The Lord’s Prayer, Part 1: His Apostles - John 17:1-19

Based on John 17:1-19 (King James Version)

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.’”

We will see the Lord’s prayer in three parts, because in some way, we can understand that it does have three parts. The first part consists of how He prayed directly for His Apostles, not necessarily for us that came after them. It doesn’t mean that since it was not directly aimed at us that we then need to ignore it, but we must understand what we need to for many reasons, and like everything that is written in the Word, for: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

To start, the Lord’s Apostles were truly unique, and if there ever were chosen or predestined people, it would be them, even though they always did have the ability to choose what to do with their lives. Nonetheless, they had a great affinity for the Lord. They knew how to recognize Who was the Being that invited them to walk with Him. They had such sensitivity that they reacted and reacted immediately when the Lord called them. And of course, when the fullness of the Holy Spirit came to their lives, they were unstoppable. And the Apostle Paul also is included in this, because even though they tried to fill the void Iscariot left, the Apostle Paul took the twelfth spot, through which the Lord was going to use him greatly so that we the gentiles could come to have the opportunity to listen to the Gospel of Salvation. The true Apostles of the Lord were prepared by God and chosen directly by the Lord on the earth, including Paul, as He went to have an encounter with him on the way to Damascus. Biblically speaking, there have been no more Apostles than those spoken of in the Bible, because the calling culminates with the twelve. With all respect to those that have taken that title after them; sincerely, it does not belong to them. They might be something else, but not Apostles. It’s related to the meaning behind the twelve tribes of Israel, and all of the other things related to the number twelve in the Bible.

We see through this passage the personal care that the Lord Himself had with His Apostles, watching over them, living with them, teaching them daily about the kingdom, showing them all of the signs and wonders He did, allowing them to experience the Only Begotten Son of God intimately. They experienced the glorification of the Son here on earth. They received the power that the Lord gave them directly. God finally did give them to His Son. They had the privilege of being kept by the Lord. So then, and through this prayer, we see the great meaning that these special people had, and the aspect of a predetermined election made by the Father which does not apply to us.

But, and despite how special the Apostles were, and everything God did through them, never, ever should we lose sight of the actions of the Son of God, and that we need to focus on Him only. Like Paul rightly said, giving us a clear direction: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1. He also said: “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.” Ephesians 5:1. We also saw the direction that His earthly mother, Mary, gave: “His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’ [speaking of the Lord]” John 2:5. And foremost, as God Himself said it from the heavens in the following story: “Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.” Matthew 17:4-6. So then, just as it was for the Apostles and His earthly mother Mary, our complete focus should be the Lord, and no one else, because this is the reality the Scriptures teach us: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5. These are only but a few reasons for why the Lord needs to be our focus, our direction, practically, our everything. We need to be disciples or followers of Jesus, not just believing in Him. We need to eat of His flesh and drink of His blood, eating His Word and respecting His sacrifice, making ourselves one with Him; without any doubts or reservations, just as those great people before us did, seeing the example they left for us.

Now then, how does this passage apply to us? Except for not being chosen by God beforehand and that we did not live during the time the Lord lived on the earth carnally (except for Paul, because Paul was the last Apostle chosen by the Lord, but without seeing Him carnally in His earthly ministry), everything else applies, but now that we have the most intimate part of the Lord: the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. Everything the Lord did for His Apostles, He also does for us, but through the Holy Spirit and with the completed work of the Scriptures. And in all reality, this is what makes the Apostles so special, because we have much more than what they had, because the Scriptures were not completed and sealed until after the Apostle John, the one that “saw” the end, just as the Lord said. Today, we have the complete revelation from God to man at our fingertips; the Holy Bible.

So then, what are you doing with the much God has given us? Lord bless! John

Speaking with the Truth - John 16:25-33

Based on John 16:25-33 (King James Version)

“‘These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.’ His disciples said to Him, ‘See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’”

Blaise Pascal once said: “In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.” Maybe it is not clearly visible that this passage is mostly about the truth, but we will try to explain it so that we not only understand this, but also, so we can get to a deeper place within ourselves and with God. The Lord always speaks to us with the truth, and the truth is not always pleasant. The truth can be many times difficult, uncomfortable, frustrating, and even painful. It doesn’t necessarily happen that way because of the truth within itself, but rather, we always need to keep our primary enemy in mind: the sin that still dwells within our being. Sin is what makes the truth so difficult.

This is the first truth that we all need to keep very present. Satan is not our primary enemy (but be extremely careful with him). You might say, “How can that be?” We are going to dig even deeper so we can understand the issue. Our primary enemy is the sin that is still within us, and Satan only tries to manipulate and stir up that evil that is in us. That’s why we can understand that the Lord never sinned, because even though He was a man with our own flesh, by virtue that His Father is truly God, He did not have within His members the lusts of the flesh. That’s why no matter how much Satan tried to tempt Him; time, after time, after time (tirelessly), he was never able to get anywhere, because in the end, the Lord had His divinity as the substance that composed His flesh. That’s why it is not necessarily our flesh that makes us fall, and sin, and to look for our own self-destruction, but rather, the sin that dwells within our flesh. And that is what is at odds with God, and of course, at odds with the Truth of God. The Apostle Paul tried to explain this in the following manner: “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:14-25. This is what explains what happens within us. That’s why when Satan tried to tempt the Lord, nothing would happen, even in the hardest and most difficult moments. But when Satan tempts us, that is another story, and that is what makes the Truth for us feel like it is so hard, and difficult, and painful.

Now then, whether the Lord used a figurative language or spoke clearly to them (as His disciples said in this passage), the Lord never lied to them. He always told them things just as they were. And what was difficult with His declarations was that when they would experience just a glimmer of tranquility, the Lord would reveal something hard and difficult, like what He declared here, that they were going to be scattered, that they were going to abandon Him, and that they were going to endure tribulation in this world. These truths must have not felt very pleasing at the moment. But rather, quite the contrary, because it was very clear that the disciples were hoping for their problems here to be resolved, because they were hoping for the Messiah to establish His reign here on earth. The practical reason (per se) for why they abandoned the Lord in His worst moment was not necessarily because they didn’t appreciate Him, but rather, because they found themselves somewhere completely unknown, somewhere entirely opposite to what they hoped for, no matter how much He had warned them. The unknown and uncertainty was what made them flee, because this went completely against their desires, because it went against the sin that still dwelt within them. And we should not be astonished at this, because I am very sure that each one of us would have fled as well if we were present with Him. We just think differently now because we have complete knowledge over the issue. But even knowing what we know now, we still don’t do what we are supposed to, even in situations that are far less complex than what the disciples faced during the moment of His arrest. We get confused and frustrated with things that are far simpler. So, by our own selves, we are far less than those great men and women that followed the Lord, despite their moment of weakness and frailty.

So then, where does what Pascal said come into play? The Truth and Faith go hand-in-hand. Faith is what makes possible the search for Truth, the desire to want to believe that there is something more than the lies that surround us, the subtleties of deceit, and the superficiality of vanity. Faith is what helps us triumph over the sin that still dwells within us, because you want to follow more what your soul is longing for, something greater than this temporal and superficial world. And this is the mystery behind what Pascal said and what we are trying to explain today: that our faith depends on how much we want to believe, and how much we desire the truth. Faith is what takes us beyond the fear of being scattered, of going through trials, and suffering persecution, even enduring enmity with our loved ones, and suffering tribulation. Because faith is what tells us to: “Keep moving forward because there is something far superior waiting for you that is more worthwhile than what you are going through now, or that you will endure in the near future”. This is the truth that the Lord told us: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32.

And so, we should ask ourselves, especially after some self-examination: “Do I have enough faith in the Lord to be able to desire His Truth, no matter the cost, or what may happen? Do I truly desire for the Truth to set me free? Lord bless! John

This World Will Not Last Forever - John 16:16-24

Based on John 16:16-24 (King James Version)

“‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.’ Then some of His disciples said among themselves, ‘What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” They said therefore, ‘What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.’ Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, ‘Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

I remember when I was a boy in school that there were certain days when we would finish our work early and not have much to do. So, the only option I had was to wait until the bell would ring so I could leave, because we were not allowed to leave early. I remember putting my head down on the desk where I would sit, and I would fix my eyes on the clock on the wall. The problem that I had was that the more I looked at the clock with the hope that time would pass by faster, it seemed like time would stretch and almost stand still. I felt like the hands on the clock that would show the hours, minutes, and seconds were going slower and slower. The day seemed like it would never end. It felt a bit like torture. Do you feel your life is like that sometimes, especially when you are going through a tough moment, and that not only time seems to be going by slower, but also, like everything is getting worse? Have you ever felt like you are walking slowly down a dark tunnel that seems like it’s getting darker and darker, and that there is no end in sight, and that you cannot even see a glimmer of hope at a far distance?

This life can be very difficult for many of us, in one way or another. The Lord never told us that everything would be great here, and that we would be happy and vibrant, and that we would be able to fulfill all of our dreams and desires while here. This was never written in the Bible, as we were able to read today, just a short moment ago. On the contrary, the Lord warned us that we would have sadness and even affliction, and not only that, but also, that we would have to go through trials and tribulations. I know that does not sound pleasant, but at the same time, it is necessary to understand what is happening, and that you are not the only one that is going through it. You are not alone in this. The truth is that this will be difficult, but not because the Lord necessarily desires that, but because of the sin that dwells in this place and even within our lives. That’s why the Lord hates sin, because it ruins everything. So then, if you want to blame something for the pain and sadness, put blame where it should go; on sin.

