Category Archives: Advent

The King Is Coming! #PalmSunday

Took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.” John 12:13

The King is Coming! On this “Palm Sunday” while we remember and celebrate King Jesus coming into Jerusalem , we also must remember that the King of Kings will return again. The first time he came as “The Lamb” the next time he will return as “The Lion” and reestablish Gods kingdom forevermore

These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. John 12:16

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a Donkey instead of a horse, people did not understand. They were looking for a mighty King like David, who would destroy the Romans and free the Jewish people from oppression. However Jesus came as the “Prince of Peace” to save not just the Jews but the entire world.

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; Revelation 7:9

Fast forward to the return of Jesus , a great multitude which no one could count, meaning everyone Jew and Gentile, who is saved by the blood of Christ will be standing at the throne of God. Clothed in white robes with palm branches!

Get your Palm Branches ready because the King is Coming back soon! Blessed is Yeshua (Jesus) who comes in the name of Yahweh (God) in Jesus Name Amen!

Into The Pit

Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.” Daniel 6:16

Usually when we think about the story of Daniel and The Lions Den , we think about it literally. However what if we thought about it symbolically relating to ourselves. I’m sure there has been a time in your life, when you were thrown into the pit of despair (lions den) surrounded by demons (lions) who were looking to torment and devour you

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

The apostle Peter describes Satan and his demons as lions looking to devour us. So think of yourself as a symbolic Daniel under attack by Satan himself. Was it fair or just for Daniel to be thrown into the lions den? No, however notice how Daniel reacted, with pure faith and peace that God would deliver him, even though from most peoples point of view, he was about to be ripped apart

“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.” Daniel 6:22

God has sent a deliver to protect and redeem Daniel. God has sent Jesus to deliver and redeem you. Even when you are down in the pit of despair, trust in Jesus, because demons tremble at the sound of his name Amen!

Free Will

“If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. Matthew 18:13

Often Christians are criticized by non-believer for worshipping an “Angry God” that is wrathful and hateful, the reality is , it couldn’t be farther from the truth. As we look at this parable about how God rejoices over just one person repenting and coming to Christ

God loves us enough to not only forgive us for our sins and disobedience , but he was willingly to lay down his life for you, there is no greater love than what God displayed on the cross

“So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish. Matthew 18:14

It is not Gods will for anyone to perish, it is our will that determines if we perish. Since the beginning of time, God has granted us “free will” that allows everyone to choose, good or evil, God or Satan, this is a choice everyone gets to make

However even after all God has demonstrated to us , some will still reject Christ and refuse to repent or change their ways. When you make your choice ,you must also be willing to accept your fate, which will be the Lake of Fire

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Many people mock at the delay of Christ return, however God is doing this purposely allowing people time to come to repentance. However God is just and eventually justice will be served!

Come to repentance , come to Christ, who is the only one who can redeem you of your sins and restore your soul in Jesus name Amen!

Who Do You Say I AM?

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15

Who do you say Jesus is? This is what Jesus wants to know, he is not interested in what you heard from your pastor or what you read online, he wants to know what do you think? In your heart, mind, and soul who do you say Jesus is?

This is what Jesus asked his disciples, they began echoing thoughts and rumors they heard from around them. They said we heard you were John the Baptist resurrected, some were saying you are the prophet Jeremiah, others are saying you are the prophet Elijah, but Jesus doesn’t care about hearsay , he wants to know what do you really think!

Do you believe Jesus is just another prophet or do you believe Jesus is the Son of the living God? Doesn’t matter what your friends or family think , what do you think? When you have to stand before him face to face, who do you believe you will be looking at?

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:16-17

Finally Peter had the boldness to declare what is in his heart, he declared Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God. How could Peter have known this? Jesus never revealed this to Peter, all the rumors about Jesus were wrong.

It was revealed to Peter by the Holy Spirit, Peter maybe couldn’t explain it but he knew Jesus is the Messiah, God in the flesh. How do you say Jesus is in your heart?  Jesus doesn’t want to know what you were taught, he wants to know what is in your heart? Amen

Deny Yourself

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Luke 9:23

When we look at Christianity today, it has become the exact opposite of what Jesus taught. Preachers have not become more like “self help” salesmen rather than ministers of God. Everyone is looking for “ their best life now”, looking for prosperity and fame.

Jesus is telling us to “Get over ourselves”, stop worrying or pursing the things of this world. Give up the lust for the things of this world and pursue righteousness with God. This is obviously hard for many to do as we are carnally minded. But until we “Deny Ourselves” we can’t become a true Christian

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. Luke 9:24

Jesus even goes one step further, if you continue to live carnally minded for the world, you will lose your life. The only way to gain eternal life, is to be crucified with Christ. Most people when they see the cross, they only see Christ on their. However we must all become crucified and resurrected to be “Born Again”

If you want eternal life, you must lose this carnal life first. You can’t live in the flesh and expect to walk in The Spirit.  Take up your cross daily, humble yourself, be willing to suffer for the Kingdom of God is at hand in Jesus Name Amen!

