Category Archives: Lent

Holy Week- Tuesday -The Fig Tree

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He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening. Mark 11:14

As we continue our “Quest To The Cross” our next stop is “The Fig Tree” Here Jesus was hungry , looking for something fruitful, and found a barren tree that produced no fruit. He immediately rebuked the tree and commanded that it will never produce fruit again,  the tree withered and died immediately.

A few things we can observe from this, first notice again this is not the watered down Jesus that is portrayed by most. The power that Christ posses , even when he speaks, the tree withers and dies immediately. Just as when demons listen to his commands or he calm the waves of the sea. Jesus has full authority on Heaven and Earth.

Second “The Fig Tree” is symbolic to our spiritual lives. As Jesus said “Good trees produce good fruit , bad trees produce bad fruit, by our fruit we will be recognized (Matthew 7) So will Jesus say to us Good work faithful servant or depart from me you worker of lawlessness?

And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. Mark 11:22

As the disciples noticed “The Fig Tree” withered Jesus said to them “Have faith in God” We can take this multiple ways, as they were amazed at Jesus power and authority over Heaven and Earth. Jesus instructed them faith can move mountains!

Do we have the faith to continue to be a fruitful disciple or will we wither away from lack of faith? Put your faith in God in Jesus name Amen!

Is Ash Wednesday Biblical?

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“Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. Matthew 6:16

Is Ash Wednesday Biblical? Many Christians around the world and from many denominations will practice the ritual of “Ash Wednesday”, where they will put ashes on their forehead, but is this really Biblical?

Jesus taught us when we fast, not to let anyone know about it. Don’t neglect your appearance or put on a gloomy face so people will recognize you. Christianity always comes down to the heart, are you doing this to please God or to please man?

“But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face Matthew 6:17

Jesus goes on to teach us to wash your face and anoint your head with oil not ashes.. Most importantly “Ash Wednesday” or even “Lent” is nowhere mentioned in The Bible and are man-made traditions. Should Christians follow these practices? We must remember the root of Jesus teachings. Praying and Fasting are not to be public spectacles to prove our righteousness. They should be done in private with your personal relationship with God

so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:18

God knows everything we do, in public or secret. If your participating in customs like “Ash Wednesday” make sure it’s not to be noticed or prove your holiness. So is “Ash Wednesday” Biblical? No. Although I respect everyone’s proclamation to display their faith in Christ, I think we need to be careful not to be hypocrites and doing it for the wrong reasons. Ultimately its everyone personal decision between them and God to make.

 

Swallowed Up Death

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He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 25:8

As Easter (Resurrection) Sunday has just passed, it’s a great time to remind ourselves what Christ has accomplished for us. Jesus defeated death forever, and he rose as the eternal King of Kings , that will rule Gods kingdom where there will be no more pain, sorrow, tears, or death forever

So why is there still death today since Jesus defeated death over 2,000 years ago? Because God doesn’t want anyone to perish , but to come to repentance and accept Jesus Christ for salvation (2 Peter 3:9) The old broken world still continues today because God provides Free Will to all and doesn’t force himself on anyone.

However time will be running out for Satan and this sinful world. And when the day comes when Christ returns, time is up for the wicked. There will be a day, when God will restore his kingdom and The New Heavens and Earth come together, to complete paradise for all of us who are saved through Jesus Christ.

And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” Isaiah 25:9

There will be a day when we rejoice and say this is our God, Jesus Christ, whom we waited for to return and bring Heaven down with him. Without the work Christ did on the cross or in the tomb, the New Heavens and Earth would not be possible for us wretched sinners!

Thank you Lord Jesus for swallowing up death forever Amen!

Jesus Is Risen #EasterSunday

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and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, Luke 24:5-6

If you are seeking Jesus, don’t look for him among the dead, Jesus has Risen, he is alive forevermore. On that Sunday morning, the stone was rolled away from the tomb, sin and death were defeated for good. We have ultimate victory through Jesus Christ!

So why do many still seek for help among the mortal and the dead? Why wouldn’t you put your faith and trust in the One who holds the keys to life and death (Revelation 1:18) Jesus is the first born of the dead (Colossians 1:18) meaning Jesus defeated death and rose with an immortal and perfect body, sitting on the throne as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Even if you rejected Christ, the resurrection has impacted your life. The greatest moment in world history occurred that Sunday morning. Our calendars, holidays, and seasons are all based around the Resurrection of Christ. This moment changed the world forever, question is did you allow Jesus to change your life forever yet?

If you want to find Christ, look up at the sky, don’t look at the grave of other false prophets , false gods , and false religions because He is Risen! Victory over death is ours in Jesus Name Amen!