But, here comes better things, the ones that we always need to bear in mind and in our heart, especially when we are going through tough times, because this life only lasts but a moment when you compare it to eternity. When we surrender our lives to the Lord, and we abide in His faith, there are great and wonderful promises that are waiting for those that love the Lord, as it is written: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.’” Revelation 21:1-7. This is the joy that should keep all Christian looking forward, looking towards the goal.

So then, for those of you that are not doing so well right now, remember that we have a living and eternal hope in the Lord. The disciple of the Lord always has the joy of the hope that all of this will pass someday, and that not only better days are coming, but rather, an indescribable eternity with everything that only the Lord can offer. At the same time, for those of you that may not be going through difficult times, remember also that everything here is passing, just like our lives. As it is written: “because, ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’” 1 Peter 1:24. So then, whether we are doing well, or doing so-so, or not doing so well, the clock of our lives is running quite fast. The time of the end of our flesh will come to pass for each of us. This is an unavoidable reality. That’s why the Word gives us this counsel: “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’: While the sun and the light, the moon and the stars, are not darkened, and the clouds do not return after the rain; in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow down; when the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look through the windows grow dim; when the doors are shut in the streets, and the sound of grinding is low; when one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of music are brought low. Also they are afraid of height, and of terrors in the way; when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper is a burden, and desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets. Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. ‘Vanity of vanities,’ says the Preacher, ‘All is vanity.’… …Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:1-8, 13-14.

So then, what are you doing with your life while here on earth? Lord bless! John

The Work of the Holy Spirit - John 16:4b-15

Based on John 16:4b-15 (King James Version)

“And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 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 depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”

When the Holy Spirit is spoken of, many start to think about the spiritual gifts. But, when we see the Word, the gifts are just the tip of the iceberg (per se). The work of the Holy Spirit is something much more significant and profound than the manifestation of the gifts. To start, we need to clarify that the Holy Spirit is a Person, that He is part of the Trinity of God. There are certain sects that teach that the Holy Spirit is like an engine, or something like that, which is rather insulting and even blasphemous. Therefore, the Holy Spirit as a Person and Identity is the most sacred being of God, the soul of God. And without the Holy Spirit, neither God the Father nor the Son could do what they do. Each Identity of the Trinity is perfectly divine, joined together in perfect unity, and interdependent to each other. There is only one God, and that God is three Persons, as it is written: “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” I John 5:7.

Now then, and to start somewhere (because it is difficult to isolate everything the Holy Spirit does, especially since there is such a perfect unity in the Trinity), the Holy Spirit was involved with absolutely everything the Lord Jesus did on the Earth. The only moment where God [plural] separated for an instant was when the Lord took on all of our sins upon Himself on the cross, as He Himself declared it: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” Matthew 27:46. So then, our evil and sin was what separated a God that had always been together. God suffered even that for us (that’s why whoever takes lightly the immense sacrifice of God truly deserves where they will end up, if they don’t repent. God’s salvation through Jesus Christ is only by grace, but the price that God paid for us can never be measured or weighed; it’s incalculable). The Holy Spirit was involved with the conception in Mary. He was involved with the growth of the Lord. He was involved with the all of the miracles, signs, and wonders the Lord did, including when the Lord casted out demons. He was involved with all of the Lord’s ministering and teaching. The Holy Spirit did everything together with the Lord. That’s why when a person refuses to believe in the works of the Only Begotten Son of God not only do they blaspheme against the Son, but also against the Father and the Holy Spirit. And as a consequence, there can be no salvation for that person, either because of their unbelief, or because of their blasphemy. For it is also written: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36. So then, because of the perfect unity of the Trinity, and by not believing or accepting the Lord, a person is denying everything such as the work of the Father and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it’s either all or nothing, but absolutely no one can justify themselves before God by thinking that they can believe in God and not in the Son. Accepting Jesus as Lord is the key for everything because through that faith is that everything else comes, especially the Holy Spirit.

Now then, when a person accepts Jesus as the Lord of their life, by surrendering their heart, the Holy Spirit comes to in live inside their life. At that moment, the miracle where the Holy Spirit manifests Himself by being “within” us occurs. As it was said in another occasion, the Holy Spirit first is “with” us, by helping us feel the conviction of sin and showing us that we need a Savior, going much beyond what our conscience can work in us; the Holy Spirit is “within” our life; and the Holy Spirit comes “upon” us when He prepares us for God’s service and ministering (and He doesn’t necessarily manifest Himself through the gift of tongues. He distributes the gifts as He desires; no one can impose on Him nor can it be assumed). But, exploring even more the importance of the Holy Spirit regarding being “within” our lives, what is incredibly necessary and crucial of that is that He teaches us the things of God. It doesn’t depend on our intellect. The only thing that we need is to have the intellectual understanding of the words we read, but the Holy Spirit takes care of the rest. That’s why even a child can come to understand, assimilate, and even apply the things of God in their life, because it is the Holy Spirit that teaches them directly, by exposing themselves to the Word of God. I say this by experience because I had the privilege and grace from God to come to the Lord when I was only seven years old. I was completely conscious of what I was doing. I started to read and study the Bible at that time (because I felt it necessary), and I was not a scholar, or a prodigy, nor a university student. I was only a very simple and common boy, but the Holy Spirit taught me everything that I read. And there was such an impact made in my life that His teaching remains until today, more than thirty-seven years later. No human being can learn anything of the divine things of the Lord without the Holy Spirit inside their lives. It’s impossible!

And continuing, the Holy Spirit is the one that changes the life of a person, as a consequence of learning God’s Word, if they let him work (because nothing is forced). We also need to be careful with the fact that the Holy Spirit can be grieved with the sin that still remains in our lives. As it is written: “And do not grieve [or quench] the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30. So then, if the Holy Spirit can be quenched, then He can also be extinguished inside of our heart if there is too much disobedience and rebellion in us. Everything is possible unfortunately. But, if we remain in the Lord, and let the work of the Holy Spirit continue in our lives, one of the most precious things that only God can do will occur; the transformation of a life, by converting us into something completely different then what we started as. The Holy Spirit of God is the only one that can transform a life completely, day-by-day, step-by-step. The more you submit to Him, the faster the changes occur.

So then, have you truly experienced the work of the Holy Spirit in your life? Lord bless! John

The Testing of Our Faith and Love - John 16:1-4a

Based on John 16:1-4a (King James Version)

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.”

Today’s message is not an easy one, and it goes against various false doctrines that have been shared. The Bible teaches that we will have problems, and very big problems because of our faith in the Lord. Whoever says contrary either does not understand many of the written passages or they are telling you something that you want to listen to so they can sheer you, like the sheep you are. But the Word is very clear on this issue.

Why do we have to go through these tough moments, sooner or later? This is not necessarily what the Lord desires, because the Lord desires our well-being. The issue is that the true culprit of the problem is sin. And let’s be even more clear; the sin that is within each of us is what causes the problem. The only difference between us is that there are those that allow themselves to be guided by the Spirit of God and those that let themselves be led by the evil that dwells within them. What do you follow? This is the heart of the matter.

This is what the Word teaches us: “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.” John 15:19-21. “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:34-39.

In the last times, the times we are already living in, there shall be such persecution like never before. For it is also written: “Then He said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.’” Luke 21:10-13. So then, following the Lord will be difficult, realistically speaking, because it goes against everything we humanly desire. No one likes to suffer, but that is what the sin on this earth produces, and the problems that we have among people. And the price that sin will cause to be paid by many will even involve death. If we see the limited information we have, Lifeway tells us that approximately 215 million Christians live through persecution today. Analysts say that 1 out of every 12 Christians live in places where their faith is either illegal, prohibited, or punished. In a report on 2018, it is estimated that 3,066 Christians were killed, 1,252 were kidnapped, 1,020 were raped or sexually harassed, and 793 churches were attacked. The world was horrified by the attack in New Zealand some days ago, which is understandable because no one has the right to take another person’s life. But who talks about the thousands of Christians that died in 2018 alone? Where was the press in all of that? And even more alarming, where was the universal church in all of that? Many called for a prayer chain for the people that were affected by the recent attack in New Zealand, but who asks for prayer and support for our own family in Christ? The Lord told us the Truth, that there would be a price for following Him, and that it would a very high cost.

So then, how do you continue moving forward in a world that sooner or later will persecute us (including our carnal family), and that will even kill many of us for our faith in Jesus? The only thing that surpasses all the limits is love. And when there is love, there is no fear (it’s as simple as that). For it is written: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:18-19. This is the key question every Christian should ask themselves: “Do you believe in such a way in the Lord and in what He has done for you that it takes you to love Him as much as He loves you? When everything is good and fine, you will always have people around you. But, when things get tough, when things are not sweet, when there is no prosperity or healings or miracles, who remains? While Jesus did miracles, signs, and fed many, the multitudes followed Him, and they wouldn’t even let Him rest. But, when He was sold to His enemies, who remained with Him? I am very sure that many who He helped and even healed were in the crowd of people that cried out: “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Even His own disciples abandoned Him. And when He was on the cross paying for the sin of all humanity (where He paid for my sins), there were only but five people at the foot of the cross. The thousands were nowhere to be found.

