most central element in the priestly work.

We have reached a critical point where long-held beliefs and practices will challenged. Some struggle to accept that Jesus died only once and that forgiveness is permanent. I want to take this revelation further by emphasizing that forgiveness of sins and justification are God’s solutions to our spiritual and emotional problems.

Forgiveness of sins is not achieved through our works, emotional expressions, or even repetitive confession but solely by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

(Hebrews 9:22) “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

Jesus offered one perfect sacrifice, and there is no need for further offerings for sin. His work is finished.

There is no way to complete what is finished.

Forgiveness is Once and for All

Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross covers all sins—past, present, and future. Forgiveness is not given in installments; it is complete and final.

“Hebrews 7:27 (ESV) He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

The idea of repeatedly seeking forgiveness for every sin misunderstands the completeness of Christ’s work on the Cross.

There is no problem in confessing your sins; have contrition and remorse. But if you are using that deep regret as a way to bring a "better sacrifice" for your sins, that will not be accepted before God.

Most of us project over our relationship with God the same emotional exchange we have with people. However, God's basis for our is different from the one we use with one another.

It is important to use " emotional currency " in our families, work contexts, and churches. However, God values something else.

God’s Currency is Blood, Not Our Emotions

We often try to use “emotional currency” (tears, regret, apologies) to seek forgiveness, but God’s currency for sin is blood.

Ephesians 1:7 (ESV) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

Our forgiveness is based on the blood of Jesus, not on how deeply we feel remorse or sorrow for our sins.

If you want to express that to God, do it. As a pastor and person, I commend you for that expressive attitude before God. But don't think that you would be justified before God because of that exterior expression. It is always because of the finished work of the Cross.

Rest in the Finished Work of Christ

We are priests; we are ministers. We serve in the presence of God. But never like the Old Testament standards. We serve in the rest. What does that even mean? It means we are working as one that works in a garden.

Planting and tending a garden requires a lot of work. However, there is a world of difference between working in a garden and a field, between a garden and an assembly line. As ministers, we work but in delight and rest. Confident of the finished, completed work of Jesus.

We are called to rest in the total forgiveness provided by Christ. Just as Jesus sat down at the right hand of God, we are to cease striving and rest in His completed work.

“After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3)

Believers need to stop striving for forgiveness through their own efforts and trust that Christ’s sacrifice was enough.

Just as Jesus is seated in a position of rest and authority, so are we spiritually seated with Him, resting in His completed work.

Rest in the knowledge that you are totally forgiven. You are not forgiven progressively or partially but entirely through the blood of Christ. No matter how you feel or what you have done, the work of Jesus on the Cross is complete. There is nothing you can do to add to it or take away from it. Your sins have been dealt with once and for all.

Key Verse to Remember:

“For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14, ESV)

Jesus is already seated at the right hand of God, signifying that His work is finished. Likewise, let us rest in Him and cease striving for what He has already provided—total forgiveness.

Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV) 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

“But God… made us alive together with Christ… and raised us up with Him (Ephesians 2:5-6) and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

Our striving now is to rest in Him.

Hebrews 4:11 (ESV) Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

True peace comes when believers understand that they are completely forgiven. When guilt is removed, they can rest in God’s grace.

Colossians 2:13-14 (ESV) And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Believers can no longer be burdened by guilt but can live in the freedom and joy of knowing they are fully forgiven.

Confession is Not the Condition for Forgiveness

While confessing sins may help us maintain a healthy relationship with God, it is not the condition for receiving forgiveness. Forgiveness was given once and for all on the Cross.

Hebrews 10:10 (ESV) And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:14 “For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

The forgiveness we receive from God depends not on daily confession but on Christ’s finished work.

a. It is not about our confession

Confession is for the unsaved, the becoming Christian one. It is not for us anymore as a condition for salvation.

1 John 1:9 (ESV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:16 (ESV) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

b. It is not about our memory

Forgiveness is not just for the sins we remember. The most widespread teaching in Christian circles is that, on the day you were born again, Jesus forgave all your past sins, but from that moment on, you need to confess each sin in order for them to be forgiven.

What would happen if you died with thousands of unconfessed sins? Do you think any man enters heaven having just part of his sins forgiven?

Hebrews 9:25-26 (ESV) Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

God's forgiveness cannot depend on our daily confessions or memories of sins. Forgiveness is bestowed because of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross.

The right currency was presented during the transaction, and the debt was fully paid.

Priests and Ministers

Isaiah 61:1-3 (ESV) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.

Isaiah 61:5-7 (ESV) Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; 6 but you shall be called the priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast. 7 Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV): “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”

God makes new things

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV) 18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

The Lord is bringing us to a new level of faith. Understand that pity does not move God. Our pain can always allow us to experience God's comfort and healing. But we must grow in our faith to see the miraculous.

Fasting and prayer will strengthen your faith to a new, powerful level in the coming weeks. Say, “Lord, You are doing something new in my life. I believe in Jesus' name. Amen.”

These first 12 years have been incredible, and now it is time to look ahead because God is doing something new in our midst.

Before God does anything on earth, he uses the Spirit and the Word. Genesis tells us that Spirit was hovering over the face of the water, and God said, and all came to exist. 

God has something better ahead

God is not just bringing something novel, fleeting, or trivial. He is doing something transformative that comes from Him and will impact our lives deeply. The world may offer temporary innovations, but they do not have the power to change your family or spiritual life. When God does something new, it is profound and life-changing.