Passover Lamb #GoodFriday

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The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

If there is any question how Judaism and Christianity are linked together, look no further than Passover/Easter. When the prophet John the Baptist announced, Jesus was the “Lamb of God” everyone knew what he was talking about.

The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:13

To understand what Jesus has done for us at the cross, we need to understand what happened at Passover. The Israelites were being held slaves for over 400 years until God sent the prophet Moses to finally free them. Egypt’s refusal to allow Gods people go, left him no choice but to send 10 deadly plaques to call for their repentance.

The final plague was the Angel of Death that would “Passover” any home that was covered by the blood of the sacrificial “Lamb of God”

for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28

Fast forward to when God sent his only begotten Son, as the perfect “Lamb of God’ to forever take away the sins of the world. Anyone who is covered by the “Blood of Christ” death will “Passover” them and we will live eternally in Gods Kingdom.

Remember this Passover/Easter, that Jesus is The Lamb of God. Because of him death will Passover you during the Resurrection in Jesus Name Amen

Sweet Offering

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“For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. Matthew 26:12

As we continue our “Quest to The Cross” we reflect on a moment where Jesus was given a gracious offering by a woman in Bethany. The first take away from this moment was , even though the woman was poor, she poured the perfume over Christ, which was a very costly perfume. Probably cost a years wages

The disciples, specifically Judas rebuked her saying she is wasting money. However Jesus quickly defends the woman by saying  “But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me.” (Matthew 26:10)

Case in point don’t worry what others have to say about your offering to God, he reads our hearts and minds, and knows this offering was her best. Don’t allow the world to interfere or take you away from your worship to Christ. Just like the woman, your offering will be noticed

The next take away is without this woman even knowing she was helping to fulfill prophecy. This expensive perfume was preparing the Lord Jesus Christs body to be our atonement sacrifice at the cross (Matthew 26:12). Even through the blood and agony his body endured, that strong scent was probably still there

“Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” Matthew 26:13

From a theological perspective, this moment of the woman pouring perfume on Christ may seem insignificant. However Jesus thought it was important enough to remember this woman always. As you prepare for Passover (Good Friday) and throughout Holy Week, remember the offering and sacrifice Jesus made for us and he will remember yours also Amen

The Fig Tree

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He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening. Mark 11:14

As we continue our “Quest To The Cross” our next stop is “The Fig Tree” Here Jesus was hungry , looking for something fruitful, and found a barren tree that produced no fruit. He immediately rebuked the tree and commanded that it will never produce fruit again,  the tree withered and died immediately.

A few things we can observe from this, first notice again this is not the watered down Jesus that is portrayed by most. The power that Jesus posses , even when he speaks, the tree withers and dies immediately. Just as when demons listen to his commands or he calm the waves of the sea. Jesus has full authority on Heaven and Earth.

Second “The Fig Tree” is symbolic to our spiritual lives. As Jesus said “Good trees produce good fruit , bad trees produce bad fruit, by our fruit we will be recognized (Matthew 7) So will Jesus say to us Good work faithful servant or depart from me you worker of lawlessness?

And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. Mark 11:22

As the disciples noticed “The Fig Tree” withered Jesus said to them “Have faith in God” We can take this multiple ways, as they were amazed at Jesus power and authority over Heaven and Earth. Jesus instructed them faith can move mountains!

Do we have the faith to continue to be a fruitful disciple or will we wither away from lack of faith? Put your faith in God in Jesus name Amen!

Den Of Thieves

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He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” Matthew 21:13

As we begin this Holy Week, Jesus makes his first stop to cleanse the Holy Temple. The Holy Temple which was built , not only to worship God, but the place on Earth where God resided. However the Holy Temple of God has been turned more into a corporation than a house of prayer, where selling of merchandise , had become higher priority than true worship of God

Jesus showed his disgust by overthrowing tables and chasing the merchants out! Often we only hear about a watered down version of Jesus , but here Jesus would not allow his Father’s house to be desecrated.

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

Today if you’re a Christian, you are the temple of God. The Holy Spirit dwells in you, just as he did in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Is your Temple Holy or desecrated? Are you allowing Jesus to cleanse out your Temple or are you conforming to the ways of the world?

Its important as Christians, we continually reflect on the current state of our faith. Would Jesus be pleased with the current condition of your spiritual life or would be overthrowing tables?

This Holy Week lets make a strong commitment to keep our Holy Temples pure in Jesus Name Amen!

The King Is Coming! #PalmSunday

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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!

Free Will

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“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!