This is the true meaning of love: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. Nothing can be withstood if you don’t love the Lord. If you look for Him for convenience, to just get what you want, or even as a duty, sooner or later, you will abandon the faith. But, if you love the Lord as much as He loves you, even death will not separate you from Him. Think about this: No one has ever done nor will do for you what the Lord has done. So then, do you have enough faith and love for the Lord so you can follow Him even in the worst of circumstances? Lord bless! John

The Comforter, the Holy Spirit - John 15:26-27

Based on John 15:26-27 (King James Version)

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”

Today, we are going to deal with something quite complex, something that cannot be explained completely on one-page print. We will talk a little bit about the Holy Spirit. To start, the Comforter or the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity of God, because the Bible teaches us very clearly that God consists of three persons, as it is written: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7 (we need to be careful with various Bible versions because the majority of the more modern ones omit this truth from the original text; this is my personal problem with the different versions). Now, the Holy Spirit is not, under any circumstance, inferior to the Father or the Son. On the contrary, if we have a soul (the center of a human being), the Holy Spirit would be the Spirit or Soul of the Trinity, so then, He is what is most sacred within the Trinity. That’s why we need to be very careful and have much respect for the Holy Spirit and His work. He cannot be taken lightly, or more over, He must be seen with a lot of wisdom and knowledge.

To continue this brief look, we will see the great warning that the Lord Himself gave us on how the not to treat the Holy Spirit, for it is written: “Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’ Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.’ But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.’” Matthew 12:22-32. The most important work of the Holy Spirit is to show conclusively and undoubtedly that Jesus is God and Lord (not just as the Savior). When the Pharisees called the work of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ demonic, their hardness of heart and rebellion took them to do something unpardonable. Now then, the punishment that comes with the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is almost obvious and by consequence. If a person refuses to believe in Jesus as God and Lord, how can they come to be saved? It is impossible. And by virtue of refusing to believe, the person themselves is deciding to stay in their fallen and irredeemable state. No one can obtain eternal life without the Lord. But also, we need to be careful to call things that seem strange (per se) to us as things that don’t come from God because they could be part of the work of the Holy Spirit. This is a great warning for all of us: If you don’t know extremely well the Scriptures and the things that belong to the Lord, then do not even insinuate anything that could be from God as something evil or disrespect it somehow; don’t make fun. We need to respect the things of God, even though they may seem strange to us.

Now then, how does the Holy Spirit manifest Himself in the life of a person? There are three ways: by being with us, by coming to live inside of us, and by coming upon us. When the Holy Spirit is with us, it’s the time that He draws close to bring conviction of sin, so that there can be total repentance and conversion from our sins, at the moment when a person comes to receive the Lord in their life. It is not your conscience that helps you see so clearly all of your sins, but rather, it is the Holy Spirit that does that. He is the One that brings upon a person that incredible sense of responsibility, of pain, and of acknowledging everything a person has done wrong before coming to know the Lord. The second way that the Holy Spirit comes is when He comes to live inside your heart when you repent and convert from all of your sins, and you make Jesus the Lord of your life, when you are born again in the Spirit. That’s where a person’s transformation begins. And the reason why He needs to be inside of your life (not just to save you), is so that He can start teaching you God’s will. As it is written: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26. And one of the essentials of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is when He reminds us of all the Word (after we have studied it, of course, because knowledge does not come magically), when He helps us triumph over the devil’s temptations. The only way that you can face and triumph over the devil’s temptations is through the Word of God; and nothing more. And the third way in which the Holy Spirit manifests Himself is by being upon us. This happens when a person is ready to serve the Lord, to be a witness of the Lord, taking the Gospel to every creature. No one can serve the Lord without this anointing (That’s why it is so important to study the Word, so that the moment comes sooner. No one can afford to stagnate). Some call this the Baptism or the Anointing of the Holy Spirit and others call it the Fulness of the Holy Spirit. They mean the same thing. And the Bible teaches us that this can happen with or without the laying on of hands. For it is written: “Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.’” Acts 8:17-19. “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, ‘can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” Acts 10:44-48. As a note, speaking in tongues is not an absolute sign of someone having received the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit bestows gifts as He desires, and that we need to look for the best gifts (see 1 Corinthians 12).

So then, have you experienced the Holy Spirit of God in His fulness in your life? Lord bless! John

Responsible for the Truth - John 15:22-25

Based on John 15:22-25 (New King James Version)

“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.”

Having knowledge about God can be something very good, or something that can bring problems, depending on what is done with that knowledge. The knowledge of God always implies a response, a decision; it’s not something that can be taken lightly, or more clearly, irresponsibly. And what makes the decision that is taken so crucial and important is because of the Being that is involved: God.

Many people can talk about or tell you things, and those things they say may have some importance depending on who it is. For example, a stranger on the street might give you some advice, but I don’t think you will take it seriously for many reasons; because it’s coming from a stranger, because you don’t trust that what they are saying is reliable, or that they might have a good base, and also, because they do not have any kind of authority over your life. The opinion of a stranger can have very little impact in your life. But, if your boss talks to you, the one that signs your check, that is a different story. You need to pay attention, even though you may not even like them. At the very least, you need to at least feign attention. The same happens with an authority, because it could bring about problems, if you don’t pay attention. Because if a police officer tells you to stop the vehicle, you should stop, or else, you are going to have many of his friends that will “help” you stop the vehicle; the easy way or the hard way. So then, based on something as simple as this, knowledge implies responsibility, depending on “who” it involves.

Now then, many justify their lack of faith or conviction in the Lord because they feel they need more proof on who He is. What is amazing is that they demand more proof or knowledge about Someone that really does not have more to prove (if they just pay a little bit of attention), especially considering other things they do believe in that are much more doubtful and uncertain, and that they even put their lives on these things. For example, a person gets on a plane without any problems, with not even the smallest doubt. They believe everything will be just fine. How do they know? Do they understand the science that makes a plane fly? Do they know the people that made the plane? Did they review the maintenance and repair log before boarding the plane? Do they know if the people in charge of flying the plane are in their right minds or healthy enough to do their work? There are so many things that can go wrong, but there isn’t a single question, not a single doubt, and they expose their life and the lives of those they love to fly at 30,000 feet (more than 9,000 meters) above the surface of the earth in this thing they know nothing about.

Let’s see other things like illegal drug use. According to Statista, the number of people in the United States that have used illegal drugs in their lifetimes since 2017 is estimated to be more than 238 million people, this includes the use of marijuana, cocaine, crack, heroin, LSD, Ecstasy, and methamphetamines. And I ask myself, out of all of those millions of people, those folks that tried them, or are still using them regularly, “Do they think about where the stuff comes from that they are so confidently putting into their bodies? Do they know the health standards that were used by the drug producers to make these? Do they know exactly what they are putting into their bodies? How can you trust something that you get from a guy (a stranger) that is standing on a corner somewhere? They don’t doubt something like that, but they dare to doubt God? They put something into their bodies that they have no idea what it is or where it came from, nor what it’s going to do to them, and even more so, knowing that it is something illegal or wrong, but they demand more proof just to give God an opportunity? Where is the logic? Where is the great intellectual evolution of our society? And of course, there are many other things people expose themselves to without the slightest doubt, but yet, it’s hard for them to believe in God. The great scientists prefer to think that they come from a cosmic explosion and from the evolution of monkeys than to have at least some sort of dignity that a Supreme Being made everything, including man. Are you understanding the point?

And together with all of this, the great majority of people believe in the illusion that they have complete control over their lives, that they know what they are doing. I say it is an illusion because no human being knows what will happen to them in the next five minutes, least of all, be able to control everything that happens around them. It’s impossible! Let’s prove it! Do we have control over the planet, over its rotation, its gravity, or over its nature? Can we control an earthquake? Can we stop a tsunami? When was the last time they stopped a tornado? The victims (including the rich) that were in the twin towers in New York on 9/11, were they able to stop their deaths (and I say this with much pain), that the only escape that many had left to avoid the flames was to jump off the buildings? Can man trust their illusion of control and take tomorrow for granted? For it is written: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James 4:13-14.

Now then, the knowledge of God carries great responsibility, for it is written: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.” Romans 1:20-22. So, it should not be taken lightly, but rather, it must be taken quite seriously. For the Word of God also teaches this: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36.

When God speaks, you need to listen and listen well, and make the decision that the situation merits, or else, nothing good is waiting for those that refuse to believe in Christ. God is love, and that is why He gives a free-will opportunity. But if that opportunity is rejected, what else is left? But when a Being like that calls you, it’s in your best interest not just to listen, but to follow Him closely. Think about Who it’s about and your uncertain reality! Do you understand the responsibility that comes with the knowledge of the Truth of God? Lord bless! John

We Are Just Passing By - John 15:17-21

Based on John 15:17-21 (New King James Version)

“These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

I don’t know if everyone that has decided to follow Christ understands what that implies. Through observation, it seems like a lot of what is taught in Scripture is either not understood, or not followed; one of the two problems exist. I am referring to the lifestyle, that when we have decided to follow the Lord, we should not be striving for things here, at least not like we used to before we knew His Truth. When we come to the Lord, we start forming part of another kingdom (God’s kingdom), and our goals should become other goals, the ones that really don’t have much to do with what’s here. For it is written: “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’” John 18:36.