Not Of This World

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15

Do you ever feel out of place in this world? Feel like you just don’t fit in? This isn’t a bad thing, as anyone who loves this world doesn’t love God. What does this mean exactly? Does this mean we shouldn’t care about the planet? No this is speaking symbolically of the things or lust of this world. You look at our culture, the music and movies, it’s a filled with immorality. The world lives for the flesh and the spirit

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 1 John 2:16

Pride and lust don’t come from God, they come from Satan. They are used as traps to enslave us in sin and death. Fix your eyes on Jesus and not on the things of this world. For the things of this world are temporary, but the kingdom of God is eternal

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

So what should we do as Christians? Should we just live in a cave, separated totally from society? Jesus has called us to be the light and salt of the world, how can we do this if we don’t associate with the world? Be a good example for people, show them the resurrection power of Christ living through you! Be a testimony! But dont conform to the evil ways of this world, be transformed in Jesus Name Amen!

Mustard Seed

He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; Matthew 13:31

Most times when we hear this parable of the Mustard Seed, we reflect on our own lives. However what about reflecting on Jesus life? Think about how a carpenters son from a little town could change the world forever! Talk about small beginnings, this is exactly how the Kingdom of God came to Earth

Jesus began his ministry, with basically nothing but a staff and clothes on his back, yet he not only took on the religious establishment, his teachings became a new religion! He planted the seed of truth, which is the Word of God, and over time it grew into what we know as Christianity today!

Think about how one man, who was perceived as a blasphemer and law breaker, was crucified on a cross, saved the entire world from their sins!

and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.” Matthew 13:32

The seed that Jesus planted into the world, grew to become our hope and salvation, that all of us can rest under that tree. The same tree that Jesus bore the penalty of our sins! God in flesh dwelt among us but he was so misunderstood and overlooked, that they mistaken him for a common criminal

Keep planting the seed of God’s Word throughout the entire world and watch Gods Kingdom continue to grow beyond our comprehension in Jesus Name Amen!

Trinity (Ephesians 2)

For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:18

Who can understand The Trinity? A mystery that many theologians try to explain, some who can’t explain The Trinity just end up denying it. The problem with going down this road is you are denying the Deity of Christ. They then need to explain how Jesus forgave sin, raised the dead, and allowed many to worship him.

Paul here reveals about the Trinity

“For through “Jesus” we both have our access in one “Holy Spirit” to the “Father God” (Ephesians 2:18)

We remember that Jesus said he is the only way to God The Father (John 14:6) So those who are trying to cut out “The Son” as part of the Trinity and go directly to The Father will fail. We are not worthy or able to stand before God alone, we need the ransom blood of Jesus Christ to make us worthy.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, Ephesians 2:19

Paul explains this, without Jesus Christ we are strangers and aliens to God. Only by the blood of Jesus Christ  and the baptizing of The Holy Spirit can we then become Children of God

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, Ephesians 2:20

Jesus is the chief cornerstone , to reject the Trinity is to reject Jesus Christ. And when you reject the cornerstone of our faith, your religion crumbles.

in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, Ephesians 2:21

Now we see where the Holy Spirit comes in, we being resurrected with Christ, made a new person are the Temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16) And when you receive Christ , the Holy Spirit will dwell in you

in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit Ephesians 2:22

Through the Holy Spirit we are connected to God The Father. As Jesus taught us in John 14, he sent The Holy Spirit to live with us forever to comfort, advocate, and guide us in Jesus Name Amen!

And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’ Mark 7:6-7

I think one of the interesting things about Christianity, is Jesus came to abolish religion yet man made another religion out of his teachings.  The Pharisees were supposed to be experts of the scriptures, however they couldn’t even identify The Messiah right before their eyes.

See The Pharisees even though they loved God and the concept of  him, their hearts were far from God. Instead of them listening to the teachings of the Son of God, they judged him based on their manmade rules and opinions. They were hypocrites just as Isaiah prophesied they would be. They talked the talk but they didn’t walk the walk. Sadly we see many Christians doing the same thing today

And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ Matthew 22:38

Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. If the Pharisees really loved God they would have given Jesus a chance. Instead of condemning him because he ate with unclean hands, or scolding him because he healed the sick on the Sabbath. Or if they were truly seeking God then they would have recognized Jesus is The Messiah

But their hearts were far away from God even though they talked like holy people. Don’t allow your heart to wander from God, love him with all your heart, soul, and mind in Jesus Name Amen!

Intercede For Us

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; Romans 8:26

What to say to God? Sometimes when we are praying, we can’t find the words to express the sorrow or maybe joy we are feeling. But the Holy Spirit, that dwells in us, will intercede for us to express our feelings to the Father God.

We often here people say I don’t know how to pray or I don’t know what to say to God. We need to remember that God searches our hearts and minds (Jeremiah 17:10) He knows your inner feeling even when we can’t express them. He knows the pain and sorrow we have endured, don’t ever hesitate to pray to the Father, the Holy Spirit will intercede for you and give you the words to speak

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; John 14:16

God said he would never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6) and he hasn’t. The Holy Spirit has been sent to live with us forever, to be our Comforter, Helper , and Advocate. Let the Holy Spirit guide you to speak to our Father.

Whatever your feeling, whether it be sorrow, joy, anxiety, or hope, always pray to your Heavenly Father in Jesus Name Amen!