Elijah..., fact or fiction?

One of the more colorful personalities in the Bible is the prophet Elijah. Sometimes I laugh just thinking about him and how human he really was. I want to share his story with you to help put a smile on your face, and inspire your heart as well!

It is sad that we do not find many Elijahs these days walking around in our churches; sometimes I wished we did. We have a good reason to have many Elijahs among us and in our churches, because on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was sent to us, and He is here ready to help anyone who asks Him.

The first time Elijah comes into the biblical scene is after King Ahab is coroneted to reign in Israel. The Bible says that he did evil in the sight of God more than any before him. To make matters worse he married Jezebel, a heathen who worshiped Baal, and even had Ahab build an altar for Baal. So Elijah said to Ahab, “As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word” (1 Ki 17:1). Picture yourself being the King, and an average Joe tells you that his word is powerful enough to order stop rain for years. I wish I could see Elijah’s face saying those words. Now Jezebel set to kill him after she killed all of God’s prophets, but Elijah fled and hid in a cave by a brook. So God ordered a bird (a raven) to take food to Elijah in the morning and in the evening. What room service!

Famine was spreading throughout the land and the brook dried up. So God told Elijah to go to a widow for food. The widow ended up only having enough for one meal; for her and for her son. After the meal was made and given to Elijah, the widows oil and flour never ran out from her home. One day the widow’s son got sick and died, but Elijah prayed for him and brought the boy back to life.

Elijah was still on the run and fearful of the evil Jezebel. Finally, God instructed Elijah to visit Ahab and prove to him that God truly is the living God! Elijah went to talk to King Ahab and prayed for rain, and the rain returned to the land. Elijah then told Ahab to gather all the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The prophets were to get an offering ready and ask Baal to send fire to burn the offering. Elijah told Ahab that if Baal could not do this, he would pray to God and ask Him send the fire from heaven. It was agreed. After all that was said, Ahab saw the God of Elijah send the fire from heaven and burn not only the offering, but the stone as well. After all of this happened the prophets of Baal were slaughtered. This fumed the anger of Jezebel even more. Finally, because of her wickedness, she died a horrific death; the dogs ate her alive.

I entitled this post “fact or fiction” for a reason. Which do you think it is? One may think this story is close to fiction, but it is not! The finale is the most impressive part of the story because God sent a chariot of fire from heaven to pick up Elijah for his final destination (heaven).

What are we afraid of today, and who is the Jezebel in our life? God is the same and we are no different than Elijah. So today I want you to think of this powerful coward and smile. Thank Christ!

Stress! Are we Doomed?

I once heard a doctor say that most people get sick, not so much from what they eat, but from what eats them. We know that certain food is not healthy for us, such as pastries. Fatty and fried foods are outright destructive to our system. But the fact remains that the doctor’s statement carries a lot of truth. The realities of our society assist in producing stress if we are not careful.

Let us take a look at some of the ways that stress is created in our life. The first means by which stress is transmitted is the media in all its forms. Television is probably the number one culprit. I remember when we did not have television in my younger days. The only time we saw commercials on the screen was in movie theaters. But the T.V ads are produced in a way that makes the viewer uncomfortable unless the person does what the ad suggests. I always felt that my car is not safe unless I send it to a Texaco gas station. You see, in days past every gas station had a garage in it, and so the ad said, “you can trust your car to the man who wears the star”, implying that the car could be unsafe anywhere else. Allstate came out with the slogan, “you are in good hands with Allstate”, again implying that the safety of other insurance companies is questionable. I can go on endlessly talking about the emotions that the media generates in the public; and most of us fall prey to the ad creators. But in my humble opinion, the greatest disservice of all is that the media has glamorized the so called stars of Hollywood. The media has portrayed fame and fortune as the solution to all the ills in our society, rather than what fame and fortune can represent. The media does not give us the whole picture of the people of Hollywood. Some of them are happy not because of the fame or the fortune, but because they choose to be. Some of them are miserable because neither fame nor fortune is the answer to a happy life free of stress. I do admit that a few publications (the gossip tabloids) do reveal certain truths about the lives of movie stars. Personally I do not care either way about the private lives of others, but if they are publicized, then all the details should be revealed. As a preacher I believe all truths are important; there should be no lies or deception in information. Advertising should be informational to the public about a new product, invention, or a new service. The media is a powerful tool and what a blessing it could be if used positively.