The reality that occurs when we come to the Lord and we surrender our lives to Him (if we have really done that) is that we really don’t belong to this world anymore. We should not have the same carnal goals we had before. We should not strive for what is corruptible, for vanities, for what is here today and gone tomorrow. Our daily struggle should be for what is eternal, starting with our spiritual walk, and for doing the things that please the Lord. The problem emerges when a person tries to use God to resolve things here, and nothing else, with their eyes set only on earthly things. There are many people that only look to resolve earthly things and attain vanities. And well, when we focus only on pleasing the Lord, we will naturally have enmity with the world by the simple fact that we are going to be people with different goals, with different lifestyles, that should frankly force to stand out (not because we rub it in, per se) the superficial and vain way the world tries to live. In other words, our lifestyle should reflect everything that is contrary to the world. And the lifestyle that the Word teaches will only attract those that are tired of the world, those that have already perceived the lies of the world and Satan’s deceit.

We will show some examples, to try to demonstrate that the Lord’s Gospel is something that is applicable universally, that it does not depend on the economic system that certain countries have. A doctrine of prosperity is preached in many places, that if you follow God faithfully, that He will prosper you and make you rich, depending on your faith. That is false and for many reasons. First of all, if you follow God, it shouldn’t be because you want for Him to make you rich. With just that simple fact, you are trying to use God, nothing more, and that is a problem. When a person tries to use God, they become like the ones that would follow the Lord for the fish and loaves of bread. Do you like being used by people? I don’t think so. And well, God doesn’t like it either. The second problem is that the Word teaches us that we cannot love God and riches. And the Word also teaches us that the root of all evil is love of money. The third problem is when a person is only focused on having more, not thinking about their neighbor, only on themselves. And selfishness is completely contrary to everything the Scriptures teach (and that is the greatest difference with the world, because we should be living for the Lord and for our neighbor, not for ourselves). And here comes the fourth problem: How can someone think that God will give them for vanities and luxuries while others that are more faithful to the Lord may be living poorly with hunger, or living on the street? For starters, the Son of Man did not have a place to lay His head down. So then, can something be taught as truth if the Lord Himself did not have it here while on earth? And even more so, if the Lord is our example, how can we then justify a lifestyle that goes completely against the way He lived on earth? Are you understanding the problem?

This is the advice that the Word keeps giving us: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” Colossians 3:1-14.

So, here comes what is applicable to everyday life that agrees with God’s sound doctrine. We are just passing by this world, we are not from here anymore. We all need to work and work hard. We should pay our bills and debts because that is what the Lord commands, paying what we owe (not to get into more debt unnecessarily). And if strive, we should not strive for vanities, but rather, to supply what we need, and to spread the Gospel, and to help others in need (our neighbor); not because of irresponsibility, because they were trying to be rich, but because of misfortune, starting with the family of the faith. There are many people that are in need for reasons that go beyond their control.

So then, are you living your life here like if you were staying permanently, or are you living like if you were just passing by, ready to leave with the Lord at any moment? Lord bless! John

Are We Chosen by God?

Based on John 15:16 (New King James Version)

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” 

Today’s passage tends to cause confusion among those that do not know well the context of the Scriptures. The following issue has existed for a long time: “Are we chosen by God, or, do we choose to follow Him?” And to be able to understand this, we need to be careful with the Scriptures and be able to understand very well our position (because this is what produces in part the departure). The greatest care we need to have with the Scriptures is that we cannot take one verse here and another verse over there and create something that goes completely against everything else is that is written (to start).

The first clarification is that the Holy Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, does not have any contradictions, and whoever believes there are contradictions is because they are missing something, or simply, they are not understanding what they are reading. The reason why the Word of God is inerrant is because it is more than words printed on some pages, it is the essence of God. God is the Word. So then, basically, finding contradictions in the Word is like finding contradictions in God (and I know that many believe this, but that happens because of limitations, or simply because of disbelief, and there is nothing that can be done for that). So, for something to be taken as a sound teaching from the Word, it needs to agree with absolutely everything else that is written (that’s why we need to be very careful with additions, changes, etc. with the Word of God). Together with this clarification, this is what shows us the importance of studying the Bible. The Bible needs to be studied, and of course, with the illumination that only the Holy Spirit can give (this happens when we convert to the Lord). There are many that spiritualize things (per se) and think that we are going to know God’s things instantaneously, and it doesn’t work like that. Instant knowledge will only occur when we arrive before the presence of God; not before. While you are here, it is your responsibility (a word that is being wiped out from our vocabulary) to search the Scriptures, and to let yourself be taught by the Holy Spirit while you do it.

Now then, what is the misunderstanding? We the gentiles are not more than the Jews, to start, and especially before the eyes of God. If chosen people exist, it would be them. And even though they are God’s chosen people, they always had the power to choose to not follow God, and to not follow what is established. For it is written: “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:11-20. The Bible continues teaching the following: “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell [speaking of the Jews], severity; but toward you [speaking of us, the gentiles], goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?” Romans 11:22-24. So then, everyone that is reading this today is not chosen (per se).

So, who was the Lord talking to? Easy, the Apostles. The other big problem is that the Scriptures are interpreted carelessly, and the obvious is missed. There were moments that the Lord spoke to His Apostles directly. We see this when the Lord prayed for His disciples, “and” also for us, as it is written: “I do not pray for these [His disciples] alone, but also for those [us] who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:20-21. The Lord literally chose His twelve disciples, so then, they were chosen. But, that also didn’t mean that they didn’t have the power to either follow or not follow the Lord (Remember Iscariot?). And if there was a chosen being, it was John the Baptist. This is what the Word says: “And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.’ As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’ ‘Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.’” Matthew 11:2-11. And even John the Baptist could have derailed towards the end, because of lack of faith, or else, why send people to ask if it was Him, if he had declared Him as the Christ personally?

God calls everyone to Himself, but it is our decision to follow or not. And also, it is our decision to remain in Him or not. Everything is our choice! God does not force anyone, because love can never be forced. So, have you obeyed His call to follow the Him? Lord bless! John

Obedience is Love in Action - John 15:9-15

Based on John 15:9-15 (New King James Version)

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” 

Obeying God is something peculiar (because it has deeper, yet more elemental implications than we think), but essential, because that’s how we can attain salvation and all of the rewards God desires to give us. To start, the first requirement for obeying God is faith. Without faith, nothing of great value can be attained, especially the things of God. But, in order to have the desire to look for God, you must first believe that He exists and that He is who He is. For it is written: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. And well, it’s logical, because how can you follow something or someone if you don’t believe in that thing or person? (Although there are many people that follow things they don’t even understand, and this is something of concern).

Now then, we also need to understand a very important principle, something that eludes many people because of their lack of faith or level of disbelief (and here is where the issue of obedience gets more interesting). Accepting Jesus as Lord and God is not necessarily a favor a person is doing, but rather, it’s an obedience. In other words, when a person comes to believe in the Lord as such, they are really accepting a universal and irrefutable fact. For it is written: “Through Him [Jesus Christ] we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name.” Romans 1:5. What eludes people is that whether they believe it or not, Jesus is God and their disbelief does not change that reality. He continues being God and will be forever independent of whether or not they want to believe it. It’s simply a fact they are acknowledging. Otherwise, if the Lord is not accepted as such, then they are denying an immovable reality, and the one that comes out losing is not God, but the person, because without obedience to the faith, then there is no eternal salvation. Whether they want to believe it or not, the only way to eternal salvation is Jesus.

Now that we have established this point, then comes the next step: continuing to obey God, or more over, going further after coming to faith in Him (because surrendering our life to Him is only the beginning). This is also something that eludes many people, including those that profess being believers. When we acknowledge Jesus as Lord, it implies that you are turning into His servant (because that is the relationship between Lord and servant). So then, if we understand this logic, we can also understand that the usefulness of the servant is determined by their obedience. In other words, if a servant does not serve his Lord, then what good is he/she for? The position of servant has a function and purpose. But if it is not fulfilled, then it is eliminated. Let’s put this in a perspective that is more relevant to our present society. If you have a job (whether as an employee or self-employed), no one is going to pay you for doing nothing, right? And well, if they are paying you for doing nothing, sooner or later, they are going to catch on and you are going to surely get fired (or sacked). So then, we can understand the importance of obedience even in everyday things.

But now, we will get into something deeper (and here is where God differs with everything else). Obedience to God requires (per se) not only faith (because everything starts with that), but also, love. Faith takes you to not just believe in who God is, but also, it takes you to believe everything He has done for us, and that should produce love within us, because no one will do for you what God has done. If you are a person that understands the depth of what was done, and you have some sort of sense of gratitude, you will return the great love God had and has for you. So, while we continue learning (through His Word), love continues to grow, and that love should start fostering obedience in us. In other words, this should be sentiment that should exist within us: I obey God because I love Him and because I want to please Him. So then, obeying or keeping His commandments is no longer a function, but rather, a voluntary following out of love, and there is where the greatest intimacy a human being can ever have with the Almighty is made possible, of not only being His servant, but also, becoming a friend of God. This was the relationship the Father of Faith (of our faith) Abraham was able to have with the Lord, of being called a friend of God.