In order to experience the new ( Isa 43:19) the condition is only one, you must forget the old (Isa. 43. 18).

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV) 18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing[...].

Forgetting the past does not mean devaluing the good that has happened; it means opening our hearts to what God still has in store. To receive this, we must leave behind the pain, mistakes, and even past victories that may hold us back. God has something better ahead for each of us.

God never consults your past to define your future

In Jesus, we can always begin anew. Yesterday's failure does not define tomorrow, for God is doing something new in your life.

Three things to forget:

Your pass failure.

The past mistakes of others against you.

The past is victories.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

(2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

This verse applies to the moment of conversion and throughout our Christian lives as God leads us to new levels of faith, spiritual growth, and maturity. To live in God’s newness, we must leave the old behind.

It’s not a reform. God is going to do something new: new perspectives, new visions, new dreams, a new position of influence, of authority, new connections, new abilities of the Spirit. Things that the Lord will put in your heart. However, the old must be left behind.

The promised land is a new place

The Israelites left the desert for the Promised Land, which symbolized a successful spiritual journey. It was a place of joy, with cities already built and wells already dug. Transitioning from the wilderness and desert, they would enter a land abundant with resources. God desires to guide us to places of triumph, influence and prosperity.

For that "new of God," it seems that the Bible indicates that Moses had to pass away for Joshua to lead the people;

Moses here points to the law, the religion. Joshua, [יְהוֹשֻׁעַ Yhowshua; Yhwh saves].

Joshua 1:1-2 (ESV) 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.

Old things must “die” in our lives so that God’s newness can flourish.

The mentality of merit and self-righteousness must die before we enter the new.

If you are facing difficulties, it may be that God is allowing certain things to end because He wants to start something new. Surrendering those “dying” areas to God can be the beginning of something great He desires to accomplish in your family.

Whether your marriage or finances remember that what is collapsing may lack a strong foundation. 

Hebrews 12:27 (ESV): Yet once more,' indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

God wants to rebuild something new and solid. 

Peter’s fall was the prelude to his rise as a great leader. God can turn your tragedy into triumph, surrender it all.

Jesus said:

Luke 5:36 (ESV): [...] 'No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.'"

We often think we are good and specialists in one thing. But God allows us to reach the end of ourselves to realize how much we need his grace.

Many of us cling to the past out of fear. We focus on what we lack rather than seeing what God is trying to give us. For God’s newness to flourish, the old must often be released—control, hurt, resentment, or even past achievements.

God is speaking to you now, calling you to leave the old behind and embrace the new. Let go of hurt, resentment, and injustice. Forgiveness is essential for experiencing God's freedom and newness.

God starts a new day in the night

Interestingly, the day begins at midnight. God begins the day when we are powerless and resting. He acts only when we rest.

Every night eventually gives way to morning, and though some nights may feel long, no darkness lasts forever. 

God is doing something new here—He is making things new. He created night and day to remind us that there is always an opportunity to begin again.

Consider Joseph, who was persecuted, thrown into a pit, and later imprisoned. He was forgotten and abandoned, yet in a moment, God transformed his circumstances, elevating him to become the governor of Egypt. 

God can change your situation in the blink of an eye; His power knows no limits. God is ready to change quickly. He is just waiting for you to humble yourself. God knows what you are going through, and He is calling you to let go.

Just as an alpinist clinging to a rope in darkness. The climber called out for God’s help. God responded, telling him to release the rope, but the climber, afraid of the unknown, froze to death. When the morning came, it was revealed that he had been only inches from the ground.

God knows the height. Let go of what you are holding onto—whether it’s your hurt in your marriage, stress in your finances, failures, or your shame. Allow God to be God in your life.

Accept the complete forgiveness of God. 

You must leave behind is the guilt. You make mistakes, and you don’t forgive yourself. You torment yourself: "I did wrong, I spent what I shouldn’t have, I said things I shouldn’t have, I gave in to temptation, I ruined everything." 

It feels like there’s no way to fix it. However, no sin is too great for God to forgive or too dirty for Him to wash clean. You are forgiven.

You condemn yourself, "I committed a crime." Christ paid for that crime on the Cross, and no crime can be punished twice because that would be unjust. If Jesus has already suffered for our sins, God will not punish you again. And if God has forgiven you, who are you to refuse to forgive yourself? Accept God’s forgiveness.

Do you know the difference between Judas and Peter? (Matthew 27:3-5 vs. Luke 22:61-62) Both of them betrayed Jesus. Judas tried to atone for his wrongdoing by his own strength, which led to his suicide. He didn’t know that just a few hours later, Jesus would pay for his sin on the Cross. Peter, on the other hand, accepted forgiveness. That was the difference.

Stop trying to pay for what you did because it’s already paid for. Don’t diminish the work of God. Pray, "Lord, help me believe in Your forgiveness."

Whenever Satan wants to trap you in condemnation, the devil speaks badly of God to you and of you to God. He will remind you of your past, whether it’s something from long ago or something recent. That’s how he accuses us.

But, Every time the devil brings up your past, remind him of his future—the lake of fire is waiting for him. You no longer have a past. 

"I will remember their sins no more" (Hebrews 8:12 ESV).

One day, I called a brother to come help me with a business deal because he was good at it. When he arrived and opened the door, he started crying and confessed all his sins. I hadn’t even said anything. I was looking for his help.