There is no doubt that you know dozens of examples of media stress, but I hope that the next time you watch television or read an article in the paper, you will not be affected by what you see or read unless it helps your demeanor. Remember that good and beneficial news or information is healthy for us and will help relax our nervous system. Stress can come from other sources in life. School and studying can be stressful to the student if uncontrolled. Friends and relatives can be a source of stress if left unchecked. Financial commitments, if they exceed our abilities and income, can be a major source of stress. The last thing I want to mention is that the lack of discipline in life can induce stress, because plenty of time is wasted and not enough time is left to perform our duties. God knows the importance of good news, and that is why His message to us is called the Gospel or the Good News. When we find ourselves stressed out, call on Him for help and He will come to the rescue (1Pet 5:7)! Thank Christ that we are NOT doomed to stress!

The Christian Life

Of all the philosophies and religious teachings, nothing compares to the Christian doctrine as taught by Jesus and His Apostles. It is not a sophisticated and difficult doctrine to understand! Although the Apostle Paul wrote the most about it, he was well educated and his understanding of the faith was deep. It simple, has class and a distinction from all the other teachings.

In the first place, the Christian faith is a personal experience to an individual. It is a stark realization of an inescapable fact, that man is a minor being and limited, and that God is major and infinite. The uniqueness of the faith is that there is a relationship between God and man, and is an essential relationship for complete existence of the minor. Jesus said: “because without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). I accept this as true, seeing as the very breath in our body is from Him. Even after the personal experience the Apostle Paul had with Jesus, after meeting and walking with Him, Paul learned and said that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Ph 4:13). I do not believe for a moment that Paul was just being polite and humble. His personal experience when he met Jesus was genuine, and on it he built the life of faith that followed. Just like he said he could do all things through Christ, he did. Paul’s faith was so immersed in him that his clothing was affected. Even if a piece of his clothing touched a sick person, that person recovered. Also, the immense faith of the Apostle Peter affected his shadow, and Peter was totally different than Paul. Because of his faith in Jesus, his shadow could touch a dying man and fully recover him. What is amazing is that these two men, and many other powerful believers, were no different than you or me. The best news of all is that God does not have favorites; to Him we are all equal! So in the case of these men, it was their faith in the Savior that made them useful. The Bible says that Elijah was a man just like us, yet he prayed and stopped the rain for three and a half years (Jms 5:17).

Here is probably the most striking difference of the Christian faith; we all have heard the saying “an eye for an eye,” but God’s word says “revenge is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Jesus taught us that, if someone strikes us on one cheek turn to him the other! He said love your enemies and pray for them. He said to be good to the unlikable, because the nice person has a lot of people liking him, and it is not a challenge for us to like that person. Sometimes I cannot help but wonder how closely we should follow His instructions. The fact is that we should do our best to follow His direction and walk in His steps. And if we are not up to the task, He helps us through. Where can we find anything close to this kind of life? This is the Christian life that I began talk about!

Yes, there is much more I can say about the Christian life and I will in future posts. For now, understand that the Christian experience is based on two ingredients: to love the Lord with all of your heart, and to love others as you love yourself. It could not be any simpler, try it! Put your faith in God and see what happens! Jesus left us with one symbol of identification for others to recognize us. He said “by this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” Now go Bless the Lord with your loving life and with His goodness.

Jesus is Our High Priest!

Often in my biblical seminars I ask the audience questions about the subject matter, in order to get a sense of where I should begin the presentation. Although my family does not like to be tested, I am the teacher and it is for the good of the class, therefore their objection is always overruled! Anyway, I seldom found a Christian who knew the simple meaning of the word Priest. As a biblical authority, I urge believers to understand everything they believe. We are children of light and the light of the world. Furthermore the Bible says, Study to show thyself approved unto God...rightly dividing the word of truth (2Tim 2:15).