And finally, here we will see the logic behind keeping the Lord’s things (because God is the most logical being in all of the universe). When we obey God, we are doing those things that are good for us and for those that surround us. If we obey the Lord, we are the ones that come out winning; it’s for our own good. The Lord desires only what is good for us, and nothing more, even though it may not seem like that sometimes. The Lord is always looking out for what’s best for us, even within our greatest pains. It’s hard to understand this, but we don’t have the capacity to see things as God sees them. We have a very limited and selfish view (if we are sincere). God sees the whole picture, our own and others. And not only that, He also has both the vision and knowledge of the future.

So then, have you come to obedience to the faith in Jesus? And if you have obeyed for salvation, are you obeying out of love, by keeping His commandments for your own good and for the good of others? Lord bless! John

Abiding in Jesus - John 15:1-8

Based on John 15:1-8 (New King James Version)

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

First of all, my prayer is that this would be taken in a constructive manner, without liberal ideologies, nor with a religious mindset, but rather, just as it is written, how the Lord said it. Because the great problem that we have today is that much of what the Bible says has been distorted to accommodate literally a lack of zeal and responsibility, putting our relationship with God as something that is guided by licentiousness than by the true liberty the Bible teaches. The point is simple: to be able to get to God’s promises, we must abide in the Lord, and we need to abide until the end of our days, until our last breath. So then, things are not as simple as some doctrines paint them.

To start, when we surrender our life to the Lord (truly), by repenting and converting from all of our sins, and when accepting Jesus as the Lord of our lives, the Lord explained this as being born again, or in other words, it’s just the beginning. The Lord does come into our lives in that decisive moment. Now then, many argue that if the Lord is inside of you, then you have nothing to worry about, and that no matter what you do, you will get to the goal, and here is where the problem emerges. In a certain way, that is true, but also, we can never discount the following: free will never ends, God will not force anyone, and that when you entrust a great treasure to someone, you are also giving them a great responsibility. If you teach someone that they have nothing to worry about, then a feeling of irresponsibility, of fickleness, of lack of fear, and of licentiousness (not freedom) is being fostered. In summary, the cross of Christ is not being given the importance it merits. In the end, a relationship with the Almighty is treated just like marriage is treated today.

To explain the parallel (because the Lord compares our relationship with Him like that of marriage, the highest and most intimate relationship that a man and a woman can ever have), marriage is not given any kind of importance today. Many enter marriage with very irresponsible and liberal ideas, and it is carried out in a very liberal manner, thinking that this is what love is about, and that is not the case. That’s why we have the failures we have today, and even within the children of God. Love carries within itself a great level of responsibility. So, it’s not about feeling butterflies in the stomach, nor that the only thing that matters is the physical relationship (so we don’t enter into graphic terms), and even far less, it does not consist of how much I can take from the other person, or how the other person can serve me. This is not the type of marriage that the Lord envisioned; without question. But unfortunately, these are things that happen daily, and with many people. And to add even more misfortune, the so-called children or people of God are the greatest offenders. And the only reason that the percentage of divorce has decreased a little (but it’s still hanging strong at around 50% in the US) is because many just live together, instead of getting married, and that too is sin. Marriages fail simply because one of the two people (or both) did not understand well what they were getting themselves into, and also, because either one or neither person understood how to keep a marriage working. And this is what also occurs with many people as they enter into a relationship with the Lord, and also, the way they intend to keep their relationship with God (if they even try to maintain it). Are we understanding the problem?

Today’s passage is quite clear and direct: we need to abide in the Lord. If the affair is taken seriously, then it will be given the appropriate importance when starting. The Lord didn’t tell His disciples: Follow me so that I can fulfill all your desires, so that you can live the good life, doing however you please. This is what the Lord said: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’” Matthew 16:24-25. A person needs to understand, that to start, they are giving their lives to the Lord. This means that they will belong to Him, that they are no longer in charge, and that they are doing it voluntarily. The word “Lord” means something. If you just take the Lord as Savior, and nothing else, then you are only looking for the benefit of salvation, and you are not looking to belong to the Lord, and even far less, to obey Him. So then, if it’s like that, does a relationship truly exist? Is God really there?

This is what the Word of God teaches: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2. This is a race, and it is the most difficult race a human can run because it has to do with the greatest war that can ever exist, the war with oneself. The devil is not the greatest enemy we have. Our worst enemy is within ourselves, the sin that still dwells within our members, and that is what the devil tries to appeal to. That is the weakness. That’s why the Lord never sinned, despite Satan’s continuous attacks (because he even tried to tempt while hanging on the cross, when he said: “…you who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”).

In the end, this is what we need to keep in our heart and in our mind, as we continue abiding in the Lord: “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:7-8. So then, are you abiding in Jesus, by loving Him and producing the fruit that God desires from you? Lord bless! John

What Happens When We Keep His Word - John 14:15-31

Based on John 14:15-31 (New King James Version)

“‘If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.’ Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, ‘Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, I am going away and coming back to you. If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.”

Within the different Christian beliefs and denominations, there has always been a conflict between either turning the Lord’s things into a religion, into a series of instructions with rituals and practices; or into something liberal, going by what a person thinks (and this is done more today than ever before). If we truly understand what the Scriptures say, it’s not about neither one extreme or the other. Even more so, it’s about something different, but with a primary focus, and with a very different and distinct end than what is thought about universally.

To be able to simplify things, we need to go to what the Lord taught us, because in the end, and how it is written: “…I [Jesus] am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6. And as such, the Lord said this: “Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments  is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’” Mark 12:29-31. So, out of an entire book (the Holy Bible), He gives us a north, or where everything should start. So then, like I said at the beginning, the answer lies in something more focused and exact.

Now then, why are we given these things as commandments? And the answer is that when something is not clearly understood (intellectually speaking), everything starts by just “doing” things, by obeying. For example, that’s what happens with a small child, and that’s why the Lord said that we need to be like children. A child does not understand the reasons for why its parents tell them to do or not do things. He is only taught to obey. A child is told to eat all of the food and drink the water that is given to him, and he just needs to obey so he can survive. A child does not understand anything that has to do with a balanced meal, or how to cook, nor anything else that is involved with what is being put in his mouth. He only has to do what he is told to do. So then, the reason for why these things are commandments is to help us understand that they are vital (because commandments need to be obeyed), while the reason for them is being discovered.

So then, relating to the first and second commandments; we are given an order of priority, a starting point, so we can begin doing those things that are not only good, but more importantly, the reason for why we should be doing things. The intention of the heart is what matters most to God, because it goes beyond just doing what is right. But also, He shows us something vital with the words He chooses to teach us with. He uses the word “love”. We need to love the Lord our God and love our neighbor. From the moment that the word “love” is being utilized, a very unique and definitive element is being introduced. We need to understand what love means so that we can actually love God and our neighbor. And this is one of the greatest problems that humanity has; being able to understand what love means (simply put, looking for and following someone selflessly, looking only for their well-being). So then, we always look for God because of some personal need, but when we find God, solving the need we have should turn into a selfless feeling, when we start to understand just who God really is, and everything He has done for us. There is where our love for God should start. And as a result of beginning to love God is that then the second commandment, or the second step follows: learning to love our neighbor. Love for God is what should be the foundation for loving our neighbor, because you desire to start pleasing God (and here is where keeping the Lord’s Word comes in).

When a person starts loving someone else, they try to know them intimately. They try to learn their likes, their origins. They want to know as much as possible about the person. It’s the same thing with the Lord. When love for the Lord is born, you start searching the Scriptures, looking for what He desires, trying to know Him more. In the end, you try to keep what He teaches in His Word, whether you understand the reason or not. And when this happens is that then all of the marvels of God come to be in a person, starting with the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Then you start understanding how to love your neighbor because you are only looking for their well-being, not because you are trying to get something from them. And there is where the application of God’s Word comes in. And all of this goes against the world and its teachings, for it is written: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” 1 John 2:15-16.

So then, have you really understood what it means to keep God’s commandments? Lord bless! John

Prayer and the Greatest Miracle

Based on John 14:12-14 (New King James Version)

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

Prayer is something that is very abused and ill-used. Many do not understand what prayer should be really used for, it’s true use. And the abuse starts with what is in a person’s heart, because it is used to asked for what a person wants, and what people want is not always good, or at minimum, on-track. So then, if prayer is used by a person to get what they want, then the first thing that must be looked at is the person’s desires. What are the person’s desires or intentions that are reflected in their prayer?

One of the principle abuses with prayer is that people ask for material things, for what is vanity. And this is why many false preachers and teachers have been able to take advantage of people, because they know that what the people want is economic well-being. And of course, the false preacher and teacher falls into the same issue because that’s what they are after also. In the end, there are too many people that have a great love towards material things, and unfortunately, there is a lot of materialism within the people of the Lord. This is going to sound bad, but no one said that the truth would be easy. We are living in the last times, and we see this by the manifestation of the great harlot that the book of Revelation speaks about, where the church has become a money-making machine. Money is the driving force. Unfortunately, the majority of churches, their servants, and their people are mainly focused on making money and living well, and nothing more, those “…who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.” 1 Timothy 6:5b.