We live in a world full of guilt and condemnation, which produces anxiety. This anxiety is the raw material for all kinds of psychosomatic illnesses: panic attacks, fear, depression, and so many others. Cut off the guilt, and you’ll cut off the source of these emotional burdens. How do you do that? By meditating on the Word day and night. I want to challenge you: Take part in this fasting and devotional for the next 21 days.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

(Romans 12:2 ESV)

Stop consuming junk for a little while and start feeding on the gospel. You’ll see your health improve, and you’ll gain joy and strength for your work.

Religion consistently portrays God as an angry judge, eager to punish and send people to hell. That’s not the God of the Bible. We need to tell people that there is forgiveness.

In one of our churches. Some sisters brought a transgender person to the pastor. They found them in the women’s restroom. This person came to me and said, “Pastor, I’m a transgender woman. I’ve had surgery and no longer have male genitalia. I’m a drug addict, and my life is a mess. I heard about forgiveness, and I wondered if there is any hope for me."

The pastor said, “Of course, there is hope for you. There is no sin that God cannot forgive, and no stain that His blood cannot wash clean.” 

They prayed together, and that person accepted Jesus, crying through the prayer. Afterward, he asked, “Now, how do I talk to God? As a man or a woman?” The pastor said, "I had never read an answer to that in any book. But you don’t need to worry about whether you’re a man or a woman. You are a son of God, and now you have a Father. Talk to Him as His child. That’s all that matters."

Let go of resentment

Four things often lead to the downfall of Christians: sexual immorality, the lust for power, the pursuit of fame, and greed. These are common pitfalls.

However, there is another danger that affects everyone: Holding onto injustice, allowing it to feed bitterness and resentment. It is destructive.

Hebrews 12:15 (ESV):

"See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled."

One may reject the gift of grace by holding onto resentment. Some scholars argue that harboring bitterness may indicate an internal rebellion against God because it is the same as the unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35).

A king decides to settle accounts with his servants, and one servant who owes a massive debt (10,000 talents) is brought before him. Unable to pay, the servant begs for mercy, and the king, moved with compassion, forgives the entire debt. However, that same servant goes out and finds a fellow servant who owes him a much smaller amount (100 denarii). Instead of showing the same mercy he had received, he demands payment and throws the fellow servant into prison. When the king hears of this, he becomes angry and reverses his forgiveness, throwing the first servant into prison until his debt is repaid. Jesus concludes the parable by warning that this is how the Heavenly Father will treat those who do not forgive others from their heart.

Unforgiveness drains the soul. It is like a form of self-destruction. 

[Romans were known for many forms of brutal execution, such as crucifixion, beheading, and being thrown to wild animals, but the specific practice of tying a corpse to a living prisoner is not well-supported by historical records.] 

But think of one tied to a corpse, slowly killing them by the dead weight. Maybe that is why Paul writes, 

“Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

(Romans 7:24-25 ESV)

Hatred and resentment act as a dead body tied to a person. When you forgive, you are freed from that weight and can experience the new things God has in store for you. 

Yet, it is impossible to experience the new if you are unwilling to let go of the old. The first "old thing" you must release is any person who has wronged you.

Stop trying to heal a wound that was inflicted 20 years ago. "I was abused by my uncle." I feel compassion for that pain, but the person who was a victim of an attempted abortion or who was abused is gone. Only the name remains the same, but that person no longer exists. They died in Christ. You are a new creation. This truth will heal you once and for all. New life, new person. Forget the past—it will do you no good. Stop seeing yourself as a victim. You are not a victim. You are a child of God.

Every time someone is offended, a spirit of vengeance will try to control you, prompting the desire for retribution. That is why Jesus said, 

"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

(Matthew 5:44 ESV)

It is not a matter of kindness. However, harboring anger will ultimately harm the person carrying it.

It is pride that makes forgiveness seem impossible, as people believe no one should offend them.

Be honest and humble; it will become easier to extend forgiveness. Forgiveness is not easy, but it is necessary.

Remember, our sin against Christ was far greater than any offense you could ever receive. God forgave us completely, so we must also forgive.

Forgive your spouse, forgive your leaders, forgive your employer. Release any resentment toward others. Let go of the old grievances even if you were cheated.

Heaven isn’t a place for the "good"—it’s for the forgiven. God is the one who transforms lives. Everyone in hell deserves to be there. They deserve it. But no one in heaven deserves to be there. They’re there because God forgave them. 

There is more. People aren’t in hell because they sinned. They’re there because they didn’t believe their sin was paid for. And, you are here to tell them there is forgiveness.

There's no benefit in dwelling on it. Life is too short, and holding onto past wrongs isn't worth losing sleep over. Instead, trust that God's mercy will bring restoration when the time is right. Believe, no one can actually rob you, for God will always restore what has been lost. Holding onto resentment will only keep you trapped in the past, making you unable to move toward the new.

Be honest with God. Speak the truth because God loves honest prayers. He does not listen to hypocritical prayers. What is a hypocritical prayer? It's like when a spouse asks, "Is everything okay?" and the response is "Yes," when things are clearly not fine. Speak the truth! "I’m upset, I’m hurt, and I can’t get over it." Tell that to God. Say, "Lord, I want revenge, but I know it’s wrong. I can’t do it; help me. Take it away from me." And God will take it away if you are honest.

God is raising up a church that doesn’t condemn. Don’t be among those who criticize. We disagree with many believers, but we don’t condemn anyone. We pray for them. That’s the spirit of grace.

