To love others, to help them carry their burdens is to be like Jesus, who was never sick and yet, He carried our sins and sicknesses on His Body on the Cross. “When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses” (Matt 8:16,17). It is never easy to love or pray for others. The price for Love is greater than you think.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Ps 103:1-5).

This is a Psalm of David. It is a command to bless God, to praise the Lord Jesus, for our salvation (forgives sins and iniquities) and for the other benefits: healing of the body, acts of loving kindness and mercy to you, good things, and supernatural strength like a young man. For any sinner, salvation is the primary miracle. To have your sins forgiven is the greatest need of all. This is the Gospel: Jesus died and rose again for me. Salvation is by grace alone, thru faith alone, in Christ alone, by God’s Word alone, and to the glory of God alone. By faith, you are saved and have eternal life. Here we are commanded ‘not to forget all God’s benefits’ that accompany salvation. Trusting God only for your salvation and not trusting God for your daily bread, healing and wellbeing, is called ‘little faith’. You must repent of your ‘little faith’ before you can be granted ‘great faith’. To have great faith it means that you trust God for salvation, healing, and provision.

Read Mark 2:1-12. Here we see Jesus granting a double miracle to a young man who was paralyzed. His four friends carried him on a bed (stretcher) to see Jesus. Because of the crowd, they could not enter the house through the door. They went to the roof and made a space to lower their friend in front of Jesus. They had faith that if Jesus sees the sick man, He will heal him. Jesus “saw their faith”. He first spoke the word of forgiveness of sins. This is the invisible miracle of salvation. Sin was the root of his sickness. Therefore, the man’s soul must be healed before the body can be healed. The Pharisees who were there, spying on everything Jesus was doing, complained openly. They said that only God has the right to forgive sins. They totally rejected the claim of Jesus that He is God’s Son and the King of kings. Despite the opposition of the religious rulers, Jesus confirms His authority as God and King by declaring that the sick man’s sins are forgiven. Then to prove even more that He is God, Jesus heals the man with just a word. The paralyzed man stood on his feet, carried the mat he has been lying on, and in the presence of all people, he walks out thru the door. The door was blocked when he came to this house. The miracle has opened the door for him to have a new life. It seems that the sick man did not have faith to be healed. It was his four friends who had faith in his behalf. But once he was forgiven and healed, his faith in Jesus manifested. To prove his faith, he obeyed the Master’s Word and walked away.

This man received more than he expected. Jesus granted him a double miracle. He forgave his sins, healed his soul and healed his body. The miracle was instant and free of charge. It was done for the glory of God and for the good of man. This miracle of healing shows the Love and the Power of King Jesus towards sinners. Sin paralyzes and kills. Jesus died to give life to the lifeless soul. “While we were still helpless [powerless to provide for our salvation], at the right time Christ died [as a substitute] for the ungodly” (Rom 5:6; AMP). Glory!

The religious rulers were angry and disappointed. The evil religious spirit active in many churches opposes the supernatural. Reject the religious spirits to make space for the Holy Spirit to take control. Always please God and not men! God rewards faith! Study God’s Word concerning salvation and healing. You need to know God’s promises to have faith to be healed. When a man says: ‘I have faith to be healed’, but he does not know the Word about healing, he is deceiving himself. He is like a farmer who says he trusts God for harvest, but he has not planted any seed in the ground. The Word of God is a seed (Lk 8:11). It must be planted in the heart to produce faith.

The four friends who brought the sick man to Jesus had great faith. King Jesus rewards faith in Him. When the door was blocked by the people, they did not give up. They went to the roof and found an original way to enter. Jesus was pleased by their bold creative faith. They displayed Agape Love towards their sick friend. They carried the burdens of another and fulfilled the Law of Christ (Gal 6:2).

These are some lessons: Jesus Christ is God, the Lord of all and King of kings. Jesus forgives and heals. He rewards faith and obedience. Spiritually, the four friends stand for Love, Faith, Holy Boldness and Intercession. This dynamite combination never fails to produce results. “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb 13:8). The faith that approaches Jesus: determined and desperate faith! The four men are determined to have a miracle of healing. You must know that there is no hope outside Jesus. We are helpless to forgive and heal others. Sin is the cause of all pains and sicknesses. Faith is also corporate. The Bible knows nothing about individualistic Christians. People help people in the Church. Do you have people who can carry you to Jesus? Please note that Jesus surprises us! He always goes deeper than the circumstances. He healed this man’s soul before He healed his body. For Jesus to heal the body and not heal the soul, that is hatred and not love! It is easier to say “your sins are forgiven” because there is no text or Xray to prove that. Jesus heals the body to prove that He has healed the soul. Get that man to Jesus! Parents, pray for your children! Things happen when God’s people truly care! Here we see the Mercy and Power of King Jesus! Forgiveness of sins and miracles always lead people to praise God! “All were amazed and glorified God, saying: We never saw anything like this!” (Mk 2:12). God does miracles even today. He forgives our sins and heals our bodies. Faith 100%! Doubt 0%! Worship the Lord!!!

“The love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that all those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for their sake” (2Cor5:14,15; AMP).

Christ’s love “compels” us. In Greek the word ‘compel’ means: to hold together, to press down (by a crowd), to arrest a prisoner, to afflict, or to stop an action. It means to forcibly compress the energy of the soul into one channel. We are controlled, ruled by Christ’s love for us. Jesus is King Grace and King Agape Love at the same time. His love guides us, presses us down, overmasters us, keeps us focused on only one object, on His will. His Love simplifies and concentrates us. Paul says that the Love of Christ limits his freedom, restraining him from every selfish purpose, directing every act to the good of others. If we die to self, we’ll not desire to ‘live for ourselves’. We’ll be free to share our love and our life. Christ’s Love can’t be manipulated or misused. It is a spiritual fence, directing us to Him who loved us first! 

Christ’s Love is holy and jealous of any rival. “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2Cor 11:2). The jealousy of Love keeps it focused on her Beloved. The fleshly love ‘eros’ is always polygamous. Agape Love has only one aim: to please King Jesus! It has constraining power, directing every act to God’s glory and to the good of others. It keeps us in our place of duty, as soldiers are held together under God’s holy covering. “His banner over me is love” (SS 2:4). In life or in death, we are one, together, in Love with Christ and with one another. Love is extremely bold. It is the only force in the universe that looks at the devil face to face and fearlessly rejects his temptations. Glory to God!

Christ’s love ‘compels’ us. Jesus uses a similar word (distressed), when talking about the Cross He was to suffer upon: “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!” (Lk 12:49, 50). Other translations say: “what constraint I am under until it is completed… how it consumes Me until it is finished… I will suffer until it is over… I have a heavy burden until it is accomplished” (Lk 12:50). Love is bitter and sweet, painful and fruitful at the same time. Our Lord says: “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments” (Jn 14:15; AMP). If Christ’s love compels me, then my eyes and ears are for Him alone. No other face or voice will be sweet to me. Love leads to precious obedience. Love has no Plan B. Love is the Kingdom’s royal badge of honor! Love never betrays. Love never fails to please God! Selah!

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM 

“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people”… “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt 4:23; 24:14).