I love to teach the Scriptures and to provide essential knowledge necessary for our faith. This is a very good time to treat the subject of priesthood, seeing as we are still in the Lent season preparing for the Easter celebration.

Although it is a familiar statement, very few understand why Jesus died on the cross for our sins. When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, God in his infinite mercy provided a way to restore us to Himself. In order to forgive sins, there had to be a sacrifice offered on behalf of the sinner; a shedding of blood, because there is life in the blood. This is how God set it up. Abel was taught to offer sacrifices to God, and when Cain killed him God raised up Seth and taught him of sacrifice. Even Abraham met a high priest named Melchzedek who taught him to tithe and to offer sacrifice. Abraham was even willing to sacrifice his son as an offering to God, but God provided a ram instead.

God was ready to deliver the Hebrews (the Old Testament believers) from the hands of task masters and from sin, and take them out of Egypt. So, He instructed Moses to install his brother Aaron as a high priest, and to continue the priesthood from their tribe, the Levites, until the advent of Jesus. God instructed Moses to have blood sprinkled on the doorsteps of every believer’s home so as to escape death. God said, “I will see the blood, and Passover,” because He alone understood the significance of the act. To offer sacrifice there had to be an altar, and eventually the Arc of Covenant was built as a symbol of the throne of God. Only the high priest could approach it to offer the sacrifice and to sprinkle the blood, on his behalf and the rest of the believers. When the Temple in Jerusalem was built, that is where the sacrifice was offered.

Now Jesus is our High Priest, yet He is totally different from the Leviticus priests.
1 - Jesus offered his blood as the ultimate (last) sacrifice on our behalf only.
2 - the Leviticus high priest offered the blood on his behalf first, because he also was a sinner and needed forgiveness, and then blood was offered on behalf of the people.
3 - the Old Testament high priests would die and new ones would replace them; but Jesus lives forever.
4 - Jesus was from the Tribe of Judah, and not a Levy, but was also called by God to serve.
5 - Jesus as our high priest has taken His offering to the Holy of Holies in Heaven; to the Holy presence of God and not to the earthly symbolic Temple.

Read in the Book of Hebrews, chapters 5, 6, and 7 for more information on Jesus!

In conclusion, the priest is the one who makes the sacrifice and the one who offers it. In the New Testament we are all priests, we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice and acceptable unto God (Ro 12:1). So thank you Christ for Easter, and for offering yourself once and for all, as a sacrifice on my behalf. Enjoy the meaning of Easter!

Unless the Lord Builds the House!

Since the days of Adam and Eve, the devil has been trying to destroy the family structure. Remember, it was God who instituted the unit called family. For this unit to withstand the test of generations, it has to be continuously based on the Word of God. In the Psalms we read, unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain (Ps 127:1). So what does this verse really mean? In the next few postings I will be explaining the Scripture that God gave us as a guide to follow. When these instructions are not followed, then discord, friction and all the negative characteristics will be a part of the home. But when the home is biblical then there is love, peace, joy, and definitely longevity!

In the 1960’s I lived at a church in San Fernando Valley, where we used to perform as many as forty weddings a weekend. And needles to say, we used a lot of Scriptures in the ceremonies, as to help the newlyweds start their life on the right foot. It was our desire for the couples to live a long and happy life together. Sometimes the couple would bring their own vows and we would oblige them, but only after a mandatory counseling!

Our country had the military draftD dring the Vietnam War. If a young man was married, the induction would be the least desirable. But President Johnson ordered a cut-off date for this kind of deferment; I believe it was in February. On the last date for eligibility, every couple that had plans to get married that year showed up at the church steps with their marriage license in had. What a sight it was, but we would not marry them unless they signed for the counseling classes. The sad part about being in this kind of business is that we used to see familiar faces every so often. I do not remember how many were from the February wholesale marriages, but there were many!

I can say from experience that broken marriages resulted in homes with no biblical structure. The economics in families can change, but couples can survive. The spiritual importance in the home cannot be faked or compromised. Any home that does not recognize that God is the head of the family in heaven, and the man is the head of the family at home, is destined for destruction. This is just the way it is. God in His wisdom chose it to be this way, although the man may not be perfect, or the major provider.