Leave behind accomplishments

Have you met people who can’t stop talking about what they used to do? "I played on that team, I won all these championships, I’ve got a shelf full of trophies at home." But now, they don’t play anymore. That was in the past. God wants you to leave it behind, no matter how good it was. 

"Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."(Philippians 3:13-14, ESV)

It’s great that you were a champion, but now put the trophies away because a new race has begun for you, and God has already given you the victory. some people spend their whole lives stuck in the past. "Oh, it was so good back when our church was just four people."

You have access to the bread of life. If you don’t resolve this, you’ll remain trapped and unable to move forward.

What is the new way? It’s a life without bargaining, without merit, pure and undeserved favor. The old way of living with God was through the law—thinking, "If I do good, I deserve it; if I sin, I don’t." Stop living that way. Forget it completely.

God is doing something new. What He will do doesn’t depend on your abilities or efforts. Don’t worry—it’s all God’s will. He is the one who will make it happen in your life.

Read, Listen and speak.

But in order to live the new life that God is offering you, you have to meditate on the Word day and night, just as God told Joshua. He also told him to never stop speaking the Word. I gain faith when I read it in a book or hear a sermon. But when I speak it, it becomes a part of me.

God gave Joshua a serious command: "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night."

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

(Joshua 1:8 ESV)

God told him to speak, meditate, and live according to the Word. Then, he would be successful in everything he did. Today, under the New Testament, what is the Word of God? It is the gospel of grace. God is telling us the same thing now: "You’re about to enter your Canaan, and I’m doing something new, a glorious place that I’m leading you to. So meditate on the gospel day and night."

The devil doesn’t accuse you just every 15 days or only when he’s angry. No, the Bible says he accuses you day and night relentlessly. We need the gospel day and night.

He is making a new way. So don’t stay trapped in your past. Forget what’s behind you and move forward. God is doing this in your life.

Do you not perceive it?

 God wants to lead you into your new purpose, but you need to recognize it.

Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

God’s people were in the wilderness. In the wilderness, there is no path. When we are in a wilderness in any area of our lives, we have no direction, we can’t find a way out. But God creates paths where there are none. In the middle of your wilderness, God is creating a way. He will give you direction and lead you to a new place. Whether in your finances, emotions, relationships, marriage, dreams, or projects.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6 ESV). 

The way He is making for you is not the way of the law, so it’s not based on merit or self-righteousness. It is the way of Christ, the way of His grace and undeserved favor.

It is necessary to let the Spirit move in our lives. I believe this. The Lord is revealing something now that He hadn’t revealed before. I prayed and asked, “Lord, where are You leading us as a church? God led me to 

Here is the full passage with Isaiah 61:1-2 and Isaiah 61:5-7 combined:

Isaiah 61:1-2,

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

because the LORD has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

to proclaim the year of the LORD'S favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;"

Isaiah 61:5-7 (ESV):"Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;

foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;

but you shall be called the priests of the LORD;

they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;

you shall eat the wealth of the nations,

and in their glory you shall boast.

Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;

instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;

therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;

they shall have everlasting joy."

Grace is God committing Himself through promises. In waiting and persevering, we must never badmouth God's promises.

God will never promise anything for His children; therefore, do not badmouth God's purpose in your life.

Experience God’s Power in Your Weakness

1 Corinthians 2:2-3 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling (1 Corinthians 2:2-3, ESV).

“Fear and trembling” refers to a state of awe, overwhelm, and ecstasy. This phrase is rooted in Hebrew culture, and even though Paul wrote in Greek, he incorporated expressions that resonated deeply with the Hebrew language and customs.

Jeremiah 33:9 And this city shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it (Jeremiah 33:9, ESV).

Similarly, in Mark’s gospel, we find this expression:

Mark 5:33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth (Mark 5:33, ESV).

Only those who acknowledge their weakness can enter into this state of wonder, awe, and trembling. God loves our weakness. God delights in using our weakness, not the weakness that comes from sin, but the inherent fragility of our human nature. The Apostle Paul understood this deeply. As Paul writes:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, ESV).

Gideon and His Weakness

There was a time when Israel’s enemies, the Midianites, would steal their crops during each harvest season. During one of these times, the Angel of the LORD appeared to a young man named Gideon.

Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:11-12, ESV).

God does not see as we do. He calls things that are not visible or tangible as though they were.

The creative power of God's word is greater than our perception of ourselves.

Even though Gideon hid, God called him a “mighty man of valor.” What seems insignificant, but God sees way beyond our fears.

Gideon responded:

“Please, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” (Judges 6:13-14, ESV).

M any sermons have been preached about the phrase, “Go in this might of yours! Go in your strength.” Some argue that God chose Gideon because he was brave despite hiding or being filled with faith. But the critical point is that he was weak. And in that weakness, God could be His strength. God began with Gideon’s weakness, and He will also do it in your life.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For consider your calling, believers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

As long as we remain humble and weak in our own eyes, that becomes our strength and might. Recognizing our weakness is true strength, and we should never lose sight of that weakness. Not with self-pity and feeling sorry for oneself.

God wasn’t giving Gideon false praise or shallow encouragement. The Holy Spirit calls forth the unseen to bring it into reality. We often think that we will eventually reach a state of complete strength, perfect speech, impeccable management, and all-knowing, but that is not God’s goal. The world chases this ideal only to be frustrated, while God desires to work through our weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV) For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Gideon emphasized his own sense of insignificance by highlighting that he came from the weakest clan of the tribe of Manasseh

Judges 6:15 (ESV) 15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”

Does your family name mean something? Do you rely on your family, your appearance, or your oratory skills? God blesses those who acknowledge their areas of weakness.