Many see the Gospel as a limited blessing, only salvation for their souls. The Gospel is the Good News of God. His Son, Jesus Christ, became a Man, lived on earth, and died on behalf of sinners. By God’s grace, and thru faith in Christ crucified and resurrected we become saved. This is all true. But the Gospel is greater than even our personal salvation. It is called The Gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus, the King of kings came to establish His Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is the realm, rule and reign of God. It is the atmosphere of heaven where God’s authority is accepted by all. This reminds us of the Greatness of the Gospel we preach. The Gospel is more than healing of the body, peace of mind or feeling good in the church. It affects the whole universe.  “In the dispensation of the fullness of the times He (God) might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth—in Him” (Eph1:10). The Gospel tells us that all things in the universe shall be brought together in Jesus Christ, the King of God’s Kingdom. Rebellion against the King shall be punished. The Gospel is not only for ‘sinners’, like drunkards, prostitutes, or thieves. It is for all people! God commands all men to repent and surrender to King Jesus! “God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives]” (Ac17;30; AMP). “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 4:17). Selah!

The ultimate purpose of the Gospel is not to make us happy, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, to make us holy, and obedient to God’s Word. Christ came into this world to establish the realm, rule and reign of God. “When He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Lk17:20,21). The Pharisees were the religious leaders in Israel at that time. They heard Jesus preaching about the Kingdom of God and they knew that He claims to be the Messiah King. They rejected His claim to be the King of kings. They came to ask Him about the Kingdom of God, not in a humble manner, but deceitfully, to see what He will say. They were teaching the people that the Kingdom of God belongs to Israel, and it will come as a military religious kingdom with visible pompous display. Even John the Baptist and the disciples initially believed the teaching of the Pharisees (Matt 11:3; Acts 1:6). But Jesus said that for now, His Kingdom does not come ‘with observation’. It is not visible. It is in the hearts of men who totally surrender to Him, who have faith in Him, their Savior and King. Until Jesus comes again, the Kingdom is invisible, growing mysteriously, like a mustard seed, in the hearts of the believers. Once deeply planted, it cannot be uprooted. The miracle of becoming born again is the foundation of the Kingdom in the hearts of men. The believers produce fruits of repentance, by the Holy Spirit in them, among which, Agape Love is the first. The Kingdom of God is not “eating and drinking”, which are visible actions. It is Agape Love working in the hearts of men, changing them, and changing their circumstances. Because Jesus gave them food to eat, they wanted to make Him King by force. Men are ready ‘to vote’ for Jesus when they want physical food. But Jesus rejected ‘democracy’ in His Kingdom and withdrew from them (Jn 6:15). Jesus told Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world [nor does it have its origin in this world]. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting [hard] to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn 18:36; AMP). The devil is the ruler or the prince of this world. Jesus conquered Him by His death on the Cross! Hallelujah!

Even after His resurrection, Jesus was telling them about His Kingdom. The devil fights the revelation. The Kingdom spreads by the preaching of God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are witnesses of our King. One day, Jesus will come back to earth visibly, just the way He ascended (Ac1:1-3;10,11). When He comes again, all eyes will see His majesty. The whole creation shall be delivered from its bondage to corruption. Everything in this universe will be restored to its original glory! “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all” (1Cor 15:24-28). Glory!

Christ has authority over all men, not only over the Christians. While on earth, He commanded: “Follow Me”, and men followed. He has total authority over nature and the invisible realm. The winds and the sea obeyed Him! Before He died Jesus said: “Now judgment is upon this world [the sentence is being passed]. Now the ruler of this world (Satan) will be cast out” (Jn 12:31; AMP). By His death, Jesus defeated and disgraced Satan. “When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross” (Col2:15; AMP). He made an “open show” of the devil and his demons, who are now disgraced before the whole universe. By His death, Jesus destroyed the power of the devil to accuse us because of sin and his power to intimidate us thru death. Glory!

“How of the Cross He made a throne

On which He reigns, a glorious King” (Ancient Hymn)

Finally, this is a question of life or death: Are you in this Kingdom? Are you born again? The easiest way to know if you are saved or not is by studying your attitude not to God’s promises, but to God’s commandments. If God’s commandments are burdensome to you, it means you are not born again. If they are your delight, then you are a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Welcome in! Praise the Lord!

KINGDOM’S POWER AND LOVE IN THE EARLY CHURCH

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:34,35). “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1Jn 3:11).

Most believers know that Love is a command. They know the theory of Love. Few know how to practice Love in the church. Most of the time they manifest agape Love in little groups, in house fellowships, or as friends, they visit one another. Often, they mix agape love with philia love. But they do not know how to manifest the pure agape love to those they do not ‘like’ as friends. Even the church leaders are not able to display agape love daily, to all. The result is that the church is more religious than spiritually real. The early church relied upon a twofold witness as the means of reaching and impressing a cynical and unbelieving world: kerygma (preaching) and koinonia (fellowship). In other words, it was the combination of preaching the Word and Loving with agape love. These two actions made the church’s witness extremely powerful and effective. Pagans could easily ignore the preaching as simply another teaching among many, but they found it much more difficult to reject the evidence of koinonia, agape Love among the brethren. The concern of Christians for each other, and the way they shared their lives, left the pagan world craving this new experience called koinonia. This is what a pagan writer said: ‘How these Christians love one another!’ The present-day church has abandoned the true koinonia (agape Love) almost completely, reducing the witness of the church to preaching (kerygma) alone. The lack of agape love has weakened the body from within. It has also weakened the Church’s influence over the unbelievers. That is why the world sees the church as irrelevant these days. May we go back to our first Love, Jesus Christ and love one another as we are commanded. The result will be power to serve God, power to influence the world around us. That is the glory of the Church! May revival come!

“Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Eph 3:20,21; AMP).

Power is the ability to control or influence people and events. The early Christians knew the secret of living by resurrection power, and nothing else will account for the amazing effect they had upon the world of their day. They did not try to borrow power from the world, for they found they had all they could possibly need, available continuously from a risen, triumphant Lord. Resurrection power is available to every true Christian by faith.

“Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love]” (Gal 6:2; AMP). The Apostle Paul says that bearing one another’s burdens is the way to fulfill the Law of Christ, or the Law of Agape Love. In other words, a Christian will live a fulfilled life only when he helps others carry their burdens. For that, you need to be close enough to people and to see their struggles, to feel their pains. You are willing to help others not to prove that you are stronger or better, but to be like Jesus. It means people trust you with their secret pains. That is a great privilege. Most people who attend Church are afraid to tell others of their struggles. Many believers fear rejection and suffer in silence. But we are commanded to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another. We are to rebuke in love and encourage others. The burdens of life are spiritual or natural, addiction to sins, marriage issues, chronic sicknesses, or financial troubles. Burdens are normal to all. Don’t pretend that all is well. Humble yourself! But only Agape Love is strong enough to help others without asking nothing in return. It builds the Body and gives glory to God in the Church.

To help others with the burdens of life can be done in private counselling. For that, you need to be committed to listen well, to be willing to enter another’s pain, to spend time, energy and money to help the one in need. Some say that only the welfare department should do that. It is not true. This command applies to all Christians. “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil 2:4). Practical Agape Love is felt not only in private conversations, but even in the big assembly. As you greet, shake hands, or hug others, Love is displayed and spread. May God help us!

DAVID AND GOLIATH – STANDING ALONE FOR GOD (1 Samuel 17)

*The battle between David and Goliath is a classic story. It never gets old. This is the first battle King Saul must fight since the anointing of the Holy Spirit left him. Saul knew that God has left him, but he does not even try to repent and seek God. The men of Israel chose Saul to be their king because they wanted him to fight their battles (1Sam 8:19-22). For men, stature and physical strength is important. Saul was taller than the rest. But now, Goliath was taller than Saul. King Saul was not really a coward. Together with his son, Jonathan, he led the armies of Israel in many battles. As a king, he was not interested in administration or worshipping God. Being a soldier is what he loved the most. But without God, Saul became a coward. His rise to fame and his tragic fall is a warning to all men. Lesson: Fear God!