Leadership is not contingent upon the amount of work each spouse performs. My home as a young lad was biblically structured. Although my mother worked none stop rearing eight kids, there was no doubt that my father held the reigns. I understand that it was not easy for her to do the amount of work she did, but it still didn’t have a bearing on who the head of the house was!

In the Book of Ephesians 5:22 it says, wives submit yourself unto your husbands in every way as unto the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church. I would often ask the bride-to-be if there is a part of this verse hard to understand, and the answer would invariably be no. It is not hard to understand, but hard to accept. Thank Christ for teaching us how to build biblical homes!

This is the Day….!

As I wake up every morning I remind myself that this is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in It (Ps 118:24). What a difference it makes once this fact is acknowledged; everything seems to change and carry a different meaning. The chore of waking up is not a chore anymore; the attitude of facing the day brightens up. It is no longer just another twenty-four hours, but it becomes something very special.

The Psalmist starts this hymn with these words: O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures for ever. You may know that David, the Psalmist, was a musician. How often I wish I could have heard him play and sing some of these treasured Psalms:

Psalm 23: the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Psalm 91: he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high, he shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 1: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked

Psalm 27:1: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

These and many other Psalms are such an invaluable source of blessings and joy. I highly recommend that each day of your life begin with the recitation of at least one of these Psalms. This is one of the reasons why God, in His infinite wisdom, included these hymns in the Bible.

Let us look a little further into the verse of the day. God knows how life is challenging for the young and the old, for the rich or the poor, and how difficult it is sometimes for us to just go through a single day. In Matthew 6:24, the Word says “…sufficient unto the day the evil thereof.” That is because life is hard. Remember that life is composed of one day at a time. This why it is so important at the beginning of each day to remember that God has made it, and that He wants us to rejoice in it. He will see us through it…, glory to His name.

So rejoice for this is the day that God has made for you, and be glad in it!

You Must be Born Again!

I’ve never pointed my finger at anyone and said “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN,” but I think I should! Don’t you wonder how Jesus said these words to Nicodemus in John’s gospel, chapter three? I wonder, because these words are so important and salvation depends on the response of the listener. One might say Jesus was gentle and compassionate, and I believe He was. But when it came to eternity, heaven and hell, or abuse of God’s house, He was firm and serious.

I have heard evangelists, and even preachers, pound on conversion endlessly, and attempt to scare people into salvation. My take is to tell others about the Love of Jesus, His saving grace, and the need and meaning of the second birth. Then I’ll ask if they have accepted Christ as their Savior. If the answer is no, I’ll ask them (at that moment) to pray the prayer of repentance and salvation with me. I believe that this is an acceptable way of presenting Christ rather than scaring them with the realities of hell and damnation. However, there are those who need other approaches than mine. Bye the way, I am sharing these thoughts with you so that you can be a soul winner for the Kingdom. The Bible calls the believers “Ambassadors for Christ” (2Co 5:20), and the duty of an ambassador is to reflect Christ while delivering His message. In another portion of Scripture we read: “…that you may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1Pe 2:9).

Let us examine the words that Jesus said to Nicodemus: “unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (Jn 3:3b). Also, the Apostle Peter writes to the believers. He says, “You have been born again, not from a perishable seed but from an imperishable seed, through the living and abiding Word of God.” My understanding here is that the first birth is like Adams, from the earth and returned to earth. It is a natural birth like the rest of creation. But the second birth defies nature, it is not corrupt; it is eternal.

When God created Adam, He put him in paradise. Unfortunately Adam chose to disobey God and allowed his earthly nature to dictate his actions. As a result, he fell out of grace and out of paradise. God is love, mercy, and full of grace. Therefore He put in place the plan of salvation, to restore man’s falling nature, and once again make him suitable for eternity by forgiving his action and covering it with His own incarnated blood on the cross. Truthfully I am thankful that God made it possible for me, and for you, to qualify for eternity with Him. Our acceptance of His gift is simple. He did all the hard work.
So to be born again is simply to say “Lord forgive my sins, and I do accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and I want to live with You forever. Please help me from now on to live, in word and in deed, as a born again believer!”
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). Remember to Thank Christ for dying on the cross on our behalf, so that we may live with Him for eternity!