Christ is the Wool

We know the story. Gideon asks God for a sign. But for us, the ultimate proof is Christ. He is the Word made flesh and our eternal evidence that God is with us. Wool represents the Lamb of God, who came to earth full of grace and truth.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14, ESV).

Christ is the perfect Lamb who provides the wool of grace.

Judges 6:36-37 (ESV) 36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.

The threshing floor was the appropriate place for Gideon to beat out wheat. But because the Midianites were taking it all out, God found Gideon at the winepress, trying to hide from the enemies. Now, in the very place of shame and fear He is bringing Christ.

Judges 6:37 (ESV) 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.”

The next day, Gideon asked God for a reversed sign. He requested that the surroundings be soaked in water but not the fleece of wool, which symbolizes the work of the cross.

Maybe you need to experience God's sign in your place of supply and provision. Why don't you try to bring the finished work of the cross to your business this week?

Jesus, is that fleece of wool. He had all the dew of heaven, but after being crushed for our sins, His grace became available to all who believe in Him. Wherever Jesus went, power flowed from Him, healing the blind, the deaf, and the lepers. He was majestic, yet on the Cross, He became dry so that we who believe could receive the dew of heaven.

In the Bible, dew symbolizes grace:

The king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass (Proverbs 19:12, ESV).

It is never offensive to the King of Kings when you ask Him for more favor and grace. Dare to believe for multiplies, overflowing grace over your life.

Clothed with a spirit of the Lord and our weaknesses.

Wool is also related to clothing. Interestingly, when Gideon finds God's promise to pursue God's purpose, the Bible says that he is clothed. 

Judges 6:34 (ESV) But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him.

What kind of clothes is that? It is the clothe of weakness, the clothe of humility.

“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’ (1 Peter 5:5, ESV).

Grace is only for the weak. Grace is a waterfall that flows downward. Therefore, the great, the cocky, the boasting can't have it.

That is why, when Gideon was found in weakness, God said, "God in this might of yours."

The story continues. Gideon started his recruitment plan to defeat the Midianites. He is a great leader, and he was able to recruit 32,000 men.

God wants Gideon to stay in the place of true power and strength. 

Judges 7:2 (ESV) 2 The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

The Lord wants us to conquer our enemies. The Lord will give us victory. But we cannot leave the place of weakness, grace, humbleness, and humility because that is the place of victory. Prayer and fasting are our utter declarations of dependence.

The filtering of the first group is easy to understand. "Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him return home [...] Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained."

The second group it's important to mention.

Do not get distracted.

Judges 7:5 (ESV) 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.”

The manner in which the soldiers drank was seen as a test of vigilance and readiness. Do not lose sight of God's calling in your life. Be firm and focused on your mission. These 9,700 soldiers were not just drinking water to cool off and return to the field. They were splashing around, diving in. This a warning call. It's okay to enjoy the entertainment of this world, but make sure you're in control; never lose control.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Apostle Paul wrote: "All things are lawful to me" (1 Co 6.12) - movies, sports, social networks, games, etc., but don't let any of this dominate you. You can appreciate these things, but be careful not to be controlled by them. Make sure you drink water by hand, that is, with control.

The true mighty 300 are soldiers who are cautious and aware of their surroundings.

But still, God's ultimate goal was to give victory in the weakness. Gideon’s reduction of troops from 32,000 to 300. The true 300 means God’s power in weakness.

A side note: Gideon’s 300 happened approximately 1200-1100 BC. The 300 Spartans at Thermopylae happened in 480 BC.

Broken vessels and the trumpet from the horn of the ram.

And the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars. They held in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow. And they cried out, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” (Judges 7:20, ESV).

Gideon’s victory was marked by humility and faith—his army of 300 men won by breaking jars and blowing the "shophar," not through conventional weapons.

The broken jars symbolize our fragile human nature.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV) 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

The shofar, a trumpet mentioned in the Bible, is traditionally made from the horn of a ram. Jesus is the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29), the ultimate sacrifice for sin. The trumpet represents proclaiming the finished work on the cross. The ram, the lamb of God, died for your sins, and now we must proclaim that over every single battle.

Our earthen vessels are broken. The light of Christ shines through, bringing victory. By preaching the Word, we proclaim Christ's death and witness His power manifest in our weakness.

God’s power is perfected in our brokenness. When Gideon’s men broke their clay jars and blew the trumpets, the Lord defeated the Midianites. 

The word "Midianites" means strife. Do you want to end all the strife in your marriage or in your house? It is time to respond to weakness and let the Holy Spirit fill your home again. The "spirit of strife" will be defined.

When we are humble and rely on God, His strength works through us. The Lord allows trials so that our vessels may be broken, and through our brokenness, we proclaim the death of Christ, bringing victory to His people. God loves to work through the weak and insignificant

The Bread of Life

Gideon overheard a Midianite soldier recounting a dream where a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp and destroyed a tent:

“Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat” (Judges 7:13, ESV).

Barley bread, the bread of the poor, symbolizes Jesus, the Bread of Life. Jesus said:

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35, ESV).

When we place Jesus at the center of our struggles, the bread from heaven will destroy the enemies in our lives.

The Lord intentionally uses the small, the insignificant, and the broken to display His glory. Jesus, the Bread of Life, was born in a place symbolizing nourishment and provision in a lowly manger in Bethlehem, the “house of bread.”