*Goliath was a Philistine ‘champion’. This is a particular type of soldier who fights alone, one to one. He was a giant. His height was about 3 meters and 400 pounds in weight. His heavy armor of 120 pounds was covered with scales looking like a snake. He is a type of Satan. He fights with intimidation and fear. Goliath insulted the army of Israel saying something like this: ‘I am a pagan. I hate your God. You are supposed to trust in your God and come to kill me. Why do you run away? Is your God not able to help you?’ Saul and the people of Israel, saw Goliath as a giant in the battlefield. David saw an enemy of God and of God’s people. He knew God’s Word: “Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death” (Lev 24:16). Based on God’s Word, Goliath will die.

*This is also the first battle that young David fights since the Holy Spirit came on him as the next king of Israel. His victory confirms the fact that God is not impressed by the outward appearance. God rewards faith and godly character. It also shows that the secret of all David’s success in life was the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon him. David loved God and the righteousness of God. Therefore, David became bold in battle. “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (PV 28:1). In Israel, the minimum age to join the army was 20 years. David’s three older brothers joined the army under King Saul. David was too young to be a soldier. He had no army uniform and no official training as a soldier. But he had faith in God. His brothers mocked him. King Saul mocked him. Goliath mocked him. But God was with David and David was with God. Lesson: in all situations of life, have faith in God! if God is with you, you will win every battle. Learn to mature as a believer. Draw closer to God and God will draw closer to you! (James 4:8).

*King Saul gave his armor to young David. But David refused it. For David, this temptation was greater than fighting Goliath. It is not easy to reject the gift of your king, to refuse to step into the shoes of a disgraced king. If David used Saul’s armor, Saul would share in the glory of the victory. Lesson: the man of faith does not use carnal methods. By removing the armor David presented himself as a living sacrifice to God. He will fight Goliath without man’s protection. Like Queen Esther, David said: If I perish, I perish! (Esther 4:16). This is the voice of faith and courage! David fought Goliath with the simple weapons of a shepherd: a sling and a stone taken from the riverbed. He won the battle not with sword and spear, but with faith in the name of Jehovah Sabaoth, the God of the armies of heaven. That is why, all the glory goes to God. Lesson: Saul’s armor is the power of the flesh. If the pastor does not preach God’s Word but offers religious entertainment, political speeches or secular stories, he is using Saul’s armor. He cannot kill any Goliath. He cannot defeat the devil. The true armor for any believer is the armor of God: The helmet of salvation- the breastplate of righteousness- the belt of truth- the shoes of the Gospel of peace- the shied of faith – and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God spoken in the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Eph 6:14-17). The battle between David and Goliath is a spiritual battle. David stands for Christ and for all the believers in Christ. Goliath stands for the devil who intimidates all men thru the fear of death. When Jesus died, the last enemy of man, the fear of death, died at the Cross. In Christ we are now free. We can now sing the victory song. We can join Apostle Paul and boldly confront death saying: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor 15:54-56). Praise the Lord!

*Both King Saul and Goliath have many things in common. They are both proud, tall, and physically strong. They both despised David. They saw him only as ‘a youth’, without wisdom, strength or experience on the battlefield. They saw David as a loser. Both were wrong. This is a reminder that at the Cross, Jesus proved that the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. “The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1Cor 1:25). The world rejects the Gospel of the Kingdom, Christ crucified and resurrected. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for those who believe. Faith is the gift and the mystery of God.

*When David was brought before King Saul, we are not sure if Saul remembered him as the former singer in the palace or his armor bearer. Confidently, David tells Saul that as a shepherd, he has the experience to kill ferocious animals. This is not the foolish boasting of a teenager. It was the truth. Because there was no other man who could do it, Saul agrees to let David go and fight the giant. Saul told David: The Lord be with you! This was prophetic. God’s anointing has left Saul and is now on David. Unknowingly, Saul admires the royal mantle on David, the future king. Lesson: faith developed in the past will help you fight the present battles. Enemies change. But Faith never changes. Why? “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever!” (Heb 13:8).

*When going to war, be sure that your motives are right. David was prepared as a fighter, but he also had the right motives for fighting Goliath. God looks at the heart. The state of your heart is more important to God than your words or actions. David did not fight Goliath to gain fame or fortune. David’s main reason to fight Goliath was his holy desire to defend the name and glory of God. David heard Goliath insulting God and God’s people. That was enough for David to volunteer to fight him. David said to the Philistine: “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands” (1 Sam 17:45-47). “So, the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, And all the kings of the earth Your glory” (Ps 102:15). The second reason why David fought Goliath is to help God’s people. Like a shepherd helps his wounded sheep, David stepped forth as the true leader of Israel and defeated their enemy. Lesson: Victory is on the side of him who has God on his side!

*David was willing to stand all alone for God, even when all others draw back. On that battlefield, David was the only one who saw the reality behind the visible. David stood before Goliath. In no man’s land. That is the loneliest place in the world. No man to help you! But David did not worry about himself, whether he would live or die. All he wanted is that God’s name should be honored. To stand alone you must be sure that God is with you. Also, you must be sure of is that the Battle is the Lord’s. David knew that he was God’s servant and anything that happens to David, concerns God. People like Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel all believed that God watches over them. If you know that God is with you, you will not be easily discouraged. Question: Do you fight your problems alone? You stand for God when you study God’s Word, and you go to church even if nobody in your family does it. David killed Goliath and became the hero to inspire many generations! With all his failures, God said David is a man after His heart. David loved to be identified with God. He is a great example to us all, pointing to Jesus Christ, our Savior and King! Worship the Lord!

THE LORD REIGNS FOREVER (Psalm 2:1-12)

This is a Psalm of David (Acts 4:25). It reveals the settled sovereign purpose of God to establish His Kingdom on earth and to have His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be King over all. Despite opposition from men and devils, it reveals the eternal reign of Jesus Christ as King in God’s Kingdom. David wrote this Psalm because he experienced something similar in his own life. He too was anointed as king despite the opposition of men. He was rejected by his brothers, by King Saul and by his own son, Absalom. David was about 15 years when he was anointed as king by prophet Samuel. King Saul persecuted him for about 15 years. Eventually, at the age of 30, he became king. David remains the greatest king Israel ever had, a man after God’s heart. God sets kings and God removes kings! “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Dan 2:20, 21). Psalm 2 is prophetic revealing the coming of Jesus Christ, who is of the lineage of David. The world rejected Jesus. Men killed Him on the Cross. The rulers of this world did not know God’s plan. By His death, Jesus destroyed the power of death, that belonged to the devil. Jesus will come again in power and glory to destroy what He has defeated. At that time, God’s Kingdom will be visible to all! In Psalm 2 we see the empty rage of men against God and His anointed, Jesus Christ; we see God’s reaction to this opposition; we hear the declaration of God’s Son, the King of kings; and we read the final warning of God against all rebellious men on earth!

1-THE EMPTY RAGE OF MEN

The nations ‘rage’ against God and His Kingdom. All men are born sinners. In this fight against God all the people and their kings are in it together. They ‘rage’ against God the Father and God the Son! The word ‘rage’ means a loud confusing noise of a great crowd. God’s Kingdom brings peace, prosperity, healing and freedom. You expect men to happily welcome these blessings. Why do men hate God and His Kingdom? They do not have a good reason. The only explanation is that unbelievers are ruled by the devil, who is the god of this world. Men love the blessings but hate God, the Giver of the blessings. This is a spiritual battle between heaven and hell and is manifested on earth. It is a cosmic conspiracy to break God’s bands of agape Love towards men.