Do We Dare Take the Bible Literally?

Whenever someone asks me this question, or in my presence, I always answer yes, without hesitation! I do not know if all conservative evangelical Christians, or if all fundamentalists, believe that the Bible is to be taken seriously. If we decide to believe some portions, then who decides which portions we should take literally, and which portions we shouldn’t!

This morning, in the weekly CBMC breakfast (Christian Business Men’s Committee), Joe shared with us his grandson’s medical condition. The doctors say that the child has a hole in his heart, and he needs a heart transplant. The child and his family are staying in a hotel in Pasadena, California, waiting for a young man to die so that the heart would be used for the young man. Joe said that he is having a hard time praying for a heart for his grandson, because it would mean that a young man would have to die in order to save his child’s life. This, on the surface, is a dilemma. If you know Joe like I do, you would understand why it is a battle for him. Joe is a very compassionate and unselfish man. My response is that people die everyday, so his prayer should be: “Lord make it possible for one of these hearts to be a match for my grandson.” Nothing is selfish about that that prayer. But if the dilemma continues, then this is the solution: Stand on the Word of God just as it is written in the Bible.”

For some people it is easier said than done, but I have seen God’s hand, over and over again in these types of situations. God’s answer came through just as we are told it would in the Holy Bible. In the Book of Mark we read about Jesus’ healing of every sickness and every disease. Also, we are told in the Scriptures that Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. He changes not! It goes even further in John chapter fourteen. Jesus said: “…these things I do and greater things shall you do, because I go to the Father, and whatever you ask the Father in my Name, I will do it”. He repeats that again for confirmation.

So, why shouldn’t we trust in Jesus and ask Him to seal the hole in this young man’s heart, or just recreate a new perfect heart for the child and believe it to be done. In my walk with the Lord for the last four decades, I have believed God, and have stood on His Word and I’ve seen the answer many times; glory to His name! Another portion of the Bible that relates to this message is found in James, chapter five, verses 14 to 18. “Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord …The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.” A verse I love, and repeat often is this, “…He sent forth His Word, and healed them”(Ps 107:20).

Some would say that standing on the promises of the Bible requires a lot of faith, and is not easy. I agree with that very much. In the Book of Romans we are told: “…faith come by hearing, and that is reading the Word of God”(Ro 10:17). It may not be a total surprise that Christianity is based on faith. In fact, the Word says “…without faith it is impossible to please God.” We Christians live by faith and not by sight!

Finally I want to admit that I am willing to pray for this child and I have the faith that God will heal him even without the transplant! I will update you in a future post on the child’s condition, and if there is an opportunity for to pray with him and anoint him.

I want to remind everyone to thank Christ for His promises of healing!

Is Jesus Coming Back?

There isn’t a more important question. My answer is absolutely yes! Jesus, Himself, said it more than once. In Mathew chapter 24, verses 30 and 44, Jesus repeats himself about the second coming. He said “the Son of man is coming on the clouds of Heaven with power and glory.” In the second reference He said; “for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” How more straightforward can His statements be about His second coming?

In the Gospel of John, Jesus is talking to His Disciples; “let not you heart be troubled…I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also” (Jn 14:3). In this verse, Jesus was about to be crucified and the Disciples were worried. So, He made a promise of what was to come.

In the Book of Acts, we hear the Angel of God’s message from Heaven about the second coming; “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into Heaven” (Ac 1:11). There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus is coming again. He said so, the angel confirmed it, and the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Thessalonica told of the exact details of how the second coming would take place; “…For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven" (1Th 4:16). How could anyone in their right mind doubt such clear statements about the event that will take place? In it’s entirety, the book of the Revelations deals with future events.