Today, allow Christ, the true Bread from Heaven, to enter our struggles, and He will transform them into victories.

The Logic Heaven

What seems small, weak, or insignificant is often the very thing God uses to accomplish great victories. This goes against human logic. We tend to think that the greater the need, the more resources are required to meet it. However, God’s logic is different. The greater the challenge, the fewer resources are needed for Him to display His power.

In the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus fed more than five thousand people with only five loaves of bread. (Mark 8:17-21)

Our job is to trust in Him and recognize our weaknesses and limitations. Jesus was crucified in a place called Golgotha, the “place of the skull,” a direct challenge to the world's reasoning and a call to the end of all human striving, pride, and intelligence.

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV).

The Battle Belongs to the Lord through Gideon

The battle belongs to the Lord. God did not need a large army or impressive weapons to defeat the Midianites. Instead, He used simple instruments—a trumpet, a jar, and a torch—to accomplish His purposes. 

But the chant, the battle cry, used by the soldiers was:

Jud. 7:20) [...] “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!”

There were no swords, but there was the Lord of the Hosts. The title “Lord of Hosts” emphasizes God’s sovereignty and power as commander of heavenly armies.

But the crying for "Gideon" speaks of being part of a group, a flock, a team, a church. You must be part of the church. It is here that you will find protection, care, and love. I know the therapeutic power of the church, no matter how complicated our relationships might be. Still, there is no better place to be, a better place to raise your children, to build friendships, or to find a spouse than the church.

In the forthcoming weeks, your faith will be rigorously tested, challenged, and elevated to unprecedented heights, enabling you to experience a heightened level of favor.

God is not moved by pity, self-defeating and negging words. God's favor and miracles always happen by faith.

Through these experiences, you will be compelled to affirm God's goodness everywhere you go boldly.

Your character and uprightness speak of God's holiness. Your endurance and perseverance amid your suffering speak of God's comfort. However, in the coming weeks, the Lord wants you to testify of His goodness and provision.

Fear and tremble before the Lord's goodness.

Some may ask, "But I am under situations in my life that I have no control over. How can I testify of God's goodness in such a time as this?"

Remember, when we are weak and have no other solution or way out, the Lord will surprise us with His multiplied grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV) 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Do you know anyone who uses their limitations and disqualification as a "business card." Who will ever use their weakness as part of their resumé? Who thinks that "insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities" are some recognition?

Paul presented himself to the Corinthians in this way to be considered qualified to share the truths of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 2:2-3 (ESV) For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,

First, you must understand that expression" in fear and much trembling." Paul was trying to speak to a Greek-speaking audience, trying to import an expression from the Hebrew language. Sometimes, when you don't know the right application of an expression, it takes an opposite meaning. An example of that is the American expression "mind-blowing." If you try to use it literally in Spanish or other languages, it can sound very gruesome and even horrifying. But"mind-blowing" is when one is amazed, admired, and roused.

That is what Paul is trying to say. Jeremiah's words inspired him.

Jeremiah 33:9 (ESV) And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.

You, like Paul, in weakness and powerlessness, will experience fear and trembling, not because you are afraid or frightened but because "of all the good that the Lord will do" for you.

You must understand that only the weak and humble can experience "fear and tremble before the Lord." Only those who are weak enter this state of ecstatic, amazed and impressed, full of fear and trembling.

The Lord may be leading you to the place of fear and trembling with His goodness. But for that, you must not deny or run from your weakness and powerlessness. It is in that very place that you will find grace.

We are Issacs

Galatians 3:7 (ESV) “Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.”

Galatians 3:29 (ESV) And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Isaac is a type of the New Covenant believer. He didn’t conquer anything but received everything from his father. He is the symbol of the heir. All things were prepared for him simply because he was a son.

Genesis 26:1-3 (ESV) Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.

Expect the transfer of wealth.

The inheritance is promised to us, even though we do not yet possess it.

God told Isaac that he shouldn’t go to Egypt but stay in the land because it would be his. However, at that time, Abimelech was the king of Gerar, where Isaac lived. This means that, at some point, God would transfer possession of that land with all its wealth to Isaac and his descendants.

The transfer of wealth occurs many times in the Bible and will happen again today.

An excellent example of the transfer of wealth was what happened after the Passover night in Egypt; God transferred Egypt's wealth to Israel.

God’s faithfulness to His people is evident in how He orchestrated the transfer of wealth from Egypt to Israel. Before their departure, the Israelites were instructed to ask the Egyptians for silver, gold, and clothing.

Exodus 12:35-36 (ESV) The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 36 And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

The Egyptians willingly gave their riches to the Israelites, fulfilling God’s promise that His people would not leave empty-handed (Exodus 3:21-22). What seemed like an impossible situation became a moment of divine provision, where God ensured that His oppressed people, once impoverished as slaves, left Egypt with the wealth they needed. God’s justice and His ability to provide beyond human expectation is at hand.

The Lord never does anything unfairly or illegally. He doesn’t steal from some people to give to others. God is not Robin Hood. How can He transfer wealth?

Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”

Suppose you have a house and you’ve been away for a long time. When you come back, you find that people have broken into it. You own the house, but others have invaded it, so you can go to court to get it back.

Haggai 2:8, ESV) The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.”

There may be hunger outside, but there will always be supply in God’s house.