God says of Israel: “I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them” (Hos11:4). But they did not appreciate God’s Love for them. The devil uses men to fight God and all that is good. They rejected Jesus as their Savior, Lord and King. “But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us” (Lk 19:14). The men of this world, religious and political, have rejected and killed ‘this Man’ called Jesus. Despite the opposition, God declares that the unbelievers’ fight against Him and His Kingdom is ‘a vain thing’; an empty, worthless thing. It has no value and no victory. Lesson: Religion cannot help. Jesus died to reconcile us to God. Separate yourself from the unbelievers’ losing battle against God, Jesus Christ and His church! To fight God is foolish and dangerous because God always wins!

2-GOD’S REACTION TO THE EMPTY RAGE OF MEN

Totally separate from the noise of men on earth, God sits enthroned in heaven. No man and no devil can remove God from His throne. Watch the quiet royal dignity of God on His throne. This is the truth: either willingly or un-willingly, man must bow to God. Sited on His throne, God initially laughs and mocks the men who in vain fight His choice. He has declared that His Son Jesus Christ is eternally the King of glory! God can never lose. God does not need to stand from His throne to fight the opposition. His breath is enough to quench any battle against Him. By His Word God created all things. By the same Word God can kill any man. Suddenly, God changes from laughing to holy anger. None can withstand His wrath. God shakes the things on earth and burns the chaff. The purpose is to prove that His Kingdom is unshakable. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:28,29).  In His anger, God speaks: “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion” (Ps 2:6). Oh, the powerful word ‘yet!’ What God says is final! God’s choice, King David, must be king in Jerusalem, on the holy hill of Zion. Against all odds, as God wished it, King Saul is removed, and David became King in Zion. God has already done what the enemies were planning to prevent. God cannot be taken by surprise. His plans are sovereign and eternal! Amen!

Prophetically, this psalm says that Jesus Christ is God’s choice to be the King in His Kingdom. Jesus did not make King by Himself. Men did not choose Him. God the Father declared His Beloved Son to be King. Spiritually, Zion is a symbol of the Living Church. Christ is the King in His Church. He is the King of God’s Kingdom in the hearts of the believers who come together to worship the Living God. Since the Day of Pentecost when the Church was born, millions have come to worship God and to listen to God’s Word in Zion. “Many people shall come and say: Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law” (Isa 2:3). Jesus “shall see the travail of His soul and be satisfied” (Isa 53:11).

Lesson: Jesus, the Lamb upon His throne, is seated in power and glory and reigns forever in the hearts of all the believers in the Church!

3-GOD’S SON DECLARES HIS STAND

Jesus Christ, God’s Beloved Son, stands to declare His relationship with God the Father. Jesus is not an adopted Son like us. He is the only begotten Son of God. Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man. Therefore, Jesus is perfectly entitled and qualified to be King in God’s Kingdom. The fullness of God the Father dwells in Christ, who is the Fountain of all wisdom, power, and authority. Christ died to create the Church. His Blood is stronger than any opposition. “The Gates of Hell cannot prevail against His Church where He is King” (Matt 16:18). By His Grace, Christ makes the believers to be kings, priests and co-heirs with Him. We sit on the throne with Him. We are His Ambassadors and Key-holders in His domain. All worship to God must pass thru God the Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord! The Son of God declares that God told Him: “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Ps 2:8).  Jesus is asking God the Father to give Him as a royal gift the very people who are fighting against Him. By His grace and through His Agape love, His enemies will become His servants and worshippers. Those who will not bend, must be broken. Christ is King not just by name. He has the power to subdue all opposition. Christ said: “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matt 28:18; AMP).

4-FINAL WARNING TO THE UNBELIEVERS

This is a grace warning to all who oppose Christ. They are commanded to ‘be wise’! Wisdom means to stop fighting and surrender to Christ. If not, they will surely perish. They will go to hell! All must come to the throne of mercy and grace and kiss the hand of the Son of God. They must accept the truth that their fight can never succeed. The ruler of this world, the devil, is a liar. He gives sinners false hopes. They must forsake the devil’s camp and cross-over to Jesus. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (PV9:10). As for you, child of God, rejoice with trembling in the mercy received. Fear without joy is torment. Joy without holy fear is presumption and foolishness. Both need to be together. Those who resist the Holy Spirit and continue to rebel against Christ shall perish. Those who have faith in Jesus Christ, shall find mercy and they shall live. Choose life!!! Worship the Lord!

The Parable of the wheat and the tares is one of the parables of Jesus. A parable is a simple short story that illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. Human beings respond better when they hear simple stories than when they listen to theories, arguments or principles. In the previous Parable of the Sower, we have one Sower, one type of seed (God’s Word), one field and four different types of soils. Here we have one Man who owns a good field. He sows good seed (wheat) in His field. In the night, when his servants are sleeping, another man called ‘his enemy’ came and planted bad seed (tares) in the same good field. Both types of seed germinate at the same time, and they grow together. The servants observed that there are two types of plants. They asked their Master three questions: “Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?… Do you want us then to go and gather them up?”. The Master said that an enemy has done that. He also said that they should leave the mixed plants to grow together until the harvest. Judgment shall happen during the harvest. Then the separation shall be total. The tares will be gathered and burnt. The wheat will be deposited in the Owner’s storehouse.

Jesus explains that Kingdom of God, and the church in its visible form is a mixed multitude. This is the mystery of evil in the world. Immediately God planted the good seed called Adam and Eve, the devil came to deposit his lies in their hearts. We have many questions about evil and sin: why did God allowed the devil to enter the Garden of Eden? Why is the devil still permitted to ‘to kill, steal and destroy’? From this parable we see that God allows the devil to tempt and attack even the Christians. But evil does not last forever. There is a final judgment when God, sited on the Great White Throne in heaven, will judge and punish the devil and all who followed him. God is the good man who plants the good seed, the believers. Never forget the great picture of God’s plan and purpose in His creation.

Jesus calls the devil ‘an enemy’. The devil is a liar, the enemy of truth, of righteousness, of peace, of joy and of all good things in life. Here we see that part of the strategy of spiritual warfare is to endure side by side with the wicked people, for a time. The deliverance from oppressors and difficult people is not always instant. This closeness is difficult, but God uses it to shine the light from the true believers on the false believers, who have grace opportunities to repent of sin and give their lives to Christ. The unbelievers are our ‘neighbors’. We must love the unlovely. Agape Love is busy in such a field. This is evangelism one to one. This is a reminder that the devil is wicked. He waited for the Owner to plant the good seeds before he planted his wicked seeds. If the devil planted his evil seed where other evil plants grow, then we can understand that. But, no! He planted his evil seed on the good man’s land and among the good man’s seed. This is a reminder that God is the owner of this earth. The devil plants in God’s field.

The devil planted his seed during the night when the good man’s servants were sleeping. This parable tells us that the devil is a coward. He did not attack the man’s children in the daytime, but in the night, where all good men sleep. This is not a careless sleep but the normal sleep of hardworking men. This parable also tells us that this is a time of grace, when men may still repent. All organizations, companies, families, even the visible Church and the Kingdom of God are all a mixed multitude. Wicked people are our neighbors and colleagues in the offices. They are the people we call brethren and pastors in the church. Finally, we are reminded that there is judgment ahead. Evil does not last forever. Wicked, unrepentant people will surely regret their foolish pride! They will be punished in the Lake of Fire forever! But the righteous in Christ have eternal life. Lessons: Fear God! Repent of Sins! Surrender unconditionally to the Lord Jesus Christ! Grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ! Be patient! Be watchful! Pray! Study God’s Word! Worship God! Serve God! Amen!

“Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons” (1Sam 16:1:1). In Hebrew, the word ‘provide’ is ‘rai’. It means to see, to make it appear, to prophesy. It is part of the compound name of God: Jehovah Jireh. Abraham told Isaac: “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering” (Gen 22:8). In the same way, Jehovah Jireh provides a king for Himself. We shall study God’s provision, King David, who is a symbol of King Jesus. Lesson: in God’s Kingdom, men’s choice as their leader or king is rejected by God. Only God chooses the King that can give Him the glory and help humanity! In the Church, all the true leaders are all called by God!

King Saul had great potential. He was tall and handsome. He looked like a king. That is why the people ‘voted’ for him. God agreed with their ‘democratic’ desires. But King Saul’s heart was not good. He openly disobeyed God. Internally, he was not fit to be a king before God and man. Samuel told King Saul: “you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel” (1Sam 15:26). Lesson: obedience to God’s Word is the way to success and greatness!  Surprisingly, God’s choice as king is a teenager, a shepherd, called David, the son of Jesse, from Bethlehem. God says: “I have provided Myself a king”. Samuel, now an old man, so bold in the past, is weeping for Saul, who was one of his disciples in the school of life. But Saul failed both God and Samuel. When God tells Samuel to go to the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons, the prophet becomes afraid, that Saul might kill him. Lesson: Mourning for lost opportunities is natural, but it should only be for a short time. When mourning for man combines with fear of the same man, that leads to depression and cowardice and backsliding. It is worldly sorrow. It is sin. It blocks the anointing to ministry! Repent of it! Selah!

Samuel goes to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, to find and anoint the new king of Israel. Jesse has eight sons. He presents the first seven. They are all tall and good looking. Samuel was tempted to choose one of them. They reminded him of young king Saul. But God restrains him saying: “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1Sam 16:7). Like Samuel, we all tend to approve men based on their outward gifts. We tend to lean towards physical beauty, eloquent speakers, academic degrees, or social status. We choose charisma over character. This tendency to choose the visible gifts over the invisible spirituality is idolatry. It is rejecting God’s will. Lesson: in choosing our pastors, marriage partners or friends, we must seek God’s face and never be led by the lust of the eyes! Selah!  

God rejected all the seven sons of Jesse. Samuel asked if there was any other son. Slowly, Jesse admits that there is still the youngest, David, who is taking care of the sheep. He was not even informed about this ‘interview’. That is when Samuel told everyone: “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here” (1Sam 16:11). Spiritually, many people sit down! They have lost the vision of King Jesus in His Kingdom. They are depressed. Lesson: We are to stand to honor and expect the King to come! We are like the wise virgins! We cannot relax or sleep until we see the King of glory! “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed” (Rev 16:15). Selah!

David came into the room. Behold the King of Israel!!! David came straight from tending the flock; sweating, dressed in dirty clothes, smelling like sheep. He was excited as any teenager can be. “He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the LORD said, “This is the one; anoint him” (1Sam16:12;NLT). God’s command to Samuel was clear: ‘This is the One!’ David looked healthy and physically fit. His beauty came from within, from a kind and humble spirit. David was the 8th son. Number 8 is the number of a new beginning. God’s choice as king for His people has entered the pages of history. Later, the same David said: “Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter” (Ps 24:9; NLT). Lesson: God allows the flesh to manifest and fail before He brings His choice. That is why Ishmael is born before Isaac; Esau is born before Jacob; Herod is born before Jesus! God’s ways are not our ways! Be patient!

King Saul was the first king. He was chosen by people. God approved their choice. Samuel anointed him with oil from a flask. King Saul was a tall handsome man, looking like a king. At the beginning he looked humble and zealous for God. But King Saul disobeyed God’s commands. God removed His Spirit and anointing from him. Lesson: in God’s Kingdom unrepentant rebellion is punished. Samuel anointed David with oil from an animal horn. This ceremony was held in the presence of his father and his brothers. Lesson: Both Saul and David were anointed with the same olive oil and by the same prophet Samuel. The difference was in the containers of oil. In the case of Saul, the oil was poured from a man-made flask (1 Sam10:1). But Samuel poured the oil on David from an animal’s horn (1Sam16:13). That speaks of sacrifice. The bull must be killed to remove the horn. Blood must shed for the oil to flow. This is a symbol of the Cross, strength coming out of death. We are called to be royal priesthood in God’s Kingdom by the power of the Cross! Oh, the Blood of Jesus!!!

Immediately the new king is anointed, the Holy Spirit leaves Saul and goes to David (1Sam16:13). “The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him” (1Sam16:14). Without God’s covering, an evil spirit appointed by God Himself, comes to trouble Saul’s mind. The word ‘distressing’ is also translated as evil, wicked, wild, depressive, ugly, or hurtful spirit. This demon ‘troubled’ Saul. The word means to attack, overwhelm, or terrorize with fear. This demon gave Saul panic attacks that drove him to become mad. His mental decline has started. He is still the king on the throne for some years, but he becomes erratic, paranoic and violent. He suspects everybody around him.

There is a mental health situation called ‘panic attack’. It is a sudden feeling of anxiety or fear when there is no danger around. It lasts about 10 minutes. It manifests as a sudden fear or death; the heartbeat increases; he sweats; feels hot or cold; feels nausea, like sick at the stomach; he feels chest pains. He feels dizzy, fainting, like he has a heart attack, or is going to die. The effect of this attack is that the patient starts to avoid crowded places and people. He becomes lonely. Medically, the patient is given psychotherapy and medication.  

His servants advised a cure: Music! A skillful musician who can play the harp to help Saul have some peace of mind. One of the servants recommends young David, who has just been anointed to be the new king in Israel.

David did not seek visibility. He did not really like fame. He was truly a humble man. Study him! After David was anointed as king, what did he do? He went back to take care of the sheep. He did not make noise about it. The anointing with oil as a king did not change his character. David’s ‘contract’ to be the King’s entertainer did not make him proud. When David did ministry in song Saul became refreshed and well. But David still did not become proud. Even after he killed Goliath, he remained humble. Lesson: God uses and blesses humble servants who give Him all the glory! David “served his own generation by the will of God” (Ac 13:36). May this be our portion too!

Listen to what Hannah, Samuel’s mother said: “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. 8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and He has set the world upon them. 9 He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. “For by strength no man shall prevail. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed” (1 Sam 2:6-10). Lesson: God is not impressed by man’s outward appearance, titles or fashion sense. God is seeking for true worshippers with a servant’s attitude. God looks for men who want to love Him more than His gifts. Once God finds someone like that, He will anoint that one. David is not ugly. It is not wrong to be handsome, skillful, or talented. But for God, the top of His list in choosing His servants is a desire to know His heart and obey His voice. Lesson: the key to success in ministry and greatness in life is to be humble, faithful, to seek God’s Heart, God’s Kingdom and to be like Jesus!

It is interesting to note that no one in the Bible has the name of David except the greater Son of David, our Lord Jesus Christ. David was a visible example of God to others. People noticed that the Lord was with him. Godliness cannot be hidden. Light shines in the darkness!

King Saul is now rejected by God. He is still on the throne but without God’s covering and anointing. As the Holy Spirit left Saul, He went on young David. King Saul became king in his middle age. God did not train him to be king. But with David, God calls and anoints him as a young man. For many years, before David sits on the throne, God trains him in the wilderness. Lesson: if God calls you to serve Him, He will train you in the school of life! “Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor” (PV 18:12). King Saul is now attacked by a tormenting spirit. He needed someone who could play the harp well. Music helps him to have some peace. See how a servant introduces young David to King Saul: “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him” (1Sam16:18). David is a good example of a citizen, an ambassador, and a peacemaker in the Kingdom of God. Let us look at each of young David’s qualities:

*He was skillful in playing (the harp). As a shepherd, David lived a lonely life. His harp was his ‘friend’. He learned to play it very well. In some of his Psalms he wrote ‘To the Chief Musician’. It means that the psalms should be played by the master musician, by the music director, and not by the beginners in the art of making beautiful sounds. David’s fingers were sensitive to the touch of the strings. He was a poet and musician at heart. Lesson: we should improve the skill of making music as we worship God.