So, when will the second coming take place? The answer is... I don’t know! God is the only one who knows the day and the hour of the second coming (Mt 24:36). This is how God planned it, so that we would always be ready for Him. If anyone were to know the exact time of the second coming, they would most likely party like the devil until the last minute, and possibly pass away along the way, without truly repenting. There are several examples for the second coming that are worth reading, such as the wise and foolish virgins, the land lord who goes on a journey, also the example of Noah, etc. Read the details in Matthew 24 and 25. They will give you a firmer understanding of the event!

I know that hundreds of people have become rich by selling books attempting to predict when the sencond coming will take place. Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour. There are signs, however, that tell us that His return is going to happen soon. I will deal with these signs in a later post. But for now I want you to know that Jesus is coming again! So be excited and prepared. If it’s His will, we may go to Him before that day, but the important thing is to be prepared like the wise virgins.

Thank Christ for not leaving us ignorant but for letting us know what will take place!

Good Tidings of Great Joy

Years ago I used to listen to a radio station called “Good News Radio,” but when it was time for the news, there was nothing good about the murder, rape, fires and accidents that were being reported. When the Angels announced to the shepherds that they were bringing good news of great joy, it was truly good news (Lk 2:10). They actually brought the happiest news since the creation of man; a savior being born to us in the city of Bethlehem!

Most people do not understand the significance of good news unless they have a near death experience. For instance, someone is dying of an incurable disease and the doctor tells the patient they found a cure for the ailment. Now that’s good news! There is a real example of good news in the Book of Acts, chapter 27 starting with verse 21. The Apostle Paul, lost at sea for many days in a ship with hundreds of other people, gets the news from the Angel of God that they will be saved, and will get to their destination without any loss of life. Human examples are numerous but none of them can truly convey how great the news of our salvation is; it is forever!!!

In one of my previous posts I wrote about a thankful heart being a happy heart. This idea is not complicated at all. If a child is grateful for his parent’s love, affection, and care, then that child is happy. The purpose of the Christ’s good news is to bring joy to our lives. When I think of Jesus’ love, mercy, and care for me, it makes my heart so thankful. Jesus said I come that you might have life and have it more abundantly, here and in eternity (Jn 10:10)!

The Apostle John repeatedly declares the reason he wrote to us was so our joy would be complete (1Jn 1:4). The Apostle Paul, while in prison, urges us to rejoice in the Lord always (Ph 4:4). Last but not least, we are told in plain English that The Joy of the Lord is our strength (Ne 8:10). So here's the formula to happiness, when the devil tries to bug you in any way, begin counting your blessings and offer thanks to Christ. His joy will take over your heart and give you the strength to defeat the devil. I know it sounds simple, but it works.

God is Love!

Nearly everyone who has been to church, or has associated with a Christian, has probably heard the words “Love” and “God” in the same sentence. What does "Love" mean to those who hear the word? Do people understand the magnitude, or can anyone grasp the depth or breadth of the value of this Love.

Unfortunately the word love in the English language has a limited meaning and is used and overused in different sentences and for various messages. Unlike the English language, the Greek language contains different words for love, all with different meanings. The main three words are Agape, Filio, and Eros. The word Eros pertains to the desire of the flesh. For example I love pizza, or cheeseburgers, or I love this pretty woman… The word Filio is the felling we have for our loved ones (for instance brotherly love, family love or friendship affections). The word Agape is a selfless kind of love and affection. It is not physical but mental and spiritual. It is the Godly love that does not expect anything in return. The act of charity toward others, the sincere attitude of goodwill toward others is the Love that God is all about.

It would be easy to spend pages of time teaching the love of God and in future posts I will deal on this subject on a deeper level. By learning what Agape love is, we understand God! And once we begin to grasp the meaning, then we can start to emulate the goodness of God. He says “….and learn from Me…” (Mt 11:29). Also it says “And they shall all be taught by God. Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me” (Jn 6:45).

Let me get back to the phrase, “God is Love.” This means that every thing about God is for our good. When He created man, He gave him authority over everything, so that man can enjoy life forever, without sickness or disease and without pain or sorrow (Gn 1:26)! But it was man who made a mess of God’s plans. And I might add that man is still making things even messier. When I was in my teens, young people lived and behaved much more decent than they do today. I feel so bad that young people are not learning the qualities of life, like self respect and respect for others. The devil is having a field day with both young people and adults alike, just look at the number of broken homes and dysfunctional families. This is not the Love of God and He certainly did not plan it that way! Remember God is Agape and only good and perfect things come from Him. (Jm 1:17). He wants the families to live together and to love each other.