God owns the land, but others have taken possession of it, yet God is still the owner. He gives it to whom He wants. Usually, times of famine and lack are windows of opportunity for wealth transfer. Here how 

Here are some principles that can make you very prosperous in times of crisis.

1. The blessings are in the right place.

The Lord told Isaac to stay in the land and not go to Egypt.

Genesis 26:2 (ESV) And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.

God can only bless us if we stay in the right position. There is a place for your blessings.

Joshua 1:3-4 (ESV) 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.

Issac was not meant to leave the place that God had established him.

When we depend on natural resources, we look down, searching for something to rely on. In Egypt, we walk by sight, not by faith.

Colossians 3:2 (ESV) “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

There is an embarrassing situation in this story. Isaac lied. Some say that when you cause a problem, God won’t help you. This is a question we need to have an answer to because there are many problems that we cause ourselves.

Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

God doesn’t say, “What a shame, Isaac, now it is all gone. You frustrated my purpose. You took me by surprise, and there is nothing else I can do for you."

We Are Blessed Despite Our Faults.

Isaac lied, which was wrong, but God still delivered him. Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, could have killed him and taken Rebekah, but instead, he protected them both.

Genesis 26:10-11 (ESV) Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” 11 So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

We’re often confused when God delivers us even though we made the mess, but that’s God’s grace; His blessing is precisely for those who don’t deserve it.

2. Family Agreement is the foundation of blessings.

You can ignore it if you disagree, but it is a matter of women's nature since Eve. Most women's behavior toward marriage relationships has been consistent.

They expect protection. There is a desire to be defended and loved no matter the circumstances.

What do you think Rebekah felt when Isaac said to her, “You’re very beautiful, but the men here might want to kill me to keep you, so tell them you’re my sister”? 

Imagine how she must have felt. Perhaps she thought, “You coward. I can’t believe I tied my future to this. Did I make a mistake marrying him?” Let's be honest, the man couldn’t even protect her. 

If Isaac had said, “Rebekah, my love, you’re so beautiful. I love you so much that no matter what these men would try against me, I would die for you, and no one will touch you, " we know the result could have been entirely different.

Your spouse is not an obstacle or an adversary; instead, God gave you a partner to be your helper. However, this does not mean your spouse should silently agree with everything. 

The Bible's first mention of "help" is when God created a woman to be a helper.

Genesis 2:18 (ESV) 18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

Your spouse is meant to be a partner in your journey. When couples face conflict, they may feel entrapped by negative thoughts, believing their spouse is an obstacle. It's essential to recognize and resist these harmful perceptions to maintain a healthy relationship.

We don't know what Isaac did to regain Rebeca's trust. Maybe consistent words of love and care, active listening and empathy. We don't know if it was a commitment to self-improvement with clear and open communication, with acts of affection and clear demonstration of change, not just promises. 

But the Bible says,

Genesis 26:8 (ESV) When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out of a window and saw Isaac laughing with Rebekah his wife.

Isaac approached her gently, and soon, the two were in love. 

It was their reconciliation and restoration that saved their lives. Think about it: Abimelech wouldn't have discovered Isaac's lie if they hadn’t loved each other and strengthened their bond. Their decision to mend their marriage made all the difference. Suppose they hadn’t loved each other and strengthened their bond, their family would stay unprotected. Their decision to fix their marriage made all the difference.

Family agreement is the foundation of blessings. When we come together in unity and understanding within our families, we pave the way for prosperity, happiness, and divine favor. Just as a strong foundation supports a sturdy structure, harmonious relationships within the family build a life filled with joy and blessings.

The blessing is withheld if you and your spouse are not in agreement. God has grace and favor for you both, together, in unity. This isn’t because God isn’t gracious but because the blessing depends on agreement.

Matthew 18:18-19 (ESV) Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

God blessed Isaac when he resolved the problem surrounding his marriage. Similarly, we are blessed when we resolve the issues within our marriages. The devil seeks to destroy marriage because he knows that when there is unity of heart, thought, and purpose, whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven.

You both must agree on projects, plans and the understanding that neither of you is the enemy. Everything should be resolved through prayer on bended knee.

Prayer is what will resolve the issue. And in that prayer, agree: “Your will be done, not mine as a wife, not mine as a husband, but Your will.” When there is agreement that it is God’s will that you both desire, a heavenly ladder is placed in your room, and the angels of God will ascend and descend, manifesting the glory of God.

I’m not suggesting that you or your spouse will become perfect or that everything will be flawless. I’m not saying your home will become an endless bliss. Challenges will still arise. Yet, you will have agreed on one crucial thing: those challenges will be overcome on your knees in prayer. You both will lift your eyes to heaven. That frees you from being like the world, focused on earthly things, and believing the problem lies with your spouse. It does not; your battle is against the devil. But when you pray together, the angels rise and fight on your behalf.

Ephesians 4:26-27 (ESV) 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

No matter how long it takes, no matter how many conversations you have to schedule and set, no matter how many times you have to go back on that conflicting subject, fight for your harmony, togetherness, and unity in agreement. That is the key to opening doors of blessings inside your house.

3. Sow in a time of famine.

Genesis 26:12-16 (ESV) 12 And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, 13 and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. 14 He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him. 15 (Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.) 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

Isaac also prospered because he sowed in the land during famine. The land was dry and lifeless, but because of God’s blessing, he reaped a hundredfold. In times of drought, the price of commodities increases significantly, and it was during such a time that Isaac experienced a super-harvest. He harvested the equivalent of a century’s worth in one year.