*He was a mighty man of valor. He had a good character. As a shepherd, he learned how to take care of his sheep. He was a responsible and courageous leader. He took the sheep to green pastures and still water. He treated their sicknesses. He looked for the lost sheep. The shepherd type of leader is the opposite of a proud tyrant. David has a servant’s heart. With humility and patience, he displays agape love towards the weak.

*He was a man of war. David learned how to fight and kill the enemies. He killed the bear and the lion that attacked his flock. It is strange to see that the same sensitive fingers that could play the harp were the ones that can kill the animals. Not long after this, he proved to be a true champion, and a man of faith, by killing the giant called Goliath who insulted Jehovah God!

*He was prudent in speech. This word means to be a good communicator especially when speaking in public. A godly eloquent person speaks clearly, passionately, directly, and moves his listeners. God’s Spirit gave David the gift of speech. He spoke wisely. He did not insult the people. He was respectful. When people heard Jesus speak, they said: “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (Jn 7:46).

*He was handsome. His beauty came mostly from within. It was the beauty of holiness.

*The Lord was with Him. This is the greatest quality in any man. God’s presence is the secret of all godly success in life. People observed that God guides David in his decisions and prospers him. David “was successful in all he did, because the LORD was with him” (1Sam 18:14; Good News Translation). The knowledge on how to host the Holy Spirit thru personal anointing, is the secret of all success in life and ministry. It was the same with Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Esther, the old prophets, Apostles Paul and John. Selah!

“And when He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king: of him He testified and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART [conforming to My will and purposes], who will do all My will” (Ac 13:22; AMP). King David was the opposite of King Saul who was proud and rebellious. A man after God’s heart is humble and obedient to God’s Word. In words and deeds, he honors and fears God. As a King and Priest, the believer chooses to die to his own will and does God’s Will. He hates idolatry. In his heart, he is a worshipper of God. David prepared to build the temple of God. As believers we love attending the local church and serve God there. When we sin, we quicky repent. God took pleasure in blessing David. Out of his lineage, the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth as a man. This is the greatest honor given to man on earth. May we be like David, people after God’s Heart! Amen!

FINALLY…

Studying the life of King Saul and the lack of fruits of repentance, we can safely say that he was not saved. God gave him a chance in life. He became the first king of Israel. He was handsome. People liked him and followed him. Though initially he looked humble, he was proud and stubborn in his heart. Two times he openly disobeyed God’s Word that came to him thru the man of God. He could not wait patiently for Prophet Samuel to offer the sacrifices. He was not ordained as a priest but took it upon himself to offer the sacrifices. He also disobeyed God’s command and refused to kill the Amalekites, according to God’s Word. God then removed His anointing from Saul. That is how he lost his mental health and peace. God sent an evil spirit to torment him. This evil spirit was God’s judgment because of his stubbornness, pride and disobedience. In His mercy, God sent His servant and ambassador, young man David. The sound of David’s harp would calm Saul’s mind, for a time. David’s music ministry was God’s gift of Kindness to Saul. He was to receive it with thanksgiving and repent of his sins. But Saul refused to repent.  “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds” (Rom 2:4-6). To the end of his life Saul rejected David and his music ministry. His daughter, Michal, David’s wife, also rejected David’s music ministry. King Saul died a miserable death and David took over his throne. Lesson: Fear God!

What are then the main qualities of a man (a woman) who is after God’s heart? Being inspired by David we say that such a person must first of all be born again and Spirit-filled. The election of David as King was by grace. God provided Himself with the king of His choice. This man must have total faith in God. He must Love God’s Word. He is grateful to God. He must be in harmony with God’s will. He must be a humble man, deeply sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Like David, when he sins, he truly repents, he gets up and stands again to follow God. He must be a God seeker and a God pleaser. May God help us to pay the price to please Him alone! Amen!

God says: I need someone who will serve Me in any place, no matter how humble. Even though he was anointed to be king, David takes care of his flock and plays the harp to a rejected king. David learned many things in the palace and in the wilderness. Lesson: Learn what you can, when you can, and where you can. God usually uses a man who is already serving Him in a little way. God rewards a man who is willing to wait in humility until God calls him to visibility. When Goliath was insulting the armies of the Living God, it means that he was insulting God! All the men of Israel, including King Saul were drawing back and shaking with fear. But David was angry because someone insults his God. This is a holy anger that produces faith, and boldness. God loves this kind of man. Fear of man is a snare to anointing and promotion. David defended God’s name, reputation and glory!!! David’s brothers mocked him too, but David was too angry to care about that. Even King Saul said ‘you are too young. You are not able to kill Goliath’. But David declared his total trust in God. He refused Saul’s armor and with a stone taken from the river, he killed the giant. He trusted in God alone. He defended God’s glory. He trusted in God’s power and faithfulness to defend him. Goliath had no chance against a man who trusts God! There are so many lessons to learn. Do you trust God to help you defend His glory? To defeat His enemies? To give God all the glory? Don’t you want to be like David, to feel like a young man again? Don’t you want to be a dreamer, a worshipper and a warrior? To sing to Jesus? To dance to Jesus? King Jesus, the greater Son of David, killed death and defeated the devil. May we never lose our wonder… Worship the Lord!

Please read Isaiah 22:20-23 and 9:6,7. Isaiah says that Shebna, the chief steward to David’s house will be violently removed from his office. Shebna is called ‘a shame to his master’s house’. Jewish history says that he betrayed his king. In his place, God installs Eliakim. His name means ‘God will rise you up’ or ‘the Resurrection of God’. The fulfilment of his name applies to Jesus Christ. God gives Eliakim the substantial authority and responsibility that Shebna had. He “shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.” This is the same promotion as with Joseph who said: God “has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt” (Gen 45:8). For both Eliakim and Joseph, their authority as ‘fathers’ was exceeded by only their kings.

The keys of the house of David were placed on Eliakim’s shoulder. Keys are signs of authority and power. Note that Eliakim is not an ordinary door keeper. He is the chief steward over the royal house of King David. The keys in his hand represent all authority to invite or to drive away any person from the palace. The king trusts him with his life! God promised to David that his descendants will be kings. “For thus says the Lord: ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel” (Jer 33:17). This is a prophesy that is fulfilled in Christ, who as a Man, came from the lineage of David. In Christ we are all priests and kings and carry the keys of His Kingdom.

In his position as second-in-command, Eliakim served as the ultimate gatekeeper, granting or denying access to the throne room using his discretion. He could open the door, and no one could shut it. Having the door opened meant access to the king’s presence, and thus to the God-given authority, favor and royal blessings, as well as to all the resources of the treasury and storehouse. But if Eliakim shut the door, he blocked all that access, and no one (except the king) could overrule his decision. It was a highly privileged position. As you see, God doesn’t tolerate men like Shebna, who was more interested in personal fame than fulfilling his office with humility and faithfulness.

Our Lord confirms the authority of Eliakim to open and shut doors at his discretion. “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you” (Rev 3:7-9). The false believers, men like Shebna, members of the synagogue of Satan, are liars and losers. Jesus gives the keys to the believers in the church in Philadelphia because though they have little strength, they are faithful in their works to serve Him. They keep God’s Word and do not deny the name of Jesus. Lesson: the revelation of the power of the keys in God’s Kingdom is given when we honor God’s name and obey His Word. Amen!

“Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt 16:15-19).  Jesus is laying the foundation of His church, which is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Eph 2:20). The disciples will be the leaders of this new institution. Jesus is giving them the authority to open the doors of heaven and invite the world to enter. It is important to understand how, biblically speaking, one enters the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said that, unless one is born again, he will not see the Kingdom of Heaven (John 3:3). One is born again as the Holy Spirit works through the Word of God to bring about new life in a dead sinner. The sinner must repent and believe in Christ crucified and resurrected.

Salvation is by grace and thru faith in Jesus who died on behalf of sinners. Faith in the heart must be openly proclaimed to prove salvation. “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. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom 10:9,10). So, the faithful preaching of the gospel is the key to the kingdom. An open door means an opportunity to preach the Gospel, to make progress in life and ministry, without using force.  In both the Old and New Testaments, keys symbolize power and authority. You use the key to open or to shut a door. The delivery of the keys of a city, or to a person, symbolizes the handing over of the authority to that person.

The Church is ‘the headquarter’ of the Kingdom of God. Jesus personally promises Peter a certain authority. This is a personal reward for his good confession. This promise was fulfilled after the Day of Pentecost. At this time, it was only promised, not actually activated upon Peter. The actual gift of the power of the keys given to him, and to the other apostles, took place after Resurrection (Jn 20:22, 23).  The Apostles received the authority from Jesus, to operate in His name. They will use the keys to open or to shut, to approve or not, who is entering and who is rejected from entering the kingdom of heaven. In particular, it concerns acts of repentance and forgiveness of sins. Believers use the keys of the Kingdom like ambassadors give visa to people to enter their country or reject their applications for visa. This authority is always in total agreement with the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ, who is in heaven. The Kingdom keys have the power to open and shut doors without using physical force. That power belongs to God the Father. “Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand” (Deut 32:39). The “power of the keys,” has two branches – legislative (authority to make laws) and absolving (authority to release from guilt, to forgive).

1=Peter exercised the legislative authority of the Kingdom keys as he opens the door to three groups of people: the Jews, the Samaritans and the Gentiles. Jesus commanded the disciples to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). The Gospel spreads by the preaching of God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. The first group was the Jews in Jerusalem. Peter preached his first sermon to them on the day of Pentecost (Ac 2:37-39). By preaching the Gospel, Peter opens the door to all the Jews who repented of the sin of rejecting and killing Jesus. Peter promised them that if they repent, they will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Three thousand Jews entered the Kingdom that day. The Holy Spirit came and baptized them, proof that they are now saved. Peter leaves the door open for all will do the same in the future. Later, Peter goes to Samaria and preaches the Gospel. The Jews and the Samaritans hated each other for centuries. But Peter, the Peacemaker, opens the door to the Samaritans to also enter the Kingdom (Acts 8).

It was also Peter’s action that admitted the Gentiles to the privileges of the gospel. Peter preaches the Gospel to the centurion and his family. They believed and got baptized with the Holy Spirit and in water (Acts 10). Later, at the Jerusalem council, Peter convinced everyone that there is no need for the Gentiles to be circumcised (like the Jews), saying that they too are saved by Grace and thru faith in Christ, just like the Jews. With one word Peter waved away the need for the Gentiles to obey the ceremonial Jewish Law to become saved. This is the legislative authority of the Kingdom’ keys (Ac 15:7-11). Peter opens salvation door to the Gentiles. This dramatic event is part of the history of the church, and this new law now stands forever.

An example of Peter shutting the door of the kingdom in the face of a false believer is his rebuke to Simon the Sorcerer. “Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God” (Ac 8:20, 21). Peter rejected his application for visa to enter heaven!

2=The absolving power of the Keys is related to forgiveness of sins and church discipline. It manifests in acts of binding and loosing in prayer. “To bind” is to forbid, to pronounce unlawful, to arrest, to constrain, to prevent the person from escaping. “To loose” is to let go, to declare lawful; to let go from a cage, to fly away, or to be free. Simply said, to bind means to arrest, to loosen means to set the victim free.  

Jesus said: “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt 18:18). Specifically, it relates to the authority to forgive or not. “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (Jn 20:23). The “power of the keys” has also been understood as the authority to exercise discipline using the act of excommunication in cases of rebellious unrepentant members of the church (Matt 18:15-17).

So, the keys of the kingdom are God’s gift to His people to declare heaven’s verdict on who will and will not enter the kingdom based on their response to the gospel. All who faithfully preach and teach the gospel can exercise the keys under the authority of Jesus Christ Himself. The Keys are the teachings of Jesus! When you preach the Gospel, you use the Keys to open heaven or to shut it down. Knowledge withheld or ignorance of the Gospel shuts the door to men to enter. “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered” (Lk 11:52).  God’s will is that sinners be granted access to heaven through the righteousness of Christ. Consider Jesus’ warning to the Pharisees: If the gospel message is distorted or ignored, or if unrepentant sin is not adequately disciplined, the doors to the Kingdom of Heaven are being shut in people’s faces. The apostles were not to usurp Christ’s authority over individual believers and their eternal destiny, but they were to exercise authority to discipline erring believers and, if necessary, excommunicate disobedient church members. Based on God’s Word, believers today can declare an unrepentant sinner to be unsaved (“bound”) and a repentant believer in Jesus Christ to be saved (“loosed”). The binding or the loosing, based on one’s rejection or acceptance of the gospel, reflects heaven’s perspective on the matter. In heaven, Christ ratifies what is done in His name and in obedience to His Word on earth.

There was a school of prophets at Bethel. Elijah, followed later by Elisha, were mentors there (2Kings 6:1-7). The students needed a bigger hostel. They were ready to build the house, to do the manual labor. But they wanted their Master, Elisha, to go with them. They appreciated the presence of the old Prophet. Elisha could sit in the shadow of a tree by River Jordan and teach them God’s Word of pray for them. You see that at that time, the prophets were not wealthy. They had to borrow their tools. Elisha rejected the money offered by Naaman. It is a great blessing when younger Christians desire the presence of elderly servants of God. They knew that Elisha had more wisdom and experience than them. ‘An old man sited on the ground sees farther away than a young man who climbs an iroko tree’ (Naija proverb). Elisha agreed and went with them. It is beautiful when pastor and congregation serve God together in the unity of the Spirit! Suddenly, one of the young men, as he was cutting down a tree, lost the iron head of his ax in the water. Jordan river is muddy, and the ax could not be seen again. He panicked because it was a borrowed head. The young man did two things that saved him from this crisis. First, he immediately ‘cried out’. He did not hide his mistake. He could have pretended that all is well and continued to work with only the wooden stick. Many Christians are too proud to confess their sins, that they need help or prayer. If this young man used the wooden stick to work, he could have greatly slowed down his work. Also, when the metal ax head is later found, the wooden stick will be too damaged to fit in. The second good thing this young man did was to go to the old prophet. He knew that Elisha has more wisdom, more experience. Selah!

Elisha asked him: where is the exact place where it fell? Lesson: When you commit sin, there is a moment in time when you chose to rebel. There is a moment in time when you chose to resist the voice of the Holy Spirit. You must visit that painful and shameful moment. Many refuse to do so. They hinder the recovery miracle. Lesson: humble yourself; tell God and your pastor where I started to go astray. It is a place and moment in time. It is important to visit the beginning of your sin. Go to the Cross. Christ crucified for your sins. That is the place where the lost shall be found. The heavy iron head is a symbol of our sins. The story here is a symbol of baptism in water. You die in the mud of sin, and you rise by God’s power. The ax is a symbol of power for the ministry. “As iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion]” (PV 27:17; AMP). This power can be lost through disobedience, love for the world, and lack of prayer. “If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength; but wisdom [to sharpen the axe] helps him succeed (with less effort)” (Ecc10:10; AMP).  Selah!