There is something that must be understood very clearly: a business depends on demand. There are many that might say: “Of course, the pastors and preachers that fill their pockets with money are evil.” And yes, that’s true. But, if a person goes to church to just look for what is material, and buys their books, and their audios, etc., and are full of greed and selfishness themselves, and they don’t help anyone, they are also a part of this great evil that is perpetuating itself. They are not part of the solution, but rather, a part of the problem as well.

This is what the Word says regarding the intentions and prayer that is misused: “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:2-3. This is what the Lord said regarding riches, and that we don’t have to really worry about what we need (not talking about wants): “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [riches]. Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:24-34.

So then, if the Lord instructed us in this manner, then we must think: “What was the real reason for why the Lord came?” (Because it wasn’t for making us rich, or powerful, or famous, or even to have perfect health, or anything else like that). This is what He said: “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10b. And here is where we can start really focusing on the function of prayer with great and necessary things. What is the greatest miracle that can ever be realized? Physical healings? Casting out demons? Raising someone from the dead? God can do whatever He wants because everything is within His reach, and you can ask for those kinds of needs also. But, the greatest miracle of all is eternal salvation. This is the real reason for why the Lord came, so that we could have eternal life. But, how can someone pray for the salvation of another person if they themselves don’t understand its value in their own life? Will the Lord make that miracle happen in the other person if the person that is praying for this has not really been saved yet either? (because there are many people that are still on the indecision of either believing or not believing). How can I say this? Think about your actions and what motivates your actions. If it’s the Lord that motivates you to do things, because you have understood the great miracle of eternal salvation in your own life, then you will live in a way that pleases Him and do things that truly matter to the Lord. But if your motivations are different, and those do not have God’s influence, then what needs to happen has simply not happened yet. The issue is not necessarily about wrong or right, but rather, what is the intention of the heart, and what is the thing that motivates you to act. Who are you living for, for yourself or for the Lord?

So, if we have come to the new life that the Bible talks about, of being born again in Christ, then our prayers and actions should be focused on the greatest miracle that can ever exist: the salvation of souls. This is what the Lord was referring to, that we would do even greater things, and that this prayer is answered, sooner or later, if a person does it with true faith. Your physical eyes may not see it happen, but it will happen.

So then, have you experienced the greatest miracle in your life? And if yes, are you praying and working so that others could experience it also? Lord bless! John

Faith in Jesus - John 14:7-11

Based on John 14:7-11 (New King James Version)

“‘If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.’ Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.’”

This is probably one of the easiest messages to explain, but also, probably one of most difficult to accept for the majority of people (because practically everything in the Lord is understandable, intellectually speaking, but simply not accepted). For example, this was the same problem the Pharisees had, the so-called experts in Scripture. The problem is concerning the acceptance of Jesus as who He really is; as Lord and God. This is probably the dilemma that most people face within themselves.

Through the years, dealing with many people in different parts of the world, I have found that the great majority of people accept the notion of God, or at least, some form of god. Many do not have a hard time believing in God. And within that belief, they give themselves a great deal of flexibility because many believe that many religions believe in the same God. For example, many believe that the Judeo-Christian God (the One in the Bible) is the same God as Allah (which are not the same person). Notwithstanding, the majority of people, even though they can differ on a god, can accept the Judeo-Christian God as God, as Someone real that possesses more or less the characteristics explained in the Bible. But, when you start talking to them about Jesus, that is a whole different affair that can possibly turn into a big problem.

The first problem that many have, if they accept the existence of Jesus, is that they see Him in different ways that are inferior to God. There are some that see Him as a detestable or bothersome man, just as the Pharisees saw Him. Others see Him as a good man that did good things. Others see Him as a prophet (like the Muslims see Him, as an important prophet, but not as important as Mohammed). Others see Him as a teacher. There are people that denominate themselves as Christians that see Him as a very wise person, someone ahead of their time, like a scientist. There are many that see Jesus even as the Son of God, but as Someone inferior to God the Father. In the end, many people see Him differently, but not as the God He is.

Going even deeper, some may ask, “Is it not enough to just believe in Him, even though its in different ways?” And the answer is: No. And here is where many encounter a big problem. For one reason or another, many cannot come to believe with complete conviction that Jesus is God, God like God the Father. The Bible teaches us this: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:1-3. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17. So, biblically explained, Jesus is God, the Almighty God.

Therefore, it is practically and directly an insult or heresy to not believe in Jesus as who He is.  Let’s use a very simple earthly parallel so we can understand the issue. I believe we all understand what ranks mean in an army. There are different ranks in an army with the intent to describe the function and importance of each member. Now then, let’s suppose that an entry-level soldier treats as a sergeant, or as a lieutenant, or even as a colonel the highest ranking general of the army. How do you think things will turn out for that entry-level soldier? Let’s think about this also. What would happen to an entry-level soldier if he was insubordinate with an officer? So then, what good is it for a person to believe in Jesus as nothing of importance, or as a good man, or as a teacher, or as a scientist, or even as a prophet if He is God? Are you getting the picture?

There is something that I try to hit on all of times because it is a very common problem, the issue that a person believes that their opinion dictates reality. I don’t understand how that happens, especially living in an era where “supposedly” humanity is most advanced. It’s impossible for our opinion or way of thinking things will dictate what has already been established in the universe. And if a person refuses to accept reality, the only one that will come out losing is the person. The Bible continues teaching us even more truth: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36. “But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:8-10. The reality that needs to be accepted and believed is that Jesus is God, and that this must be believed with all our heart and confessed with our mouth, that Jesus is THE LORD (or JEHOVAH in the Old Testament) for there to be salvation. So, coming to acknowledge and accept Jesus as Lord is not a favor, but rather, it’s an obedience, it’s acknowledging a fact, a reality. And by acknowledging that fact with all of the heart is that one can come to be saved. Contrary to that, if a person refuses to believe in Jesus as who He is, they shall not see life, but rather, the wrath of God abides on them. Therefore, if a person chooses to not believe in Jesus, they are not harming Jesus (because He does not cease to be who He is because of an opinion held by an insignificant being, because we are insignificant), but rather, the person harms themselves because there is no other solution, because eternal salvation cannot be found in anything else. In the end, it’s not God that casts a person to hell for their disbelief, instead, it’s the person that has made the decision to take God’s wrath upon themselves, by not acknowledging an irrefutable and unnegotiable reality. And their opinion will not change that reality. Things don’t happen how we want them to happen. They happen as they are supposed to happen based on what was established way before human beings came to existence (believe it or not).

So then, do you the faith you need to have in Jesus? Lord bless! John

An Eternal Hope - John 14:1-6

Based on John 14:1-6 (New King James Version)

“‘Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.’ Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”

This is one of the most widely used passages for Christian funerals. We even hear this passage read in the movies when there is a funeral. Unfortunately, it seems like it’s the only moment that it’s taken into consideration. When a person leaves this world, or when we ourselves are close to that step is when we start thinking about the end. When I have tried to share the Gospel with some people, and I start trying to share with them about giving their lives to the Lord, they quickly reply: “I’m not dying!” But also, unfortunately, that may be far from the truth.

The truth is that each person that is born into this world has already started that process. Cells grow and cells die every day. According to an article found in UCSB Scienceline, approximately 300 million cells die every minute in our bodies. Each day that goes by, we are getting closer to that moment when we will leave this place. As the days, hours, and minutes go by, there is a clock somewhere that only God knows about counts down in a similar manner. Everyone is unaware of when their time will come.

The majority of people think that it will happen when they are old, full of years, and when they nothing else left to do. Reality is something else. The information we have in the US through the CDC says that there were 2,744,248 deaths in 2016. Of that amount, 769,634 deaths were related to things that happened suddenly, such as heart disease or accidents. If we see them by age group, 57,616 people died that year between the ages of 25-34; 77,792 died between the ages of 35-44, and 173,516 died between the ages of 45-54. To put it into perspective, during the time the US was involved with the war in Vietnam between 1955 and 1973, 58,318 of their soldiers died. So then, in 2016 (in just one year), nearly the same amount of young people died between the ages of 25-34 than US soldiers during the whole Vietnam war. So, according to statistical facts, a person should not live in the ignorance that everything will turn out just like they think it should be or desire to. By coincidence, my father was one of the 2,744,248 deaths that were registered in the US that year. As such, I know through my own experience what those numbers mean.

The Bible describes the uncertainty that exists in the following manner: “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3. So, this could be fulfilled in one of two ways: Either the Lord comes for His people through what many know as the Rapture, the event where the Lord will physically take to Himself in the clouds both the dead and living in Christ, or when the Lord allows for a person to die individually, because it is God that allows for life to end. Absolutely nothing happens without His involvement, and no one is exempt.

Having said that, how should a person live this life if the reality is that the anything can happen to anyone at any time? Should they get depressed and let everything fall apart because it will all end anyways? Should they do the complete opposite and live party to party, and from one emotion to the other because it could all end in a moment? No, because neither way has any kind of wisdom. The Bible teaches us clearly that there is something much better after all of this (and here is where today’s passage comes in). No matter how much a person may think that this is all that is real, they are deceiving themselves. Even if the here and now is what we are living today, everything in this world is vanity as the Preacher said. So then, everything here is an illusion, and it goes by fast; much faster for some than for others, but everything will pass. So, the way we should live is like there was something greater after all of this, because there is something greater. And this is what a so-called believer should ask themselves, “Am I living with the conviction that there is a God and that there are better things after this? By what we see daily, it does not appear so.