Now here is the good news! Because God is Love He made a provision, He gave us a second chance, to recreate us into the people He wanted from the beginning. “He became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…” (Jn1:14). He paid the penalty for Adam’s disobedience and transgression and gave us permission to be a part of His family, all because He is Love! Glory to God in the highest! This is definitely a good reason to say Thank You Christ for what You did on the cross for me, and now I can celebrate Easter with joy in my heart!!

Anointing (what is that?)

I haven’t met anyone who’s driven as many miles as I have in the last thirty-five years. The last time my sons and I tried to calculate the miles we have put on our cars, it was close to two million miles. I shudder at the number. But before you begin to feel sorry for me, I want you to know that I used the majority of the driving time to finish up my undergraduate work, and learn several professions, PLUS two languages! I always kept my eye on the road, of course! The cassette tapes came in handy, so thank the Lord for them. But my sadness emanates from all the hours of listening to the media evangelist and pastors. Some are probably the most eloquent, and I am not going to name names, you might know who they are. But I tell you the anointing of the Holy Spirit is not anywhere near the message or the messenger. If the listeners knew what anointing meant, these speakers would not be on the radio anymore.

Preaching the Gospel is not just a speech, or an eloquent presentation, it is supposed to be a message from God to the listeners. Now the audience can be composed of three generations, and the Holy Sprit will bless, inspire, and enlighten all three. O what a waste of airtime I hear everyday, and I have heard in the last three decades just about everyone! I must admit that Billy Graham and his “Hour of Decision” probably topped them all with biblical truths and Holy Spirit anointing.

Most Christians do not know what anointing means or why it is necessary. Simply put, when the preacher or the message is anointed, they meet God’s approval. When God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem to anoint the boy David to be a king, it meant that God chose this person and approved of him to replace Saul. Whether is it Samuel using the oil, or another godly man, the oil symbolize the Holy Spirit. Anointing is to wipe, to make cleaner, to polish, or even rub, smoothen, or approve of that message. Unfortunately much of what is aired today needs God’s polishing or anointing.

Next time you hear a preacher on radio or at the pulpit, first pray for a discerning spirit and then you will be able to tell what kind of message is being delivered. The only one I recommend you hear is the anointed! God bless you and I do thank Christ for all the anointed preachers and Bible teachers…!

A Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart

The hardest thing to remember when life’s events do not go our way is to be thankful, and yet the Scriptures clearly state that we should thank the Lord for everything all the time. I do not know about you the reader, but I know it’s not easy for me, but we are commanded to do just that! What bugs me more is that people are not thankful even when good things are happening to them, just because it didn’t happen in the manner they’d prefer. For example: Someone prays for a job and gets a job, but is unhappy because it is not the job they preferred. Or they get a raise at work, but it’s not enough, or what they expected. As a result they are not thankful, and hence unhappy.

The other side of the equation is that certain thankful hearts are genuinely happy because they are thankful to God for everything all the time. God does not hit anyone on the head when they act like spoiled and ungrateful children, but what happens is that those kids are unhappy and will affect the people around them by this unhappy attitude, and in a sense be the losers.

Next time you come across a miserable person, you must know immediately that he/she is an ungrateful person. This would be a good reason to shorten the visit, or else it will rub off. So remember to be thankful to Christ for everything all the time and watch the joy that will surround you. Others will notice and be blessed as well!

Preparing for Easter

We hear this phrase a lot during lent (forty days of fasting before Easter). What does it really mean and what needs preparation. When I worked in Glendale at the United Community Church, the music director and the church administrator would drive everybody crazy during this period preparing for Easter. It was understandable for the church choir to practice the songs and the administrator to prepare the bulletin, and the eggs etc., but it did not need the frenzy that would take place, not only in Glendale but in other churches as well.