Just the way Moses cut a tree and threw it into the bitter water to make it sweet (Exo 15), Elisha also cut a stick and threw it into the river. Suddenly, the iron ax head floated to the surface. Elisha told the young man: Pick it up for yourself. There was no need for the man to swim into the muddy waters and get injured. All he had to do was to stretch his hand and take back his lost blessing. Christ is the Head of the Church. If you disconnect from the Head, you will sink into the mud of sin. You can’t work for God with only a stick in your hand. That stick represents the power of the flesh. Jesus said: “Without Me, you can do nothing!” (Jn15:5). But once you reconnect with Christ, you can do all things thru Him who continually strengthens you (Phil 4:13). Lesson: God is the God of miracles. He has the keys to every closed door. He helps us even with the little things. In Christ, the lost shall be found. The prodigals will come back home. The power of resurrection can locate and retrieve your lost blessings. The same power is the key to pay off any debt, to bring you out from poverty and shame, to build a house for you. Just believe! The work of God never stops! The worship of God continues forever! Worship the Lord!

“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God… “Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called the sons of God” (Matt 5:9; NKJ; AMP).

A peacemaker is a person who helps others solve a conflict and reach a peaceful solution. If two countries are engaged in a long war, peacemakers might help negotiate a ceasefire. Ambassadors and mediators are peacemakers. Some people don’t care about peace. They are troublemakers. But all believers are commanded to live in peace with others. “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom 12:18). Jesus blesses the peacemakers.To make peace in a time of war is much more difficult than to maintain the peace achieved. There are differences between peacekeepers and peacemakers. For example: peacekeepers operate under the authority of the Law. They punish anyone who is seen as a threat to peace. They sacrifice righteousness, even kill men to keep peace. They want peace by force. They can even compromise their conscience and spiritual values to maintain peace in the land. But Biblical peacemakers do not keep peace at all costs. They operate under the greater Law of Agape Love and Divine Wisdom. Purity of heart and motives is never compromised in the process of making peace. Purity is first, peace is second. “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (Jam 3:17,18). Peacemakers produce a harvest of righteousness in the land. Peacemakers are all humble. They love people. They do not withdraw from their communities. They are active in society and wise in their relationship with people. They are not easily discouraged by problems. They are always hopeful that peace can be made. There is a difference between unity and coexistence. Peacekeepers use threats of violence, or the presence of physical power, to maintain peace. But peacemakers, thru prayer, and by God’s Grace, aim at the root of the problem: the hearts of people, starting with themselves. Glory!

Peace is defined as a state of calmness and quietness; freedom from worries, fear, anger, obsession, and oppressive thoughts; mutual harmony between people and nations; no fighting and no war. When you are at peace with yourself, you are content with the way God created you, even with your weaknesses and flaws. In a state of peace people live and work together happily, without disagreements. In both Hebrew and Greek, the word ‘peace’ also means prosperity, health, favor with God and men. Christ is our King and our Peace. He shed His Blood on the Cross to reconcile Jew and Gentile, to make them one Body, in Him, before God the Father. “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation” (Eph2:14).

Jesus told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). In both Hebrew and Greek, the word ‘peace’ also means property, health, and favor with God and men. To be troubled means to be agitated, disturbed, angry. The word ‘afraid’ means to be a coward, to be timid, and to shrink back. Like Agape Love, peace is bold like a lion. Jesus was clarifying the difference between worldly peace and godly peace. Many people do not have peace of mind. “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 “There is no peace,” Says my God, “for the wicked” (Isa 57:20,21). The world has external peace connected with beauty, wealth and social status. The worldly man believes that he creates his peace. When money and youthful strength go away, that peace is scattered. But for the believers, peace starts with a right relationship with God, thru Christ. This peace is God’s gift to His children. It is deep spiritual calmness

free from the changing circumstances. Peace is freedom from worries and protection of mind and emotions (Phil 4:6, 7).

“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God” (Matt 5:9).

The scripture is taken from the Sermon on the Mount, preached by our Lord Jesus Christ. The word ‘Blessed’ means to be truly happy, to be congratulated and honored by all. In this world, it is common to hear of wars or rumors of war. The root of these tragic events is sin in man’s heart. Man is born a sinner. In his heart, there is wickedness, selfishness, jealousy, greed, pride, sexual immorality and many other sins. The natural man loves to quarrel and cannot make or maintain peace. Jesus said that natural men love darkness and hate the light (Jn 3:19). Sinners love trouble. They see it as entertainment. They hate peace. They see it as boring.

To be a peacemaker you must be a child of God, a citizen of the Kingdom of God. A new heart, a new perspective of life must guide you to appreciate peace with God and peace with men. The Jews imagined that the Kingdom of God is a military kingdom, and the Messiah King is an army commander. They rejected Jesus because He looked too peaceful and gentle for them. Jesus came from heaven to reinstate God’s Kingdom. When the people saw that Jesus could feed thousands, they decided to make Him King ‘by force’. But Jesus withdrew from them. They did not know Him, and they did not know the type of Kingdom He came to establish. He said tom Pilate: “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” (Jn 18:36). To see and enter the Kingdom of God you need the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Selah!

No matter how educated, having good moral character, or being very religious, no unbeliever can be a peacemaker. According to the Bible, the only person who can be a peacemaker is the born-again, Spirit filled. He is not just a nice person who hides from trouble. He is a spiritually mature believer. He hates division and quarrels. He loves peace with God and peace with men. He knows the price paid for peace on earth. He knows that Jesus died to set men free from the punishment on sin. He actively looks for opportunities to make peace when there are divisions. His heart is free from selfishness, envy, jealousy and greed. He is fearless, dead to self, and totally free from self-interest. This is a high level of sanctification. If a man is not dead to the flesh, he will be too self-conscious. He will try to protect his reputation. He will be defensive during arguments. That is why a carnal Christian cannot be a peacemaker. A peacemaker is not always looking to gain fame for himself. He is morally neutral. He is not on the side of any man. He is on the side of Jesus. He behaves like Jesus. He knows that he was a sinner. Therefore, he has nothing to lose or to protect. You insult him and he keeps quiet. His desire is not to defend himself, but to give glory to God in everything he says or does.

Peacemakers actively involved in ministry are quite rare to find. A peacemaker is a special person, a blessing to humanity. He knows when and how to talk. He is sensitive, discreet, and wise. He never speaks wicked words that directly or indirectly hurt others. He does not intimidate or manipulate. He speaks words of grace that build others up. He is emotionally intelligent. The peacemaker knows his Bible. He uses God’s Word to guide his thinking and his decisions. If he sees an opportunity to make peace between two people, he is ready to suffer so that peace is achieved!!! He loves bringing people together, “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:2, 3). The Holy Spirit helps him and gives him favor with men. He is like Jesus. If Jesus was trying to defend His rights as God, He would not have died on the Cross for sinners. But Jesus humbled Himself, becoming a servant, to save men from sin. Jesus died to make peace between God and man, and between men themselves. The sacrifice of death to self is necessary to become like Jesus, our Prince of Peace.

The peacemakers are called ‘sons of God’. The word ‘called’ also means ‘owned’. As a peacemaker, God will own you. To owe it means to belong to God, to love and protect, to possess, to control, or to treasure. God will manifest His presence with you. He will cover your mistakes as you try your best to find creative ways to bring peace into this dark world. God highly rewards the peacemakers. Selah!