Isaac went out with his seed, watching the dust rise from the dry land, yet he sowed in faith, trusting that the Lord would prosper him. In that year of famine, he reaped a hundred times more. 

Remember, we are Abraham’s children, and when the children of faith sow on dry land, they reap a hundredfold. God’s blessing is on you because of Jesus. No matter how educated, skilled, or intelligent you are, prosperity will come as long as the blessing is upon you.

This defies the logic of agronomy, but in spiritual sowing, remember this: sow, even if you think the place is dry; sow even in times of crisis. Crisis periods may not seem appropriate for sowing, but consider Isaac’s situation.

I wonder if he had any advisors with basic knowledge of agronomy who might have told him that drought is not the time to plant and that it’s wiser to wait for rain. Yet, Isaac’s actions demonstrated his faith. God told him, “Stay in the land; don’t go to Egypt. This is where I’m going to bless you.” He believed, and instead of looking to Egypt, he focused on heaven. He continued sowing while others perhaps laughed at him.

But he kept sowing, and the sky rained down on Isaac when everyone least expected it. He alone had sown, but his harvest wasn’t natural—it was supernatural. He reaped a hundredfold.

If you sow, even in a barren place, and believe that the blessing is on your life, you will reap a hundredfold.

If one grain (kernel) of corn is planted, it grows into a single corn stalk, typically producing one to two ears (or heads) of corn, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Each ear of corn can have 1,000 kernels (grains), so the potential yield from a single 2,000 kernel. However, the Bible says that Isaac harvested 100 times more than a typical year.

God’s blessing is all we need. The world values skill and seeks luck, but the children of Abraham have God’s blessing on their lives.

Didn’t Isaac know there was a famine? How could he plant anyway? Simply because he was under God’s blessing.

God’s will is for our prosperity. Do not criticize the prosperity of others while wishing it for yourself. 

The classic NKJV says,

Psalms 35:27 (NKJV): Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”

God delights in His children’s prosperity, so don’t be ashamed to seek the best schools for your children. Do not apologize for desiring to have your own house or car. Do not be ashamed of God's favoring your life. Even when, like Isaac, you may have persecution, insults, and even mistreatment.

Isaiah 1:19, ESV: “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.”

Sowing and reaping are God’s methods of making us prosper. When farmers sow, they must depend on God to send rain and make the seed come alive in the soil.

Some might wonder, “Pastor, how can I show when I don’t have enough for myself?” A spiritual principle is at work here: you obviously need seed to sow.

Before you sow, you must experience God’s grace to reap what you never sowed. You become qualified to be a sower only once you realize that everything you have has been given to you graciously, without merit.

In other words, you need a first seed to start planting. And where will this seed come from? It will be given to you freely by God. This first seed is not the fruit of sowing but the simple expression of God’s grace.

No one really gives anything to God; they only give back what they have received because no one can have anything unless it is given to them from heaven (John 3:27).

However, once you have experienced the grace of receiving the seed, you need to plant it. This sowing is already your reward because it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Don’t turn your sowing into a form of bargaining with God.

When you plant and reap, you set aside a portion as seed; the rest is for your sustenance. You then sow again with the portion set aside, creating a cycle of blessing in your life.

2 Corinthians 9:10 (ESV) 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

We don’t honestly give anything to God; we only return what we have received. You give back what you have received first.

Perhaps you don’t see the seed right now, but the Spirit will reveal it to you because the Lord is faithful. God provides the seed, the instrument, the channel through which God’s prosperity flows into your life.

We Are Blessed Despite Persecution

The inevitable result of prosperity is that people will envy us. This envy will eventually turn into persecution. 

Did you know that the Pharisees tried to kill Jesus out of envy? Jesus shared the stories of the Old Testament, and the Pharisees were considered rabbis. However, while people felt condemned listening to their stories, they found faith, healing, deliverance, and life when listening to Jesus.

The gospel is your message, your life, leading to good things ahead. The best is yet to come. Do not be discouraged by insults or persecutions because of the favor and anointing flowing from your ministry. Those people who are out of God's blessings might be envious of your favor and prosperity. Unapologetically, raise your hands to God and thank Him for His Amazing Grace overflowing in your life.

The Lord Jesus promised that anyone who gave up something for the love of Him and the gospel would receive a hundredfold. This was the same measure with which Isaac was blessed.

Jesus said, 

Mark 10:29-30 (ESV) 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

The Lord doesn’t say we should abandon our fathers, mothers, and children. Instead, He explains that we will receive a hundred times more when we renounce something for His sake. 

Every time I travel and need to be away from my wife and sons, I am given back a hundredfold when I return.

Anything we sacrifice for the Lord’s sake and for the sake of the gospel will be returned to us multiplied a hundredfold.

The Lord doesn’t say that the reward will come only in heaven; He clearly states that it will be in the present. He does not promise that we will receive a hundred spouses, as the promise does not apply to marriage.

God’s will is for us to serve the Lord together as a couple, not renounce our marriage.

We will receive a hundred times more houses and fields than we have sacrificed, sowing for the sake of the Lord and His house. Yet, along with this prosperity, we will face something unavoidable: persecution. Like Isaac, those who prosper will be persecuted. But we should not be discouraged because, in the end, the Lord promises that we can have the best of this world and the world to come.

Isaiah 61:1-2 (ESV) 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; Isaiah 61:6-7 (ESV) 6 but you shall be called the priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast. 7 Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.