This is not a criticism, but rather, an observation. Today, many believers live in such a way like if the Earth was all that matters. Gospels are preached and followed with this message. They look for the Lord more for the loaves of bread and fish, than for eternal life and eternal rewards. The Lord is only looked for so that He can tend to carnal and selfish petitions than for those things that are really God’s will. For it is written: “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:1-4. So then, if you love the world and you only desire the things of the world, even though you might say you are a believer, that’s not what you are living.

Now then, no one says that you should not consider what the here and now because we do have to be responsible (I myself work to pay bills and to survive). Even the Lord Himself paid taxes (which many try to cheat their governments out of). Paul, Peter and the other apostles worked with their hands so they could support themselves and help others in need. So, through these examples, we see that we should do both: take care of earthly things, but with our eyes set on heavenly things, for it is written: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.

So then, if your focus is only set on earthly things, in the end, that’s all you will have, and you will be excluded from heaven and everything eternal. But, if your focus is Christ, then you will obtain God’s promises. Where is the focus of your life? Lord bless! John

Having Faith Through the Unknown

Based on John 13:31-38 (New King James Version)

“So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.’ Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, where are You going?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.’”

Do you know how things will work out for you? Maybe some of you might say: “Of course, because they are going according to my plans!” And yes, that’s true. Some plans do work out for some of us. I have met people that cannot live without making plans; plans for their personal life, for their careers, for their finances, for almost everything in their lives, even how many children they will have and how long they will wait between one and the other. There are women that plan their weddings ahead of time. They already have thought about the dress they will wear and its style, where they are going to get married, who they are going to invite, and even where their guests are going to sit in the banquet hall they already have in mind. There are many people with many plans, and some work out. I’m not saying that it’s bad to have plans, as long as they are plans that are prepared with good motives.

Now then, if plans do work out for some people, even though they are plans with good motives, are they the best in the long run? There are folks that might say: “My plans are what’s best for me because I know what I’m doing.” And there I would say, “Be careful, because your arrogance will take you somewhere you never thought you would be, sooner or later! For example, Simon Peter went through that lesson, which is the first thing we will see in this passage. Peter had very good motives. For starters, he wasn’t thinking about vain or selfish things. He had left everything for the Lord. He left his job, his daily life, and even his family to follow Him; so we are talking about someone that had very good motives. But Peter failed; He failed in his plan and determination, because he did deny the Lord just as it was said. In the moment that the Lord was arrested, when Peter saw that things were not going to happen the way he thought they would (through human strength, because he did cut Malcolm’s ear when trying to defend the Lord), Peter fled. And after fleeing, he did deny the Lord, to avoid getting into trouble. Why did Peter fail? Did the Lord sentence him to fail? No. He failed because he trusted in that things would be resolved through his strength and by what he thought, and that arrogance made him fail. And of course, God knows everything, and He knew that even though Peter had good intentions, those intentions were founded on the flesh. And thank God Peter failed, because if he would have freed the Lord, he would have destroyed himself and us. Our arrogance and dependence on carnal things will only bring pain, especially if they are obstacles to what God wants to accomplish. So then, if everything turns out the way you want them, I suggest a lot of caution, because you might be creating your own destruction, especially if you are leaving God aside, because no human plan takes into consideration God’s design, nor the eternal good, even though everything goes smoothly. And where you should have the most caution is when every carnal plan goes well, without any problems; because it is not God that is prospering them. Satan’s perfect plan is to make you think that you don’t need God, and that you can achieve what is best for you without Him. So then, be careful if all goes well (humanly speaking)!

Now, the other side of the coin. What happens when things don’t turn out the way you would like them to? What happens when you find yourself in a completely unknown situation where your plans failed? I think that every human being is affected negatively when things turn out wrong. No one likes to find themselves in a problematic or chaotic situation. What we least desire is the unpredictable. For example, and as we read today, how could the Lord have been glorified when someone was going to put into effect their plan to betray Him? What good could come out of the Master being betrayed, judged unfairly, humiliated, whipped, publicly scorned, crucified, and killed?  Humanly speaking, it makes no sense, right? Is it logical (seeing it from the disciples’ eyes) to see the One where you put your faith on in such a weak and humiliating state? If it was a problem to the majority of the Lord’s disciples then, it is certainly an issue today (because that’s how people continue seeing Jesus). The majority of people associate glory and success, and God’s blessing with power, riches, well-being, happiness; in summary, with everything man desires. And the majority of times, when things turnout backwards, or even when we could be doing good for the Lord, unpredictable things will happen. Things that we don’t understand will occur. And this is the explanation we need to cling to: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:8-9. So then, if we are doing the Lord’s will and things don’t turn out the way we think they should, we should cling to the notion that God is doing something better, even though our situation doesn’t look so good.  

I have to be honest. I know that it causes frustration when we don’t see our prayers answered like we would want, or that we can find ourselves in tough situations, even when doing things right. We all go through that. But, by having faith, and letting time go by, I have been able to see that what I was asking for was not the best, and that God used for the good of many things a difficult or hard situation. And there have been many times that I have actually thanked God for not answering certain prayers, or that certain things did not go the way I would have wanted them to go. God’s will, even though it is incomprehensible many times, renders better results where many are helped. This is the logic we see through this passage, by understanding the entire plan. If the Lord would not have died, and He would have remained in the state His disciples wanted and desired Him to be, neither they would have had the gift of salvation, nor us. Human destiny would have remained intact, which is winding up in hell. But blessed be the Lord that He went beyond human logic, beyond fulfilling the desires of the few so He could save all of us that follow Him!

This finally is the point: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. My counsel to you (and it’s what I try to keep in mind also) is: Have faith and love God, and let Him guide you; and everything, even what is unpredictable, hard, and unknown will work together for good in the end. Lord bless! John

The Fulfillment of Scripture

Based on John 13:18-30 (New King James Version)

“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.’ When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.’ Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.’ And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What you do, do quickly.’ But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, ‘Buy those things we need for the feast,’ or that he should give something to the poor. Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.”

If there is something completely sure and certain in this life is this: Everything God has said through His Word, sooner or later, will be fulfilled. Everything will be fulfilled, just as it has been happening thus far. For it is written: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:35. Not even Satan himself, with all of his power, will he be able to change anything, even if he will try to in the last days. For it is written: “He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. ‘But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever.” Daniel 7:25-26. Nothing can change God’s times, those of which are dictated by His Word. Now then, so does this issue that nothing can change the Word’s fulfillment have anything to do with predestination?

Within God’s plans, there are many things that are predestined, or, that there is nothing that can be done. For example, Satan is a condemned being, without any kind of possibility for forgiveness because he was a created being that rebelled against God, knowing God in His fullness, just like the fallen angels (those that are now known as demons). There is no redemption for them, so then, they are completely destined for the lake of fire, the place where death and hell (Hades) will be cast into, where they will remain for all eternity.

Now, human beings, after we fell in sin, were also destined to end in hell, and not one of us could do anything to change that reality, since we were constituted enemies of God because of our sin. That’s our reality. But, when Jesus came, and by dying and being resurrected, the greatest act in all history occurred (next to the creation): God broke the destiny of every human being through Jesus, to give us the possibility of being saved. So then, up to a certain point, we were all predestined (because of our sins) to die in hell. But, through Christ, all of that changes, when a person is born again in Him, and remains in Him until the end. So then, every person’s destiny can be changed through Jesus.

So, the big question is: Did Judas Iscariot have a choice? The answer is, yes. Judas could have chosen not to be the son of perdition. But, despite seeing the marvelous ministry of the Lord here on earth, despite seeing all of the signs and wonders, he chose for the love of money over the Messiah. His faith was more rooted in the material rather than on God. There was going to be someone that would turn the Lord in, no matter what, but it did not have to necessarily be him! This same reality exists for each one of us.

For example, there will be offenses in the world. For it is all written. And so, it will be fulfilled. But, it is our decision whether or not the offenses will come through us or through someone else. For it is written: “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” Matthew 18:7. In the same manner, there will be false prophets (and there already are, and there are an incredibly large number), but the prophet chooses what kind of prophet they will be, depending on where their heart is. In the same manner, the love of many will grow cold because there will be much evil (and we are already there), but it all depends on who allows for their love to grow cold. For it is written: “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 24:11-13. And the issue of enduring until the end to be saved is certainly dependent solely on each one of us. According to the Word, we need to endure to the end; so then, when you accept Christ, that is only the beginning. You need to finish the race, so you can get to what God has in store for everyone that loves Him. But, that is all up to the person. That is not predetermined by God for every human being. He knows who will believe or not believe, and who will endure and not endure, because He is God, but it’s not because He has determined it saying: “This one will be lost and this one will be saved.”

We read in the Word that there is the power of choice in every human being, because there will be some that will even come to fight against Satan himself (directly) in the last days. We understand by this that they will be able to choose to fight, even though God will allow for them to be overcome here on earth. For it is written: “Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:6-8.  