Easter should only be a reminder to us of what has taken place two thousand years ago. That is, in my opinion, what the purpose of the holiday should be. And yes we need to be reminded because we forget. As a Bible teacher I often repeat some of the information I deal with, not because my listeners are slow, but because repetition serves as a good reminder of good information. In fact Jesus tells us that one of the duties of the Holy Spirit is to “bring to your remembrance…” (Jn14:26) and thank Christ for that!

So what is Easter and do we need to remember? Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ from the dead. This happened three days after His crucifixion. This event was a fulfillment of the feast of the Passover. Just before the deliverance of God’s people from slavery in Egypt, God instructed Moses to have the believers paint the door step of their home with blood from the sacrifices they offered and that the angel would see the blood and Passover that house without harm. So the household would be delivered because of the blood. So Jesus’ blood on the cross would deliver anyone who believes in the atonement power of the cross. Easter is the celebration of the raising of Jesus from the grave and serves to remind us that we too will have our own Easter. It is wonderful to know that we who believe will be resurrected just like Jesus was. So there is no special preparation for this holiday, we should be reminded always of the glorious event, our Easter! And I do thank Christ for this great event that will take place based on my faith and trust in Jesus. My you the reader have this faith in Jesus so that one day you can have your Easter as well!

The Word

“In the Beginning was the Word” (Jn 1:1)... "and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His Glory" (Jn 1:14.

There is much to be said about the importance of the Word. “He sent His Word to them and healed them from their destruction” (Ps 107:20). “Heaven and earth shall pass away but not one letter shall pass away” (Mt 24:35). “Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by reading the word of God” (Rm 10:17 ). And yet most Christians are not well versed with the Word. I believe that is why God said: “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” Is this why in most churches, nowadays, we never hear of a dead man called back to life, or a dying man rescued, or a totally blind man having his vision restored? I believe that's exactly why no signs or wonders are taking place. It is sad but nowadays the strength of any church is measured by the attendance and the amount of income, and not by the spiritual conviction or by the depth in the knowledge of the Word. As long as I am able to preach and teach, I will remember to give the Word a priority to what I have to say; teach it as much as possible, for it is all that we as Christians need.Study the Word to show thyself approved unto God…! Thank you Christ for your Word, for it is “living and powerful and sharper than two edged sword”.

Why Worry?

“Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Mt 6:34), what does this really mean? It simply means that there is enough issues to deal with on a daily basis, that a wise person should avoid adding to these issues by considering the concerns of additional days. No one is forced to follow the ways of the wise. God created us free to do and think as much as we want in a way that suits our fancy. The problem then is that there is no end to worry. The issues will be endless and all the time will be spent on things that may never confront us; we hope the Lord calls us home before hand. We have to admit that God know best and He want us to deal with the issues of the day and then enjoy the balance of the day, trouble and worry free. Now you and I know that the majority of illnesses that human beings deal with originate from the emotions, stress, hypertension, ulcers, heart problems, diabetes,etc.

I say let us be wise and follow the advice of the Master and take the issues a day at a time. In fact, Pete, the Chief Apostle, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us to lay all the care upon Him for He cares for us (1Pt 5:7). What a genius idea this is. Who really wants to worry and stress out if he does not have to? Well the Bible tells it as it is and provides a way of escape to help us out! Thank you Lord for Your love, mercy, and grace that help sustain us on a daily basis. To You be the Glory!

Thank Christ

The Word says "Do not fret or waste too much time about anything, but for everything remember to pray and to thank God for it before it happens" Ph 4:6 paraphrased. Here's what the Word is trying to convey; In the circumstances of life, it's easy to look at the dark side of the equation. Things can be frightening and worrisome, but the worry and the fear does not resolve any of the issues at hand. What really resolves the difficulties in life is the supplication to God for divine intervention and care, and He always answers in His perfect timing!

I know that we're made from dust and clay, and the Word says that God knows our frame. So it's okay to have some human feelings, but the feelings must not be the entire action on our part. We're to look to God for help, and offer thanks while we're at it (since this is something we often forget to do). So we MUST thank Christ every time we pray!