So then, everything will be fulfilled, but everything is still not set individually speaking. Each one of us that are still alive is still writing the story of our lives. God knows how each of us will end up, but you and I don’t know yet, and it will not become a reality until everything is written. So, how will the Word of God be fulfilled in your life? For good or for evil? That is your decision. Lord bless! John

Washing Each Other's Feet

Washing Each Other’s Feet

Based on John 13:1-17 (New King James Version)

“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, are You washing my feet?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.’ Peter said to Him, ‘You shall never wash my feet!’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.’ Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.’ For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, ‘You are not all clean.’ So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

There are many that have misunderstood what the Lord did here, or at least, they have turned a teaching into something literal, and have completely lost sight of what it meant. What the Lord did (like everything He did) had a very deep meaning, because He was able to hit on many things (per se) with just one action. We will try to explain at least the essentials within this teaching.

The first issue is that the Lord’s example should not be taken literally, the issue of literally washing another person’s feet, as it is seen in many places. The sad thing about this is that even though there are many that have done it literally, the essence of what is taught is not practiced and that is the problem. If people’s feet were washed literally, but also, fulfilling what the Lord taught, then everything would be fine. But if contrary, then the act becomes something meaningless, and the kingdom of God is not about that. The Word of God must be “lived” in a practical, logical, and applicable way.

What the Lord was teaching through this (like in everything He did) was the order of things, that if we really love God above all things (just as He loved and obeyed His Father), then the natural consequence of that love should be manifested with other people; the real fulfillment of the Law: to love God with all of our being, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. For it is written: “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” 1 John 4:10-12. So then, it should be clear; if you love God, then you will also love your neighbor, which includes service (and service has all kinds of significance and depth).

The Lord should be our example for everything. No matter how special the people that followed Him were like Paul, Peter, John, etc., our model for everything should be the Lord. And as the model, the Most High God served us by coming into the world, by taking our form (coming down to our level), by teaching us the Truth, by giving us everything we need in this world, and even giving Himself on the cross (literally) so that we could have eternal life. So then, if He did that for us, we should also do the same for our neighbor, and our neighbor is every person that surrounds us, even our enemies (because remember: each one of us used to be God’s enemy before repenting from our sins and making Him the Lord of our life).

Therefore, just as He did, we need to do as well. Washing a person’s feet was the job of the lowest servant in a house (if the house had servants). What the Lord demonstrated through this was that we should humble ourselves and do whatever we need to do for each other. There are no limits for the type of service we should render, but only in what is “needed” or necessary; not for spoiling people or being taken advantage of. That’s why when Peter told the Lord to wash him completely (exaggerating the issue), the Lord Himself told Peter that it was not “needed”.  

So, what is necessary? Salvation should be first. We should share the Gospel with everyone because every human being needs God’s salvation. Second, we should help with everyday and practical needs. If a person needs a roof, take them in or help them. If they don’t have food, then feed them. If they don’t have clothes, then clothe them. If they are sick, visit them, or at the very least, pray for them. If the Lord has given you the gift of healing, then use it; or a way to help medically, then do it. If someone is sad, comfort and exhort them. And if there is a worthy situation, that you have to lay your life for your brother, then do it, because that is what God did for you. The Word of God should be learned and lived.

And finally, if the Lord has given you growth, then share [with love] what you have learned with someone that needs knowledge, so they can grow and become strong in God’s will. It is written: “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:18-20.

So then, are you willing to wash your neighbor’s feet, just as God has done for you? Lord bless! John

All or Nothing

Based on John 12:37-50 (New King James Version)

“But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: ‘Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’ These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Then Jesus cried out and said, ‘He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

Contrary to many things in this world, with the Lord, there are no grays or middle grounds. In reality, it’s something quite simple: either it’s all with Him or nothing without Him. It’s so simple that it becomes very difficult (or at least, people make it difficult), because unfortunately, extremes are not accepted. Now then, we are not talking about pursuing details, but rather, understanding fully what is written. You don’t need much depth with a lot of the Scriptures, especially when it is related to the simple fact of either following the Lord or not. Let’s dig a little deeper.

There are believers that focus so much on the details that they lose sight of the main idea, or they make something out of nothing. It’s not necessary to draw lines (per se) or have a very deep understanding to be able to get it. In this passage, the Lord clearly explains the extreme of things, the simple fact of believing in Him, and following Him, no matter what; or not believing in Him and not following Him for whatever reason may exist, and with that, not only is the Lord being rejected, but also God the Father. And hardly anyone likes this extreme. Therefore, nothing has changed since then.

If we go step-by-step, we see that no matter what the Lord would do, there were people that did not “want” to believe in Him. And in this passage, we see God’s worthiness. God is love, but He is consuming fire. He is worthy. In other words, by seeing their disbelief, the simple rebellion that existed in their hearts, God also put on His worthiness. God has a limit. His mercy has a limit that only He knows where it is. So then, we should not misunderstand this passage in the sense that God predetermined them to have a hard heart, but rather, since they rejected Him, He then put forth His worthiness as the God and King He is, and He finished things by hardening their hearts and closing their eyes. If they would not have been rebellious, it would have been a completely different story.

We also see the lukewarm tendency of some, by understanding that they did believe, but preferred to please men rather than confessing God. And before the eyes of God, that is unacceptable, because again, He is a Worthy Being. He cannot have a second a place, because quite simply, the reality is that there is nothing greater than Him. This is what the Bible says regarding being lukewarm: “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.’” Revelation 3:14-16. It also has this to say about confessing Him before men: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33. In these kinds of things, there can simply be no grays or lukewarm. Simply, either you are, or you are not.

Whether you believe it or not, there is a war in progress; the war between good and evil; a war between God and Satan, and there is no middle ground. And this draws a very definite and distinguishable line. The Lord Himself said this: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:34-39.

So then, it’s quite simple. Either you accept Jesus as who He is, or you refuse to believe, and so, you deny everything that is related to Him, including the Father, heaven, the Truth, and finally, eternal life. Either you confess and proclaim Jesus Christ before men, no matter what may happen, or you deny Him, and like that, you try to please those that can neither give you eternal life, nor forgiveness of sins, nor anything that is lasting. In the end, it’s either all or nothing. So, is Jesus everything to you, or is He nothing? Lord bless! John

The Divine Sacrifice

Based on John 12:27-36 (New King James Version)

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.’ Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to Him.’ Jesus answered and said, ‘This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.’ This He said, signifying by what death He would die. The people answered Him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.’ These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.”

Have you ever imagined how the Lord must have felt knowing during all of His days here on Earth that He was going to die in the most horrid way for the sins of the world? What did every minute that passed feel like for Him as His time kept drawing closer and closer to the horrible sacrifice of His death? I don’t think He felt good about it. Among the more insensitive and selfish, it may be said that: “Well, that’s what He came for, right?” And yes, He Himself acknowledged that, but nonetheless, that is what made the sacrifice so perfect: He was 100% human, with all of our weaknesses, feelings, and sensitivities. He felt pain, anguish, loneliness, and everything else we would have felt if the same were to happen to us (although no one would suffer what He did). He felt impotence of injustice, even though He is the Almighty. He felt loneliness. He felt the scorn and mockery. He felt the beatings and the lashes when they lashed Him with whips that were filled with pieces of glass and metal as they stripped off pieces of skin and flesh, leaving parts of His skeleton exposed with blood behind. He felt it when they placed the crown of thorns on His head. He felt the large nails they used as they drove them through His hands and feet, those of which would take the weight of His body. He felt hunger, thirst, and extreme pain upon His whole body as He hung on the cross. In the process, He felt something that none of us would ever feel: the weight of all mankind’s sin upon Him. And finally, as He breathed His last breath, He felt death. And He knew that all of this would happen way before it actually did.

Those people who spoke to Him in this passage ignored the Scriptures, because this was written about the Messiah over 700 years before, that He would be sacrificed and killed for the people. The Prophet Isaiah foretold it like this: “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked—but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53.

Before the time of the rapture of which the Bible talks about is fulfilled (when the Lord will raise the dead in Christ from their tombs, and those of us still alive will be caught up into the clouds), each person shall die, including every believer, without exceptions. Every person will know what death is, and some sooner than others. And in reality, because of our sins, the natural consequence is that we should die, even though we may have been redeemed by the Lord because everything has consequences. But, what happened to the Lord was not fair. The thief that was to the right of the Lord understood this, when he said: “And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Luke 23:41.

Why talk about this? Because in order to be able to appreciate something, we must understand what was given, what was done for us. First, the Lord did not have to do what He did. There was no obligation neither on His part nor from the Father. What they did, they did because they wanted to, because of goodness, mercy, love, etc. Second, since He suffered it, the Lord experienced all of mankind’s injustice. He suffered for things He had nothing to do with. And third, not only did He die, but He died in the most horrid way a person could die. The process of the crucifixion that was used for Him was unique. It was a long and extended process. Through the same process, a supernatural power was observed, because a common man could not have made it to the place where they crucified Him. Within all of the torture that His body suffered and the amount of blood He lost, it was impossible for anyone to have lasted so long being conscious.

Now then, what should happen with this knowledge of the Lord’s divine sacrifice? First, there should be profound and infinite acknowledgement and gratefulness. Second, we should use this as the reason for living a very different life, a truly transformed life. Your salvation was given freely to you, but it cost a great and infinite price. In the end, the Lord did everything so that we could believe in the Light, so we could be children of the Light, and so we could do things that are of the Light. So, what effect has the Divine Sacrifice had on your life? Lord bless! John